@article {pmid37244532, year = {2023}, author = {Sérvulo, T and Taylor, JD and Proietti, MC and Rodrigues, LDS and Puertas, IP and Barutot, RA and Lacerda, ALDF}, title = {Plastisphere composition in a subtropical estuary: Influence of season, incubation time and polymer type on plastic biofouling.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {121873}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121873}, pmid = {37244532}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Plastics are abundant artificial substrates in aquatic systems that host a wide variety of organisms (the plastisphere), including potential pathogens and invasive species. Plastisphere communities have many complex, but not well-understood ecological interactions. It is pivotal to investigate how these communities are influenced by the natural fluctuations in aquatic ecosystems, especially in transitional environments such as estuaries. Further study is needed in sub-tropical regions in the Southern Hemisphere, where plastic pollution is ever increasing. Here we applied DNA-metabarcoding (16S, 18S and ITS-2) as well Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to assess the diversity of the plastisphere in the Patos Lagoon estuary (PLE), South Brazil. Through a one-year in situ colonization experiment, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plates were placed in shallow waters, and sampled after 30 and 90 days within each season. Over 50 taxa including bacteria, fungi and other eukaryotes were found through DNA analysis. Overall, the polymer type did not influence the plastisphere community composition. However, seasonality significantly affected community composition for bacteria, fungi and general eukaryotes. Among the microbiota, we found Acinetobacter sp., Bacillus sp., and Wallemia mellicola that are putative pathogens of aquatic organisms, such as algae, shrimp and fish, including commercial species. In addition, we identified organisms within genera that can potentially degrade hydrocarbons (e.g. Pseudomonas and Cladosporium spp). This study is the first to assess the full diversity and variation of the plastisphere on different polymers within a sub-tropical southern hemisphere estuary, significantly expanding knowledge on plastic pollution and the plastisphere in estuarine regions.}, }
@article {pmid37243245, year = {2023}, author = {Ramsey, DS and Patel, KK and Campbell, S and Hall, RN and Taggart, PL and Strive, T}, title = {Sustained Impact of RHDV2 on Wild Rabbit Populations across Australia Eight Years after Its Initial Detection.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/v15051159}, pmid = {37243245}, issn = {1999-4915}, abstract = {Following the arrival of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) in Australia, average rabbit population abundances were reduced by 60% between 2014 and 2018 based on monitoring data acquired from 18 sites across Australia. During this period, as the seropositivity to RHDV2 increased, concurrent decreases were observed in the seroprevalence of both the previously circulating RHDV1 and RCVA, a benign endemic rabbit calicivirus. However, the detection of substantial RHDV1 seropositivity in juvenile rabbits suggested that infections were continuing to occur, ruling out the rapid extinction of this variant. Here we investigate whether the co-circulation of two pathogenic RHDV variants was sustained after 2018 and whether the initially observed impact on rabbit abundance was still maintained. We monitored rabbit abundance and seropositivity to RHDV2, RHDV1 and RCVA at six of the initial eighteen sites until the summer of 2022. We observed sustained suppression of rabbit abundance at five of the six sites, with the average population reduction across all six sites being 64%. Across all sites, average RHDV2 seroprevalence remained high, reaching 60-70% in adult rabbits and 30-40% in juvenile rabbits. In contrast, average RHDV1 seroprevalence declined to <3% in adult rabbits and 5-6% in juvenile rabbits. Although seropositivity continued to be detected in a low number of juvenile rabbits, it is unlikely that RHDV1 strains now play a major role in the regulation of rabbit abundance. In contrast, RCVA seropositivity appears to be reaching an equilibrium with that of RHDV2, with RCVA seroprevalence in the preceding quarter having a strong negative effect on RHDV2 seroprevalence and vice versa, suggesting ongoing co-circulation of these variants. These findings highlight the complex interactions between different calicivirus variants in free-living rabbit populations and demonstrate the changes in interactions over the course of the RHDV2 epizootic as it has moved towards endemicity. While it is encouraging from an Australian perspective to see sustained suppression of rabbit populations in the eight years following the arrival of RHDV2, it is likely that rabbit populations will eventually recover, as has been observed with previous rabbit pathogens.}, }
@article {pmid37239372, year = {2023}, author = {Shen, XN and Wang, XD and Wan, FH and Lü, ZC and Liu, WX}, title = {Gene Expression Analysis Reveals Potential Regulatory Factors Response to Temperature Stress in Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/genes14051013}, pmid = {37239372}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Exposure to extreme temperatures can hinder the development of insects and even reduce their survival rate. However, the invasive species Bemisia tabaci exhibits an impressive response to different temperatures. This study aims to identify important transcriptional changes of B. tabaci occupying different temperature habitats by performing RNA sequencing on populations originating from three regions of China. The results showed that the gene expression of B. tabaci populations inhabiting regions with different temperatures was altered and identified 23 potential candidate genes that respond to temperature stress. Furthermore, three potential regulatory factors' (the glucuronidation pathway, alternative splicing, and changes in the chromatin structure) response to different environmental temperatures were identified. Among these, the glucuronidation pathway is a notable regulatory pathway. A total of 12 UDP-glucuronosyltransferase genes were found in the transcriptome database of B. tabaci obtained in this study. The results of DEGs analysis suggest that UDP-glucuronosyltransferases with a signal peptide may help B. tabaci resist temperature stress by sensing external signals, such as BtUGT2C1 and BtUGT2B13, which are particularly important in responding to temperature changes. These results will provide a valuable baseline for further research on the thermoregulatory mechanisms of B. tabaci that contributes to its ability to effectively colonize regions with considerable temperature differences.}, }
@article {pmid37238044, year = {2023}, author = {Yan, H and Chen, S and Liu, X and Cheng, Z and Schmidt, BV and He, W and Cheng, F and Xie, S}, title = {Investigations of Fish Assemblages Using Two Methods in Three Terminal Reservoirs of the East Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project, China.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13101614}, pmid = {37238044}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The terminal reservoirs of water transfer projects directly supply water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial applications, and the water quality of these reservoirs produce crucial effects on the achievement of project targets. Typically, fish assemblages are monitored as indicators of reservoir water quality, and can also be regulated for its improvement. In the present study, we compared traditional fish landing (TFL) and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding methods for monitoring fish assemblages in three terminal reservoirs of the East Route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project, China. Results of TFL and eDNA showed similar assemblage structures and patterns of diversity and spatial distribution with obvious differences in fish composition across three examined reservoirs. Demersal and small fish were dominant in all reservoirs. In addition, a strong association between water transfer distance and assemblages and distribution of non-native fish was found. Our findings highlight the necessity of the fish assemblage monitoring and managing for water quality and revealed the impact of water diversion distance on the structure of fish assemblages and dispersal of alien species along the water transfer project.}, }
@article {pmid37237170, year = {2023}, author = {Hobson, KA}, title = {Stable isotopes and a changing world.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37237170}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The measurement of naturally occurring stable isotope ratios of the light elements (C, N, H, O, S) in animal tissues and associated organic and inorganic fractions of associated environments holds immense potential as a means of addressing effects of global change on animals. This paper provides a brief review of studies that have used the isotope approach to evaluate changes in diet, isotopic niche, contaminant burden, reproductive and nutritional investment, invasive species and shifts in migration origin or destination with clear links to evaluating effects of global change. This field has now reached a level of maturity that is impressive but generally underappreciated and involves technical as well as statistical advances and access to freely available R-based packages. There is a need for animal ecologists and conservationists to design tissue collection networks that will best answer current and anticipated questions related to the global change and the biodiversity crisis. These developments will move the field of stable isotope ecology toward a more hypothesis driven discipline related to rapidly changing global events.}, }
@article {pmid37236572, year = {2023}, author = {Cheng, Y and Wang, P and Zeng, Y and An, W and Wang, T and Xiao, Y}, title = {Characterization of five pigmentation genes as transgenic markers in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {124981}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124981}, pmid = {37236572}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), has become one of the most damaging pests worldwide since its invasion of Africa, Asia and Oceania from 2016, threatening plants in 76 families including important crops. Genetics-based methods have proved to be an efficient way to control pests, especially invasive species, but many difficulties must be overcome to develop a transgenic insect strain, especially for a non-model species. Here we thus sought to identify a visible marker that would facilitate the distinction between genetically modified (GM) and non-transgenic insects, thereby simplifying mutation identification and facilitating the broader application of genome editing tools in non-model insects. Five genes (sfyellow-y, sfebony, sflaccase2, sfscarlet, and sfok) that are orthologs of well-studied genes in pigment metabolism were knocked out using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to identify candidate gene markers. Two genes, Sfebony and Sfscarlet, were identified responsible for body and compound eye coloration, respectively, in S. frugiperda, and could be potential visual markers for genetics-based pest management strategies.}, }
@article {pmid37234953, year = {2023}, author = {Moreno-Dávila, B and Huato-Soberanis, L and Gómez-Gutiérrez, J and Galván-Tirado, C and Sánchez, C and Alcoverro, T and Balart, EF and Turon, X}, title = {Taxonomic identity of Distapliastylifera (Tunicata, Ascidiacea), a new arrival to the eastern Pacific displaying invasive behavior in the Gulf of California, Mexico.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1157}, number = {}, pages = {109-125}, pmid = {37234953}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {A colonial ascidian of the genus Distaplia caused a mass mortality of the pen shell Atrinamaura (Sowerby, 1835) during June 2016 in the southwest of the Gulf of California (Mexico), with a significant socio-economic cost. Tentatively identified in previous works as Distapliacf.stylifera, a precise taxonomic determination was still lacking. In the present work, based on a detailed morphological study, it is confirmed that this aggressive species is Distapliastylifera (Kowalevsky, 1874). Originally described from the Red Sea, the species currently has a wide circumtropical distribution (with the exception of the Eastern Pacific to date) and is reported as introduced in parts of its range. The present account thus represents an important range extension of this species. However, when revising the original description and later observations, the reported variability of several characters makes it likely that the binomen is in fact a complex of species, as is common in other ascidians with wide distributions. A complete morphological and genetic study including populations from the entire range of distribution would be necessary to settle the status of D.stylifera. Taxonomic uncertainties hinder a correct interpretation of biogeographical patterns and inference on the origin of the studied population. Nevertheless, the known introduction potential of the species, coupled with an explosive growth in an anthropized environment, and the lack of any previous reports in the Eastern Pacific, strongly suggest that the investigated population represents yet another instance of ascidian introduction. From the point of view of management, its invasive behavior is cause for great concern and warrants mitigation measures.}, }
@article {pmid37234790, year = {2023}, author = {Reed, SE and Dutkiewicz, D and Ross, F and Llewellyn, J and Fraser, H}, title = {New records of Nitidulidae (Nitidulidae, Coleoptera) species in Canada, Ontario, and Manitoba.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1156}, number = {}, pages = {33-52}, doi = {10.3897/zookeys.1156.94589}, pmid = {37234790}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Nitidulidae trapping performed from 2018 to 2021 to characterize flight behaviors of potential vectors of the oak wilt pathogen yielded three new species records for Canada, six new species records for Ontario, and three new species records for Manitoba. The new records for Canada include Carpophilus (Ecnomorphus) corticinus reported from Ontario, C. (Myothorax) nepos reported from Ontario and Manitoba, and Glischrochilus (Librodor) obtusus reported from Ontario. In addition, the following species are first recorded in Ontario: Carpophilus (Ecnomorphus) antiquus, C. (Megacarpolus) sayi, Stelidotacoenosa; and also in Manitoba: Carpophilus (Megacarpolus) lugubris and Cychramusadustus. Collection data is provided for the two provinces and national records.}, }
@article {pmid37234498, year = {2023}, author = {Zirler, R and Schmidt, LM and Roth, L and Corsini-Foka, M and Kalaentzis, K and Kondylatos, G and Mavrouleas, D and Bardanis, E and Bronstein, O}, title = {Mass mortality of the invasive alien echinoid Diadema setosum (Echinoidea: Diadematidae) in the Mediterranean Sea.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {230251}, doi = {10.1098/rsos.230251}, pmid = {37234498}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {The sea urchin Diadema setosum is an ecological key species across its range, particularly on coral reefs. In 2006 D. setosum was first observed in the Mediterranean Sea, and since, it has proliferated to occupy the entire Levantine Basin. Here we report the mass mortality of the invasive D. setosum in the Mediterranean Sea. This is the first report of D. setosum mass mortality. The mortality spans over 1000 km along the Levantine coast of Greece and Turkey. The current mortality shows similar pathologies to previously reported Diadema mass mortality events, suggesting pathogenic infection as the cause of mortalities. Maritime transport, local currents, and fish predation of infected individuals may distribute pathogens at varying geographical scales. Due to the proximity of the Levantine Basin to the Red Sea, the risk of pathogen transport to the native Red Sea D. setosum population is imminent-with potentially catastrophic consequences.}, }
@article {pmid37234270, year = {2023}, author = {,  and Bragard, C and Baptista, P and Chatzivassiliou, E and Di Serio, F and Gonthier, P and Jaques Miret, JA and Justesen, AF and Magnusson, CS and Milonas, P and Navas-Cortes, JA and Parnell, S and Potting, R and Reignault, PL and Stefani, E and Thulke, HH and Van der Werf, W and Vicent Civera, A and Yuen, J and Zappalà, L and Grégoire, JC and Malumphy, C and Kertesz, V and Maiorano, A and MacLeod, A}, title = {Pest categorisation of Solenopsis invicta.}, journal = {EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {e07998}, doi = {10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7998}, pmid = {37234270}, issn = {1831-4732}, abstract = {The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Solenopsis invicta Butler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) the red imported fire ant, for the EU territory. S. invicta is native to central South America and has spread to North and Central America, East Asia and Australia where it is recognised as a major invasive species causing serious environmental impacts to biodiversity and harming horticultural crops such as cabbage, eggplant and potatoes. It can girdle and kill young citrus trees. S. invicta is not listed as a Union quarantine pest in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. However, the European Scientific Forum on Invasive Alien Species lists S. invicta as a species of Union concern (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1203). Like other ant species, S. invicta is a social insect commonly creating colonies in the soil. Long-distance spread in the Americas has been attributed to nests being carried in soil accompanying plants for planting, or simply in soil alone. S. invicta could enter the EU via conveyances carrying a wide range of goods if the conveyance is contaminated with soil or has been in close contact with soil, and with plants for planting in soil or growing media. Climatic conditions in large parts of the southern EU are suitable for establishment and spread would occur when mated females disperse to form new colonies. If S. invicta established in the EU, losses to horticultural crops would be expected in addition to losses to biodiversity. The impacts of S. invicta go beyond plant health with the ant attacking new-born, hatching, weak or sick animals. Stings can cause allergic reactions in humans and are a public health issue. However, such factors are outside the scope of a pest categorisation. S. invicta satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.}, }
@article {pmid37233803, year = {2023}, author = {Leonhardt, F and Keller, A and Arranz Aveces, C and Ernst, R}, title = {From Alien Species to Alien Communities: Host- and Habitat-Associated Microbiomes in an Alien Amphibian.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37233803}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Alien species can host diverse microbial communities. These associated microbiomes may be important in the invasion process and their analysis requires a holistic community-based approach. We analysed the skin and gut microbiome of Eleutherodactylus johnstonei from native range populations in St Lucia and exotic range populations in Guadeloupe, Colombia, and European greenhouses along with their respective environmental microbial reservoir through a 16S metabarcoding approach. We show that amphibian-associated and environmental microbial communities can be considered as meta-communities that interact in the assembly process. High proportions of bacteria can disperse between frogs and environment, while respective abundances are rather determined by niche effects driven by the microbial community source and spatial environmental properties. Environmental transmissions appeared to have higher relevance for skin than for gut microbiome composition and variation. We encourage further experimental studies to assess the implications of turnover in amphibian-associated microbial communities and potentially invasive microbiota in the context of invasion success and impacts. Within this novel framework of "nested invasions," (meta-)community ecology thinking can complement and widen the traditional perspective on biological invasions.}, }
@article {pmid37233086, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Z and Xu, D and Liao, W and Xu, Y and Zhuo, Z}, title = {Predicting the Current and Future Distributions of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) Based on the MaxEnt Species Distribution Model.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14050458}, pmid = {37233086}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Climate change has a highly significant impact on the distribution of species. As the greenhouse effect intensifies each year, the distribution of organisms responds to this challenge in diverse ways. Therefore, climatic environmental variables are a key entry point for capturing the current and future distribution trends of pests. Frankliniella occidentalis is an invasive pest attested worldwide. Its damage is mainly divided into two aspects, including mechanical damage caused by its feeding and egg laying and the spread of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). TSWV is the most dominant transmitted virulent disease. Moreover, F. occidentalis is the major vector for the transmission of this virus, which poses a grave threat to the yield and survival of our crops. In this study, the distribution pattern of this pest was explored using 19 bioclimatic variables based on the Maxent model. The results indicated that in the future, high-suitability areas of F. occidentalis will be widely distributed in 19 provinces of China, with Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Tianjin and Yunnan being the most abundant. Among the 19 bioclimatic variables, the five variables of annual mean temperature (Bio 1), temperature seasonality (standard deviation × 100) (Bio 4), min temperature of the coldest month (Bio 6), mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio 9) and precipitation of the coldest quarter (Bio 19) were selected as the key environmental variables affecting the distribution of F. occidentalis. In summary, temperature and precipitation are vital factors for the study of the species' distribution, and this study aims to provide new perspectives for the control of this pest in China.}, }
@article {pmid37233061, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Chen, J and Wang, S and Jiang, K and Zhou, J and Zhu, R and Gao, C and Bu, W and Xue, H}, title = {Out of East Asia: Early Warning of the Possible Invasion of the Important Bean Pest Stalk-Eyed Seed Bug Chauliops fallax (Heteroptera: Malcidae: Chauliopinae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14050433}, pmid = {37233061}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The short stay at the beginning of the invasion process is a critical time for invasive species identification and preventing invasive species from developing a wider distribution and significant economic impact. The stalk-eyed seed bug Chauliops fallax is an important agricultural pest of soybean and was first reported to occur outside East Asia. Here, we reported the native evolutionary history, recent invasion history, and potential invasion threats of C. fallax for the first time based on population genetic methods and ecological niche modelling. The results showed that four native East Asian genetic groups (EA, WE, TL, and XZ) were well supported, showing an east-west differentiation pattern consistent with the geographical characteristics of three-step landforms in China. Two main haplotypes existed: Hap1 might have experienced a rapid northwards expansion process after the LGM period, and Hap5 reflected local adaptation to the environment in southeastern China. The Kashmir sample was found to come from the recent invasion of populations in the coastal areas of southern China. Ecological niche modelling results suggested that North America has a high risk of invasion, which might pose a serious threat to local soybean production. In addition, with future global warming, the suitable habitat in Asia will move towards the higher latitude region and gradually deviate from the soybean planting area, which indicates the threat of C. fallax to soybean production in Asia will decrease in the future. The results could provide new insights into the monitoring and management of this agricultural pest in the early invasion stage.}, }
@article {pmid37231442, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, X and Yan, C and Ma, Z and Wang, Q and Zhao, J and Zhang, R and He, L and Zheng, W}, title = {Ornamental plants associated with Buddhist figures in China.}, journal = {Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {19}, pmid = {37231442}, issn = {1746-4269}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In China, many ornamental plants associated with Buddhist figures, including the Sakyamuni, Bodhisattva, and Arhat, were grown and worshiped because of their cultural and religious significance. However, the systematic collation and ethnobotanical information about these culturally important plants have yet to be fully understood.<br><br>METHODS: Online information was collected from 93 e-commercial platforms for ornamental plants all over China. Field sampling was conducted in 16 ornamental markets and 163 Buddhist temples using key informant interviews and participatory observation with traders, tourists, and local disciples. The types, distributions, and associated characteristics of the screened plants were summarized and the evolving characteristics of these ornamental plants were analyzed.<br><br>RESULTS: A total of 60 ornamental plants, including six varieties and one subspecies, were screened, of which 43 species were associated with Sakyamuni, 13 with Bodhisattva, and four with Arhat. Among the 60 species, three were regarded as the Asoka tree related to Buddha's birth, ten as the Bodhi tree connected to Buddha's enlightenment, three as the Sal tree associated with Buddha's nirvana, nine were related to Buddha's head, belly, or hand, and 18 were connected with Buddha as lotus throne, bamboo monastery, or Bodhi beads. The evolving characteristics of these ornamental plants primarily constituted the substitution of the original plants by similar native plant species, followed by the introduced species with comparable morphology to the Buddhist figures.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: People grow ornamental plants associated with Buddhist figures to reflect their love and praise for plants and Buddha. The association between the ornamental plants and Buddhist figures will aid the inheritance of Buddhist culture and promote ornamental plants in the commercial market. Thus, the ethnobotany of ornamental plants associated with Buddhist figures can serve as a basis for future investigation of modern Buddhist culture.}, }
@article {pmid37231282, year = {2023}, author = {Hakim, N and Ahmad, M and Rathee, S and Sharma, P and Kaur, S and Batish, DR and Singh, HP}, title = {Invasive Cirsium arvense displays different resource-use strategies along local habitat heterogeneity in the trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh.}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {195}, number = {6}, pages = {730}, pmid = {37231282}, issn = {1573-2959}, abstract = {Climate change and anthropogenic pressures have resulted in a significant shift in the invasion susceptibility and frequency of non-native species in mountain ecosystems. Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Family: Asteraceae) is an invasive species that spreads quickly in mountains, especially in the trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh. The current study used a trait-based approach to evaluate the impact of local habitat heterogeneity (soil physico-chemical properties) on C. arvense. Thirteen plant functional traits (root, shoot, leaf, and reproductive traits) of C. arvense were studied in three different habitat types (agricultural, marshy, and roadside). Functional trait variability in C. arvense was higher between, than within habitats (between different populations). All the functional traits interacted with habitat change, except for leaf count and seed mass. Soil properties strongly affect C. arvense's resource-use strategies across habitats. The plant adapted to a resource-poor environment (roadside habitat) by conserving resources and to a resource-rich environment (agricultural and marshy land habitat) by acquiring them. The ability of C. arvense to use resources differently reflects its persistence in introduced habitats. In summary, our study shows that C. arvense invades different habitats in introduced regions through trait adaptations and resource-use strategies in the trans-Himalayan region.}, }
@article {pmid37224664, year = {2023}, author = {Li, N and Rao, W and Dai, S and Iqbal, MS and Shi, H and Ding, L and Hong, M}, title = {Seasonal spermatogenesis in the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans): The roles of GnRH, actin cytoskeleton, and MAPK.}, journal = {Animal reproduction science}, volume = {253}, number = {}, pages = {107253}, doi = {10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107253}, pmid = {37224664}, issn = {1873-2232}, abstract = {Reproduction is the key to the ecological invasion of alien species. As an invasive species, the characteristic and regularity of red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) spermatogenesis is an index for evaluating reproduction and ecological adaptation. Here, we investigated the characteristics of spermatogenesis i.e., the gonadosomatic index (GSI), plasma reproductive hormone levels, and the histological structure of testes by HE and TUNEL staining, and then RNA-Seq in T. s. elegans. The histomorphological evidence confirmed that seasonal spermatogenesis in T. s. elegans has four successive phases: quiescence (December-May of the following year), early-stage (June-July), mid-stage (August-September), and late-stage (October-November). In contrast to 17β-estradiol, testosterone levels were higher during quiescence (breeding season) compared to mid-stage (non-breeding season). Based on RNA-seq transcriptional analysis, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were used to analyze the testis in the quiescent and mid-stage. Our study found that circannual spermatogenesis is regulated by interactive networks including gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, the number of genes associated with proliferation and differentiation (srf, nr4a1), cell cycle (ppard, ccnb2), and apoptosis (xiap) were up-regulated in the mid-stage. With the maximum energy saving, this seasonal pattern of T. s. elegans determines optimal reproductive success and thus adapts better to the environment. These results provide the basis for the invasion mechanism of T. s. elegans and lay the foundation for deeper insight into the molecular mechanism of seasonal spermatogenesis in reptiles.}, }
@article {pmid37220734, year = {2023}, author = {Bertelsmeier, C}, title = {Biological invasions: The secret domination of alien ants.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {10}, pages = {R410-R413}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.053}, pmid = {37220734}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Globalization has contributed to the spread of thousands of species, yet only a few harmful ones have attracted most attention. New evidence shows that introduced ants are a particularly important group of global invaders that can dominate native insect communities.}, }
@article {pmid37222245, year = {2023}, author = {Chapman, NC and Colin, T and Cook, J and da Silva, CRB and Gloag, R and Hogendoorn, K and Howard, SR and Remnant, EJ and Roberts, JMK and Tierney, SM and Wilson, RS and Mikheyev, AS}, title = {The final frontier: ecological and evolutionary dynamics of a global parasite invasion.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {5}, pages = {20220589}, doi = {10.1098/rsbl.2022.0589}, pmid = {37222245}, issn = {1744-957X}, abstract = {Studying rapid biological changes accompanying the introduction of alien organisms into native ecosystems can provide insights into fundamental ecological and evolutionary theory. While powerful, this quasi-experimental approach is difficult to implement because the timing of invasions and their consequences are hard to predict, meaning that baseline pre-invasion data are often missing. Exceptionally, the eventual arrival of Varroa destructor (hereafter Varroa) in Australia has been predicted for decades. Varroa is a major driver of honeybee declines worldwide, particularly as vectors of diverse RNA viruses. The detection of Varroa in 2022 at over a hundred sites poses a risk of further spread across the continent. At the same time, careful study of Varroa's spread, if it does become established, can provide a wealth of information that can fill knowledge gaps about its effects worldwide. This includes how Varroa affects honeybee populations and pollination. Even more generally, Varroa invasion can serve as a model for evolution, virology and ecological interactions between the parasite, the host and other organisms.}, }
@article {pmid37218996, year = {2023}, author = {Clontz, LM and Yang, A and Chinn, SM and Pepin, KM and VerCauteren, KC and Wittemyer, G and Miller, RS and Beasley, JC}, title = {Role of social structure in establishment of an invasive large mammal after translocation.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7567}, pmid = {37218996}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Data on the movement behavior of translocated wild pigs is needed to develop appropriate response strategies for containing and eliminating new source populations following translocation events. We conducted experimental trials to compare the home range establishment and space-use metrics, including the number of days and distance traveled before becoming range residents, for wild pigs translocated with their social group and individually.<br><br>RESULTS: We found wild pigs translocated with their social group made less extensive movements away from the release location and established a stable home range ~5&#x2009;days faster than the ones translocated individually. We also examined how habitat quality impacted the home range sizes of translocated wild pigs and found wild pigs maintained larger ranges in areas with higher proportion of low-quality habitat.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Collectively, our findings suggest translocations of invasive wild pigs have a greater probability of establishing a viable population near the release site when habitat quality is high and when released with members of their social unit compared to individuals moved independent of their social group or to low-quality habitat. However, all wild pigs translocated in our study made extensive movements from their release location, highlighting the potential for single translocation events of either individuals or groups to have far-reaching consequences within a much broader landscape beyond the location where they are released. These results highlight the challenges associated with containing populations in areas where illegal introduction of wild pigs occurs, and the need for rapid response once releases are identified. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid37217596, year = {2023}, author = {Park, SH and Kim, JH and Kim, JG}, title = {Effects of human activities on Sericinus montela and its host plant Aristolochia contorta.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {8289}, pmid = {37217596}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Sericinus montela, a globally threatened butterfly species, feeds exclusively on Aristolochia contorta (Northern pipevine). Field surveys and glasshouse experiments were conducted to obtain a better understanding of the relationship between the two species. Interviews with the persons concerned with A. contorta were conducted to collect information about the site management measures. We found that management practices to control invasive species and manage the riverine areas might reduce the coverage of A. contorta and the number of eggs and larvae of S. montela. Our results indicated that the degraded quality of A. contorta may result in a decrease in S. montela populations by diminishing their food source and spawning sites. This study implies that ecological management in the riverine area should be set up to protect rare species and biodiversity.}, }
@article {pmid36754710, year = {2023}, author = {Lockwood, JL and Lieurance, D and Flory, SL and Meyerson, LA and Ricciardi, A and Simberloff, D}, title = {Moving scholarship on invasion science forward.}, journal = {Trends in ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {495-496}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2023.01.006}, pmid = {36754710}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {*Introduced Species ; }, }
@article {pmid37216867, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, X and Hu, Y and Ma, JY and Wang, H and Wang, KL and Wang, T and Jiang, SY and Jiao, JB and Sun, YK and Jiang, XL and Li, MY}, title = {Nitrogen Deposition Effects on Invasive and Native Plant Competition: Implications for Future Invasions.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {259}, number = {}, pages = {115029}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115029}, pmid = {37216867}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) deposition has increased dramatically in recent decades, which is significantly affecting the invasion and growth of exotic plants. Whether N deposition leads to invasive alien species becoming competitively superior to native species remains to be investigated. In the present study, an invasive species (Oenothera biennis L.) and three co-occurring native species (Artemisia argyi Lévl. et Vant., Inula japonica Thunb., and Chenopodium album L.) were grown in a monoculture (two seedlings of the same species) or mixed culture (one seedling of O. biennis and one seedling of a native species) under three levels of N deposition (0, 6, and 12 g∙m[-2]∙year[-1]). Nitrogen deposition had no effect on soil N and P content. Nitrogen deposition enhanced the crown area, total biomass, leaf chlorophyll content, and leaf N to phosphorus ratio in both invasive and native plants. Oenothera biennis dominated competition with C. album and I. japonica due to its high resource acquisition and absorption capacity (greater height, canopy, leaf chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b ratio, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf N content, leaf mass fraction, and lower root-to-shoot ratio). However, the native species A. argyi exhibited competitive ability similar to O. biennis. Thus, invasive species are not always superior competitors of native species; this depends on the identities of the native species. High N deposition enhanced the competitive dominance of O. biennis over I. japonica by 15.45% but did not alter the competitive dominance of O. biennis over C. album. Furthermore, N deposition did not affect the dominance of O. biennis or A. argyi. Therefore, the species composition of the native community must be considered when preparing to resist future biological invasions. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the invasion mechanisms of alien species under N-loading conditions.}, }
@article {pmid37216028, year = {2023}, author = {Irimia, RE and Montesinos, D and Chaturvedi, A and Sanders, I and Hierro, JL and Sotes, G and Cavieres, LA and Eren, &#xd6; and Lortie, CJ and French, K and Brennan, AC}, title = {Trait evolution during a rapid global weed invasion despite little genetic differentiation.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {997-1011}, doi = {10.1111/eva.13548}, pmid = {37216028}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Invasive species often possess a great capacity to adapt to novel environments in the form of spatial trait variation, as a result of varying selection regimes, genetic drift, or plasticity. We explored the geographic differentiation in several phenotypic traits related to plant growth, reproduction, and defense in the highly invasive Centaurea solstitialis by measuring neutral genetic differentiation (F ST), and comparing it with phenotypic differentiation (P ST), in a common garden experiment in individuals originating from regions representing the species distribution across five continents. Native plants were more fecund than non-native plants, but the latter displayed considerably larger seed mass. We found indication of divergent selection for these two reproductive traits but little overall genetic differentiation between native and non-native ranges. The native versus invasive P ST-F ST comparisons demonstrated that, in several invasive regions, seed mass had increased proportionally more than the genetic differentiation. Traits displayed different associations with climate variables in different regions. Both capitula numbers and seed mass were associated with winter temperature and precipitation and summer aridity in some regions. Overall, our study suggests that rapid evolution has accompanied invasive success of C. solstitialis and provides new insights into traits and their genetic bases that can contribute to fitness advantages in non-native populations.}, }
@article {pmid37210676, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, C and Xu, M and Zhang, J and Zhou, X}, title = {High-latitude invasion and environmental adaptability of the freshwater mussel Limnoperna fortunei in Beijing, China.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2887}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2887}, pmid = {37210676}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {The invasive freshwater mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) has spread widely throughout Asia and South America, especially via inter-basin water diversion and navigation. The middle route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP), the terminal of which is Beijing, has diverted more than 60 billion m[3] of water from the Yangtze River Basin to Northern China since December 2014. Limnoperna fortunei has spread north to Beijing along the SNWTP, biofouling its channels and tunnels. To determine the status of L. fortunei's invasion in Beijing, we systematically inspected the water bodies receiving southern water, including all branches of the SNWTP, water treatment plants, lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. We measured the densities of adults and veligers of L. fortunei and conducted eDNA analyses of water samples. A generalized linear model and canonical correspondence analysis were adopted to investigate the correlations between environmental (e.g., water temperature, conductivity, pH, total nitrogen, and phosphorus) and biological (e.g., chlorophyll a, plankton density, and community composition) variables and the densities of adults and veligers of L. fortunei. Water temperature is the most important factor in determining the densities of D-shaped and pediveliger veligers, with explanatory variable contributions of 56.2% and 43.9%, respectively. The pH affects the densities of D-shaped, umbonated, and pediveliger veligers. The density of plantigrade veligers is negatively correlated with the conductivity and positively correlated with the concentration of chlorophyll a. Canonical correspondence analysis shows a weak correlation between the dominant phytoplankton taxa and the density of veligers. The densities of D-shaped, umbonated, and pediveliger veligers are positively correlated with the density of small phytoplankton (12.54 ± 4.33 μm), and the density of plantigrade veligers is positively correlated with the density of large (16.12 ± 5.96 μm) phytoplankton. The density of planktonic veligers is well correlated with local abiotic variables, and that of plantigrade veligers is less correlated with local abiotic variables. This finding implies that controlling early-stage veligers by altering water temperature, pH, and food size might effectively control establishment of further L. fortunei colonies.}, }
@article {pmid37205698, year = {2023}, author = {Jara-Servin, A and Silva, A and Barajas, H and Cruz-Ortega, R and Tinoco-Ojanguren, C and Alcaraz, LD}, title = {Root microbiome diversity and structure of the Sonoran desert buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare L.).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {e0285978}, pmid = {37205698}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; *Pennisetum/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Cenchrus/genetics ; Plants/genetics ; Introduced Species ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) is an invasive plant introduced into Mexico's Sonoran desert for cattle grazing and has converted large areas of native thorn scrub. One of the invasion mechanisms buffelgrass uses to invade is allelopathy, which consists of the production and secretion of allelochemicals that exert adverse effects on other plants' growth. The plant microbiome also plays a vital role in establishing invasive plants and host growth and development. However, little is known about the buffelgrass root-associated bacteria and the effects of allelochemicals on the microbiome. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to obtain the microbiome of buffelgrass and compare it between samples treated with root exacknudates and aqueous leachates as allelochemical exposure and samples without allelopathic exposure in two different periods. The Shannon diversity values were between H' = 5.1811-5.5709, with 2,164 reported bacterial Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs). A total of 24 phyla were found in the buffelgrass microbiome, predominantly Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria. At the genus level, 30 different genera comprised the buffelgrass core microbiome. Our results show that buffelgrass recruits microorganisms capable of thriving under allelochemical conditions and may be able to metabolize them (e.g., Planctomicrobium, Aurantimonas, and Tellurimicrobium). We also found that the community composition of the microbiome changes depending on the developmental state of buffelgrass (p = 0.0366; ANOSIM). These findings provide new insights into the role of the microbiome in the establishment of invasive plant species and offer potential targets for developing strategies to control buffelgrass invasion.}, }
@article {pmid37209748, year = {2023}, author = {Xiao, M and Cai, T and Wang, X and Cheng, J and Liu, B and Xia, X and Chen, Y}, title = {Response of native and exotic saltmarsh species to sediment deposition addition.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {164271}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164271}, pmid = {37209748}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The native saltmarsh species Scirpus mariqueter (hereafter S. mariqueter) and the exotic species saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora Loisel., hereafter S. alterniflora), have been found commonly in regional saltmarsh ecosystems which received a large amount of sediment inputs from Yangtze River, eastern coasts of China. For the purpose of saltmarsh restoration and invasive species management, it is important to understand the response of vegetation species to various sediment inputs. This study investigated and compared the effects of sediment addition on S. mariqueter and S. alterniflora through laboratory experiment using vegetation samples collected from a natural saltmarsh with a high sedimentation rate (12 cm a[-1]). Plant growth parameters over their growth period, including survival rate, height and biomass were measured against sediment addition gradient (0 cm, 3 cm, 6 cm, 9 cm, and 12 cm in thickness). The results showed that sediment addition significantly affected the growth of vegetation but this effect varied between two species. Compared with the control group, the growth of S. mariqueter was promoted with sediment addition of 3-6 cm, but it turned to inhibition when the sediment thickness exceeded 6 cm. The growth of S. alterniflora was increased with increasing sediment addition till 9-12 cm, but the survival rate of each group kept stable. Overall, against a gradient sediment addition, S. mariqueter was found to benefit from low to moderate sediment addition (3-6 cm) but higher addition showed inhabitation effects. S. alterniflora benefited from increasing sediment addition to a point. When facing high sediment inputs, S. alterniflora was found to be more adaptable than S. mariqueter. These results have important implications for further studies on saltmarsh restoration and interspecific competition against a high sediment input background.}, }
@article {pmid37208829, year = {2023}, author = {Salter, JF and Brumfield, RT and Faircloth, BC}, title = {An island 'endemic' born out of hybridization between introduced lineages.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16990}, pmid = {37208829}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Humans have profoundly impacted the distribution of plant and animal species over thousands of years. The most direct example of these effects is human-mediated movement of individuals, either through translocation of individuals within their range or through the introduction of species to new habitats. While human involvement may be suspected in species with obvious range disjunctions, it can be difficult to detect natural versus human-mediated dispersal events for populations at the edge of a species' range, and this uncertainty muddles how we understand the evolutionary history of populations and broad biogeographical patterns. Studies combining genetic data with archaeological, linguistic and historical evidence have confirmed prehistoric examples of human-mediated dispersal; however, it is unclear whether these methods can disentangle recent dispersal events, such as species translocated by European colonizers during the past 500 years. We use genomic DNA from historical museum specimens and historical records to evaluate three hypotheses regarding the timing and origin of Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in Cuba, whose status as an endemic or introduced population has long been debated. We discovered that bobwhites from southern Mexico arrived in Cuba between the 12th and 16th centuries, followed by the subsequent introduction of bobwhites from the southeastern USA to Cuba between the 18th and 20th centuries. These dates suggest the introduction of bobwhites to Cuba was human-mediated and concomitant with Spanish colonial shipping routes between Veracruz, Mexico and Havana, Cuba during this period. Our results identify endemic Cuban bobwhites as a genetically distinct population born of hybridization between divergent, introduced lineages.}, }
@article {pmid37208377, year = {2023}, author = {Polce, C and Cardoso, AC and Deriu, I and Gervasini, E and Tsiamis, K and Vigiak, O and Zulian, G and Maes, J}, title = {Invasive alien species of policy concerns show widespread patterns of invasion and potential pressure across European ecosystems.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {8124}, pmid = {37208377}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Animals, plants, and other organisms unintentionally or deliberately brought into a natural environment where they are not normally found, and where they cause harmful effects on that environment, are known also as invasive alien species (IAS). They represent a major threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and can affect negatively human health and the economy. We assessed the presence and potential pressure by IAS on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems across 27 European countries, for 66 IAS of policy concern. We computed a spatial indicator that accounts for the number of IAS present in an area and the extent of the ecosystems affected; for each ecosystem, we also looked at the pattern of invasions in the different biogeographical regions. We found disproportionally greater invasion in the Atlantic region, followed by Continental and Mediterranean regions, possibly related to historical patterns of first introductions. Urban and freshwater ecosystems were the most invaded (nearly 68% and ca. 52% of their extent respectively), followed by forest and woodland (nearly 44%). The average potential pressure of IAS was greater across cropland and forests, where we also found the lowest coefficient of variation. This assessment can be repeated over time to derive trends and monitor progress towards environmental policy objectives.}, }
@article {pmid37207739, year = {2023}, author = {Monteiro, J and Marks, CA and Braga, PC and Bernardino, RL and Alves, MG and Lobo-da-Cunha, A and Videira, A and Pereira, F}, title = {The role of ion homeostasis imbalance due to citrate accumulation in fluoroacetic acid (FAA) toxicity in Neurospora crassa.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology &amp; pharmacology : CBP}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {109661}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpc.2023.109661}, pmid = {37207739}, issn = {1532-0456}, abstract = {Fluoroacetic acid (FAA) is a poison commonly used for the lethal control of invasive species in Australia and New Zealand. Despite its widespread use and long history as a pesticide, no effective treatment for accidental poisoning exists. Although it is known to inhibit the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, specific details of FAA toxicology have remained elusive, with hypocalcemia suggested to be involved in the neurological symptoms prior to death. Here, we study the effects of FAA on cell growth and mitochondrial function using the filamentous fungi Neurospora crassa as model organism. FAA toxicosis in N. crassa is characterized by an initial hyperpolarization and subsequent depolarization of the mitochondrial membranes, followed by a significant intracellular decrease in ATP and increase in Ca[2+]. The development of mycelium was markedly affected within 6 h, and growth impaired after 24 h of FAA exposure. Although the activity of mitochondrial complexes I, II and IV was impaired, the activity of citrate synthase was not affected. Supplementation with Ca[2+] exacerbated the effects of FAA in cell growth and membrane potential. Our findings suggest that an imbalance created in the ratio of ions within the mitochondria may lead to conformational changes in ATP synthase dimers due to mitochondrial Ca[2+] uptake, that ultimately result in the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), a decrease in membrane potential, and cell death. Our findings suggest new approaches for the treatment research, as well as the possibility to use N. crassa as a high-throughput screening assay to evaluate a large number of FAA antidote candidates.}, }
@article {pmid37207588, year = {2023}, author = {Señorans, S and R-Díaz, J and Escalante, D and González, LA and Díaz, L}, title = {Ce/Pumice and Ni/Pumice as heterogeneous catalysts for syngas production from biomass gasification.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {166}, number = {}, pages = {270-279}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2023.05.017}, pmid = {37207588}, issn = {1879-2456}, abstract = {This work presents a study of synthesis and characterization of catalysts-based cerium and nickel supported on the pumice stone (Ce/Pumice and Ni/Pumice) to be used in the gasification process of an invasive species present in the Canary Islands, such as Pennisetum setaceum to obtain syngas. Specifically, the effect of the metal impregnated on the pumice, and the effect of catalyst on the gasification process was studied. For this purpose, the composition of the gas was determined and the results obtained were compared with those obtained in non-catalytic thermochemical processes. Gasification tests were performed using a simultaneous thermal analyzer coupled with a mass spectrometer, providing a detailed analysis of the gases released during the process. The results showed that during the catalytic gasification process of the Pennisetum setaceum, the gases produced appear at lower temperatures in the catalytic process that in the non-catalytic process. Specifically, H2 appears at 640.42 °C and 641.84 °C when Ce/pumice and Ni/pumice were used as catalyst, respectively, compared to 697.41 °C for the non-catalytic process. Moreover, the reactivity at 50 % of char conversion for the catalytic process (0.34 and 0.38 min[-1] for Ce/pumice and Ni/pumice, respectively) was higher than for the non-catalytic process (0.28 min[-1]), indicating that the incorporation of Ce and Ni on the pumitic material increases the gasification rate of the char compared to the pumitic support. Catalytic biomass gasification is an innovative technology that can provide new opportunities for research and development of renewable energy technologies, as well as for the creation of green jobs.}, }
@article {pmid37207488, year = {2023}, author = {Anton, BJ and Cornelius Ruhs, E and White, AM and Dehnert, GK}, title = {Elucidating the effects of acute and chronic exposure to 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) innate immunity.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {260}, number = {}, pages = {106571}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106571}, pmid = {37207488}, issn = {1879-1514}, abstract = {Aquatic herbicides, such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) formulations, are commonly used for invasive species management throughout the United States. Ecologically relevant concentrations of 2,4-D can impair essential behaviors, reduce survival, and act as an endocrine disruptor; however, there is limited knowledge of its effects on the health of non-target organisms. Here, we investigate the acute and chronic exposure impacts of 2,4-D on adult male and female fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) innate immune function. We exposed both adult male and female fathead minnows to three different ecologically relevant concentrations of 2,4-D (0.00, 0.40, and 4.00 mg/L) and took blood samples at three acute time points (6, 24, and 96 h) and one chronic time point (30 days). We found that male fatheads had higher total white blood cell concentrations when exposed to 2,4-D at the acute time points. For the females, only proportions of specific cell types were altered when exposed to 2,4-D at the acute time points. However, we did not observe any significant impacts of chronic exposure to 2,4-D on any innate immune responses for either males or females. Overall, this study is the first step in answering an important question for game fisheries and management agencies while providing insight to future studies that investigate the impacts of herbicide exposure to freshwater fish health and immunity.}, }
@article {pmid37207001, year = {2023}, author = {Koh, EY and Ong, J and Wang, Y and Toh, X and Fernandez, CJ and Huangfu, T and Hall, RN and Toh, S and Lim, K and Sng, W and Lim, HP and Ho, K and Chang, SF and Yap, HH}, title = {Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 from Singapore 2020 outbreak revealed an Australian recombinant variant.}, journal = {Virus evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {vead029}, doi = {10.1093/ve/vead029}, pmid = {37207001}, issn = {2057-1577}, abstract = {Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a significant and debilitating viral disease affecting lagomorphs. In September 2020, Singapore reported its first cases of RHD virus (RHDV) infection in domesticated rabbits. The initial findings reported that the outbreak strain belonged to genotype GI.2 (RHDV2/RHDVb), and epidemiological investigations could not identify the definitive source of the virus origin. Further recombination detection and phylogenetic analyses of the Singapore outbreak strain revealed that the RHDV was a GI.2 structural (S)/GI.4 non-structural (NS) recombinant variant. Sequence analyses on the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database showed high homology to recently emerged Australian variants, which were prevalent in local Australian lagomorph populations since 2017. Time-structured and phylogeographic analyses for the S and NS genes revealed a close genetic relationship between the Singapore RHDV strain and the Australian RHDV variants. More thorough epidemiological inquiries are necessary to ascertain how an Australian RHDV was introduced into the Singapore rabbit population, and opportune development of RHDV diagnostics and vaccines will be important to safeguard lagomorphs from future RHDV infection and disease management.}, }
@article {pmid37205902, year = {2023}, author = {Pike, CL and Kofler, B and Richner, H and Tebbich, S}, title = {Parental food provisioning and nestling growth under Philornis downsi parasitism in the Galapagos Green Warbler-Finch, classified as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN.}, journal = {Journal of ornithology}, volume = {164}, number = {3}, pages = {669-676}, doi = {10.1007/s10336-023-02049-9}, pmid = {37205902}, issn = {2193-7192}, abstract = {In the Galapagos Islands, many endemic landbird populations are declining due to habitat degradation, food availability, introduced species and other factors. Given nestlings typically lack efficient defense mechanisms against parasites, hematophagous ectoparasites such as the larvae of the introduced Avian Vampire Fly, Philornis downsi, can impose high brood mortality and cause threatening population declines in Darwin finches and other landbirds. Here, we assess whether the food compensation hypothesis (i.e., the parents' potential to compensate for deleterious parasite effects via increased food provisioning) applies to the Green Warbler-Finch. We differentiated nests with low or high infestation levels by P. downsi and quantified food provisioning rates of male and female parents, time females spent brooding nestlings, and nestling growth. Male provisioning rates, total provisioning rates and female brooding time did not significantly vary in relation to infestation levels, nor by the number of nestlings. Opposed to the predictions of the food compensation hypothesis, females showed significantly reduced provisioning rates at high infestation levels. Nestling body mass was significantly lower and there was a reduction of skeletal growth, although not significantly, in highly infested nests. The females' response to high infestation may be due to parasites directly attacking and weakening brooding females, or else that females actively reduce current reproductive effort in favor of future reproduction. This life-history trade-off may be typical for Darwin finches and many tropical birds with long lifespans and therefore high residual reproductive value. Conservation strategies may not build on the potential for parental food compensation by this species.}, }
@article {pmid37202455, year = {2023}, author = {Jabeen, S and Ali, MF and Mohi Ud Din, A and Javed, T and Mohammed, NS and Chaudhari, SK and Javed, MA and Ali, B and Zhang, L and Rahimi, M}, title = {Phytochemical screening and allelopathic potential of phytoextracts of three invasive grass species.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {8080}, pmid = {37202455}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Undoubtedly, it is important to remain vigilant and manage invasive grasses to prevent their spread and mitigate their negative impact on the environment. However, these aggressive plants can also play a beneficial role in certain contexts. For example, several invasive grasses provide valuable forage for livestock and have disease control potential. Therefore, a research experiment was conducted to explore the pros and cons of this approach, not only for surrounding vegetation but also for human and animal disease control. The study is primarily focused on developing livestock feed, plant-derived herbicides, and an understanding of the phytotoxic effects of invasive species. All plant parts of Cenchrus ciliaris L., Polypogon monspeliansis L., and Dicanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf, were tested for their phyto-chemical screening, proximate, and toxicity analysis which was caused by the methanolic extract of these grass species. Qualitative phytochemical screening tests were performed for proximate composition analysis and toxicity assessment essays. The phytochemical analysis revealed the positive results for alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, phenols, saponins, and glycosides, while negative for tannins. Comparison of proximate analysis intimated maximum moisture (10.8%) and crude fat (4.1%) in P. monspeliensis, whereas maximum dry matter (84.1%), crude protein (13.95%), crude fiber (11%), and ash (7.2%) in D. annulatum. Five (10, 100, 500, 100, 10,000 ppm) and three (10, 1000, 10,000 ppm) different concentrations of methanolic extract prepared from C. ciliaris, P. monspeliansis, and D. annulatum were used respectively for root inhibition and seed germination essay. Furthermore, three different concentrations (10, 30, 50 mg) of plant fine powder were used for sandwich method test. There was a significant decline in the growth rate of experimental model radish seeds (P > 0.005), and results from sandwich method tests showed suppressed growth of root hairs, inhibiting the anchoring of the radish seed. In comparison, results manifest that; P. monspeliansis indicated an upsurge of inhibition (66.58% at 10,000 ppm), D. annulatum revealed soar germination (75.86% in controlled conditions), and C. ciliaris exhibited dramatic shoot up of inhibition because of sandwich method test (14.02% at 50 mg). In conclusion, although grasses are toxic, it is important to consider the beneficiary account.}, }
@article {pmid37133424, year = {2023}, author = {Minghetti, E and Dellapé, PM and Montemayor, SI}, title = {From North/Central America to the World? Assessing the potential of Pycnoderes quadrimaculatus Guerin-Meneville (Heteroptera: Miridae) as a pest through Ecological Niche Models.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7525}, pmid = {37133424}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Pycnoderes quadrimaculatus is a pest that feeds on several plants, many of which are economically important. It is native to North/Central America and its distribution has expanded to several countries in South America.<br><br>RESULTS: Ecological niche models show that P. quadrimaculatus has invaded regions with climates different from those of its native range, and that there are suitable climatic conditions for its establishment worldwide. Regions where P. quadrimaculatus is a major threat and possible natural pathways of ingression were identified. In the future, its distribution will be modified by climate change.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study provides useful information for risk assessment and pest management of P. quadrimaculatus. According to our results, the species has great potential as a pest because it can adapt to different climatic conditions and feeds on a wide range of economically important plants. Over time, its distribution has expanded, and our models suggest that it will continue to invade other regions unless preventive measures are taken. &#xa9; 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.}, }
@article {pmid37202381, year = {2023}, author = {Nelufule, T and Robertson, MP and Wilson, JRU and Faulkner, KT}, title = {Publisher Correction: An inventory of native-alien populations in South Africa.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {290}, doi = {10.1038/s41597-023-02216-w}, pmid = {37202381}, issn = {2052-4463}, }
@article {pmid37198315, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, A and Baskin, CC and Baskin, JM and Ding, J}, title = {Trade-offs between diaspore dispersal and dormancy within a spike of the invasive annual grass Aegilops tauschii.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {257}, number = {6}, pages = {121}, pmid = {37198315}, issn = {1432-2048}, abstract = {Differences in dispersal and dormancy of heteromorphic diaspores of Aegilos tauschii may increase its flexibility to invade/occupy weedy unpredictable habitats by spreading risk in space and time. In plant species that produce dimorphic seeds, there often is a negative relationship between dispersal and dormancy, with high dispersal-low dormancy in one morph and low dispersal-high dormancy in the other, which may function as a bet-hedging strategy that spreads the risk of survival and ensures reproductive success. However, the relationship between dispersal and dormancy and its ecological consequences in invasive annual grasses that produce heteromorphic diaspores is not well studied. We compared dispersal and dormancy responses of diaspores from the basal (proximal) to the distal position on compound spikes of Aegilops tauschii, an invasive grass with heteromorphic diaspores. Dispersal ability increased and degree of dormancy decreased as diaspore position on a spike increased from basal to distal. There was a significant positive correlation between length of awns and dispersal ability, and awn removal significantly promoted seed germination. Germination was positively correlated with GA concentration and negatively correlated with ABA concentration, and the ABA: GA ratio was high in seeds with low germination/high dormancy. Thus, there was a continuous inverse-linear relationship between diaspore dispersal ability and degree of dormancy. This negative relationship between diaspore dispersal and degree of dormancy at different positions on a spike of Aegilops tauschii may facilitate seedling survival in space and time.}, }
@article {pmid37197712, year = {2023}, author = {Wingler, A and Sandel, B}, title = {Relationships of the competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal functional strategies of grass species with lifespan, photosynthetic type, naturalization and climate.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {plad021}, doi = {10.1093/aobpla/plad021}, pmid = {37197712}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Grass species (family Poaceae) are globally distributed, adapted to a wide range of climates and express a diversity of functional strategies. We explored the functional strategies of grass species using the competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal (CSR) system and asked how a species' strategy relates to its functional traits, climatic distribution and propensity to become naturalized outside its native range. We used a global set of trait data for grass species to classify functional strategies according to the CSR system based on leaf traits. Differences in strategies in relation to lifespan (annual or perennial), photosynthetic type (C3 or C4), or naturalisation (native or introduced) were investigated. In addition, correlations with traits not included in the CSR classification were analyzed, and a model was fitted to predict a species' average mean annual temperature and annual precipitation across its range as a function of CSR scores. Values for competitiveness were higher in C4 species than in C3 species, values for stress tolerance were higher in perennials than in annuals, and introduced species had more pronounced competitive-ruderal strategies than native species. Relationships between the CSR classification, based on leaf traits, and other functional traits were analyzed. Competitiveness was positively correlated with height, while ruderality was correlated with specific root length, indicating that both above- and belowground traits underlying leaf and root economics contribute to realized CSR strategies. Further, relationships between climate and CSR classification showed that species with competitive strategies were more common in warm climates and at high precipitation, whereas species with stress tolerance strategies were more common in cold climates and at low precipitation. The findings presented here demonstrate that CSR classification of functional strategies based on leaf traits matches expectations for the adaptations of grass species that underlie lifespan, photosynthetic type, naturalization and climate.}, }
@article {pmid37193854, year = {2023}, author = {Atsawawaranunt, K and Ewart, KM and Major, RE and Johnson, RN and Santure, AW and Whibley, A}, title = {Tracing the introduction of the invasive common myna using population genomics.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37193854}, issn = {1365-2540}, abstract = {The common myna (Acridotheres tristis) is one of the most invasive bird species in the world, yet its colonisation history is only partly understood. We identified the introduction history and population structure, and quantified the genetic diversity of myna populations from the native range in India and introduced populations in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, and South Africa, based on thousands of single nucleotide polymorphism markers in 814 individuals. We were able to identify the source population of mynas in several invasive locations: mynas from Fiji and Melbourne, Australia, were likely founded by individuals from a subpopulation in Maharashtra, India, while mynas in Hawaii and South Africa were likely independently founded by individuals from other localities in India. Our findings suggest that New Zealand mynas were founded by individuals from Melbourne, which, in turn, were founded by individuals from Maharashtra. We identified two genetic clusters among New Zealand mynas, divided by New Zealand's North Island's axial mountain ranges, confirming previous observations that mountains and thick forests may form barriers to myna dispersal. Our study provides a foundation for other population and invasion genomic studies and provides useful information for the management of this invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid37193213, year = {2023}, author = {Roldão Almeida, M and Marchante, E and Marchante, H}, title = {Public perceptions about the invasive pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana: a case study of environmentally conscious citizens in Southern Europe.}, journal = {Biological invasions}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {2043-2056}, doi = {10.1007/s10530-023-03025-3}, pmid = {37193213}, issn = {1387-3547}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Cortaderia selloana (pampas grass), native to South America, is a widespread invasive plant in several regions of the World, including the south of the Atlantic Arc (Europe), where it has been used as an ornamental species. Citizens may help to spread it, e.g., planting it in their gardens, but on the other hand, when they are aware of its invasiveness, can contribute to control it and prevent its spread. An online survey was performed to better understand the perception and knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish citizens, regarding pampas grass. The influence of education and occupation, along with age, gender and country of residence, on the knowledge and perceptions of respondents was analysed. The questionnaire was answered by 486 and 839 citizens in Portugal (PT) and Spain (ES), respectively. Most respondents were between 41 and 64 years old, mostly women in Portugal and equally women and men in Spain, with higher education and working mostly in the services sector. The majority of respondents in both countries recognized the plant, knew it is invasive and were able to name it, alerting to a possible bias of the target audience toward citizens already aware of the invasiveness of the pampas grass. Fewer respondents were aware of the legislation that limits its use, and most were unable to identify particular characteristics of the species. The results showed that respondents' occupation in PT and education in ES influenced their knowledge and perception about pampas grass. This study confirms that education and raising awareness regarding invasive species is of utmost importance, as respondents identified academic training and projects with a strong focus on public awareness as the main sources of knowledge regarding pampas grass. Better informed citizens can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem, especially regarding invasive species with such ornamental interest as pampas grass.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10530-023-03025-3.}, }
@article {pmid37193113, year = {2023}, author = {Minden, V and Verhoeven, K and Olde Venterink, H}, title = {Adaptive plasticity and fitness costs of endangered, nonendangered, and invasive plants in response to variation in nitrogen and phosphorus availabilities.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e10075}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.10075}, pmid = {37193113}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Global change drivers such as eutrophication and plant invasions will create novel environments for many plant species. Through adaptive trait plasticity plants may maintain their performance under these novel conditions and may outcompete those showing low-adaptive trait plasticity. In a greenhouse study, we determined if plasticity in traits is adaptive or maladaptive in endangered, nonendangered, and invasive plant species in response to variation of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability (N:P ratios 1.7, 15, and 135) and whether plastic trait responses are adaptive and/or costly for fitness (i.e., biomass). Species choice comprised 17 species from three functional groups (legumes, nonlegume forbs, and grasses), either classified as endangered, nonendangered, or invasive. After 2 months, plants were harvested and nine traits related to carbon assimilation and nutrient uptake were measured (leaf area, SLA, LDMC, SPAD, RMR, root length, SRL, root surface area, and PME activity). We found more traits responding plastically to variation in P than in N. Plasticity only created costs when P was varied. Plasticity in traits was mostly adaptively neutral toward fitness, with plasticity in three traits being similarly adaptive across all species groups: SPAD (as a measure of chlorophyll content, adaptive to N and P limitation), leaf area, and root surface area (adaptive to P limitation). We found little differences in trait plasticity between endangered, nonendangered, and invasive species. Synthesis. Along a gradient from N limitation, balanced N:P supply, and P limitation, we found that the type of fluctuating nutrient (i.e., if N or P is varied) is decisive for the adaptive value of a trait. Variation in P availability (from balanced supply to P limitation) created both a stronger reduction in fitness as well as created plasticity costs in more traits than variation in N availability (from balanced supply to N limitation). However, the patterns observed in our study may change if nutrient availability is altered, either by nutrient inputs or by a shift in nutrient availabilities, for example, by decreasing N input as foreseen by European Legislation, but without simultaneously decreasing P input.}, }
@article {pmid37191686, year = {2023}, author = {Klockiewicz, M and Jakubowski, T and Karabowicz, J and Bąska, P and Winiarska, J and Długosz, E}, title = {Identification of intestinal parasites in wild American mink (Neovison vison) from Biebrza and Narew national parks (Poland).}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37191686}, issn = {1432-1955}, abstract = {American mink (Neovison vison) is an invasive species in the sylvatic environment of Poland. Mink are exposed to different parasite infections as their preys serve as intermediate and/or paratenic hosts. The study aimed to discriminate the pattern of intestinal parasite infections in mink inhabiting Biebrza (BNP) and Narew (NNP) national parks. Gastrointestinal tract examinations revealed Coccidia, Echinostomatidae, Taenidae, and Capillariidae parasites. There was no significant difference in the parasite burden of mink, but patterns of infections varied between both localizations. Coccidia were found in 3.8% of BNP vs. 6.7% of NNP mink. Fluke prevalence was significantly higher in NNP 27.5% compared to 7.7% in BNP mink. Tapeworms were only found in 3.4% of NNP mink. Significantly more Aonchotheca eggs were found in BNP 34.6% vs. 11.4% in NNP mink. The intensity of coccidiosis and aonchothecosis was low in both parks. Fluke intensity varied between low to moderate (ranging from 1 to 16) in BNP and low to massive (ranging from 1 to 117) in NNP mink. Coinfections of various parasite species were noted in both areas. Morphological and DNA analysis revealed that flukes belonged to Isthiomorpha melis and tapeworms to Versteria mustelae. It was the first isolation of V. mustelae in mink of those localizations. In conclusion, our study showed that mink indwelling Biebrza and Narew national parks are moderately infested with parasites. Results suggest that mink play an important role as a reservoir for parasites endangering endemic mustelids, becoming also a potential risk factor in case of accidental transmissions to farm mink. That is why, more strict biosecurity measures are required to protect farm mink.}, }
@article {pmid37191358, year = {2023}, author = {Waller, D and Pucherelli, S and Barbour, M and Tank, S and Meulemans, M and Wise, J and Dahlberg, A and Aldridge, DC and Claudi, R and Cope, WG and Gillis, PL and Kashian, DR and Mayer, D and Stockton-Fiti, K and Wong, WH}, title = {Review and development of best practices for toxicity tests with dreissenid mussels.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/etc.5648}, pmid = {37191358}, issn = {1552-8618}, abstract = {Since their introduction to North America in the 1980s, research to develop effective control tools for invasive mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis) has been ongoing across various research institutions using a range of testing methods. Inconsistencies in experimental methods and reporting present challenges for comparing data, repeating experiments, and applying results. The Invasive Mussel Collaborative (IMC) established the Toxicity Testing Work Group (TTWG) in 2019 to identify "best practices" and guide development of a standard framework for dreissenid mussel toxicity testing protocols. We reviewed the literature related to laboratory-based dreissenid mussel toxicity tests and determined the degree to which standard guidelines have been used and their applicability to dreissenid mussel testing. We extracted detailed methodology from 99 studies from the peer-reviewed and grey literature and conducted a separate analysis for studies using pre-settlement and post-settlement mussels. We identified specific components of methods and approaches that could be refined or standardized for dreissenid mussels. These components included species identification, collection methods, size/age class distinction, maintenance practices, testing criteria, sample size, response measures, reporting parameters, exposure methods, and mortality criteria. We consulted experts in the field of aquatic toxicology and dreissenid mussel biology on our proposed. The final recommendations contained herein are based on published standard guidelines, methods reported in published and grey literature, and the expertise of TTWG members and an external panel. Additionally, the review identified research needs for dreissenid mussel testing including improved methods for early life stage testing, comparative data on life stages and between dreissenid mussel species, inclusion of a reference toxicant and additional testing of nontarget species (i.e., other aquatic organisms).}, }
@article {pmid37189403, year = {2023}, author = {Kendra, PE and Montgomery, WS and Tabanca, N and Schnell, EQ and Vázquez, A and Menocal, O and Carrillo, D and Cloonan, KR}, title = {Piperitone (p-Menth-1-En-3-One): A New Repellent for Tea Shot Hole Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Florida Avocado Groves.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biom13040656}, pmid = {37189403}, issn = {2218-273X}, abstract = {The tea shot hole borer, Euwallacea perbrevis, has been recently established in Florida, USA, where it vectors fungal pathogens that cause Fusarium dieback in avocado. Pest monitoring uses a two-component lure containing quercivorol and α-copaene. Incorporation of a repellent into IPM programs may reduce the incidence of dieback in avocado groves, particularly if combined with lures in a push-pull system. This study evaluated piperitone and α-farnesene as potential repellents for E. perbrevis, comparing their efficacy to that of verbenone. Replicate 12-week field tests were conducted in commercial avocado groves. Each test compared beetle captures in traps baited with two-component lures versus captures in traps containing lures plus repellent. To complement field trials, Super-Q collections followed by GC analyses were performed to quantify emissions from repellent dispensers field-aged for 12 weeks. Electroantennography (EAG) was also used to measure beetle olfactory response to each repellent. Results indicated that α-farnesene was ineffective; however, piperitone and verbenone were comparable in repellency, achieving 50-70% reduction in captures, with longevity of 10-12 weeks. EAG responses to piperitone and verbenone were equivalent, and significantly greater than response to α-farnesene. Since piperitone is less expensive than verbenone, this study identifies a potential new E. perbrevis repellent.}, }
@article {pmid37188965, year = {2023}, author = {Whitmore, L and McCauley, M and Farrell, JA and Stammnitz, MR and Koda, SA and Mashkour, N and Summers, V and Osborne, T and Whilde, J and Duffy, DJ}, title = {Inadvertent human genomic bycatch and intentional capture raise beneficial applications and ethical concerns with environmental DNA.}, journal = {Nature ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37188965}, issn = {2397-334X}, abstract = {The field of environmental DNA (eDNA) is advancing rapidly, yet human eDNA applications remain underutilized and underconsidered. Broader adoption of eDNA analysis will produce many well-recognized benefits for pathogen surveillance, biodiversity monitoring, endangered and invasive species detection, and population genetics. Here we show that deep-sequencing-based eDNA approaches capture genomic information from humans (Homo sapiens) just as readily as that from the intended target species. We term this phenomenon human genetic bycatch (HGB). Additionally, high-quality human eDNA could be intentionally recovered from environmental substrates (water, sand and air), holding promise for beneficial medical, forensic and environmental applications. However, this also raises ethical dilemmas, from consent, privacy and surveillance to data ownership, requiring further consideration and potentially novel regulation. We present evidence that human eDNA is readily detectable from 'wildlife' environmental samples as human genetic bycatch, demonstrate that identifiable human DNA can be intentionally recovered from human-focused environmental sampling and discuss the translational and ethical implications of such findings.}, }
@article {pmid37187519, year = {2023}, author = {Vasconcelos, DS and Harris, DJ and Damas-Moreira, I and Pereira, A and Xavier, R}, title = {Factors shaping the gut microbiome of five species of lizards from different habitats.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15146}, doi = {10.7717/peerj.15146}, pmid = {37187519}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Host-gut microbiota interactions are complex and can have a profound impact on the ecology and evolution of both counterparts. Several host traits such as systematics, diet and social behavior, and external factors such as prey availability and local environment are known to influence the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota.<br><br>METHODS: In this study, we investigate the influence of systematics, sex, host size, and locality/habitat on gut microbiota diversity in five lizard species from two different sites in Portugal: Podarcis bocagei and Podarcis lusitanicus, living in syntopy in a rural area in northern Portugal (Moledo); the invasive Podarcis siculus and the native Podarcis virescens, living in sympatry in an urbanized environment (Lisbon); and the invasive Teira dugesii also living in an urban area (Lisbon). We also infer the potential microbial transmission occurring between species living in sympatry and syntopy. To achieve these goals, we use a metabarcoding approach to characterize the bacterial communities from the cloaca of lizards, sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA.<br><br>RESULTS: Habitat/locality was an important factor explaining differences in gut bacterial composition and structure, with species from urbanized environments having higher bacterial diversity. Host systematics (i.e., species) influenced gut bacterial community structure only in lizards from the urbanized environment. We also detected a significant positive correlation between lizard size and gut bacterial alpha-diversity in the invasive species P. siculus, which could be due to its higher exploratory behavior. Moreover, estimates of bacterial transmission indicate that P. siculus may have acquired a high proportion of local microbiota after its introduction. These findings confirm that a diverse array of host and environmental factors can influence lizards' gut microbiota.}, }
@article {pmid37187377, year = {2023}, author = {Li, H and Zeng, Y and Wang, C and Chen, W and Zou, M}, title = {Variation in the burden and chemical forms of thallium in non-detoxified tissues of tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) from waterborne exposure.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {138884}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138884}, pmid = {37187377}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Thallium (Tl) is highly toxic to aquatic ecosystems, but information about its concentration and distribution characteristics in different fish tissues is limited. In this study, juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were exposed to Tl solutions with different sub-lethal concentrations for 28 days, and the Tl concentrations and distribution patterns in the fish non-detoxified tissues (gills, muscle, and bone) were analyzed. The Tl chemical form fractions, Tl-ethanol, Tl-HCl, and Tl-residual, corresponding to easy, moderate, and difficult migration fraction, respectively, in the fish tissues were obtained by sequential extractant approach. The Tl concentrations of different fractions and total burden were determined using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Exposure-concentration effect determined the Tl burden in the fish tissues. The average Tl-total concentration factors were 360, 447, and 593 in the bone, gills, and muscle, respectively, and the limited variation during the exposure period indicates that tilapia have a strong ability to self-regulate and achieve Tl homeostasis. However, Tl fractions varied in tissues, and the Tl-HCl fraction dominated in the gills (60.1%) and bone (59.0%), switchover Tl-ethanol fraction dominated in the muscle (68.3%). This study has shown that Tl can be easily taken up by fish during 28-days-period and largely distributed in non-detoxified tissues especially muscle, in which concurrent risks of high Tl-total burden and high levels of Tl in the form of easy migration fraction, posing possible risks to public health.}, }
@article {pmid37186093, year = {2023}, author = {Fernandes, K and Bateman, PW and Saunders, BJ and Bunce, M and Bohmann, K and Nevill, P}, title = {Use of carrion fly iDNA metabarcoding to monitor invasive and native mammals.}, journal = {Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/cobi.14098}, pmid = {37186093}, issn = {1523-1739}, abstract = {Severely fragmented habitats increase the risks towards native mammal populations through isolation, increased edge effects, and predation. Therefore, monitoring the movement of mammal populations through anthropogenically-altered landscapes can be a valuable tool for conservation. Here we use metabarcoding of invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) from carrion flies (Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae) to track mammal populations in the Wheatbelt Region of southwestern Australia, where widespread clearing for agriculture has removed most of the native perennial vegetation and replaced it with an agricultural system. Using this technique, we investigated whether the localization of the iDNA signal reflected the predicted distribution of four native species - echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), woylie (Bettongia penicillata), and chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii) - and two non-native, invasive mammal species - fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus). We collected bulk iDNA samples (n = 150 samples, totalling 3,428 carrion flies) at a single time point from three conservation reserves and road edges between them. We detected 14 of the 40 mammal species known from the region, including our target species. Detections of target native taxa were centered on conservation reserves, with some detections from road edges nearby. We detected foxes and feral cats throughout the study area, including all conservation reserves. There was a significant difference between the diversity (F(3, 98) = 5.91, p<0.001) and composition (F(3, 43) = 1.72, p<0.01) of taxa on road edges and conservation reserves: conservation reserves hosted more native biodiversity than did road edges. Our data suggest that the signals from iDNA reflect the known distribution of target mammals in this region. The development of iDNA methods shows promise for future non-invasive monitoring for mammals. With further development, iDNA metabarcoding could assist in decision-making surrounding the conservation of endangered taxa, invasive species management and impacts of habitat fragmentation. Article Impact Statement: Carrion fly iDNA metabarcoding can be used to monitor mammalian distribution at a fine scale. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid37183666, year = {2023}, author = {Gutiérrez-López, R and Egeter, B and Paupy, C and Rahola, N and Makanga, B and Jiolle, D and Bourret, V and Melo, M and Loiseau, C}, title = {Monitoring mosquito richness in an understudied area: can environmental DNA metabarcoding be a complementary approach to adult trapping?.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-13}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485323000147}, pmid = {37183666}, issn = {1475-2670}, abstract = {Mosquito surveillance programmes are essential to assess the risks of local vector-borne disease outbreaks as well as for early detection of mosquito invasion events. Surveys are usually performed with traditional sampling tools (i.e., ovitraps and dipping method for immature stages or light or decoy traps for adults). Over the past decade, numerous studies have highlighted that environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling can enhance invertebrate species detection and provide community composition metrics. However, the usefulness of eDNA for detection of mosquito species has, to date, been largely neglected. Here, we sampled water from potential larval breeding sites along a gradient of anthropogenic perturbations, from the core of an oil palm plantation to the rainforest on São Tomé Island (Gulf of Guinea, Africa). We showed that (i) species of mosquitoes could be detected via metabarcoding mostly when larvae were visible, (ii) larvae species richness was greater using eDNA than visual identification and (iii) new mosquito species were also detected by the eDNA approach. We provide a critical discussion of the pros and cons of eDNA metabarcoding for monitoring mosquito species diversity and recommendations for future research directions that could facilitate the adoption of eDNA as a tool for assessing insect vector communities.}, }
@article {pmid37183578, year = {2023}, author = {Di Sora, N and Rossini, L and Contarini, M and Mastrandrea, G and Speranza, S}, title = {Toumeyella parvicornis versus endotherapic abamectin: three techniques, one year after.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7547}, pmid = {37183578}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Toumeyella parvicornis is an invasive soft scale insect native to North America that is rapidly spreading in Italy and France, provoking severe infestations on Pinus pinea L. To date, the control of this pest is entrusted to three endotherapic techniques whose short-term efficacy is partially known. No information on long-term efficacy is currently available, although fundamental. This work aims to firstly report the long-term effect that abamectin-based insecticides, injected with the three different techniques, have on adult female populations.<br><br>RESULTS: The study was carried out in an infested P. pinea forest in the area of Rome, Italy. Results showed that the tested methods had a similar long-term effect, and only in one case there were differences with the untreated control. Multiresidue analysis reported a zero level of abamectin in plant tissues 14 months apart from injection, except for one treatment where pesticide concentration was just above the limit of quantification.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study represents a first long-term evaluation about endotherapic control strategy against T. parvicornis. In fact, despite the pest may quickly bring the stone pines to the death and to the fall, representing this a concerning risk for the citizens, control actions to manage it are still partially known and deserve more in-depth investigations.}, }
@article {pmid37182835, year = {2023}, author = {Herskowitz, Y and Bunimovich-Mendrazitsky, S and Lazebnik, T}, title = {Mathematical model of coffee tree's rust control using snails as biological agents.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104916}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.104916}, pmid = {37182835}, issn = {1872-8324}, abstract = {Coffee rust is one of the main diseases that affect coffee plantations worldwide, causing large-scale ecological and economic damage. While multiple methods have been proposed to tackle this challenge, using snails as biological agents have shown to be the most consistent and promising approach. However, snails are an invasive species, and overusing them can cause devastating outcomes. In this paper, we develop and explore an ecological-epidemiological mathematical model for the coffee tree rust pandemic control using snails as biological agents. We analyze the equilibria of the proposed system with their stability properties. In addition, we perform numerical analysis to obtain the sensitivity of the system to different changes and manipulation of the snails pandemic control, under specific conditions. Finally, we propose an in silico mechanism to obtain an analytical connection between the system's initial condition and the number of snails needed to optimally control the rust pandemic spread while preventing the snail population to grow unmanageably. Our model can be used to optimize the usage of snails as biological agents to control the rust pandemic in spatially-small areas, by predicting the number of snails one needs to introduce to the ecosystem in order to obtain a desired outcome.}, }
@article {pmid37177946, year = {2023}, author = {Li, WQ and Xiang, Q and Xie, XF and Wu, T and Jiang, GJ and Zhang, JZ and Pu, LJ and Xu, F}, title = {[Effect of Spartina alterniflora Invasion on Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in Coastal Wetland of Hangzhou Bay].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {44}, number = {5}, pages = {2735-2745}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202206204}, pmid = {37177946}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {*Wetlands ; *Ecosystem ; Soil/chemistry ; Bays ; Clay ; Carbon/analysis ; Introduced Species ; Poaceae ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphorus/analysis ; China ; }, abstract = {The invasion of Spartina alterniflora poses a great threat to coastal wetland ecosystems. In this study, the stoichiometric characteristics of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus under a Spartina alterniflora invasion were explored using ANOVA in a coastal wetland in Hangzhou Bay, and the driving coupling relationship between soil environmental factors and soil C:N:P stoichiometric characteristics of the coastal wetland were further explored based on the redundancy analysis (RDA), boosted regression tree (BRT), and partial least squares-structural equation (PLS-SEM) model. The results showed that:① after the invasion of Spartina alterniflora, soil N:P and total nitrogen (TN) in the wetland increased significantly, and with the increase in invasion time, TN and N:P decreased significantly, whereas soil organic carbon (SOC), C:N, and C:P increased significantly. ② The RDA model revealed that the main factors affecting the stoichiometric characteristics of topsoil C:N:P were SOC>electrical conductivity (EC)>TN in winter and SOC>bulk density (BD)>TN in summer. ③ The BRT model showed that under the invasion of Spartina alterniflora, TN was the key factor affecting soil C:N and N:P, and SOC was the key factor affecting C:P. ④ The PLS-SEM model showed that clay and water content directly affected SOC, thus affecting C:N and C:P; the clay and EC directly affected total phosphorus (TP), thus affecting N:P and C:P; and the EC directly affected TN, thus affecting C:N and N:P. In conclusion, the invasion of Spartina alterniflora had a significant impact on soil C:N:P stoichiometric characteristics in the study area. Soil physical properties and nutrient content directly or indirectly affected soil C:N:P stoichiometric characteristics to varying degrees.}, }
@article {pmid37182276, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, S and Liu, Y and Wang, B and Zhou, J and Yang, Y and Zhang, Y and Liu, Q}, title = {Unraveling molecular mechanisms underlying low-temperature adaptation in Laguncularia racemosa.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {199}, number = {}, pages = {107747}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107747}, pmid = {37182276}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C.F. Gaertn is a controversial species in China, in terms of being a pioneer species for mangrove restoration and a putative invasive species occupying natural habitats. The tolerance to chilling stress allows L. racemosa to adapt to extreme climate change. However, little is known about the molecular-level chilling resistance mechanisms in L. racemosa, which restricts our understanding of its biological features and invasion potential. In this study, L. racemosa seedlings were treated with freezing temperature (0 °C) at four durations (0 h, 3 h, 12 h and 24 h of recovery after treatment), and both physiological and transcriptional regulations underlying chilling stress resistance were investigated. Chilling stress caused damage to the cell membrane system and reduced photosynthesis efficiency of L. racemosa seedlings. To combat the adverse impacts, plasma membrane biosynthesis and antioxidant processes were substantially enhanced. After 24 h of recovery, the seedlings nearly recovered to normal growth condition, except for the processes related to photosynthesis, indicating their vigorous adaptation to short-term chilling stress. Importantly, the individuals from higher latitude displayed better adaptation to chilling injury than those from lower latitude, highlighting the role of long-term heredity × environment interactions in promoting the chilling resistance capacity of L. racemosa. These features allow L. racemosa to survive in extremely cold weather, but may also increase its risk of invasion into intertidal ecosystems. Together, our findings present a comprehensive view of the chilling-adaptative mechanisms of L. racemosa, which provide clues for better evaluating the invasive potential of L. racemosa.}, }
@article {pmid37178663, year = {2023}, author = {Amorim, MCP and Wanjala, JA and Vieira, M and Bolgan, M and Connaughton, MA and Pereira, BP and Fonseca, PJ and Ribeiro, F}, title = {Detection of invasive fish species with passive acoustics: Discriminating between native and non-indigenous sciaenids.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {188}, number = {}, pages = {106017}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106017}, pmid = {37178663}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Invasive alien species have been rising exponentially in the last decades impacting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The soniferous weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, is a recent invasive sciaenid species in the Iberian Peninsula and was first reported in the Tagus estuary in 2015. There is concern about its possible impacts on native species, namely the confamiliar meagre, Argyrosomus regius, as there is overlap in their feeding regime, habitat use, and breeding behaviour. Here, we characterised the sciaenid-like sounds recently recorded in the Tagus estuary and showed that they are made by weakfish as they have similar numbers of pulses and pulse periods to the sounds made by captive breeding weakfish. We further demonstrate that breeding grunts from weakfish and the native sciaenid, recorded either in captivity or Tagus estuary, differ markedly in sound duration, number of pulses and pulse period in the two species, but overlap in their spectral features. Importantly, these differences are easily detected through visual and aural inspections of the recordings, making acoustic recognition easy even for the non-trained person. We propose that passive acoustic monitoring can be a cost-effective tool for in situ mapping of weakfish outside its natural distribution and an invaluable tool for early detection and to monitor its expansion.}, }
@article {pmid37177893, year = {2023}, author = {Lewald, KM and Song, W and Eweis-LaBolle, D and Truong, C and Godfrey, KE and Chiu, JC}, title = {Probe-based quantitative PCR and RPA-Cas12a molecular diagnostics for detection of the tomato pest Phthorimaea absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toad079}, pmid = {37177893}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {The tomato pest Phthorimaea absoluta Meyrick is highly invasive but has not yet invaded North America. However, several morphologically similar species are already present, making detection of P. absoluta presence and invasion challenging. We designed a quantitative PCR molecular diagnostic to differentiate P. absoluta, P. operculella (Zeller), or Keiferia lycopersicella (Walsingham) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) DNA. Additionally, we developed an RPA-Cas12a molecular diagnostic that allows for the isothermal detection of P. absoluta DNA, eliminating the need for a thermocycler. The results of the RPA-Cas12a diagnostic can be visualized simply using a UV light source and cell phone camera. We expect these diagnostics to improve quarantine and prevention measures against this serious agricultural threat.}, }
@article {pmid37176976, year = {2023}, author = {Castillo-Campos, G and García-Franco, JG and Martínez, ML and Pale-Pale, JJ}, title = {Alien and Potentially Invasive Plants in Four Lagoons on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12091918}, pmid = {37176976}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The expansion of alien invasive species is a worldwide threat that affects most ecosystems. Islands and freshwater ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to species invasion, resulting in reduced biodiversity. In this study, we aimed to explore the floristic composition of the aquatic vegetation in four lagoons in southeastern Cozumel and assess the occurrence and abundance of alien and potentially invasive plants. We found a total of 43 aquatic or underwater herbaceous species that are subject to periodic flooding. Cluster analyses grouped the lagoons into two groups according to their floristic composition. The results demonstrate that alien and potentially invasive plants were dominant in 3 of the 4 lagoons, representing from 7 to 43% of the species. Six of these species were notably abundant, especially in three lagoons. Further, 2 species are considered among the 100 worst invasive species worldwide, although their abundance in Mexico remains relatively reduced. Five alien and potentially invasive species are terrestrial and grow on the shore of the lagoons, while one is aquatic. Urgent control and management actions are necessary. These should include (a) early detection and surveillance to determine if the alien species found behave as invasives; (b) understanding the relevance of invasive species; (c) preventing and intercepting; and (d) control and management. Habitat restoration, adequate legislation, collaboration between stakeholders, and raising awareness of the dangers of releasing or cultivating invasive species in the wild are also necessary.}, }
@article {pmid37176919, year = {2023}, author = {Qi, S and Wang, J and Zhang, Y and Naz, M and Afzal, MR and Du, D and Dai, Z}, title = {Omics Approaches in Invasion Biology: Understanding Mechanisms and Impacts on Ecological Health.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12091860}, pmid = {37176919}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Invasive species and rapid climate change are affecting the control of new plant diseases and epidemics. To effectively manage these diseases under changing environmental conditions, a better understanding of pathophysiology with holistic approach is needed. Multiomics approaches can help us to understand the relationship between plants and microbes and construct predictive models for how they respond to environmental stresses. The application of omics methods enables the simultaneous analysis of plant hosts, soil, and microbiota, providing insights into their intricate relationships and the mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions. This can help in the development of novel strategies for enhancing plant health and improving soil ecosystem functions. The review proposes the use of omics methods to study the relationship between plant hosts, soil, and microbiota, with the aim of developing a new technique to regulate soil health. This approach can provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions and contribute to the development of effective strategies for managing plant diseases and improving soil ecosystem functions. In conclusion, omics technologies offer an innovative and holistic approach to understanding plant-microbe interactions and their response to changing environmental conditions.}, }
@article {pmid37176902, year = {2023}, author = {Dáttilo, W and Luna, P and Villegas-Patraca, R}, title = {Invasive Plant Species Driving the Biotic Homogenization of Plant-Frugivore Interactions in the Atlantic Forest Biodiversity Hotspot.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12091845}, pmid = {37176902}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Although biological invasions are a common and intensively studied phenomenon, most studies often ignore the biotic interactions that invasive species play in the environment. Here, we evaluated how and why invasive plant species are interconnected within the overall frugivory network of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, an important global biodiversity hotspot. To do this, we used the recently published Atlantic Frugivory Dataset to build a meta-network (i.e., a general network made of several local networks) that included interactions between 703 native and invasive plant species and 331 frugivore species. Using tools derived from complex network theory and a bootstrap simulation approach, we found that the general structure of the Atlantic Forest frugivory network (i.e., nestedness and modularity) is robust against the entry of invasive plant species. However, we observed that invasive plant species are highly integrated within the frugivory networks, since both native and invasive plant species play similar structural roles (i.e., plant status is not strong enough to explain the interactive roles of plant species). Moreover, we found that plants with smaller fruits and with greater lipid content play a greater interactive role, regardless of their native or invasive status. Our findings highlight the biotic homogenization involving plant-frugivore interactions in the Atlantic Forest and that the impacts and consequences of invasive plant species on native fauna can be anticipated based on the characteristics of their fruits.}, }
@article {pmid37176835, year = {2023}, author = {Cabrera-García, P and Marrero, MD and Benítez, AN and Paz, R}, title = {Valorization of Pennisetum setaceum: From Invasive Plant to Fiber Reinforcement of Injected Composites.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12091777}, pmid = {37176835}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {During the control campaigns of Pennisetum setaceum (invasive species widespread worldwide), the generated waste has accumulated in landfills. This study investigates its use to obtain P. setaceum fibers for their application as reinforcement of polymeric materials for injection molding, thus facilitating and promoting alternatives for the long-term sustainable management of P. setaceum. The extracted fibers were treated with alkaline, silane, acetic acid, and combined alkaline and silane treatments. Different composites with 20 and 40 wt% of fiber were extruded, and test samples were obtained by injection molding using recycled polyethylene as matrix. The composition of the fibers was determined by gravimetric methods, and contrasted with the analysis of the functional chemical groups using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Increases of up to 47% in the cellulose content of the treated fiber were observed. The thermal degradation was also evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis, which determined an increase in the degradation temperature, from 194 to 230 °C, after the combined alkaline-silane treatment. In order to analyze the differences in the composites, tensile, flexural, and impact properties were evaluated; in addition, differential scanning calorimetry was performed. Regarding the flexural behavior, it was possible to improve the flexural modulus up to 276% compared with that of the unreinforced polymer.}, }
@article {pmid37176804, year = {2023}, author = {Vergne, DC and Rosalem, LMP and Wendland, EC and Anache, JAA and Martins da Silva, MC and Boschi, RS and Silva Matos, DMD}, title = {Experimental Study on Potential Influence of the Invasive Hedychium coronarium J. König on the Evapotranspiration of Riparian Plant Community.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12091746}, pmid = {37176804}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The balance between precipitation and evapotranspiration (ET) has direct effect on vegetation, and any change in its structure and composition can influence it. The aim of this study is to determine experimentally the daily evapotranspiration (ET) of the invasive species, Hedychium coronarium, and to compare with a group of four native species of the riparian forest. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with three different treatments: (1) only the invasive species; (2) only native species; and (3) a mixture of invasive and native species. In each lysimeter, pressure transducers recorded the water level at every 15 min along 14 months. Daily ET was calculated by the method of Gribovszki et al. (2008) and varied according to the treatment, indicating that different species (invasive or native) use the water differently. The maximum accumulated daily ET occurred for mixture treatment (2540.16 mm), while the treatment with the invasive plant presented the lowest value (2172.53 mm). H. coronarium, in monodominant stands, can reduce evapotranspiration on invaded areas and increase it when immersed in the riparian forest.}, }
@article {pmid37176800, year = {2023}, author = {Cambria, S and Azzaro, D and Caldarella, O and Aleo, M and Bazan, G and Guarino, R and Torre, G and Cristaudo, AE and Ilardi, V and La Rosa, A and Laface, VLA and Luchino, F and Mascia, F and Minissale, P and Sciandrello, S and Tosetto, L and Tavilla, G}, title = {New Data on Native and Alien Vascular Flora of Sicily (Italy): New Findings and Updates.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12091743}, pmid = {37176800}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In this paper, based on fieldwork and herbaria surveys, new data concerning the presence of 32 native and alien vascular species for Sicily (Italy) are provided. Among the native species, the occurrence of the following taxa is reported for the first time or confirmed after many decades of non-observation: Aira multiculmis, Arum maculatum, Carex flacca subsp. flacca, Mentha longifolia, Oxybasis chenopodioides, Najas minor and Xiphion junceum. Furthermore, we document the presence of three native species (Cornus mas, Juncus foliosus and Limonium avei) that, despite being repeatedly observed in Sicily and reported in the literature, are inexplicably omitted by the most recent authoritative checklists regarding the flora of Italy. Finally, fifteen alien species new to Sicily (including one new to Europe, i.e., Pyrus betulifolia) are reported and seven poorly documented allochthonous taxa are confirmed for the island, and for two of them, a status change is proposed. These new or confirmed records allow us to better define the European and national distribution of the targeted taxa and offer new insights on the native and alien flora of Sicily.}, }
@article {pmid37175710, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, Z and Chen, Y and Chen, Y and Lu, Z and Gui, F}, title = {Tracking Adaptive Pathways of Invasive Insects: Novel Insight from Genomics.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24098004}, pmid = {37175710}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Despite the huge human and economic costs of invasive insects, which are the main group of invasive species, their environmental impacts through various mechanisms remain inadequately explained in databases and much of the invasion biology literature. High-throughput sequencing technology, especially whole-genome sequencing, has been used as a powerful method to study the mechanisms through which insects achieve invasion. In this study, we reviewed whole-genome sequencing-based advances in revealing several important invasion mechanisms of invasive insects, including (1) the rapid genetic variation and evolution of invasive populations, (2) invasion history and dispersal paths, (3) rapid adaptation to different host plant ranges, (4) strong environmental adaptation, (5) the development of insecticide resistance, and (6) the synergistic damage caused by invasive insects and endosymbiotic bacteria. We also discussed prevention and control technologies based on whole-genome sequencing and their prospects.}, }
@article {pmid37174578, year = {2023}, author = {Santos, PM and Venâncio, E and Dionísio, MA and Heumüller, J and Chainho, P and Pombo, A}, title = {Comparison of the Efficiency of Different Eradication Treatments to Minimize the Impacts Caused by the Invasive Tunicate Styela plicata in Mussel Aquaculture.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13091541}, pmid = {37174578}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {In 2017, aquaculture producers of the Albufeira lagoon, Portugal, reported an invasion of tunicates that was disrupting mussel production, particularly the tunicate Styela plicata (Lesueur, 1823). A totally effective eradication method still does not exist, particularly for S. plicata, and the effects of the eradication treatments on bivalves' performance are also poorly understood. Our study examined the effectiveness of eradication treatments using three laboratory trials and five treatments (air exposure, freshwater immersion, sodium hypochlorite, hypersaline solution and acetic acid) for S. plicata, as well as their effects on survival and growth of blue mussel Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758. While air exposure and freshwater immersion caused a 27% mortality rate in S. plicata, the acetic acid treatment was the most effective in eliminating this species (>90% mortality). However, a 33-40% mortality rate was registered in mussels. Both species were not affected by the hypersaline treatment in the last trial, but the sodium hypochlorite treatment led to a 57% mortality rate in mussels. Differences in mussels' growth rates were not detected. These trials represent a step forward in responding to the needs of aquaculture producers. However, further studies are needed to investigate the susceptibility of tunicates to treatments according to sexual maturation, as well as to ensure minimum mussel mortality in the most effective treatments, and to better understand the effects on mussel physiological performance in the long-term.}, }
@article {pmid37173307, year = {2023}, author = {Yoneya, K and Ushio, M and Miki, T}, title = {Non-destructive collection and metabarcoding of arthropod environmental DNA remained on a terrestrial plant.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {7125}, pmid = {37173307}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Reliable survey of arthropods is a crucial for their conservation, community ecology, and pest control on terrestrial plants. However, efficient and comprehensive surveys are hindered by challenges in collecting arthropods and identifying especially small species. To address this issue, we developed a non-destructive environmental DNA (eDNA) collection method termed "plant flow collection" to apply eDNA metabarcoding to terrestrial arthropods. This involves spraying distilled or tap water, or using rainfall, which eventually flows over the surface of the plant, and is collected in a container that is set at the plant base. DNA is extracted from collected water and a DNA barcode region of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is amplified and sequenced using a high-throughput Illumina Miseq platform. We identified more than 64 taxonomic groups of arthropods at the family level, of which 7 were visually observed or artificially introduced species, whereas the other 57 groups of arthropods, including 22 species, were not observed in the visual survey. These results show that the developed method is possible to detect the arthropod eDNA remained on plants although our sample size was small and the sequence size was unevenly distributed among the three water types tested.}, }
@article {pmid37171233, year = {2023}, author = {Surmacz, B}, title = {Spatial patterns of flower color variation in native and introduced ranges of Convolvulus arvensis (Convolvulaceae) revealed by citizen science data and machine learning.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13537}, pmid = {37171233}, issn = {1438-8677}, abstract = {Flower color polymorphism refers to the presence of multiple color variants in plant populations. Investigation of this phenomenon led to multiple discoveries, including the principles of heredity and the foundations of population genetics. I examined flower color variation across native and introduced ranges of Convolvulus arvensis, which exhibits flower color polymorphism (individuals have white or pink petals). To study flower color variation of the species throughout large geographic scale, I used observations gathered from the iNaturalist platform. To handle a large amount of data, I trained a neural network to classify the plants' morphs based on photographs. Then, I performed spatial analyses to examine the patterns of the color frequency, also in relation to environmental factors. The results show that flower colors are polymorphic across the whole species range, but the frequency of pink versus white flowers varies. In the Palearctic, I observed geographic clines of the color morph frequencies: a higher frequency of the pink morph in populations from Northwestern Europe, whereas in Southern and Eastern Europe, towards the eastern edge of the range, the white morph was dominant. On the contrary, pattern of color distribution in North America (where the species is invasive) seems random, but the model indicates a link between higher proportion of pink morphs in mild and humid climate. The mechanisms behind the observed patterns remain largely unknown, as changes of the morphs' frequency are not strongly linked to abiotic factors. To understand the spatial pattern, a detailed investigation, accounting for the species' phylogeography is needed. The study is another example of how the general public may collect data relevant to ecological studies, even if the data are not collected for a specific project.}, }
@article {pmid37170424, year = {2023}, author = {MacDonald, AM and Brook, RK}, title = {Unregulated Online Sales are High-risk Sources of Domestic Swine in Canada: Implications for Invasive Wild Pig and African Swine Fever Risk Preparedness.}, journal = {Journal of wildlife diseases}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7589/JWD-D-22-00151}, pmid = {37170424}, issn = {1943-3700}, abstract = {Free-ranging wild pig (Sus scrofa) populations may cause widespread environmental damage and transmit diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface. For example, African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs capable of causing catastrophic economic losses. Prevention and preparedness for ASF require understanding wild and domestic pig movements and distribution. We characterized a "grey" swine market and described the risks it poses, contributing to the threats associated with wild pig populations. We monitored www.kijiji.ca, a Canadian internet classified advertising service, for sales of domestic wild boar, pot-bellied pigs, other breeds, and their hybrids across Canada from 28 April to 30 June 2021. Data collected included seller-defined breed, age, sex, number for sale, sexual intactness, presence of identifying tags or tattoos, and the date and location of listings. Advertisement locations were mapped and compared with existing wild pig distributions, identifying areas new populations might be established, and existing populations supplemented or genetically diversified. We identified 151 advertisements on Kijiji: 41% (n=52/151) from Ontario, 29% (n=44/151) from Alberta, 41% (n=62/151) from existing wild pig populations, and 59% (n=89/151) from areas where wild pigs have not yet been identified. We propose requiring the use of individual animal identifiers (tags/tattoos), genetic analysis, and mandatory reporting for all pig sales in Canada to aid in ASF preparedness and to increase regulation and enforcement of the online swine market.}, }
@article {pmid36740537, year = {2023}, author = {Vitule, JRS and Pelicice, FM}, title = {Care needed when evaluating the contributions of non-native species.}, journal = {Trends in ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {499-500}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2023.01.005}, pmid = {36740537}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {*Introduced Species ; *Ecosystem ; Biodiversity ; }, }
@article {pmid37170369, year = {2022}, author = {Freitas, ETF and Moreira, AMS and de Paula, RS and Andrade, GR and de Carvalho, MD and Assis, PS and Jorge, EC and Cardoso, AV}, title = {Ultrastructure of the gill ciliary epithelium of Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker 1857), the invasive golden mussel.}, journal = {BMC zoology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {6}, pmid = {37170369}, issn = {2056-3132}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Limnoperna fortunei is a freshwater bivalve mollusc originally from southern Asia that invaded South America in the 1990's. Due to its highly efficient water pumping and filtering, and its capacity to form strong adhesions to a variety of substrates by byssus thread, this invasive species has been able to adapt to several environments across South America, causing significant ecological and economic damages. By gaining a deeper understanding of the biological and ecological aspects of L. fortunei we will be able to establish more effective strategies to manage its invasion. The gills of the mollusc are key structures responsible for several biological functions, including respiration and feeding. In this work, we characterized the ultrastructure of L. fortunei gills and its ciliary epithelium using light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopies. This is the first report of the morphology of the epithelial cells and cilia of the gill of L. fortunei visualized in high resolution.<br><br>RESULTS: The analysis showed highly organized and abundant ciliary structures (lateral cilia, laterofrontal cirri and frontal cilia) on the entire length of the branchial epithelium. Mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum and glycogen granules were abundantly found in the epithelial cells of the gills, demonstrating the energy-demanding function of these structures. Neutral mucopolysaccharides (low viscosity mucus) were observed on the frontal surface of the gill filaments and acid mucopolysaccharides (high viscosity mucus) were observed to be spread out, mainly on the lateral tract. Spherical vesicles, possibly containing mucus, could also be observed in these cells. These findings demonstrate the importance of the mucociliary processes in particle capture and selection.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the mechanism used by this mollusc for particle capture and selection could contribute to a better understanding of key aspects of invasion and also in the establishment of more efficient and economically viable strategies of population control.}, }
@article {pmid37167665, year = {2023}, author = {De la Lama-Calvente, D and Fernández-Rodríguez, MJ and García-Gómez, JC and Borja, R}, title = {Impact of natural degradation of the invasive alga Rugulopteryx okamurae on anaerobic digestion: Heavy metal pollution and kinetic performance.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {192}, number = {}, pages = {115005}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115005}, pmid = {37167665}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {This study shows, for the first time, how the natural biodegradation of the Phaeophyceae Rugulopteryx okamurae (R.o.) affects its methane yield, by biochemical methane potential assays, and the methane production kinetics. Additionally, a mechanical (zeolite-assisted milling) and a thermal (120 °C, 45 min) pretreatments were assessed. The highest methane yield was obtained from the mechanically pretreated fresh ashore biomass (219 (15) NLCH4 kgVS[-1]), which presents the use of zeolite during milling as an economical alternative for heavy metal toxicity reduction. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between the other tests (with the exception of the lowest value obtained for the mechanically pretreated fresh R.o.). Low methane yields were linked to the heavy metal content. However, an increase of 28.5 % and 20.0 % in the k value was found for the untreated fresh R.o. biomass and fresh ashore biomass, respectively, when subjected to thermal pretreatment. Finally, an enhancement of 80.5 % in the maximum methane production rate was obtained for the fresh ashore biomass milled with zeolite compared to the untreated fresh ashore biomass.}, }
@article {pmid37170339, year = {2021}, author = {Pittman, SE and Bartoszek, IA}, title = {Initial dispersal behavior and survival of non-native juvenile Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in South Florida.}, journal = {BMC zoology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {33}, pmid = {37170339}, issn = {2056-3132}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dispersal behavior is a critical component of invasive species dynamics, impacting both spatial spread and population density. In South Florida, Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) are an invasive species that disrupt ecosystems and have the potential to expand their range northward. Control of python populations is limited by a lack of information on movement behavior and vital rates, especially within the younger age classes. We radio-tracked 28 Burmese pythons from hatching until natural mortality for approximately 3 years. Pythons were chosen from 4 clutches deposited by adult females in 4 different habitats: forested wetland, urban interface, upland pine, and agricultural interface.<br><br>RESULTS: Known-fate survival estimate was 35.7% (95% CI = 18% - 53%) in the first 6 months, and only 2 snakes survived 3 years post hatching. Snakes moving through 'natural' habitats had higher survival than snakes dispersing through 'modified' habitats in the first 6- months post-hatching. Predation was the most common source of mortality. Snakes from the agricultural interface utilized canals and displayed the largest net movements.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that pythons may have lower survival if clutches are deposited in or near urbanized areas. Alternatively, juvenile pythons could quickly disperse to new locations by utilizing canals that facilitate linear movement. This study provides critical information about behavioral and life history characteristics of juvenile Burmese pythons that will inform management practices.}, }
@article {pmid37164049, year = {2023}, author = {Scaramella, N and Burke, A and Oddie, M and Dahle, B and de Miranda, J and Mondet, F and Rosenkranze, P and Neumann, P and Locke, B}, title = {Host brood traits, independent of adult behaviours, reduce Varroa destructor mite reproduction in resistant honeybee populations.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.04.001}, pmid = {37164049}, issn = {1879-0135}, abstract = {The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is an invasive species of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) and the largest pathogenic threat to their health world-wide. Its successful invasion and expansion is related to its ability to exploit the worker brood for reproduction, which results in an exponential population growth rate in the new host. With invasion of the mite, wild honeybee populations have been nearly eradicated from Europe and North America, and the survival of managed honeybee populations relies on mite population control treatments. However, there are a few documented honeybee populations surviving extended periods without control treatments due to adapted host traits that directly impact Varroa mite fitness. The aim of this study was to investigate if Varroa mite reproductive success was affected by traits of adult bee behaviours or by traits of the worker brood, in three mite-resistant honey bee populations from Sweden, France and Norway. The mite's reproductive success was measured and compared in broods that were either exposed to, or excluded from, adult bee access. Mite-resistant bee populations were also compared with a local mite-susceptible population, as a control group. Our results show that mite reproductive success rates and mite fecundity in the three mite-resistant populations were significantly different from the control population, with the French and Swedish populations having significantly lower reproductive rates than the Norwegian population. When comparing mite reproduction in exposed or excluded brood treatments, no differences were observed, regardless of population. This result clearly demonstrates that Varroa mite reproductive success can be suppressed by traits of the brood, independent of adult worker bees.}, }
@article {pmid37161334, year = {2023}, author = {Kortz, AR and Moyes, F and Pivello, VR and Pyšek, P and Dornelas, M and Visconti, P and Magurran, AE}, title = {Elevated compositional change in plant assemblages linked to invasion.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {1998}, pages = {20222450}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2022.2450}, pmid = {37161334}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {Alien species are widely linked to biodiversity change, but the extent to which they are associated with the reshaping of ecological communities is not well understood. One possible mechanism is that assemblages where alien species are found exhibit elevated temporal turnover. To test this, we identified assemblages of vascular plants in the BioTIME database for those assemblages in which alien species are either present or absent and used the Jaccard measure to compute compositional dissimilarity between consecutive censuses. We found that, although alien species are typically rare in invaded assemblages, their presence is associated with an increase in the average rate of compositional change. These differences in compositional change between invaded and uninvaded assemblages are not linked to differences in species richness but rather to species replacement (turnover). Rapid compositional restructuring of assemblages is a major contributor to biodiversity change, and as such, our results suggest a role for alien species in bringing this about.}, }
@article {pmid37160461, year = {2023}, author = {Mowery, MA and Arabesky, V and Rozenberg, T and Lubin, Y and Segoli, M}, title = {Invasive brown widow spiders avoid parasitism despite high densities.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37160461}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Invasive species are sometimes less susceptible to natural enemies compared to native species, but the mechanism is often unclear. Here we tested two potential mechanisms for lower parasitism of invasive species: density-dependent parasitism and preference for human-dominated habitats. We investigated how variation in host density and habitat type affect egg sac parasitism in two widow spider species (family Theridiidae). We compared parasitism on the egg sac of the brown widow, Latrodectus geometricus, an urban invasive species, and the white widow, Latrodectus pallidus, a species native to Israel. To investigate variation in host and parasitoid density, we measured nearest-neighbor distance between spider webs and parasitism rates in 16 sites, and in a single site monthly throughout a year. In L. pallidus, denser sites were more heavily parasitized (up to 55%) and parasitism rate increased with population density throughout the season. Extremely dense L. geometricus populations, however, had very low rates of parasitism (0-5%). We then conducted an egg sac transplant experiment in human-dominated and natural habitats. We found no parasitism of either species in the human-dominated habitat, compared to 30% parasitism of both species in the natural habitat. In addition, we found evidence for higher predation of L. pallidus than of L. geometricus egg sacs, particularly in the natural habitat. These combined results suggest that the human-dominated habitats inhabited by L. geometricus have a lower abundance of predators and parasites. We conclude that lower parasitism and predation in human-dominated habitats could contribute to the invasion success of L. geometricus.}, }
@article {pmid37004615, year = {2023}, author = {Beals, C and King, H and Bailey, G}, title = {The peroxidase response of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Alligator Weed) and Nasturtium officinale (Watercress) to heavy metal exposure.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {30}, number = {21}, pages = {59443-59448}, pmid = {37004615}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Animals ; Peroxidase ; Ecosystem ; *Nasturtium ; *Alligators and Crocodiles ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Copper/pharmacology ; Peroxidases ; *Metals, Heavy/pharmacology ; Plants ; Introduced Species ; *Amaranthaceae ; }, abstract = {We examined the effects of copper and lead on the antioxidant enzyme response of Alternanthera philoxeroides and Nasturtium officinale using a benchtop luminometer. Alternanthera philoxeroides is a nonnative invasive plant species that has spread throughout the wetland ecosystem in the southern part of the USA. Its invasion is facilitated by its ability to thrive in a wide range of abiotic conditions. Nasturtium officinale is an aquatic plant that is sensitive to relatively low amounts of pollution and is most commonly found in springs and shallow bodies of water. While A. philoxeroides tolerates organic pollution and heavy metals, N. officinale exhibits stress at low levels of pollution. Alternanthera philoxeroides antioxidant enzyme production was unaffected by increasing concentrations of both copper and lead. The antioxidant enzyme response of N. officinale showed a significant increase when plants were exposed to 10 and 25 ppm lead. Endogenous peroxidase concentrations of the control plants were also compared showing that A. philoxeroides possessed a significantly higher concentration of peroxidases than N. officinale. We hypothesize that a higher endogenous peroxidase concentration may be a mechanism that hyperaccumulator plants use to tolerate inhospitable concentrations of copper and lead.}, }
@article {pmid37158127, year = {2023}, author = {Martin, N and Robinson, TB and Clusella-Trullas, S}, title = {Warmer and more acidic conditions enhance performance of an endemic low shore gastropod.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.245423}, pmid = {37158127}, issn = {1477-9145}, abstract = {Changing ocean temperatures are predicted to challenge marine organisms, especially when combined with other factors, such as ocean acidification. Acclimation, as a form of phenotypic plasticity, can however, moderate the consequences of changing environments for biota. Our understanding of how altered temperature and acidification together influence species acclimation responses is, however, limited compared to responses to single stressors. This study investigated how temperature and acidification affected the thermal tolerance and righting speed of the Girdled Dogwhelk, Trochia cingulata (Linnaeus, 1771). Whelks were acclimated for two weeks to combinations of three temperatures (11°C: cold, 13°C: moderate and 15°C: warm) and two pH regimes (8.0: moderate and 7.5: acidic). We measured the temperature sensitivity of righting response by generating thermal performance curves from individual data collected at seven test temperatures and determined critical thermal minima (CTmin) and maxima (CTmax). We found that T. cingulata has a broad basal thermal tolerance range (∼38°C) and after acclimation to the warm temperature regime, both the optimal temperature for maximum righting speed and CTmax increased. Contrary to predictions, acidification did not narrow this population's thermal tolerance but increased CTmax. These plastic responses are likely driven by the predictable exposure to temperature extremes measured in the field which originate from the local tidal cycle and the periodic acidification associated with ocean upwelling in the region. This acclimation ability suggests that T. cingulata has at least some capacity to buffer the thermal changes and increased acidification predicted to occur with climate change.}, }
@article {pmid37156231, year = {2023}, author = {Carrijo, TF and Battilana, J and Morales, J}, title = {First record of the major termite pest species, Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), in Argentina.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toad076}, pmid = {37156231}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {Reticulitermes flavipes is the most invasive species in its genus and is responsible for causing significant damage to human structures in areas where it has been introduced. Although it has already become established in Chile and Uruguay, it had not previously been reported in Argentina. In this study, we report the first detection of this species in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The colony was already producing alates, and species identification was confirmed through both morphology and mitochondrial gene 16S rRNA analysis. Our results, while not conclusive, suggest that this introduction was independent from the one that occurred in Chile and Uruguay, and potentially originated from the United States. The detection of R. flavipes in Argentina is significant because it highlights the potential for this species to establish itself in new regions and underscores the need for future research on and control of R. flavipes in this country.}, }
@article {pmid37154709, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, H and Lu, L and Chen, Y and Ye, J}, title = {Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Response of the Bacterium Priestia Aryabhattai SK1-7 to Interactions and Dissolution with Potassium Feldspar.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0203422}, doi = {10.1128/aem.02034-22}, pmid = {37154709}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Potassium feldspar (K2O·Al2O3·6SiO2) is considered to be the most important source of potash fertilizer. The use of microorganisms to dissolve potassium feldspar is a low-cost and environmentally friendly method. Priestia aryabhattai SK1-7 is a strain with a strong ability to dissolve potassium feldspar; it showed a faster pH drop and produced more acid in the medium with potassium feldspar as the insoluble potassium source than in the medium with K2HPO4 as the soluble potassium source. We speculated whether the cause of acid production was related to one or more stresses, such as mineral-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the presence of aluminum in potassium feldspar, and cell membrane damage due to friction between SK1-7 and potassium feldspar, and analyzed it by transcriptome. The results revealed that the expression of the genes related to pyruvate metabolism, the two-component system, DNA repair, and oxidative stress pathways in strain SK1-7 was significantly upregulated in potassium feldspar medium. The subsequent validation experiments revealed that ROS were the stress faced by strain SK1-7 when interacting with potassium feldspar and led to a decrease in the total fatty acid content of SK1-7. In the face of ROS stress, strain SK1-7 upregulated the expression of the maeA-1 gene, allowing malic enzyme (ME2) to produce more pyruvate to be secreted outside the cell using malate as a substrate. Pyruvate is both a scavenger of external ROS and a gas pedal of dissolved potassium feldspar. IMPORTANCE Mineral-microbe interactions play important roles in the biogeochemical cycling of elements. Manipulating mineral-microbe interactions and optimizing the consequences of such interactions can be used to benefit society. It is necessary to explore the black hole of the mechanism of interaction between the two. In this study, it is revealed that P. aryabhattai SK1-7 faces mineral-induced ROS stress by upregulating a series of antioxidant genes as a passive defense, while overexpression of malic enzyme (ME2) secretes pyruvate to scavenge ROS as well as to increase feldspar dissolution, releasing K, Al, and Si into the medium. Our research provides a theoretical basis for improving the ability of microorganisms to weather minerals through genetic manipulation in the future.}, }
@article {pmid37151148, year = {2023}, author = {England, JC and Wyrosdick, HM and Baker, EL and Stiver, WH and Williamson, RH and Gerhold, RW}, title = {Parasite Prevalence in Feral Swine (Sus scofa) from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA.}, journal = {Journal of wildlife diseases}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7589/JWD-D-22-00155}, pmid = {37151148}, issn = {1943-3700}, abstract = {Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are an introduced species to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), US, and serve as carriers of several diseases that are considered a threat to other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. During 2013 and 2015, fecal samples from 67 feral swine from the GSMNP within both Tennessee and North Carolina, US, were opportunistically collected as part of a feral swine removal program and submitted to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, for parasite screening by centrifugal sugar flotation. Ten taxa from the phyla Acanthocephala, Apicomplexa, and Nematoda were identified: Ascaris spp., Strongylid-type spp., Capillaria spp., Trichuris suis, Metastrongylus spp., Macracanthorhynchus spp., Coccidia, Sarcocystis spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. In 98.5% of samples, at least one parasite was found. No differences in parasite prevalence or species diversity were noted based on state of collection (Tennessee or North Carolina), sex, or age. The high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in these feral swine, some of which are zoonotic, represents a potential public health risk as well as a concern for free-range swine farmers.}, }
@article {pmid37150509, year = {2023}, author = {Jose, MS and Doorenweerd, C and Rubinoff, D}, title = {Genomics reveals widespread hybridization across insects with ramifications for species boundaries and invasive species.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {101052}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2023.101052}, pmid = {37150509}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {As the amount of genomic data for non-model taxa grows, it is increasingly clear that gene flow across species barriers in insects is much more common than previously thought. In recent years, the decreased cost and increased accuracy of long-read sequencing has enabled the assembly of high-quality, reference genomes and chromosome maps for non-model insects. With this long-read data we can now not only compare variation across the genome among homologous genes between species, which has been the basis of phylogenetics for more than thirty years, but also tease apart evidence of ancient and recent hybridization and gene flow. The implications of hybridization for species adaptation may be more positive than previously considered, explaining its prevalence across many groups of insects. Unfortunately, due to anthropogenic actions, some pest species appear to be benefitting from hybridization and gene flow, facilitating future invasions.}, }
@article {pmid37147691, year = {2023}, author = {Garamszegi, LZ and Soltész, Z and Kurucz, K and Szentiványi, T}, title = {Using community science data to assess the association between urbanization and the presence of invasive Aedes species in Hungary.}, journal = {Parasites &amp; vectors}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {158}, pmid = {37147691}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Aedes ; Hungary ; Introduced Species ; Urbanization ; Ecosystem ; Mosquito Vectors ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Urbanization can be a significant contributor to the spread of invasive mosquito vector species, and the diseases they carry, as urbanized habitats provide access to a great density of food resources (humans and domestic animals) and offer abundant breeding sites for these vectors. Although anthropogenic landscapes are often associated with the presence of invasive mosquito species, we still have little understanding about the relationships between some of these and the built environment.<br><br>METHODS: This study explores the association between urbanization level and the occurrence of invasive Aedes species, specifically Aedes albopictus, Aedes japonicus, and Aedes koreicus, in Hungary, using data from a community (or citizen) science program undertaken between 2019 and 2022.<br><br>RESULTS: The association between each of these species and urbanized landscapes within an extensive geographic area was found to differ. Using the same standardized approach, Ae. albopictus showed a statistically significant and positive&#xa0;relationship with urbanization, whereas Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus did not.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of community science to mosquito research, as the data gathered using this approach can be used to make qualitative comparisons between species to explore their ecological requirements.}, }
@article {pmid36921858, year = {2023}, author = {Clubley, CH and Firth, LB and Wood, LE and Bilton, DT and Silva, TAM and Knights, AM}, title = {Science paper or big data? Assessing invasion dynamics using observational data.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {877}, number = {}, pages = {162754}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162754}, pmid = {36921858}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Big Data ; Europe ; *Ostreidae ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Non-native species are spreading at an unprecedented rate over large spatial scales, with global environmental change and growth in commerce providing novel opportunities for range expansion. Assessing the pattern and rate of spread is key to the development of strategies for safeguarding against future invasions and efficiently managing existing ones. Such assessments often depend on spatial distribution data from online repositories, which can be spatially biased, imprecise, and lacking in quantity. Here, the influence of disparities between occurrence records from online data repositories and what is known of the invasion history from peer-reviewed published literature on non-native species range expansion was evaluated using 6693 records of the Pacific oyster, Magallana gigas (Thunberg, 1793), spanning 56 years of its invasion in Europe. Two measures of spread were calculated: maximum rate of spread (distance from introduction site over time) and accumulated area (spatial expansion). Results suggest that despite discrepancies between online and peer-reviewed data sources, including a paucity of records from the early invasion history in online repositories, the use of either source does not result in significantly different estimates of spread. Our study significantly improves our understanding of the European distribution of M. gigas and suggests that a combination of short- and long-range dispersal drives range expansions. More widely, our approach provides a framework for comparison of online occurrence records and invasion histories as documented in the peer-reviewed literature, allowing critical evaluation of both data sources and improving our understanding of invasion dynamics significantly.}, }
@article {pmid36914127, year = {2023}, author = {Pang, B and Xie, T and Ning, Z and Cui, B and Zhang, H and Wang, X and Gao, F and Zhang, S and Lu, Y}, title = {Invasion patterns of Spartina alterniflora: Response of clones and seedlings to flooding and salinity-A case study in the Yellow River Delta, China.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {877}, number = {}, pages = {162803}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162803}, pmid = {36914127}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Seedlings ; Salinity ; Rivers ; Wetlands ; Poaceae/physiology ; China ; Clone Cells ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {The invasion of Spartina alterniflora has caused severe damage to the coastal wetland ecosystem of the Yellow River Delta, China. Flooding and salinity are key factors influencing the growth and reproduction of S. alterniflora. However, the differences in response of S. alterniflora seedlings and clonal ramets to these factors remain unclear, and it is not known how these differences affect invasion patterns. In this paper, clonal ramets and seedlings were studied separately. Through literature data integration analysis, field investigation, greenhouse experiments, and situational simulation, we demonstrated significant differences in the responses of clonal ramets and seedlings to flooding and salinity changes. Clonal ramets have no theoretical inundation duration threshold with a salinity threshold of 57 ppt (part per thousand); Seedlings have an inundation duration threshold of about 11 h/day and a salinity threshold of 43 ppt. The sensitivity of belowground indicators of two propagules-types to flooding and salinity changes was stronger than that of aboveground indicators, and it is significant for clones (P < 0.05). Clonal ramets have a larger potentially invadable area than seedlings in the Yellow River Delta. However, the actual invasion area of S. alterniflora is often limited by the responses of seedlings to flooding and salinity. In a future sea-level rise scenario, the difference in responses to flooding and salinity will cause S. alterniflora to further compress native species habitats. Our research findings can improve the efficiency and accuracy of S. alterniflora control. Management of hydrological connectivity and strict restrictions on nitrogen input to wetlands, for example, are potential new initiatives to control S. alterniflora invasion.}, }
@article {pmid37143165, year = {2023}, author = {Oluoch, WA and Whitney, C and Termote, C and Borgemeister, C and Schmitt, CB}, title = {Indigenous communities' perceptions reveal threats and management options of wild edible plants in semiarid lands of northwestern Kenya.}, journal = {Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {13}, pmid = {37143165}, issn = {1746-4269}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding how local communities perceive threats and management options of wild edible plants (WEPs) is essential in developing their conservation strategies and action plans. Due to their multiple use values, including nutrition, medicinal, construction, and cultural as well as biotic and abiotic pressures, WEPs are exposed to overexploitation, especially within arid and semiarid lands, and hence the need to manage and conserve them. We demonstrate how an understanding of indigenous communities' perceptions could be achieved through an integrated participatory approach involving focus group discussions (FGDs) and field plot surveys.<br><br>METHODS: We conducted three FGDs between October 2020 and April 2021 within three community units in northwestern Kenya with different socioeconomic and environmental characteristics. We subsequently surveyed 240 field plots of size 1&#xa0;ha each to assess threats facing WEPs within a 5&#xa0;km buffer radius in every study community. We compared ranks of threats and management options across community units.<br><br>RESULTS: Rankings of threats and management options differed across the three study communities. We obtained strong positive linear relationships between field and FGD rankings of threats facing WEPs. Climate change, overstocking, overharvesting, and invasive species were the highest-ranked threats. Mitigation of climate change, local knowledge preservation, selection, propagation, processing, and marketing of WEPs ranked high among possible management options irrespective of the socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the community unit.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our approach emphasizes the relevance of leveraging indigenous communities' perceptions and conducting field plot surveys to assess threats and management options for WEPs. Evaluating the effectiveness and cost-benefit implications of implementing the highly ranked management options could help determine potentially suitable habitats of the WEPs for conservation and management purposes, especially for priority WEPs.}, }
@article {pmid37142664, year = {2023}, author = {Mohit, S and Johnson, TB and Arnott, SE}, title = {Watercraft decontamination practices to reduce the viability of aquatic invasive species implicated in overland transport.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {7238}, pmid = {37142664}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Recreational boating activities enable aquatic invasive species (AIS) dispersal among disconnected lakes, as invertebrates and plants caught on or contained within watercraft and equipment used in invaded waterbodies can survive overland transport. Besides simple preventive measures such as "clean, drain, dry", resource management agencies recommend decontaminating watercraft and equipment using high water pressure, rinsing with hot water, or air-drying to inhibit this mode of secondary spread. There is a lack of studies assessing the efficacy of these methods under realistic conditions and their feasibility for recreational boaters. Hence, we addressed this knowledge gap via experiments on six invertebrate and plant AIS present in Ontario. Washing at high pressures of 900-1200 psi removed the most biological material (90%) from surfaces. Brief (< 10 s) exposure to water at ≥ 60 °C caused nearly 100% mortality among all species tested, except banded mystery snails. Acclimation to temperatures from 15 to 30 °C before hot water exposure had little effect on the minimum temperature required for no survival. Air-drying durations producing complete mortality were ≥ 60 h for zebra mussels and spiny waterfleas, and ≥ 6 days among plants, whereas survival remained high among snails after a week of air-drying. Hot water exposure followed by air-drying was more effective than either method separately against all species tested.}, }
@article {pmid37142012, year = {2023}, author = {Wani, SA and Ahmad, R and Gulzar, R and Rashid, I and Khuroo, AA}, title = {Alien flora causes biotic homogenization in the biodiversity hotspot regions of India.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {163856}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163856}, pmid = {37142012}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Biotic homogenization by invasive alien species is one of dominant drivers of global environmental change. However, little is known about the patterns of biotic homogenization in global biodiversity hotspots. Here we fill this knowledge gap by studying the patterns of biotic homogenization and associated geographic and climatic correlates in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). For this, we use a novel biodiversity database comprising 10,685 native and 771 alien plant species across 12 provinces of the IHR. The database was assembled by screening 295 and 141 studies published from 1934 to 2022 for natives and aliens, respectively. Our results revealed that each native species on average was distributed among 2.8 provinces, whereas the alien species in 3.6 provinces, thereby indicating wider distribution range of alien species in the IHR. The Jaccard's similarity index between the provinces was higher for alien species (mean = 0.29) as compared to natives (mean = 0.16). Addition of alien species pool has homogenized most of the provincial pairwise floras (89.4 %) across the IHR, with greater dissimilarity in their native floras. Our results suggest that the alien species have strong homogenization effect on the provincial floras, regardless of their differences in geographic and climatic distances. The biogeographic patterns of alien and native species richness in the IHR were better explained by a different set of climatic variables, with former by precipitation of driest month and the latter by annual mean temperature. Our study contributes to better understanding of the patterns of biotic homogenization and its impacts on native biodiversity in the IHR. Looking ahead, in an era of Anthropocene, we discuss the wide implications of our findings in guiding biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration in global hotspot regions.}, }
@article {pmid37141800, year = {2023}, author = {Golo, R and Vergés, A and Díaz-Tapia, P and Cebrian, E}, title = {Implications of taxonomic misidentification for future invasion predictions: Evidence from one of the most harmful invasive marine algae.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {114970}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114970}, pmid = {37141800}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {Invasive species have been a focus of concern in recent decades, becoming more problematic due to the cumulative impacts of climate change. Understanding the interactions among stress factors is essential to anticipate ecosystems' responses. Hereby, robust modeling frameworks must be able to identify the environmental drivers of invasion and forecast the current and future of their potential distribution. These studies are essential for the management of invasions and to be prepared for the future we are facing. Here we demonstrate that taxonomic misidentifications may lead to absolutely erroneous predictions, by using as an example one of the worst invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea (Lophocladia lallemandii), which has been misidentified for three decades and now is correctly identified. Consequently, and bearing in mind overall trends in species misidentification due to the loss of taxonomic expertise and the presence of cryptic species, among others, attempts to understand and predict species involved in invasion processes must always first consider taxonomic studies.}, }
@article {pmid37140856, year = {2023}, author = {Ghiglione, JF and Barbe, V and Bruzaud, S and Burgaud, G and Cachot, J and Eyheraguibel, B and Lartaud, F and Ludwig, W and Meistertzheim, AL and Paul-Pont, I and Pesant, S and Ter Halle, A and Thiebeauld, O and , }, title = {Mission Tara Microplastics: a holistic set of protocols and data resources for the field investigation of plastic pollution along the land-sea continuum in Europe.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37140856}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {The Tara Microplastics mission was conducted for 7 months to investigate plastic pollution along nine major rivers in Europe-Thames, Elbe, Rhine, Seine, Loire, Garonne, Ebro, Rhone, and Tiber. An extensive suite of sampling protocols was applied at four to five sites on each river along a salinity gradient from the sea and the outer estuary to downstream and upstream of the first heavily populated city. Biophysicochemical parameters including salinity, temperature, irradiance, particulate matter, large and small microplastics (MPs) concentration and composition, prokaryote and microeukaryote richness, and diversity on MPs and in the surrounding waters were routinely measured onboard the French research vessel Tara or from a semi-rigid boat in shallow waters. In addition, macroplastic and microplastic concentrations and composition were determined on river banks and beaches. Finally, cages containing either pristine pieces of plastics in the form of films or granules, and others containing mussels were immersed at each sampling site, 1 month prior to sampling in order to study the metabolic activity of the plastisphere by meta-OMICS and to run toxicity tests and pollutants analyses. Here, we fully described the holistic set of protocols designed for the Mission Tara Microplastics and promoted standard procedures to achieve its ambitious goals: (1) compare traits of plastic pollution among European rivers, (2) provide a baseline of the state of plastic pollution in the Anthropocene, (3) predict their evolution in the frame of the current European initiatives, (4) shed light on the toxicological effects of plastic on aquatic life, (5) model the transport of microplastics from land towards the sea, and (6) investigate the potential impact of pathogen or invasive species rafting on drifting plastics from the land to the sea through riverine systems.}, }
@article {pmid37140757, year = {2023}, author = {Howard, SR and Symonds, MRE}, title = {Complex preference relationships between native and non-native angiosperms and foraging insect visitors in a suburban greenspace under field and laboratory conditions.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {110}, number = {3}, pages = {16}, pmid = {37140757}, issn = {1432-1904}, abstract = {The introduction and spread of non-native flora threatens native pollinators and plants. Non-native angiosperms can compete with native plants for pollinators, space, and other resources which can leave native bees without adequate nutritional or nesting resources, particularly specialist species. In the current study, we conducted flower preference experiments through field observations and controlled binary choice tests in an artificial arena to determine the impact of field vs. laboratory methods on flower preferences of native bees for native or non-native flowers within their foraging range. We conducted counts of insect pollinators foraging on the flowers of three plant species in a suburban green belt including one native (Arthropodium strictum) and two non-native (Arctotheca calendula and Taraxacum officinale) plant species. We then collected native halictid bees foraging on each of the three plant species and conducted controlled binary tests to determine their preferences for the flowers of native or non-native plant species. In the field counts, halictid bees visited the native plant significantly more than the non-native species. However, in the behavioural assays when comparing A. strictum vs. A. calendula, Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium (Family: Halictidae), bees significantly preferred the non-native species, regardless of their foraging history. When comparing A. strictum vs. T. officinale, bees only showed a preference for the non-native flower when it had been collected foraging on the flowers of that plant species immediately prior to the experiment; otherwise, they showed no flower preference. Our results highlight the influence that non-native angiosperms have on native pollinators and we discuss the complexities of the results and the possible reasons for different flower preferences under laboratory and field conditions.}, }
@article {pmid37130835, year = {2023}, author = {Strubbe, D and Jiménez, L and Barbosa, AM and Davis, AJS and Lens, L and Rahbek, C}, title = {Mechanistic models project bird invasions with accuracy.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2520}, pmid = {37130835}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Biodiversity ; Climate ; Introduced Species ; Birds/physiology ; }, abstract = {Invasive species pose a major threat to biodiversity and inflict massive economic costs. Effective management of bio-invasions depends on reliable predictions of areas at risk of invasion, as they allow early invader detection and rapid responses. Yet, considerable uncertainty remains as to how to predict best potential invasive distribution ranges. Using a set of mainly (sub)tropical birds introduced to Europe, we show that the true extent of the geographical area at risk of invasion can accurately be determined by using ecophysiological mechanistic models that quantify species' fundamental thermal niches. Potential invasive ranges are primarily constrained by functional traits related to body allometry and body temperature, metabolic rates, and feather insulation. Given their capacity to identify tolerable climates outside of contemporary realized species niches, mechanistic predictions are well suited for informing effective policy and management aimed at preventing the escalating impacts of invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid37022727, year = {2023}, author = {Brown, SM and Voráček, V and Freeland, S}, title = {What Would an Alien Amino Acid Alphabet Look Like and Why?.}, journal = {Astrobiology}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {536-549}, doi = {10.1089/ast.2022.0107}, pmid = {37022727}, issn = {1557-8070}, mesh = {*Amino Acids/chemistry ; *Introduced Species ; Proteins/chemistry ; Protein Folding ; Amines ; }, abstract = {Life on Earth builds genetically encoded proteins by using a standard alphabet of just 20 L-α-amino acids, although many others were available to life's origins and early evolution. To better understand the causes of this foundational evolutionary outcome, we extend previous analyses which have identified a highly unusual distribution of biophysical properties within the set used by life. Specifically, we use a heuristic search algorithm to identify other sets of amino acids, from a library of plausible alternatives, that emulate life's signature. We find that a subset of amino acids seems predisposed to forming such sets. We present other examples of such alphabets under various assumptions, along with analysis and reasoning about why each might be simplistic. We do so to introduce the central, open question that remains: while fundamental biophysics related to protein folding can potentially reduce a library of 10[54] possible amino acid alphabets by 7 orders of magnitude, the framework of assumptions that does so leaves a further 10[45] possibilities. It is therefore tempting to ask what additional assumptions can further reduce these 45 orders of magnitude? We thus conclude with a focus on library and alphabet construction as a useful target for subsequent research that may help future science speak with more confidence about what an alien amino acid alphabet would look like and why.}, }
@article {pmid37128336, year = {2023}, author = {Skovsholt, LJ and Riis, T and Matheson, F and Hawes, I}, title = {Growth response to nitrate enrichment helps facilitate success of an alien Potamogeton in New Zealand streams.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e15528}, pmid = {37128336}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Motivated by stream ecosystem degradation by eutrophication, we mimicked slow flowing lowland stream conditions with a novel experimental setup to further our understanding of aquatic plant responses to increases in nitrate and light. We conducted a mesocosm growth experiment of two species from the genus Potamogeton: P. crispus (alien) and P. ochreatus (native), grown at four nitrate and four light levels. We hypothesised that (i) internal nutrient status of the plants would scale with water column nutrient concentration, and that (ii) plant performance would reflect the nutrient status of the plant. Furthermore, we hypothesised that (iii) a low irradiance level would negate the effects of an increased nitrate level. In relation to (ii) we hypothesised that (iv) the traits of the alien species would enable it to outperform the native species where both the availability of light and nutrient resources was high. Internal tissue N content was broadly similar in the two higher (>250 μg NO3 [-] L[-1]) and the two lower nutrient treatments (<20 μg NO3 [-] L[-1]) in both species and plants were therefore collapsed into high and low N-groups. High-N individuals had higher growth rates than low-N ones regardless of species or light treatment and plants had reduced growth rates at the lowest light treatment, however this response was less evident for P. crispus. The highest growth rate was found at the high-N individuals of P. crispus at the highest light treatment, and correspondingly, in this treatment this species exhibited an increase in branching degree and lateral spread from the low-N plants. As P. crispus spreads by fragmentation, our results show it to be a highly effective competitor in anthropogenically impacted areas compared to its native counterpart. Our study exemplifies how light can influence eutrophication responses of plants and how both need to be accounted for in management decisions.}, }
@article {pmid37126190, year = {2023}, author = {Viana, JPC and Lopes-da-Silva, M and Viana, MC and Tidon, R}, title = {Establishment and Expansion Scenario of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Central Brazil.}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37126190}, issn = {1678-8052}, abstract = {Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), also known as spotted wing drosophila (SWD), is an important pest that damages various wild and cultivated soft fruits worldwide, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. In Brazil, it occurs mainly in the subtropical climates of the southern and southeastern regions. However, SWD has also been sporadically found in the central region of the country in the natural vegetation of the tropical Brazilian Savanna. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of SWD at the northern limit of its range in South America - the central region of Brazil - by monitoring an established drosophilid community in an orchard located in the Brazilian Federal District. We also investigated the current geographical distribution of this pest in Brazil and its potential geographical distribution using species distribution models under two different future shared socioeconomic pathways scenarios (2040 and 2060, optimist and pessimist). Twenty drosophilid species were detected among the 6,396 captured specimens, most of which are exotic in the Neotropical region. The fly community greatly fluctuated throughout the year, and the highest abundance of SWD (3.5% relative abundance and 1.38 flies/trap/day) was recorded in April during the rainy season. Potential distribution models indicate that suitable areas for SWD spread will decrease in the south and southeast but increase in the central region of Brazil. We recommend continuous SWD monitoring and improving bioclimatic forecast models for mitigating damage to local fruit production.}, }
@article {pmid37123008, year = {2023}, author = {Woods, MJ and Bauer, JT and Schaeffer, D and McEwan, RW}, title = {Pyrus calleryana extracts reduce germination of native grassland species, suggesting the potential for allelopathic effects during ecological invasion.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15189}, pmid = {37123008}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Grassland ; *Pyrus ; Sand ; Allelopathy ; Poaceae ; Plants ; Introduced Species ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Invasive plant species' success may be a result of allelopathy, or the release of secondary metabolites that are harmful for surrounding plant species. Allelopathy can be mediated through the abiotic environment by chemical sorption or transformation, so the substrate on which interactions occur can lead to differential outcomes in allelopathic potential. One aggressive invader, Pyrus calleryana, has become dominant in many ecosystems throughout Eastern US, and has reduced the abundance of native species where it invades. Thus, our goal was to identify if P. calleryana had allelopathic potential by testing the impact of leaf and flower leachate on gemination of six common grassland species (three grasses and three forbs) in either sterilized sand or field collected soils. Germination of five out of six tested species was reduced by P. calleryana leaf litter, with weaker impacts from flower leachate. This suggests that allelopathy is one mechanism driving the success of P. calleryana and that allelopathic effects may change with plant phenology. For instance, P. calleryana has late leaf senescence in the fall and copious blooming in the spring that may elongate the timeframe that allelopathic inhibition can occur. Further, germination was higher in sand than in soil, suggesting that the context of the abiotic environment can mediate this relationship. In our study, two grass species that could be overabundant in restored grasslands had higher germination rates in soil than sand and one was not altered by P. calleryana suggesting that this relationship could further promote the overabundance of grass species. Taken together, P. calleryana likely inhibits the germination of native species where it invades, but there is context dependency of this relationship with both soil chemistry and seasonality.}, }
@article {pmid37123003, year = {2023}, author = {Nair, RR and Peterson, AT}, title = {Mapping the global distribution of invasive pest Drosophila suzukii and parasitoid Leptopilina japonica: implications for biological control.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15222}, pmid = {37123003}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Drosophila ; Introduced Species ; *Hymenoptera ; Insecta ; Insect Control ; }, abstract = {Insect pest invasions cause significant damage to crop yields, and the resultant economic losses are truly alarming. Climate change and trade liberalization have opened new ways of pest invasions. Given the consumer preference towards organic agricultural products and environment-friendly nature of natural pest control strategies, biological control is considered to be one of the potential options for managing invasive insect pests. Drosophila suzukii (Drosophilidae) is an extremely damaging fruit pest, demanding development of effective and sustainable biological control strategies. In this study, we assessed the potential of the parasitoid Leptopilina japonica (Figitidae) as a biocontrol agent for D. suzukii using ecological niche modeling approaches. We developed global-scale models for both pest and parasitoid to identify four components necessary to derive a niche based, target oriented prioritization approach to plan biological control programs for D. suzukii: (i) potential distribution of pest D. suzukii, (ii) potential distribution of parasitoid L. japonica, (iii) the degree of overlap in potential distributions of pest and parasitoid, and (iv) biocontrol potential of this system for each country. Overlapping suitable areas of pest and parasitoid were identified at two different thresholds and at the most desirable threshold (E = 5%), potential for L. japonica mediated biocontrol management existed in 125 countries covering 1.87 × 10[7] km[2], and at the maximum permitted threshold (E = 10%), land coverage was reduced to 1.44 × 10[7] km[2] in 121 countries. Fly pest distributional information as a predictor variable was not found to be improving parasitoid model performance, and globally, only in half of the countries, >50% biocontrol coverage was estimated. We therefore suggest that niche specificities of both pest and parasitoid must be included in site-specific release planning of L. japonica for effective biocontrol management aimed at D. suzukii. This study can be extended to design cost-effective pre-assessment strategies for implementing any biological control management program.}, }
@article {pmid37126171, year = {2023}, author = {Fu, J and Ma, Z and Wang, L and Zhang, Y and Luo, Y}, title = {Fumigant toxicity and behavioral alterations of six plant essential oils against the red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren).}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37126171}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {The red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is an invasive species that is considered to be among the 100 most dangerous species to human health and the environment. RIFA is currently controlled primarily by chemical insecticides. However, human health concerns and environmental problems require environment friendly, green insect pest control technology. In this study, the HS-SPME-GC/MS method was used to determine the volatile components of six essential oils, namely Illicium verum Burm, Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., Citrus limon Burm, Acorus tatarinowii Schott, Mosla chinensis Maxim, and Cinnamomum cassia Presl, as well as their fumigation activity against RIFA. D-Limonene was identified as a core volatile in all six essential oils. The effects of volatile substances from essential oils on the fumigation activity and behavior of RIFA workers were studied by closed fumigation method. Except for C. limon essential oil, all other five plant essential oils exhibit excellent fumigation activity under the treatment of a concentration at 10 μL/ cm[3] within 24 h. All plant essential oils are capable of causing the death of all red fire ants, while C. limon essential oil exhibited the lowest fumigation activity at 63.25%. Significant reductions in RIFA aggregation, aggressiveness, and gripping abilities were observed with all plant essential oils, and antenna sensilla appeared to bend or break. Moreover, after treating red ant fire ants with essential oil for 24 h, three protective enzyme activities were assessed. All six plant essential oils were shown to have enhanced enzyme activities for superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and catalase (CAT). It has been shown that plant essential oils have the capability of reducing the viability of red fire ants via receptor and behavioral factors, ultimately causing them to die off. As a conclusion, plant oils were demonstrated to be negatively affecting RIFA and providing a green and environmentally sustainable control method in this study.}, }
@article {pmid37125194, year = {2023}, author = {Kosawang, C and Børja, I and Herrero, ML and Nagy, NE and Nielsen, LR and Solheim, H and Timmermann, V and Hietala, AM}, title = {Fungal succession in decomposing ash leaves colonized by the ash dieback pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus or its harmless relative Hymenoscyphus albidus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1154344}, pmid = {37125194}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The ascomycete Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, originating from Asia, is currently threatening common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) in Europe, massive ascospore production from the saprotrophic phase being a key determinant of its invasiveness.<br><br>METHODS: To consider whether fungal diversity and succession in decomposing leaf litter are affected by this invader, we used ITS-1 metabarcoding to profile changes in fungal community composition during overwintering. The subjected ash leaf petioles, collected from a diseased forest and a healthy ash stand hosting the harmless ash endophyte Hymenoscyphus albidus, were incubated in the forest floor of the diseased stand between October 2017 and June 2018 and harvested at 2-3-month intervals.<br><br>RESULTS: Total fungal DNA level showed a 3-fold increase during overwintering as estimated by FungiQuant qPCR. Petioles from the healthy site showed pronounced changes during overwintering; ascomycetes of the class Dothideomycetes were predominant after leaf shed, but the basidiomycete genus Mycena (class Agaricomycetes) became predominant by April, whereas H. albidus showed low prevalence. Petioles from the diseased site showed little change during overwintering; H. fraxineus was predominant, while Mycena spp. showed increased read proportion by June.<br><br>DISCUSSION: The low species richness and evenness in petioles from the diseased site in comparison to petioles from the healthy site were obviously related to tremendous infection pressure of H. fraxineus in diseased forests. Changes in leaf litter quality, owing to accumulation of host defense phenolics in the pathogen challenged leaves, and strong saprophytic competence of H. fraxineus are other factors that probably influence fungal succession. For additional comparison, we examined fungal community structure in petioles collected in the healthy stand in August 2013 and showing H. albidus ascomata. This species was similarly predominant in these petioles as H. fraxineus was in petioles from the diseased site, suggesting that both fungi have similar suppressive effects on fungal richness in petiole/rachis segments they have secured for completion of their life cycle. However, the ability of H. fraxineus to secure the entire leaf nerve system in diseased forests, in opposite to H. albidus, impacts the general diversity and successional trajectory of fungi in decomposing ash petioles.}, }
@article {pmid37125154, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, L and Wang, M and Shi, Y and Ma, P and Xiao, Y and Yu, H and Ding, J}, title = {Soil phosphorus form affects the advantages that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi confer on the invasive plant species, Solidago canadensis, over its congener.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1160631}, pmid = {37125154}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are strongly affected by soil phosphorus (P) availability. However, how P forms impact rhizosphere AMF diversity, community composition, and the co-occurrence network associated with native and invasive plants, and whether these changes in turn influence the invasiveness of alien species remain unclear. In this work, we performed a greenhouse experiment with the invasive species Solidago canadensis and its native congener S. decurrens to investigate how different forms of P altered the AMF community and evaluate how these changes were linked with the growth advantage of S. canadensis relative to S. decurrens. Plants were subjected to five different P treatments: no P addition (control), simple inorganic P (sodium dihydrogen phosphate, NaP), complex inorganic P (hydroxyapatite, CaP), simple organic P (adenosine monophosphate, AMP) and complex organic P (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, PA). Overall, invasive S. canadensis grew larger than native S. decurrens across all P treatments, and this growth advantage was strengthened when these species were grown in CaP and AMP treatments. The two Solidago species harbored divergent AMF communities, and soil P treatments significantly shifted AMF community composition. In particular, the differences in AMF diversity, community composition, topological features and keystone taxa of the co-occurrence networks between S. canadensis and S. decurrens were amplified when the dominant form of soil P was altered. Despite significant correlations between AMF alpha diversity, community structure, co-occurrence network composition and plant performance, we found that alpha diversity and keystone taxa of the AMF co-occurrence networks were the primary factors influencing plant growth and the growth advantage of invasive S. canadensis between soil P treatments. These results suggest that AMF could confer invasive plants with greater advantages over native congeners, depending on the forms of P in the soil, and emphasize the important roles of multiple AMF traits in plant invasion.}, }
@article {pmid37125024, year = {2023}, author = {Scott Anderson, R and Allison Stegner, M and La Selle, S and Sherrod, B and Barnosky, AD and Hadly, EA}, title = {Witnessing history: comparison of a century of sedimentary and written records in a California protected area.}, journal = {Regional environmental change}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {65}, pmid = {37125024}, issn = {1436-3798}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: We use a combination of proxy records from a high-resolution analysis of sediments from Searsville Lake and adjacent Upper Lake Marsh and historical records to document over one and a half centuries of vegetation and socio-ecological change-relating to logging, agricultural land use change, dam construction, chemical applications, recreation, and other drivers-on the San Francisco Peninsula. A relatively open vegetation with minimal oak (Quercus) and coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in the late 1850s reflects widespread logging and grazing during the nineteenth century. Forest and woodland expansion occurred in the early twentieth century, with forests composed of coast redwood and oak, among other taxa, as both logging and grazing declined. Invasive species include those associated with pasturage (Rume x, Plantago), landscape disturbance (Urtica, Amaranthaceae), planting for wood production and wind barriers (Eucalyptus), and agriculture. Agricultural species, including wheat, rye, and corn, were more common in the early twentieth century than subsequently. Wetland and aquatic pollen and fungal spores document a complex hydrological history, often associated with fluctuating water levels, application of algaecides, raising of Searsville Dam, and construction of a levee. By pairing the paleoecological and historical records of both lakes, we have been able to reconstruct the previously undocumented impacts of socio-ecological influences on this drainage, all of which overprinted known climate changes. Recognizing the ecological manifestations of these impacts puts into perspective the extent to which people have interacted with and transformed the environment in the transition into the Anthropocene.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10113-023-02056-9.}, }
@article {pmid37124868, year = {2023}, author = {Jones, BSCL and Holt, LA and Chan, KYK}, title = {Effect of pH on the Early Development of the Biofouling Ascidian Ciona robusta.}, journal = {Zoological studies}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {e4}, pmid = {37124868}, issn = {1810-522X}, abstract = {Ocean acidification (OA) impacts the survival, fertilization, and community structure of marine organisms across the world. However, some populations or species are considered more resilient than others, such as those that are invasive, globally distributed, or biofouling. Here, we tested this assumption by investigating the effect of pH on the larval development of one such tunicate, Ciona robusta, which is currently exposed to a wide range of pH levels. Consistent with our hypothesis, C. robusta larvae developed and metamorphosed at a rate comparable to control (pH 8.0) at modest near-future conditions (pH 7.7) over a 58-hour period. However, development was stunted at the extreme low pH of 6.8 such that no embryo progressed beyond late cleavage after 58 hours. Interestingly, piecewise regression of the proportion of embryos at the most advanced stage at a given time point against pH identified a breakpoint with the highest pH (~pH 7.6) at around hatching. The variation in breakpoint pH throughout ontogeny highlighted that the sensitivity to decreasing pH differs significantly between developmental stages. More broadly, our results show that even a cosmopolitan, biofouling, invasive species could be negatively impacted by decreasing pH.}, }
@article {pmid37121960, year = {2023}, author = {Costan, CA and Godsoe, W and Bufford, JL and Hulme, PE}, title = {Comparing the Above and Below-Ground Chemical Defences of Three Rumex Species Between Their Native and Introduced Provenances.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37121960}, issn = {1573-1561}, abstract = {Compared to their native range, non-native plants often experience reduced levels of herbivory in the introduced range. This may result in reduced pressure to produce chemical defences that act against herbivores. We measured the most abundant secondary metabolites found in Rumex spp., namely oxalates, phenols and tannins. To test this hypothesis, we compared native (UK) and introduced (NZ) provenances of three different Rumex species (R. obtusifolius, R. crispus and R. conglomeratus, Polygonaceae) to assess whether any significant differences existed in their levels of chemical defences in either leaves and roots. All three species have previously been shown to support a lower diversity of insect herbivores and experience less herbivory in the introduced range. We further examined leaf herbivory on plants from both provenances when grown together in a common garden experiment in New Zealand to test whether any differences in damage might be consistent with variation in the quantity of chemical defences. We found that two Rumex species (R. obtusifolius and R. crispus) showed no evidence for a reduction in chemical defences, while a third (R. conglomeratus) showed only limited evidence. The common garden experiment revealed that the leaves analysed had low levels of herbivory (~ 0.5%) with no differences in damage between provenances for any of the three study species. Roots tended to have a higher concentration of tannins than shoots, but again showed no difference between the provenances. As such, the findings of this study provide no evidence for lower plant investments in chemical defences, suggesting that other factors explain the success of Rumex spp. in New Zealand.}, }
@article {pmid37121005, year = {2023}, author = {Javed, Q and Sun, J and Rutherford, S and Li, J and Iqbal, B and Xiang, Y and Ren, G and He, F and Pan, L and Bo, Y and Khattak, WA and Du, D}, title = {Soil pollution and the invasion of congener Sphagneticola in crop lands.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {340}, number = {}, pages = {118013}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118013}, pmid = {37121005}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {The input of agro-pollutants, such as microplastics and nanopesticides, on farmlands is widespread and may facilitate biological invasions in agroecosystems. Here, the effects of agro-pollutants that promote invasion of congener species is studied by examining the growth performance of native Sphagneticola calendulacea and its invasive congener, S. trilobata, when grown in a native only, invasive only and mixed community. Sphagneticola calendulacea naturally occurs in croplands in southern China, while S. trilobata was introduced to this region and has since naturalized, encroaching onto farmland. In our study, each plant community was subjected to the following treatments: control, microplastics only, nanopesticides only, and both microplastics and nanopesticides. The effects of the treatments on soils of each plant community were also examined. We found that aboveground, belowground, and photosynthetic traits of S. calendulacea were significantly inhibited by the combined microplastics and nanopesticides treatment in the native and mixed communities. The relative advantage index of S. trilobata was 69.90% and 74.73% higher under the microplastics only and nanopesticides only treatments respectively compared to S. calendulacea. Soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity, gas emission rates, and chemicals in each community were reduced when treated with both microplastics and nanopesticides. Yet, soil microbial biomass of carbon and nitrogen, CO2 emission rates and nitrous oxide rates were significantly higher (56.08%, 58.33%, 36.84% and 49.95% respectively) in the invasive species community than in the native species community under microplastics and nanopesticides. Our results suggest that the addition of agro-pollutants to soils favors the more resistant S. trilobata and suppresses the less tolerant S. calendulacea. Soil properties from the native species community are also more impacted by agro-pollutants than substrates supporting the invasive species. Future studies should explore the effects of agro-pollutants by comparing other invasive and native species and considering human activities, industry, and the soil environment.}, }
@article {pmid37119623, year = {2023}, author = {Soares, MO and Pereira, PHC and Feitosa, CV and Maggioni, R and Rocha, RS and Bezerra, LEA and Duarte, OS and Paiva, SV and Noleto-Filho, E and Silva, MQM and Csapo-Thomaz, M and Garcia, TM and Arruda Júnior, JPV and Cottens, KF and Vinicius, B and Araújo, R and Eirado, CBD and Santos, LPS and Guimarães, TCS and Targino, CH and Amorim-Reis Filho, J and Santos, WCRD and Klautau, AGCM and Gurjão, LM and Machado, DAN and Maia, RC and Santos, ES and Sabry, R and Asp, N and Carneiro, PBM and Rabelo, EF and Tavares, TCL and Lima, GV and Sampaio, CLS and Rocha, LA and Ferreira, CEL and Giarrizzo, T}, title = {Lessons from the invasion front: Integration of research and management of the lionfish invasion in Brazil.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {340}, number = {}, pages = {117954}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117954}, pmid = {37119623}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {After successful invasions in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, lionfish (Pterois spp.) have recently invaded another important biogeographical region -the Brazilian Province. In this article, we discuss this new invasion, focusing on a roadmap for urgent mitigation of the problem, as well as focused research and management strategies. The invasion in Brazil is already in the consolidation stage, with 352 individuals recorded so far (2020-2023) along 2766 km of coastline. This includes both juveniles and adults, including egg-bearing females, ranging in length from 9.1 to 38.5 cm. Until now, most of the records in the Brazilian coast occurred in the equatorial southwestern Atlantic (99%), mainly on the Amazon mesophotic reefs (15% of the records), northeastern coast of Brazil (45%), and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (41%; an UNESCO World Heritage Site with high endemism rate). These records cover a broad depth range (1-110 m depth), twelve protected areas, eight Brazilian states (Amapá, Pará, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, and Pernambuco) and multiple habitats (i.e., mangrove estuaries, shallow-water and mesophotic reefs, seagrass beds, artificial reefs, and sandbanks), indicating a rapid and successful invasion process in Brazilian waters. In addition, the lack of local knowledge of rare and/or cryptic native species that are potentially vulnerable to lionfish predation raises concerns regarding the potential overlooked ecological impacts. Thus, we call for an urgent integrated approach with multiple stakeholders and solution-based ecological research, real-time inventories, update of environmental and fishery legislation, participatory monitoring supported by citizen science, and a national and unified plan aimed at decreasing the impact of lionfish invasion. The experience acquired by understanding the invasion process in the Caribbean and Mediterranean will help to establish and prioritize goals for Brazil.}, }
@article {pmid37118992, year = {2023}, author = {Caton, BP and Fang, H and Pallipparambil, GR and Manoukis, NC}, title = {Transect-based trapping for area-wide delimitation of insects.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toad059}, pmid = {37118992}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {Typical delimitation trapping survey designs for area-wide (nonlocalized) insect populations are regularly spaced grids, and alternative shapes have not been evaluated. We hypothesized that transect-based designs could give similar detection rates with significantly shorter servicing distances. We used the TrapGrid model to investigate novel "trap-sect" designs incorporating crossed, spoked, and parallel lines of traps, comparing them to a regular grid, in single survey and multiple-site scenarios. We calculated minimum servicing distances and simulated mean probabilities of detecting a pest population, judging overall performance of trap network designs using both metrics. For single sites, trap-sect designs reduced service distances by 65-89%, and most had similar detection probabilities as the regular grid. Kernel-smoothed intensity plots indicated that the best performing trap-sect designs distributed traps more fully across the area. With multiple sites (3 side by side), results depended on insect dispersal ability. All designs performed similarly in terms of detection for highly mobile insects, suggesting that designs minimizing service distances would be best for such pests. For less mobile pests the best trap-sect designs had 4-6 parallel lines, or 8 spokes, which reduced servicing distances by 33-50%. Comparisons of hypothetical trap-sect arrays to real program trap locations for 2 pests demonstrated that the novel designs reduced both trap numbers and service distances, with little differences in mean nearest trap distance to random pest locations. Trap-sect designs in delimitation surveys could reduce costs and increase program flexibility without harming the ability to detect populations.}, }
@article {pmid37118974, year = {2023}, author = {Bernos, TA and Day, C and Hill, J and Morissette, O and Jeffries, KM and Mandrak, NE}, title = {Simulating the effects of long-distance dispersal and landscape heterogeneity on the eco-evolutionary outcomes of range expansion in an invasive riverine fish, Tench (Tinca tinca).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16964}, pmid = {37118974}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Predicting how quickly populations expand their range and whether they will retain genetic diversity when they are introduced to new regions or track environmental conditions suited to their survival is an important applied and theoretical challenge. The literature suggests that long-distance dispersal, landscape heterogeneity and the evolution of dispersal influence populations' expansion rates and genetic diversity. We used individual-based spatially explicit simulations to examine these relationships for Tench (Tinca tinca), an invasive fish expanding its geographical range in eastern North America since the 1990s. Simulated populations varied greatly in expansion rates (1.1-28.6 patches year[-1]) and genetic diversity metrics, including changes in observed heterozygosity (-19 to +0.8%) and effective number of alleles (-0.32 to -0.01). Populations with greater dispersal distances expanded faster than those with smaller dispersal distances but exhibited considerable variation in expansion rate among local populations, implying less predictable expansions. However, they tended to retain genetic diversity as they expanded, suggesting more predictable evolutionary trajectories. In contrast, populations with smaller dispersal distances spread predictably more slowly but exhibited more variability among local populations in genetic diversity losses. Consistent with empirical data, populations spreading in a longer, narrower dispersal corridor lost more neutral genetic variation to the stochastic fixation of alleles. Given the unprecedented pace of anthropogenic environmental change and the increasing need to manage range-expanding populations, our results have conservation ramifications as they imply that the evolutionary trajectories of populations characterised by shorter dispersal distances spreading in narrower landscapes are more variable and, therefore, less predictable.}, }
@article {pmid37112831, year = {2023}, author = {Sánchez, C and Doménech, A and Gomez-Lucia, E and Méndez, JL and Ortiz, JC and Benítez, L}, title = {A Novel Dependoparvovirus Identified in Cloacal Swabs of Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) from Urban Areas of Spain.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {37112831}, issn = {1999-4915}, abstract = {The introduction of invasive birds into new ecosystems frequently has negative consequences for the resident populations. Accordingly, the increasing population of monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in Europe may pose a threat because we have little knowledge of the viruses they can transmit to native naïve species. In this study, we describe a new dependoparvovirus detected by metagenomic analysis of cloacal samples from 28 apparently healthy individuals captured in urban areas of Madrid, Spain. The genomic characterization revealed that the genome encoded the NS and VP proteins typical of parvoviruses and was flanked by inverted terminal repeats. No recombination signal was detected. The phylogenetic analysis showed that it was closely related to a parvovirus isolated in a wild psittacid in China. Both viruses share 80% Rep protein sequence identity and only 64% with other dependoparvoviruses identified in Passeriformes, Anseriformes, and Piciformes and are included in a highly supported clade, which could be considered a new species. The prevalence was very low, and none of the additional 73 individuals tested positive by PCR. These results highlight the importance of exploring the viral genome in invasive species to prevent the emergence of novel viral pathogenic species.}, }
@article {pmid37109445, year = {2023}, author = {Gübelin, P and Correa-Cuadros, JP and Ávila-Thieme, MI and Flores-Benner, G and Duclos, M and Lima, M and Jaksic, FM}, title = {European Rabbit Invasion in a Semi-Arid Ecosystem of Chile: How Relevant Is Its Role in Food Webs?.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/life13040916}, pmid = {37109445}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the main invasive species in Chile, where it became naturalized ca. 150 years ago. Their high reproductive capacity, lack of specialist predators, and great adaptability favored the settlement of rabbits in diverse mainland and island ecosystems of the country. Recently, rabbits have become central players in semi-arid ecosystems, such as those represented in Las Chinchillas National Reserve in north-central Chile. We undertook to analyze the place and role of rabbits in the food web of that Reserve, based on a bibliographic review and long-term annual data gathered from 1987 until 2022 (36 years). Results showed that the network comprised 77 species, where 69% were primary producers (plants), 18% were mid-level consumers (herbivores), and 13% were top-level consumers (predators). The most connected species in the food web was the rabbit, which positively or negatively affected the species interacting with it. Predators such as Galictis cuja, Geranoaetus polyosoma, Leopardus colocolo, and Puma concolor, and the scavenger Vultur gryphus, could be negatively affected by an eventual decrease (natural or human-caused) in the rabbit population of the Reserve. To the contrary, primary producers such as Oxalis perdicaria, Plantago hispidula, Schizanthus parvulus, Senna cumminggi, and Tropaeolum azureum could be positively affected by an increase in their biomass in response to a decrease in rabbits, favoring native rodents. We consider that analyzing the rabbit-centered food web and its impacts on native interacting species allows a better understanding of the relevance of invasive species in the local community, providing conceptual tools for rabbit management.}, }
@article {pmid37106990, year = {2023}, author = {Guerra-Marrero, A and Bonino-Pérez, A and Espino-Ruano, A and Couce-Montero, L and Jiménez-Alvarado, D and Castro, JJ}, title = {Life History Parameters and Fishing Aspects of the Alien Nimble Spray Crab Percnon gibbesi in a Native Area of the Central-East Atlantic.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13081427}, pmid = {37106990}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Percnon gibbesi is a native crab species characteristic of intertidal and subtidal zones of the Atlantic coast of the European Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands), and probably also in the neighbouring rocky coasts of northwest Africa. P. gibbesi is considered an invasive alien species in almost all of the Mediterranean, with expanding populations from Spain to Turkey, including Libya; However, its biology and ecology are highly unknown, despite all its range of distribution. In the intertidal zones of Gran Canaria Island, this crab, in the intertidal zones of Gran Canaria Island, shows a carapace length range between 4.1 and 22.7 mm (4.1-22.7 in males and 5.7-22.3 in females), where females showed higher weights and lengths than males on average; However, males predominated in all samples, with a sex ratio of 1:0.57. The L∞ for this crab was estimated to be 27 ± 3 mm (23 ± 4 mm for females and 25 ± 4 mm for males). The growth coefficient (K) was 0.24 year[-1], the total mortality (Z) was Z = 1.71 year[-1], and the natural mortality (M) was 0.47 year[-1]. Although females grow faster than males, males are more abundant in the larger length classes. Although the presence of ovigerous females indicated that reproduction takes place twice a year, from March to April and from August to September, the number of cohorts detected by the modal progression analysis showed that reproduction takes place all year.}, }
@article {pmid37106914, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, JH and Choi, HK and Lee, HJ and Lee, HG}, title = {On the Species Identification of Two Non-Native Tilapia Species, Including the First Record of a Feral Population of Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864) in South Korea.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13081351}, pmid = {37106914}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Tilapia is an invasive species that has become widely distributed around the world. In Korea, introduced tilapia into its aquatic ecosystem for the first time with a species from Thailand in 1955, and later additionally introduced two more species from Japan and Taiwan, thus securing a total of three species of tilapia (O. niloticus, O. mossambicus and O. aureus) as food resources. Since then, O. niloticus has been reported to inhabit certain streams with thermal effluent outlets. Morphological species identification is very difficult for tilapia and a combined analysis of morphological and molecular-based species identification is therefore necessary. This study investigated a tilapia population that inhabits a thermal effluent stream (Dalseo Stream) in Daegu Metropolitan City, Korea, in order to conduct a morphological and genetic species identification of this population. In total, 37 tilapia individuals were sampled. The results of the morphological and genetic species identification analyses found that two species, O. aureus and O. niloticus, inhabit the Dalseo Stream. In Korea, the habitat of the O. niloticus natural population has been reported, but the O. aureus natural population has not been reported. Thus, we observed for the first time that a new invasive species, O. aureus, inhabits a stream in Korea. They are known to cause disturbances to aquatic organisms (e.g., fish, aquatic insects, plankton, aquatic plants) and the habitat environment (e.g., water quality, bottom structure). Accordingly, it is important to study the ecological effects of O. aureus and O. niloticus on the corresponding freshwater ecosystem closely and to prepare a management plan to prevent the spread of these species, as they are notoriously invasive.}, }
@article {pmid37106480, year = {2023}, author = {Jiménez-García, E and Andújar, C and López, H and Emerson, BC}, title = {Towards understanding insect species introduction and establishment: A community-level barcoding approach using island beetles.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16962}, pmid = {37106480}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Since Darwin put forward his opposing hypotheses to explain the successful establishment of species in areas outside their native ranges, the preadaptation and competition-relatedness hypotheses, known as Darwin's naturalization conundrum, numerous studies have sought to understand the relative importance of each. Here, we take advantage of well-characterized beetle communities across laurel forests of the Canary Islands for a first evaluation of the relative support for Darwin's two hypotheses within arthropods. We generated a mitogenome backbone tree comprising nearly half of the beetle genera recorded within the Canary Islands for the phylogenetic placement of native and introduced species sampled in laurel forests, using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences. For comparative purposes, we also assembled and phylogenetically placed a data set of COI sequences for introduced beetle species that were not sampled within laurel forests. Our results suggest a stronger effect of species preadaptation over resource competition, while also revealing an underappreciated shortfall in arthropod biodiversity data-knowledge of species as being native or introduced. We name this the Humboldtean shortfall and suggest that similar studies using arthropods should incorporate DNA barcode sequencing to mitigate this problem.}, }
@article {pmid37104950, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, J and Lu, X and Jing, Q and Zhang, B and Ye, J and Zhang, H and Xiao, Z and Zhang, J}, title = {Spatiotemporal characterization of heavy metal and antibiotics in the Pearl River Basin and pollutants removal assessment using invasive species-derived biochars.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {454}, number = {}, pages = {131409}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131409}, pmid = {37104950}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Rivers play essential roles in human civilization, while anthropogenic activities have deteriorated their resilience and functionalities. Combating contamination is one of the priorities for building the river's resilience and providing safe water and habitats for livelihoods, wildlife preservation, and food production. We collected 174 water and sediment samples from the upstream to the estuary of the Pearl River (PR), characterized the heavy metal and antibiotics contamination levels, and analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution by compiling historical datasets extracted from published research papers and governmental documents. We also assessed the feasibility of removing PR water heavy metals and antibiotics using biochars derived from two invasive plants, Bidens pilosa L. and Lantana camara. According to our findings, heavy metals and antibiotics in water and sediment increased towards the downstream region of the Pearl River Delta (PRD). The water and sediment samples obtained from the Dongguan and Shenzhen regions exhibited the most elevated levels of heavy metals, whereas the samples from the Huizhou region demonstrated the highest levels of antibiotics. Compared with previously published PRD sediment heavy metals (1976-2011) and antibiotics contamination data (2006-2017), we found that some heavy metals and all measured antibiotics contents in sediment substantially reduced (80-100%). Cu, Zn, Cr, and As significantly polluted the sediment in PRD. Shenzhen had the highest Index of geo-accumulation (Igeo) for Cu, Zn, and Cr, while Zhaoqing had the highest Igeo for As. The dominant antibiotics were Ciprofloxacin, Doxycycline, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin, Oxytetracycline, and Tetracycline. Invasive plant-derived biochars showed high antibiotic removal capacity but failed to reduce most PR water heavy metals since these invasive plants are potential heavy metal hyperaccumulators. The spatial distribution of heavy metal and antibiotics concentration/content in water and sediment samples is primarily affected by anthropogenic activities such as industrialization, aquaculture, pharmaceutical, and agricultural practice. Our study provides insights into the extensive freshwater watersheds' decontamination and green policymaking.}, }
@article {pmid37104173, year = {2023}, author = {Llopart, JP and Alvarez-Blanco, P and Moreira-Demarco, L and Bang, A and Angulo, E and Maneyro, R}, title = {Testing the Novel Weapons Hypothesis of the Argentine Ant Venom on Amphibians.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/toxins15040235}, pmid = {37104173}, issn = {2072-6651}, abstract = {The globally invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) possesses a venom lethal to some amphibian species in the invaded range. To test the novel weapons hypothesis (NWH), the effects of the toxin on the cohabiting amphibian species in the ant's native range need to be investigated. The invader should benefit from the novel chemical in the invaded range, because the species are not adapted, but the venom should not be effective in the native range. We explore the venom effects on juveniles of three amphibian species with different degrees of myrmecophagy inhabiting the ant's native range: Rhinella arenarum, Odontophrynus americanus, and Boana pulchella. We exposed the amphibians to the ant venom, determined the toxic dose, and evaluated the short- (10 min to 24 h) and medium-term (14 days) effects. All amphibian species were affected by the venom independently of myrmecophagy. In addition to amphibian sensitivity, we discuss how the differential Argentine ant abundance and density in the two ranges could be the key to the susceptibility of amphibians to the venom, resulting in the possibility of NWH. Our results confirm the potential magnitude of the impact of the Argentine ant in successfully invaded areas for the conservation of already threatened amphibians.}, }
@article {pmid37103767, year = {2023}, author = {Liao, J and Rong, H and You, L and Xia, K and Wang, M and Han, P and Li, C and Zhang, J}, title = {Identification of leaf chloroplast-specific promoter to efficiently control of Colorado potato beetle with reduced dsRNA accumulation in potato tubers.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7516}, pmid = {37103767}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: By expressing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in potato plastids targeting β-Actin (ACT) gene of the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), transplastomic plants can trigger the beetle's RNA interference response to kill the CPB larvae. High expression of dsACT driven by rrn16 promoter (Prrn) in the leaf chloroplasts of transplastomic plants confers strong resistance to CPB. But there are still residual amounts of dsRNA in the tubers, which are unnecessary for CPB control and may raise a potential food exposure issue.<br><br>RESULTS: To reduce dsRNA accumulation in the tubers while maintaining stable resistance to CPB, we selected two promoters (PrbcL and PpsbD) from potato plastid-encoded rbcL and psbD genes and compared their activities with Prrn promoter for dsRNA synthesis in the leaf chloroplasts and tuber amyloplasts. We found that the dsACT accumulation levels in leaves of transplastomic plants St-PrbcL-ACT and St-PpsbD-ACT were significantly reduced when compared to St-Prrn-ACT, but they still maintain high resistance to CPB. By contrast, a few amounts of dsACT were still accumulated in the tubers of St-PrbcL-ACT, while no dsACT accumulation in tubers was detectable in St-PpsbD-ACT.<br><br>CONCLUSION: In sum, we identified the PpsbD as a useful promoter to reduce the dsRNA accumulation in the potato tubers while maintaining the high resistance of the potato leaves to CPB. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid37103387, year = {2023}, author = {De Mori, A and Alasa, UJ and Mühlhölzl, A and Blunn, G}, title = {Slipper Limpet (Crepidula fornicata) Shells Support In Vitro Osteogenesis of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/md21040248}, pmid = {37103387}, issn = {1660-3397}, abstract = {This study aimed to investigate a cost-effective alternative to man-made calcium phosphate ceramics for treating bone defects. The slipper limpet is an invasive species in European coastal waters, and its shells composed of calcium carbonate could potentially be a cost-effective source of bone graft substitutes. This research analyzed the mantle of the slipper limpet (Crepidula fornicata) shells to enhance in vitro bone formation. Discs machined from the mantle of C. fornicata were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray crystallography (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and profilometry. Calcium release and bioactivity were also studied. Cell attachment, proliferation, and osteoblastic differentiation (RT-qPCR and alkaline phosphatase activity) were measured in human adipose-derived stem cells grown on the mantle surface. The mantle material was mainly composed of aragonite and showed a sustained Ca[2+] release at physiological pH. In addition, apatite formation was observed in simulated body fluid after three weeks, and the materials supported osteoblastic differentiation. Overall, our findings suggest the mantle of C. fornicata shows potential as a material for fabricating bone graft substitutes and structural biomaterials for bone regeneration.}, }
@article {pmid37103190, year = {2023}, author = {Ribeiro, LB and Proença, CEB and Tidon, R}, title = {Host Preferences Shown by Drosophilids (Diptera) in a Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Distribution Center Follow the Wild Neotropical Pattern.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040375}, pmid = {37103190}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Although drosophilids have been extensively studied in laboratories worldwide, their ecology is still relatively poorly understood. This is unfortunate because some species are currently expanding their geographic distribution and infesting fruit crops. Here, we investigated the relationship between drosophilids and potential plant hosts in a commercial fruit and vegetable distribution center in the Neotropical region. We collected discarded fruits and vegetables from this commercial center during two time periods (2007-2008 and 2017-2018). Resources were weighted and individually monitored in the laboratory. The drosophilids that emerged were identified, and the relationship between them and their resources was explored. From the 99,478 kg of potential hosts collected, we identified 48 plant taxa, from which 48,894 drosophilids of 16 species emerged. On both collecting occasions, drosophilid assemblages were strongly dominated by basically the same exotic species, which explore a broader range of resources, especially those of exotic origin, when compared to neotropical drosophilids. These results are concerning because the studied site, Along with other urban markets around the world, might be acting as sources of generalist widespread species that disperse to surrounding natural vegetation and contribute to biotic homogenization.}, }
@article {pmid37103187, year = {2023}, author = {Seltzer, JL and MacGown, J and Hill, JG and Cross, D and Lensing, J and Collins, J}, title = {First Report of Imported Fire Ants, Solenopsis invicta, S. richteri, and S. invicta X richteri (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Kentucky.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040372}, pmid = {37103187}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Since their introduction into the United States in the early 1900's, imported fire ants, namely Solenopsis invicta Buren (Red Imported Fire Ant), S. richteri Forel (Black Imported Fire Ant), and their hybrid form Solenopsis invicta X richteri have spread throughout portions of the USA, especially in the southeastern region. Imported fire ants are a serious invasive and economically significant species in the USA and elsewhere, and their spread into new parts of the country is of great concern. Although early models predicted that the fire ants would not be able to survive very far north into the USA, these ants have nonetheless successfully continued their spread into higher latitudes. Based on Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) samples, the Mississippi Entomological Museum Invasive Insect Screening Center, at Mississippi State University, has verified the presence of imported fire ants collected in Kentucky at multiple locations from 2014 to 2022.}, }
@article {pmid37103168, year = {2023}, author = {Peccerillo, C and Mainardi, CE and Nieri, R and Fouani, JM and Cemmi, A and Cristofaro, M and Anfora, G and Mazzoni, V}, title = {The Effect of the Sterile Insect Technique on Vibrational Communication: The Case of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040353}, pmid = {37103168}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The painted bug, Bagrada hilaris, is an agricultural pest in its original areas (Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East), and it has recently been recorded as an invasive species in southwestern part of the US, Chile, Mexico, and two islands in the Mediterranean basin. Its polyphagous diet causes severe damage to economically important crops. The control of this pest is primarily achieved by means of synthetic pesticides, which are often expensive, ineffective, and harmful to the ecosystem. Recent physiological bioassays to assess its potential control through the sterile insect technique demonstrated that mating between untreated females and males irradiated at doses of 64 and 100 Gy, respectively, resulted in 90% and 100% sterility of the eggs produced by the females. In this study, the mating abilities of virgin males irradiated at 60 and 100 Gy with virgin females were measured through a study of short-range courtship mediated by vibrational communication. The results indicate that males irradiated at 100 Gy emit signals with lower peak frequencies, mate significantly less than unirradiated males do, and do not surpass the early stages of courtship. Conversely, males irradiated at 60 Gy present vibrational signal frequencies that are comparable to those of the control and successfully mated males. Our findings suggest that B. hilaris individuals irradiated at 60 Gy are good candidates for the control of this species, given that they retain sexual competitiveness regardless of their sterility, through an area-wide program that incorporates the sterile insect technique.}, }
@article {pmid37103164, year = {2023}, author = {Ullah, MS and Sharmin, D and Tumpa, TA and Rashed, MTNN and Mondal, P and Akram, MW and Chowdhury, S and Ahmad, M and Gotoh, T and Chaudhary, M}, title = {Invasion, Distribution, Monitoring and Farmers Perception of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and Farm-Level Management Practices in Bangladesh.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040343}, pmid = {37103164}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major pest of maize that was first detected in Bangladesh in 2018 and rapidly spread throughout the maize-growing areas. The presence of FAW was monitored using sex pheromone traps. Farmers' pest management practices were assessed through a questionnaire. The damage is most apparent in the early and late whorl stages. As the crop is grown mostly from November to April, both vegetative and reproductive growth stages remain vulnerable to extensive damage. The survey results showed that 100% of the farmers used pesticides for FAW control, 40.4% handpicked and crushed egg masses, 75.8% handpicked and crushed caterpillars, and only 5.4% used other techniques like applying ash/sand in the funnel of maize. Commonly used pesticides included Spinosad, Emamectin benzoate, Imidacloprid, and others. Thirty-four percent of farmers applied pesticides twice in a season and 48% applied pesticides three times in a season and 54% and 39% of farmers sprayed chemicals at 7-day and 15-day intervals, respectively. FAW causes an average economic loss of 37.7% in maize production without pesticides. Increased use of pesticides to control FAW poses hazards to human health, wildlife, and the environment, and is expensive. Therefore, well-tested agroecological practices and bio-control agents are needed for sustainable FAW management.}, }
@article {pmid37103158, year = {2023}, author = {Paraschiv, M}, title = {First Record of the Invasive Scale Insect, Pulvinaria hydrangeae Steinweden, 1946 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) in Romania.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040345}, pmid = {37103158}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Over the last few decades, globalization and global trade have increased the risk of the vehiculation of invasive organisms, which has had multiple negative effects, both economic and ecological. Through this study, we aimed to produce a report on the first record of the invasive scale insect Pulvinaria hydrangeae (Stein. 1946) in Brașov County in central Romania. It was found on two native tree species: sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and linden (Tilia cordata). In this paper, we (i) highlight the list of possible hosts, (ii) provide a general outlook on infestations and (iii) review the control options for this particular pest. Because early detection and quick reporting are the most important actions in the successful management of invasive species, in general, we also provide a synthetic morphological description of the adult female specimens and ovisacs. Due to natural occurrence, our findings highlight the potential risks posed by the infestation of this insect to native tree species belonging to the Acer and Tilia genera. Because of the temperate climate in Romania and the fact that females are wingless, the new infestations will probably be made through the vehiculation of infested plants, rather than through natural spreading. However, because of global warming, the chances of this species surviving during the winter are likely to increase, making northern expansion of the cottony hydrangea scale feasible.}, }
@article {pmid37103155, year = {2023}, author = {Yanagisawa, T and Kato, Y and Inoue, MN}, title = {Infection Prevalence of Microsporidia Vairimorpha (Nosema) spp. in Japanese Bumblebees.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040340}, pmid = {37103155}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Microsporidia are spore-forming intracellular parasites of various invertebrates and vertebrates. Vairimorpha bombi negatively affects the fitness of bumblebees and its prevalence correlates with declining bumblebee populations. The invasive alien species Bombus terrestris colonized Japan and possibly introduced new parasites. To assess the infection prevalence of V. bombi in Japanese bumblebees and B. terrestris, we investigated V. bombi infections using PCR and microscopy. The prevalence of sporulating V. bombi infections in three Bombus s. str. species/subspecies was low, whereas that of non/low-sporulating Vairimorpha sp. infections in three Diversobombus species/subspecies was high. Invasive B. terrestris showed low prevalence of non/low-sporulating V. bombi infections and shared the same V. bombi haplotype with B. hypocrita found in Hokkaido, where B. terrestris is present, and in Honshu, where B. terrestris is absent. Although V. bombi may have been introduced with B. terrestris colonies imported from Europe, it seems to be originally distributed in Japan. Furthermore, a new Vairimorpha sp. was found in Japanese bumblebee species. V. bombi and Vairimorpha sp. showed different organ and host specificities in bumblebees. There are no reports on the specific effects of other Vairimorpha spp. on bumblebees; further studies are needed to clarify the individual characteristics of Vairimorpha spp.}, }
@article {pmid37103138, year = {2023}, author = {Hagan, T and Lim, J and Gloag, R}, title = {Drones Do Not Drift between Nests in a Wild Population of Apis cerana.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040323}, pmid = {37103138}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The modes through which individuals disperse prior to reproduction has important consequences for gene flow in populations. In honey bees (Apis sp.), drones (males) reproduce within a short flight range of their natal nest, leaving and returning each afternoon within a narrow mating window. Drones are assumed to return to their natal nests as they depend on workers to feed them. However, in apiaries, drones are reported to regularly make navigation errors and return to a non-natal nest, where they are accepted and fed by unrelated workers. If such a "drone drift" occurred in wild populations, it could facilitate some further degree of dispersal for males, particularly if drones drift into host nests some distance away from their natal nest. Here, we investigated whether drone drift occurs in an invasive population of the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana). Based on the genotypes of 1462 drones from 19 colonies, we found only a single drone that could be considered a candidate drifter (~0.07%). In three other colonies, drones whose genotypes differed from the inferred queen were best explained by recent queen turnover or worker-laying. We concluded that drone drift in this population is low at best, and A. cerana drones either rarely make navigation errors in wild populations or are not accepted into foreign nests when they do so. We therefore confirm that drone dispersal distance is limited to the distance of daily drone flights from natal nests, a key assumption of both colony density estimates based on sampling of drone congregation areas and population genetic models of gene flow in honey bees.}, }
@article {pmid37101789, year = {2023}, author = {Johnson, KH and Dobkowski, KA and Seroy, SK and Fox, S and Meenan, N}, title = {Feeding preferences and the effect of temperature on feeding rates of the graceful kelp crab, Pugettia gracilis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15223}, pmid = {37101789}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Graceful kelp crabs (Pugettia gracilis) are abundant consumers in shallow subtidal ecosystems of the Salish Sea. These dynamic habitats are currently experiencing multiple changes including invasion by non-native seaweeds and ocean warming. However, little is known about P. gracilis' foraging ecology, therefore we investigated their feeding preferences between native and invasive food sources, as well as feeding rates at elevated temperatures to better assess their role in changing coastal food webs. To quantify crab feeding preferences, we collected P. gracilis from San Juan Island, WA and conducted no-choice and choice experiments with two food sources: the native kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana, and the invasive seaweed, Sargassum muticum. In no-choice experiments, P. gracilis ate equal amounts of N. luetkeana and S. muticum. However, in choice experiments, P. gracilis preferred N. luetkeana over S. muticum. To test effects of temperature on these feeding rates, we exposed P. gracilis to ambient (11.5 ± 1.3 °C) or elevated (19.5 ± 1.8 °C) temperature treatments and measured consumption of the preferred food type, N. luetkeana. Crabs exposed to elevated temperatures ate significantly more than those in the ambient treatment. Our study demonstrates the diet flexibility of P. gracilis, suggesting they may be able to exploit increasing populations of invasive S. muticum in the Salish Sea. Warming ocean temperatures may also prompt P. gracilis to increase feeding, exacerbating harmful impacts on N. luetkeana, which is already vulnerable to warming and invasive competitors.}, }
@article {pmid37101703, year = {2023}, author = {Griffin, RA and Boyd, A and Weinrauch, A and Blewett, TA}, title = {Invasive investigation: uptake and transport of l-leucine in the gill epithelium of crustaceans.}, journal = {Conservation physiology}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {coad015}, pmid = {37101703}, issn = {2051-1434}, abstract = {Many aquatic species are well known as extremely successful invaders. The green crab (Carcinus maenas) is an arthropod native to European waters; however, it is now known to be a globally invasive species. Recently, it was discovered that the C. maenas could transport nutrients in the form of amino acids across their gill from the surrounding environment, a feat previously thought to be impossible in arthropods. We compared the ability for branchial amino acid transport of crustacean's native to Canadian Pacific waters to that of the invasive C. maenas, determining if this was a novel pathway in an extremely successful invasive species, or a shared trait among crustaceans. Active transport of l-leucine was exhibited in C. maenas, Metacarcinus gracilis, Metacarcinus magister, and Cancer productus across their gill epithelia. Carcinus maenas exhibited the highest maximum rate of branchial l-leucine transport at 53.7 ± 6.24 nmolg[-1] h[-1], over twice the rate of two native Canadian crustaceans. We also examined the influence of feeding, gill specificity, and organ accumulation of l-leucine. Feeding events displayed a heavy influence on the branchial transport rate of amino acids, increasing l-leucine transport rates by up to 10-fold in C. maenas. l-leucine displayed a significantly higher accumulation rate in the gills of C. maenas compared to the rest of the body at 4.15 ± 0.78 nmolg[-1] h[-1], with the stomach, hepatopancreas, eyestalks, muscle tissue, carapace and heart muscle exhibiting accumulation under 0.15 nmolg[-1] h[-1]. For the first time, the novel transport of amino acids in Canadian native arthropods is described, suggesting that branchial amino acid transport is a shared trait among arthropods, contrary to existing literature. Further investigation is required to determine the influence of environmental temperature and salinity on transport in each species to outline any competitive advantages of the invasive C. maenas in a fluctuating estuarine environment.}, }
@article {pmid37101312, year = {2023}, author = {Van Nynatten, A and Gallage, KS and Lujan, NK and Mandrak, NE and Lovejoy, NR}, title = {Ichthyoplankton metabarcoding: An efficient tool for early detection of invasive species establishment.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13803}, pmid = {37101312}, issn = {1755-0998}, abstract = {Detection of invasive species is critical for management but is often limited by challenges associated with capture, processing and identification of early life stages. DNA metabarcoding facilitates large-scale monitoring projects to detect establishment early. Here, we test the use of DNA metabarcoding to monitor invasive species by sequencing over 5000 fishes in bulk ichthyoplankton samples (larvae and eggs) from four rivers of ecological and cultural importance in southern Canada. We were successful in detecting species known from each river and three invasive species in two of the four rivers. This includes the first detection of early life-stage rudd in the Credit River. We evaluated whether sampling gear affected the detection of invasive species and estimates of species richness, and found that light traps outperform bongo nets in both cases. We also found that the primers used for the amplification of target sequences and the number of sequencing reads generated per sample affect the consistency of species detections. However, these factors have less impact on detections and species richness estimates than the number of samples collected and analysed. Our analyses also show that incomplete reference databases can result in incorrectly attributing DNA sequences to invasive species. Overall, we conclude that DNA metabarcoding is an efficient tool for monitoring the early establishment of invasive species by detecting evidence of reproduction but requires careful consideration of sampling design and the primers used to amplify, sequence and classify the diversity of native and potentially invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid37100317, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, H and Liu, C and Huang, J}, title = {Characterization of the shell proteins in two freshwater snails Pomacea canaliculata and Cipangopaludina chinensis.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {124524}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124524}, pmid = {37100317}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Uncovering the molecular mechanism of shell formation not only reveals the evolution of molluscs but also lay a foundation for shell-inspired biomaterial synthesis. Shell proteins are the key macromolecules of the organic matrices that guide the calcium carbonate deposition during shell mineralization and have thus been intensively studied. However, previous studies on shell biomineralization have mainly focused on marine species. In this study, we compared the microstructure and shell proteins in the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata which is an alien species that has invaded Asia, and a freshwater snail Cipangopaludina chinensis which is native to China. The results showed that although the shell microstructures were similar in these two snails, the shell matrix in C. chinensis contained more polysaccharides. Moreover, the compositions of shell proteins were quite different. While the shared 12 shell proteins (including PcSP6/CcSP9, Calmodulin-A, and proline-rich protein) were supposed to play key roles in shell formation, the differential proteins were mainly immune components. The presence of chitin in both shell matrices and the chitin-binding domains containing PcSP6/CcSP9 underpinned the relevance of chitin as a major fraction in gastropods. Interestingly, carbonic anhydrase was absent in both snail shells, suggesting that freshwater Gastropods might have unique pathways to regulate the calcification process. Our study suggested that shell mineralization might be very different in freshwater and marine molluscs, and therefore, the field should pay more attention to the freshwater species to achieve a more comprehensive insight into biomineralization.}, }
@article {pmid37100146, year = {2023}, author = {Shen, X and Ge, M and Handel, SN and Wang, W and Jin, Z and Kirkwood, NG}, title = {Advancing environmental design with phytoremediation of brownfield soils using spontaneous invasive plants.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {163635}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163635}, pmid = {37100146}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Compared to traditional mechanical brownfield remediation strategies, phytoremediation as a sustainable and low-impact solution, yielding long-term soil chemical improvement. As a common part of many local plant communities, spontaneous invasive plants have advantages over native species in growth speed and resource-use efficiency and are many are effective on degrading or removing chemical soil pollutants. This research presents a methodology for using spontaneous invasive plants as the agent of phytoremediation for brownfield remediation is an innovative component of ecological restoration and design. This research explores s conceptual and applicable model of using spontaneous invasive plants in the phytoremediation of brownfield soil for environmental design practice. This research summarizes five parameters (Soil Drought Level, Soil Salinity, Soil Nutrients, Soil Metal Pollution, and Soil pH) and their classification standards. Based on the five parameters, a series of experiments were designed to examine 5 spontaneous invasive species' tolerance and performance to different soil conditions. Taking the research results as a data base, this research developed a conceptual model of selecting suitable spontaneous invasive plants for brownfield phytoremediation by overlaying the soil condition data and plants' tolerance data. Using a brownfield site in Boston metropolitan region as a case study, the research tested the feasibility and rationality of this model. The results propose a novel approach and materials for general environmental remediation of contaminated soil by involving spontaneous invasive plants. It also transforms the abstract phytoremediation knowledge and data to an applicable model which integrates and visualizes the requirements of scientific plant selection, design aesthetic, and ecosystem factors to help the environmental design process in brownfield remediation.}, }
@article {pmid37100004, year = {2023}, author = {Palmér, C and Wallin, A and Persson, J and Aronsson, M and Blennow, K}, title = {Effective communications on invasive alien species: Identifying communication needs of Swedish domestic garden owners.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {340}, number = {}, pages = {117995}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117995}, pmid = {37100004}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Invasive alien species threaten biodiversity with domestic gardens acting as a major pathway for the introduction of alien species. Even though the Nordic region is not currently a hotspot for biological invasions, the number of invasions in the Nordic area has been predicted to increase due to climate change. Given a time lag between introduction and invasion, many non-invasive horticultural alien species already introduced into gardens may become invasive in the future. This study aimed to identify the communication needs of Swedish garden owners regarding their management of invasive alien species. A survey among domestic garden owners, informed by topic specialists and local area experts, and interviews with garden owners were conducted in three different bio-climatic areas in a latitudinal gradient across Sweden. The questions targeted invasive alien species and their relations to biodiversity loss and climate change, as well as measures taken to control these species. Analysing the survey data collected in relation to measures taken to control invasive species, Bayesian Additive Regression Tree (BART) modelling was used to identify geographically varying communication needs of the domestic garden owners. In all study areas, the garden owners' measures taken to control invasive alien species were correlated with their strength of beliefs in having experienced local biodiversity loss. A majority of the garden owners were, moreover, uncertain about the impact of climate change on the invasiveness of alien species. In addition, the garden owners' capacity for identifying invasive alien species was often in need of improvement, in particular with respect to the species Impatiens glandulifera, Reynoutria japonica and Rosa rugosa. The results suggest that the evidence-based guidelines for effective communications we developed, have the potential to help communicators meet the local communication needs of garden owners across Sweden, in relation to the management of invasive alien garden species.}, }
@article {pmid37099521, year = {2023}, author = {Anderson, M and Crubaugh, F and Greenslit, C and Hill, E and Kroth, H and Stanislawski, E and Ribbons, R and Del Toro, I}, title = {B.Y.O. Bees: Managing wild bee biodiversity in urban greenspaces.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {e0281468}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0281468}, pmid = {37099521}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {As cities become more populated and the density of urban development increases, local biodiversity is threatened. Urban greenspaces have the capacity to preserve pollinator biodiversity, but the quality of support they provide depends on greenspace landscape attributes, including the availability of pollinator habitat and foraging resources. Wild native bees provide important pollination services to urban ecosystems, yet relatively little is known about how urban landscape management influences pollinator community composition and diversity. Our study explores how wild bee communities are affected by greenspace and landscape-level features like pollinator management practices, in urban greenspaces in and around Appleton Wisconsin: a mid-sized urban community spanning more than 100 sq. km. We sampled and identified native bees periodically between late-May 2017 and mid-September of 2018 using standardized arrays of pan traps at 15 sites around the city. We classified greenspaces based on their level of development (urban or suburban) and whether they were managed or unmanaged for increasing wild pollinator diversity. We quantified floral species diversity, floral color diversity, tree species diversity, and proximity of sites to open water for each site and used remotely sensed satellite data from both the USGS National Land Cover Database (NLCD) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). All variables were tested as potential correlates of wild bee abundance and species richness. Active pollinator management sites supported higher levels of bee abundance and richness. Notably, active greenspace management (e.g. planting native wildflowers) was a stronger correlate of bee abundance and richness than greenspace size and other landscape-level attributes. Within-greenspace attributes such as floral diversity, tree diversity, and proximity to open water contributed positively to both bee abundance and richness. Based on these findings, we suggest that urban greenspaces may be managed more efficiently and cost-effectively by focusing resources on active management by planting wildflowers, removing invasive species, creating nesting habitat, and providing water resources, rather than simply expanding in area.}, }
@article {pmid37097110, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Su, JQ and Liao, H and Breed, MF and Yao, H and Shangguan, H and Li, HZ and Sun, X and Zhu, YG}, title = {Increasing Antimicrobial Resistance and Potential Human Bacterial Pathogens in an Invasive Land Snail Driven by Urbanization.}, journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c01233}, pmid = {37097110}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Our understanding of the role urbanization has in augmenting invasive species that carry human bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the gut bacterial communities, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and potential antibiotic-resistant pathogens in giant African snails (Achatina fulica) collected across an urbanization gradient in Xiamen, China (n = 108). There was a lack of correlation between the microbial profiles of giant African snails and the soils of their habitats, and the resistome and human-associated bacteria were significantly higher than those of native snails as well as soils. We observed high diversity (601 ARG subtypes) and abundance (1.5 copies per 16S rRNA gene) of giant African snail gut resistome. Moreover, giant African snails in more urban areas had greater diversity and abundance of high-risk ARGs and potential human bacterial pathogens (e.g., ESKAPE pathogens). We highlight that urbanization significantly impacted the gut microbiomes and resistomes of these invasive snails, indicating that they harbor greater biological contaminants such as ARGs and potential human bacterial pathogens than native snails and soils. This study advances our understanding of the effect of urbanization on human bacterial pathogens and AMR in a problematic invasive snail and should help combat risks associated with invasive species under the One Health framework.}, }
@article {pmid36749607, year = {2023}, author = {Patel, JS and Lee, SB and Chouvenc, T and Su, NY}, title = {Equivalent Colony Growth of Hybrids of Two Invasive Coptotermes Species Can Threaten Urban Areas.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {116}, number = {2}, pages = {538-545}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toad020}, pmid = {36749607}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Isoptera ; Introduced Species ; Wood ; Florida ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and C. gestroi (Wasmann) are economically important structural pests in urban areas. Due to anthropogenic activity, both species have been introduced into the United States, with their respective invasive ranges now overlapping in Florida, and the two species have the capability to hybridize. The potential for structural damage from subterranean termite colonies primarily depends on colony size. However, long-term colony growth and wood consumption capabilities of hybrid Coptotermes colonies remain to be investigated, to determine the potential pest status of field-established hybrid colonies. In this study, we investigated long-term colony development over four years to determine if aging hybrid colonies display vigor in terms of colony growth. In addition, we compared wood consumption rate of hybrid colonies to compare their potential impact as structural pests with the two parental species. In aging colonies (four-year-old), both hybrid mating types displayed a colony growth equivalent to C. formosanus. However, the wood consumption rates of four-year-old colonies of the two parental Coptotermes species and their hybrids were similar, indicating equal damaging potential. We also found multiple secondary reproductives in hybrid colonies, even in the presence of primary reproductives, which may favor their potential establishment and spread. Although hybrid colonies or hybrid alates have yet to be detected in the field, our results suggest that such hybrid colonies would be an additional termite threat in the future if they were established in the field.}, }
@article {pmid37093323, year = {2023}, author = {Afshana,  and Reshi, ZA and Shah, MA and Malik, RA and Rashid, I}, title = {Species composition of root-associated mycobiome of ruderal invasive Anthemis cotula L. varies with elevation in Kashmir Himalaya.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37093323}, issn = {1618-1905}, abstract = {Investigating the microbial communities associated with invasive plant species can provide insights into how these species establish and thrive in new environments. Here, we explored the fungal species associated with the roots of the invasive species Anthemis cotula L. at 12 sites with varying elevations in the Kashmir Himalaya. Illumina MiSeq platform was used to identify the species composition, diversity, and guild structure of these root-associated fungi. The study found a total of 706 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 8 phyla, 20 classes, 53 orders, 109 families, and 160 genera associated with roots of A. cotula, with the most common genus being Funneliformis. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) constituted the largest guild at higher elevations. The study also revealed that out of the 12 OTUs comprising the core mycobiome, 4 OTUs constituted the stable component while the remaining 8 OTUs comprised the dynamic component. While α-diversity did not vary across sites, significant variation was noted in β-diversity. The study confirmed the facilitative role of the microbiome through a greenhouse trial in which a significant effect of soil microbiome on height, shoot biomass, root biomass, number of flower heads, and internal CO2 concentration of the host plant was observed. The study indicates that diverse fungal mutualists get associated with this invasive alien species even in nutrient-rich ruderal habitats and may be contributing to its spread into higher elevations. This study highlights the importance of understanding the role of root-associated fungi in invasion dynamics and the potential use of mycobiome management strategies to control invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid37091572, year = {2023}, author = {Roxo, G and Brilhante, M and Moura, M and de Sequeira, MM and Silva, L and Costa, JC and Vasconcelos, R and Talhinhas, P and Romeiras, MM}, title = {Genome size variation within Crithmum maritimum: Clues on the colonization of insular environments.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e10009}, pmid = {37091572}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Angiosperms present an astonishing diversity of genome sizes that can vary intra- or interspecifically. The remarkable new cytogenomic data shed some light on our understanding of evolution, but few studies were performed with insular and mainland populations to test possible correlations with dispersal, speciation, and adaptations to insular environments. Here, patterns of cytogenomic diversity were assessed among geographic samples (ca. 114) of Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae), collected across the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, as well as in adjacent continental areas of Portugal. Using flow cytometry, the results indicated a significant intraspecific genome size variation, spanning from reduced sizes in the insular populations to larger ones in the mainland populations. Moreover, there was a tendency for an increase in genome size along the mainland populations, associated with lower temperatures, higher precipitation, and lower precipitation seasonality. However, this gradient might be the result of historic phylogeographical events associated with previous dispersal and extinction of local populations. Overall, our findings provided evidence that smaller genome sizes might play a critical role in the colonization of islands, corroborating other studies that argue that organisms with smaller genomes use fewer resources, having a selective advantage under insular environments. Although further studies are needed to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying genome size evolution on islands, conservation strategies must be promoted to protect the rich cytogenomic diversity found among C. maritimum populations, which occur in coastal areas that are particularly threatened by human activity, pollution, invasive species, and climate changes.}, }
@article {pmid37091047, year = {2023}, author = {Lemmon, JE and Fick, WH and Alexander, JA and Gatson, GA and Olson, KC}, title = {Effects of late-season sheep grazing following early-season steer grazing on population dynamics of sericea lespedeza in the Kansas Flint Hills.}, journal = {Translational animal science}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {txad037}, pmid = {37091047}, issn = {2573-2102}, abstract = {Mature ewes were used in a 4-yr study to evaluate effects of intensive late-season sheep grazing on vigor of sericea lespedeza in native tallgrass prairie. Pastures (N = 8; 31 ± 3.6 ha) infested with sericea lespedeza (initial basal frequency = 1.4%) were assigned randomly to one of two treatments: early-season beef steer grazing (1.1 ha/steer; initial BW = 258 ± 34 kg) from April 15 to July 15 followed by no grazing for the rest of the year (control; STR) or steer grazing from April 15 to July 15 followed by intensive grazing by mature ewes (0.2 ha/ewe; SHP) from August 1 to October 1. Ewes (initial BW = 65 ± 3.1 kg) were assigned randomly to graze four of eight pastures; remaining pastures were not grazed from August 1 to October 1. Vegetation responses to treatment were measured along four permanent 100-m transects in each pasture. Herbivory on sericea lespedeza was monitored weekly in each pasture from July 21 to October 7. Herbivory on sericea lespedeza in SHP and STR after steer grazing and before sheep grazing was not different (P = 0.51). In contrast, sericea lespedeza herbivory following sheep grazing was greater (P < 0.01) in SHP than in STR. Herbivory of individual sericea plants was greater (P < 0.01) in SHP than in STR by the end of week 1 of the sheep-grazing period (10.6% vs. 0.5%); moreover, herbivory on sericea lespedeza steadily increased (P ≤ 0.01) such that 92.1% of sericea lespedeza plants were grazed in SHP compared to 1.4% in STR by week 8 of the sheep-grazing period. Whole-plant DM weight of sericea lespedeza at dormancy was less (P < 0.01) in SHP than in STR. Additionally, annual seed production by sericea lespedeza was less (P < 0.01) in SHP than in STR (114 vs. 864 seeds/plant). Pasture forage biomass was not different (P = 0.76) between SHP and STR after the steer-grazing period. Conversely, STR had more (P < 0.01) residual forage biomass than SHP at the end of the sheep-grazing period. Growth performance of beef steers grazing from April 15 to July 15 annually was not different (P ≥ 0.59) between treatments. Our results were interpreted to suggest that intensive late-season grazing by sheep decreased vigor of sericea lespedeza. Late-season sheep grazing decreased forage biomass by 904 kg DM/ha compared with late-season rest; however, residual biomass was adequate to prevent soil-moisture loss and erosion during the dormant season.}, }
@article {pmid37089351, year = {2023}, author = {Koutsikos, N and Koi, AM and Zeri, C and Tsangaris, C and Dimitriou, E and Kalantzi, OI}, title = {Exploring microplastic pollution in a Mediterranean river: The role of introduced species as bioindicators.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e15069}, pmid = {37089351}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Studies of plastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems and their biota remain scarce, despite the fact that the vast majority of plastic waste initially passes through lotic ecosystems. Biomonitoring provides valuable information regarding plastic pollution and microplastic threats to biota and human health. The aim of this study was to explore the potential use of a non-indigenous fish species as a bioindicator of microplastic pollution in an Eastern Mediterranean River. Our study area is located in a heavily modified and vastly impacted urban river which flows through the largest part of the Metropolitan area of Athens, Greece. We used an introduced chub species (Squalius vardarensis) to assess microplastic ingestion in the river. The results indicated moderate occurrence and abundance of microplastics in the fish gastrointestinal tracts; one-third of specimens (35%) contained microplastics, although the average number of microplastics per specimen was relatively low (1.7 ± 0.2). Overall, the abundance of microplastics in the water confirmed the moderate level of microplastics contamination in our study area. The major polymer types of microplastics identified by FT-IR analysis were: polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polypropylene (PP); reflecting the fragmentation of larger litter from industrial packaging and/or household goods. Surface runoff of the urban environment, via motorways and major road networks, could be the contributing factor to the reported microplastics. Our results suggest that generalist's non-indigenous species such as chubs could be used as bioindicators of microplastics in inland waters. Introduced fishes can be a feasible, nondestructive, and cost-effective option for the assessment of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems, while freshwater chubs' high abundance and omnipresence in European rivers further serve this scope. However, it is worth noting that the suitability of any particular species as a bioindicator of microplastics may depend on a variety of factors, including their feeding behavior, habitat, and exposure to microplastics in their environment.}, }
@article {pmid37087448, year = {2023}, author = {Su, G and Mertel, A and Brosse, S and Calabrese, JM}, title = {Species invasiveness and community invasibility of North American freshwater fish fauna revealed via trait-based analysis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2332}, pmid = {37087448}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {While biological invasions are recognized as a major threat to global biodiversity, determining non-native species' abilities to establish in new areas (species invasiveness) and the vulnerability of those areas to invasions (community invasibility) is challenging. Here, we use trait-based analysis to profile invasive species and quantify the community invasibility for >1,800 North American freshwater fish communities. We show that, in addition to effects attributed to propagule pressure caused by human intervention, species with higher fecundity, longer lifespan and larger size tend to be more invasive. Community invasibility peaks when the functional distance among native species was high, leaving unoccupied functional space for the establishment of potential invaders. Our findings illustrate how the functional traits of non-native species determining their invasiveness, and the functional characteristics of the invaded community determining its invasibility, may be identified. Considering those two determinants together will enable better predictions of invasions.}, }
@article {pmid37086992, year = {2023}, author = {Griffith, RM and Cuthbert, RN and Johnson, JV and Hardiman, G and Dick, JTA}, title = {Resilient amphipods: Gammarid predatory behaviour is unaffected by microplastic exposure and deoxygenation.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {163582}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163582}, pmid = {37086992}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Microplastics are a ubiquitous and persistent form of pollution globally, with impacts cascading from the cellular to ecosystem level. However, there is a paucity in understanding interactions between microplastic pollution with other environmental stressors, and how these could affect ecological functions and services. Freshwater ecosystems are subject to microplastic input from anthropogenic activities (eg. wastewater), but are also simultaneously exposed to many other stressors, particularly reduced dissolved oxygen availability associated with climatic warming and pollutants, as well as biological invasions. Here, we employ the comparative functional response method (CFR; quantifying and comparing organism resource use as a function of resource density) to investigate the relative impact of different microplastic concentrations and oxygen regimes on predatory trophic interactions of a native and an invasive alien gammarid (Gammarus duebeni and Gammarus pulex). No significant effect on trophic interaction strengths was found from very high concentrations of microplastics (200 mp/L and 200,000 mp/L) or low oxygen (40 %) stressors on either species. Additionally, both gammarid species exhibited significant Type II functional responses, with attack rates and handling times not significantly affected by microplastics, oxygen or gammarid invasion status. Thus, both species showed resistance to the simultaneous effects of microplastics and deoxygenation in terms of feeding behaviour. Based on these findings, we suggest that the trophic function, in terms of predation rate, of Gammarus spp. may be sustained under acute bouts of microplastic pollution even in poorly‑oxygenated waters. This is the first study to investigate microplastic and deoxygenation interactions and to find no evidence for an interaction on a key invertebrate ecosystem service. We argue that our CFR methods can help understand and predict the future ecological ramifications of microplastics and other stressors across taxa and habitats.}, }
@article {pmid37086042, year = {2023}, author = {Kurose, D and Seier, MK and Evans, HC}, title = {Exploiting exotic pathogens as mycoherbicides against invasive alien weeds: Japanese knotweed as a case study.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7510}, pmid = {37086042}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {Plant species have been introduced increasingly into non-native ranges, where many have become exotic weeds with adverse impacts on native ecosystems, as well as on farming and other livelihoods. In biological control, the classical or inoculative approach is the one most commonly used for the management of invasive alien weeds and is based on the use of co-evolved natural enemies from the native range to control the invasive weed. Typically, the inundative or mycoherbicide approach targets problematic weeds using local plant pathogens that, in the case of introduced species, have 'jumped' onto the exotic host. The leaf-spot fungus, Mycosphaerella polygoni-cuspidati, co-evolved with its host, Reynoutria (Fallopia) japonica (Japanese knotweed), in Japan and has a unique history of being investigated both as a classical biological control agent and a mycoherbicide against this highly invasive weed in the UK and North America. Here, we highlight our research on M. polygoni-cuspidati as part of a biological control programme for Japanese knotweed and review the potential of mycoherbicides using exotic pathogens for the management of invasive alien weeds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid37085574, year = {2023}, author = {Favreau, E and Cini, A and Taylor, D and Câmara Ferreira, F and Bentley, MA and Cappa, F and Cervo, R and Privman, E and Schneider, J and Thiéry, D and Mashoodh, R and Wyatt, CDR and Brown, RL and Bodrug-Schepers, A and Stralis-Pavese, N and Dohm, JC and Mead, D and Himmelbauer, H and Guigo, R and Sumner, S}, title = {Putting hornets on the genomic map.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {6232}, pmid = {37085574}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {206194/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Hornets are the largest of the social wasps, and are important regulators of insect populations in their native ranges. Hornets are also very successful as invasive species, with often devastating economic, ecological and societal effects. Understanding why these wasps are such successful invaders is critical to managing future introductions and minimising impact on native biodiversity. Critical to the management toolkit is a comprehensive genomic resource for these insects. Here we provide the annotated genomes for two hornets, Vespa crabro and Vespa velutina. We compare their genomes with those of other social Hymenoptera, including the northern giant hornet Vespa mandarinia. The three hornet genomes show evidence of selection pressure on genes associated with reproduction, which might facilitate the transition into invasive ranges. Vespa crabro has experienced positive selection on the highest number of genes, including those putatively associated with molecular binding and olfactory systems. Caste-specific brain transcriptomic analysis also revealed 133 differentially expressed genes, some of which are associated with olfactory functions. This report provides a spring-board for advancing our understanding of the evolution and ecology of hornets, and opens up opportunities for using molecular methods in the future management of both native and invasive populations of these over-looked insects.}, }
@article {pmid37084010, year = {2023}, author = {Fergus, C and Lacher, IL and Herrmann, V and McShea, WJ and Akre, TS}, title = {Predicting vulnerability of forest patches to invasion by non-native plants for landscape scale management.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2857}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2857}, pmid = {37084010}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {As a leading cause of forest health degradation, non-native invasive plant species are a key focus for many forest management and conservation efforts. These efforts come at a high price for resource limited agencies and organizations making cost effectiveness an important objective of invasion response plans. In this paper we present an approach to guide the prioritization of locations for invasion management using species distribution models that account for the non-equilibrium of invasive species distributions and use readily available land use data as the primary explanatory variables. This approach takes advantage of the relatively high spatial resolution, as well as the broad, continuous geographic coverage, of land use data to provide results at a landscape scale relevant to practitioners responsible for invasive species management. In our example from northern Virginia, we simultaneously modeled a suite of invasive plant species to identify common indicators of invasion. We found that the proportions of surrounding non-forested land use types (grasses, crops, and development) were the most common and strongest indicators of invasion risk. These outcomes can guide managers of large protected areas to focus on major divides between forest and non-forest land over linear disturbances. We also found useful species-specific traits that can inform specific management actions. Additionally, we demonstrate through a case study how organizations that manage multiple smaller properties can take advantage of the projected distribution maps when considering acquiring or administering properties.}, }
@article {pmid37082134, year = {2022}, author = {Schwaiger, H and Lenzer, B and Essl, F}, title = {No species loss, but pronounced species turnover in grasslands in the Northern Alps over 25 years.}, journal = {Applied vegetation science}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {e12700}, pmid = {37082134}, issn = {1402-2001}, abstract = {The abandonment of marginally productive habitats and the intensification of land use on productive sites have caused transformative changes in vegetation composition in Central Europe. In this study, after 25 years we resurveyed a total of 145 grassland relevés from the mid-1990s in a grassland-dominated valley of the Northern Alps of Upper Austria. We studied changes in richness and composition, and related these to underlying drivers. We found that the average species number in plots increased from 46 in the first survey period to 49 in the second one. Median species richness across sites significantly increased from 1995 to 2020 for Festuco-Brometea (55-61 species) and Galio-Urticetea (24-32 species), but did not show any significant change for the other classes. Further, we recorded substantial species turnover, with winners consisting mostly of species that prefer nutrient-rich sites, while losers were predominantly species of nutrient-poor sites. In particular, using Ellenberg Indicator Values for calculating community indices, we found an indication for ongoing eutrophication in vegetation types of nutrient-poor vegetation classes (Festuco-Brometea and Calluno-Ulicetea), and in wet habitats (Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae). Community indices of wet habitats also showed clear signs of becoming more mesic. Thermophilization of community indices was evident across several vegetation classes. Further, alien species that were very rare in the mid-1990s became more abundant in the resurveyed plots, although the level of invasion is still low. Finally, community values for nutrients of plots that are located in a protected area that has been established in 2014 did not increase significantly, while this was the case in plots outside the protected area, indicating that the management of the protected area has positive effects in halting eutrophication. We conclude that despite overall species richness changing only moderately between both surveys, substantial changes in community composition toward more nitrophilic and thermophilic conditions occurred.}, }
@article {pmid37081640, year = {2023}, author = {Leach, CB and Weitzman, BP and Bodkin, JL and Esler, D and Esslinger, GG and Kloecker, KA and Monson, DH and Womble, JN and Hooten, MB}, title = {Revealing the extent of sea otter impacts on bivalve prey through multi-trophic monitoring and mechanistic models.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13929}, pmid = {37081640}, issn = {1365-2656}, abstract = {Sea otters are apex predators that can exert considerable influence over the nearshore communities they occupy. Since facing near extinction in the early 1900s, sea otters are making a remarkable recovery in Southeast Alaska, particularly in Glacier Bay, the largest protected tidewater glacier fjord in the world. The expansion of sea otters across Glacier Bay offers both a challenge to monitoring and stewardship and an unprecedented opportunity to study the top-down effect of a novel apex predator across a diverse and productive ecosystem. Our goal was to integrate monitoring data across trophic levels, space, and time to quantify and map the predator-prey interaction between sea otters and butter clams Saxidomus gigantea, one of the dominant large bivalves in Glacier Bay and a favoured prey of sea otters. We developed a spatially-referenced mechanistic differential equation model of butter clam dynamics that combined both environmental drivers of local population growth and estimates of otter abundance from aerial survey data. We embedded this model in a Bayesian statistical framework and fit it to clam survey data from 43 intertidal and subtidal sites across Glacier Bay. Prior to substantial sea otter expansion, we found that butter clam density was structured by an environmental gradient driven by distance from glacier (represented by latitude) and a quadratic effect of current speed. Estimates of sea otter attack rate revealed spatial heterogeneity in sea otter impacts and a negative relationship with local shoreline complexity. Sea otter exploitation of productive butter clam habitat substantially reduced the abundance and altered the distribution of butter clams across Glacier Bay, with potential cascading consequences for nearshore community structure and function. Spatial variation in estimated sea otter predation processes further suggests that community context and local environmental conditions mediate the top-down influence of sea otters on a given prey. Overall, our framework provides high-resolution insights about the interaction among components of this food web and could be applied to a variety of other systems involving invasive species, epidemiology or migration.}, }
@article {pmid37080287, year = {2023}, author = {Ye, Z and Lu, R and Li, C and Yang, D and Zeng, Z and Lin, W and Cheng, J and Yang, Z and Wang, L and Gao, Y and Huang, S and Zhang, X and Li, S}, title = {Haplotype-resolved and chromosome-level genome assembly of Colorado potato beetle.}, journal = {Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.jgg.2023.04.005}, pmid = {37080287}, issn = {1673-8527}, }
@article {pmid37075635, year = {2023}, author = {Williams-Mounsey, J and Crowle, A and Grayson, R and Holden, J}, title = {Removal of mesh track on an upland blanket peatland leads to changes in vegetation composition and structure.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {339}, number = {}, pages = {117935}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117935}, pmid = {37075635}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Mesh tracks on peatlands are often granted permits on a temporary basis under the presumption that the tracks are either removed at the end of their permitted use or remain unused in situ. However, the fragility of peatland habitats and poor resilience of the specialist plant communities within them, mean that these linear disturbances may persist post-abandonment or post-removal. We removed sections of mesh track, abandoned five years earlier, from a blanket peatland using two different removal treatment methods (mown and unprepared) and studied a third treatment with sections left in place over a period of 19 months. On abandoned tracks, invasive species including Campylopus introflexus and Deschampsia flexulosa had established, while track removal led to extensive loss of Sphagnum species. Loss of surficial nanotopographic vegetation structures during track removal was extensive, and micro-erosion features were prevalent in both removal treatments. Abandoned sections of track performed comparably better across all metrics than removed sections. However, similarity between the vegetation assemblage of the abandoned track and the controls was <40% at the study outset, with NMDS (Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling) highlighting divergences. There was a mean species loss of 5 per quadrat for the removed sections. Bare peat was present in 52% of all track quadrats by the finish of the study. Our findings suggest that mesh tracks left in situ and track removal both present significant barriers to recovery and additional conservation interventions may be required after peatland tracks are abandoned.}, }
@article {pmid37075353, year = {2023}, author = {Lucía, M and Darrigran, G and Gregoric, DEG}, title = {Diversity of non-marine mollusks in the southernmost Paranaense forest of the world.}, journal = {Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias}, volume = {95}, number = {1}, pages = {e20220212}, doi = {10.1590/0001-3765202320220212}, pmid = {37075353}, issn = {1678-2690}, abstract = {The Natural Reserve of Punta Lara (RNPL) is a protected natural area that includes Paranaense forest southernmost in the world. This area is surrounded by a densely populated and touristic sector. The objective of this work was to estimate the richness, diversity and equity of the RNPL mollusks (aquatic and terrestrial) and to establish the relationship of their species in aquatic environments. One sampling per year was carried out between 2013 and 2019. There were 32 species recorded (six are non-native species): 23 gastropods (14 freshwater, nine terrestrial) and nine bivalves. Three species were recorded in all sampling years, while six only on one occasion. The land snail genus Drepanostomella is reported for the first time in that region, and five freshwater species are reported for the first time for the RNPL. The similarity analysis of the freshwater environment separated the coastal environments from the internal environments. The environments with the highest specific richness were in internal sites of the RNPL, while the least diverse was the coast of the Río de la Plata, where the invasive species Limnoperna fortunei predominates. It is recommended to increase the conservation efforts of the different environments of the RNPL continuously threatened by urbanization.}, }
@article {pmid37075174, year = {2023}, author = {Goldenberg, J and Massetti, F and D'Alba, L and Shawkey, MD}, title = {Body size and substrate use affect ventral, but not dorsal, brightness evolution in lizards.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/evolut/qpad065}, pmid = {37075174}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Substrate properties can affect the thermal balance of organisms, and the colored integument, alongside other factors, may influence heat transfer via differential absorption and reflection. Dark coloration may lead to higher heat absorption and could be advantageous when substrates are cool (and vice versa for bright coloration), but these effects are rarely investigated. Here, we examined the effect of substrate reflectance, specific heat capacity (cp), and body size on the dorso-ventral brightness using 276 samples from 12 species of cordylid lizards distributed across 26 sites in South Africa. We predicted, and found, that bright ventral colors occur more frequently in low cp (i.e. drier, with little energy needed for temperature change) substrates, especially in larger body-sized individuals, possibly to better modulate heat transfer with the surrounding environment. By contrast, dorsal brightness was not associated with body size nor any substrate thermal property, suggesting selection pressures other than thermoregulation. Ancestral estimation and evolutionary rate analyses suggest that ventral brightness rapidly differentiated within the Cordylinae starting 25 Mya, coinciding with an aridification period, further hinting at a thermoregulatory role for ventral colors. Our study indicates that substrate properties can have a direct role in shaping the evolution of ventral brightness in ectotherms.}, }
@article {pmid37071791, year = {2023}, author = {Lewald, KM and Tabuloc, CA and Godfrey, KE and Arnó, J and Perini, CR and Guedes, JC and Chiu, JC}, title = {Genome assembly and population sequencing reveal three populations and signatures of insecticide resistance of Tuta absoluta in Latin America.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evad060}, pmid = {37071791}, issn = {1759-6653}, abstract = {Tuta absoluta is one of the largest threats to tomato agriculture worldwide. Native to South America, it has rapidly spread throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia over the past two decades. To understand how T. absoluta has been so successful and to improve containment strategies, high quality genomic resources and an understanding of population history is critical. Here, we describe a highly contiguous annotated genome assembly, as well as a genome-wide population analysis of samples collected across Latin America. The new genome assembly has an L50 of 17 with only 132 contigs. Based on hundreds of thousands of SNPs, we detect three major population clusters in Latin America with some evidence of admixture along the Andes Mountain range. Based on coalescent simulations, we find these clusters diverged from each other tens of thousands of generations ago prior to domestication of tomatoes. We further identify several genomic loci with patterns consistent with positive selection and that are related to insecticide resistance, immunity, and metabolism. This data will further future research toward genetic control strategies and inform future containment policies.}, }
@article {pmid37071205, year = {2023}, author = {Berger, CS and Bougas, B and Côté, G and Dumont, JF and Bernatchez, L}, title = {A qPCR-based method to detect the eel parasitic nematode Anguillicola crassus in intermediate and final hosts.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37071205}, issn = {1432-1955}, abstract = {Being able to systematically detect parasitic infection, even when no visual signs of infection are present, is crucial to the establishment of accurate conservation policies. The nematode Anguillicola crassus infects the swimbladder of anguillid species and is a potential threat for eel populations. In North America, naïve hosts such as the American eel Anguilla rostrata are affected by this infection. The accidental introduction of A. crassus following restocking programs may contribute to the actual decline of the American eel in Canada. We present a quantitative real time PCR-based method to detect A. crassus infection in final and intermediate hosts. We tested two protocols on samples from different geographical origins in Canada: 1) a general detection of A. crassus DNA in pools of young final hosts (glass eels) or crustacean intermediate hosts 2) a detection at the individual scale by analyzing swim bladders from elvers, or from adult yellow and silver eels. The DNA of A. crassus was detected in one pool of zooplankton (intermediate host) from the Richelieu River (Montérégie-Québec), as well as in individual swim bladders of 13 elvers from Grande and Petite Trinité rivers (Côte-Nord-Québec). We suggest that our qPCR approach could be used in a quantitative way to estimate the parasitic burden in individual swim bladders of elvers. Our method, which goes beyond most of previous developed protocols that restricted the diagnosis of A. crassus to the moment when it was fully established in its final host, should help to detect early A. crassus infection in nature.}, }
@article {pmid37070822, year = {2023}, author = {Díaz-Tapia, P and Nelson, WA and Verbruggen, H}, title = {Molecular analyses of turf algae reveal a new species and an undetected introduction in the Pterosiphonieae (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13336}, pmid = {37070822}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {Introduced seaweeds and undescribed species often remain undetected because marine regional floras are as yet poorly understood. DNA sequencing facilitates their detection, but databases are incomplete, so their improvement will continue to lead the discovery of these species. Here we aim to clarify the taxonomy of two turf-forming red algal Australian species that morphologically resemble the European Aphanocladia stichidiosa. We also aim to elucidate whether either of these species could have been introduced in Europe or Australia. We studied their morphology, analysed 17 rbcL sequences of European and Australian specimens, examined their generic assignment using a phylogeny based on 24 plastid genomes, and investigated their biogeography using a taxon-rich phylogeny including 52 rbcL sequences of species in the Pterosiphonieae. The rbcL sequences of one of the Australian species were identical to A. stichidiosa from Europe, considerably expanding its known distribution. Unexpectedly, our phylogenetic analyses resolved this species in the Lophurella clade rather than in Aphanocladia and the new combination L. stichidiosa is proposed. The other Australian species is described as L. pseudocorticata sp. nov. Although L. stichidiosa was originally described in the Mediterranean ca.70 years ago, our phylogenetic analyses placed it in a lineage restricted to the southern hemisphere, showing that it is native to Australia and introduced to Europe. This study confirms that further work using molecular tools is needed to characterize seaweed diversity, especially among the poorly explored algal turfs, and showcases the usefulness of phylogenetic approaches to uncover introduced species and to determine their native ranges.}, }
@article {pmid37069929, year = {2023}, author = {Qian, H}, title = {Patterns of phylogenetic relatedness of non-native plants across the introduction-naturalization-invasion continuum in China.}, journal = {Plant diversity}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {169-176}, pmid = {37069929}, issn = {2468-2659}, abstract = {Human activities have caused the exchange of species among different parts of the world. When introduced species become naturalized and invasive, they may cause great negative impacts on the environment and human societies, and pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure. Knowledge on phylogenetic relatedness between native and non-native species and among non-native species at different stages of species invasion may help for better understanding the drivers of species invasion. Here, I analyze a comprehensive data set including both native and non-native angiosperm species in China to determine phylogenetic relatedness of introduced species across a full invasion continuum (from introduction through naturalization to invasion). This study found that (1) introduced plants are a phylogenetically clustered subset of overall (i.e. native plus non-native) angiosperm flora, (2) naturalized plants are a phylogenetically clustered subset of introduced plants, and (3) invasive plants are a phylogenetically clustered subset of naturalized plants. These patterns hold regardless of spatial scales examined (i.e. national versus provincial scale) and whether basal- or tip-weighted metric of phylogenetic relatedness is considered. These findings are consistent with Darwin's preadaptation hypothesis.}, }
@article {pmid37069603, year = {2023}, author = {Mutsaers, M and Engdahl, CS and Wilkman, L and Ahlm, C and Evander, M and Lwande, OW}, title = {Vector competence of Anopheles stephensi for O'nyong-nyong virus: a risk for global virus spread.}, journal = {Parasites &amp; vectors}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {133}, pmid = {37069603}, issn = {1756-3305}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: O'nyong-nyong virus (ONNV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus causing sporadic outbreaks of febrile illness with rash and polyarthralgia. Up to now, ONNV has been restricted to Africa and only two competent vectors have been found, Anopheles gambiae and An. funestus, which are also known malaria vectors. With globalization and invasive mosquito species migrating to ONNV endemic areas, there is a possible risk of introduction of the virus to other countries and continents. Anopheles stephensi, is closely related to An. gambiae and one of the invasive mosquito species of Asian origin that is now present in the Horn of Africa and spreading further east. We hypothesize that An. stephensi, a known primary urban malaria vector, may also serve as a new possible vector for ONNV.<br><br>METHODS: One-week-old female adult An. stephensi were exposed to ONNV-infected blood, and the vector competence for ONNV, i.e. infection rates (IRs), dissemination rates (DRs), transmission rates (TRs), dissemination efficiency (DEs) and transmission efficiency (TEs), were evaluated. Infection (IRs), dissemination efficiency (DEs) and transmission efficiency (TEs) were determined. Detection of ONNV RNA was analysed by RT-qPCR in the thorax and abdomen, head, wings, legs and saliva of the infected mosquitoes at four different time points, day 7, 14, 21 and 28 after blood meal. Infectious virus in saliva was assessed by infection of Vero B4 cells.<br><br>RESULTS: The mean mortality across all sampling times was 27.3% (95 confidence interval [CI] 14.7-44.2%). The mean rate of infection across all sampling periods was 89.5% (95% CI 70.6-95.9). The mean dissemination rate across sampling intervals was 43.4% (95% CI 24.3-64.2%). The mean TR and TE across all mosquito sampling time intervals were 65.3 (95% CI 28.6-93.5) and 74.6 (95% CI 52.1-89.4). The IR was 100%, 79.3%, 78.6% and 100% respectively at 7, 14, 21 and 28 dpi. The DR was the highest at 7 dpi with 76.0%, followed by 28 dpi at 57.1%, 21 dpi at 27.3% and 14 dpi at the lowest DR of 13.04%. DE was 76%, 13.8%, 25%, 57.1% and TR was 79%, 50%, 57.1% and 75% at 7, 14, 21 and 28 dpi respectively. The TE was the highest at 28 dpi, with a proportion of 85.7%. For 7, 14 and 21 dpi the transmission efficiency was 72.0%, 65.5% and 75.0% respectively.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Anopheles stephensi is a competent vector for ONNV and being an invasive species spreading to different parts of the world will likely spread the virus to other regions.}, }
@article {pmid37068344, year = {2023}, author = {Mghili, B and De-la-Torre, GE and Aksissou, M}, title = {Assessing the potential for the introduction and spread of alien species with marine litter.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {114913}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114913}, pmid = {37068344}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {The introduction and transport of marine invasive species into new environments are a great threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services with potential economic repercussions. There are several routes and mechanisms by which alien species are transported and dispersed in the marine environment (shipping, waterways, and aquaculture). Each year, millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean. The presence of floating marine litter in marine environments provides a substrate for marine organisms and may increase the potential for the transport of alien species. Research on the role of marine litter in the introduction of alien marine species has grown exponentially in recent years. In this study, studies examining the transport and dispersal of alien species by marine litter are reviewed. In this review, we identified 67 alien species associated with marine litter. The most recurrent alien phyla found on marine litter are Arthropoda (29 %), Mollusca (23 %), Bryozoa (19 %), Annelida (7 %) and Cnidaria (5 %). Plastic appears to be more efficient in transporting alien species than by natural means. Their characteristics (buoyancy and persistence) allow them to be widely dispersed throughout all ocean compartments. Thus, plastics may act as a primary vector, carrying organisms to remote areas but can also facilitate the secondary spread of alien species between points of invasion. Despite the growing number of studies on this subject, much work remains to be done to understand the roles of plastics in the introduction of alien species and to develop solutions to mitigate the issue.}, }
@article {pmid37066653, year = {2023}, author = {Camacho-Cervantes, M and Keller, RP and Vilà, M}, title = {Could non-native species boost their chances of invasion success by socializing with natives?.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {378}, number = {1878}, pages = {20220106}, pmid = {37066653}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Introduced Species ; *Social Behavior ; Population Density ; Population Dynamics ; }, abstract = {Most invasions start with the introduction of a few individuals and the majority fail to establish and become invasive populations. A possible explanation for this is that some species are subject to Allee effects-disadvantages of low densities-and fail to perform vital activities due to the low availability of conspecifics. We propose that 'facilitation' from native individuals to non-natives through heterospecific sociability could enhance chances of the latter establishing in novel environments by helping them avoid Allee effects and even reducing the minimum number of non-native individuals necessary to achieve the density for a viable population (the Allee effect threshold). There is evidence from experiments carried out with freshwater fish, snails, lizards, mussels and bird that supports the idea of heterospecific sociability between native and non-native species as a process to promote invasion success. We propose that to understand invasion success in social non-native species we need to investigate how they integrate into the recipient community. Furthermore, to manage them, it may be necessary to reduce population density not just below the Allee effect threshold but also to understand how natives could help them shift the conspecific Allee effect threshold to their benefit. This article is part of the theme issue 'Mixed-species groups and aggregations: shaping ecological and behavioural patterns and processes'.}, }
@article {pmid37066061, year = {2023}, author = {Jobin, V and Das, A and Harikrishnan, CP and Chanda, R and Lawrence, S and Robin, VV}, title = {Patterns of understory invasion in invasive timber stands of a tropical sky island.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e9995}, pmid = {37066061}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Current climate and land cover change threaten global mountaintops with increased spread of invasive species. Long-established plantations of invasive trees on these mountaintops can alter their surroundings, further increasing invader-facilitated invasion. Identifying the ecological conditions promoting such associations can help develop better management interventions. The Western Ghats's Shola Sky Islands (>1400 m MSL) host vast stretches of invasive tree plantations that sustain the colonization of other invasive woody, herbaceous, and fern species in their understories. Here, we analyzed vegetation and landscape variables from 232 systematically placed plots in randomly selected grids using non-metric multidimensional scaling and Phi coefficient approaches to examine patterns of association (positive interactions) between understory invasive species with specific invasive overstory species. We also conducted GLMM with zero inflation to determine the influence of environmental variables where such associations occur. We find that understory invasion of multiple species under the canopy of other invasives is widespread across the Shola Sky Islands. Stands of Eucalyptus host the colonization of 70% of non-native invasive species surveyed across the Shola Sky Islands. In particular, the Lantana camara invasion is strongly associated with Eucalyptus stands. We also found that climatic variables affect the colonization of understory woody invasive species, while invasion by exotic herbaceous species is associated with the density of road networks. Canopy cover impacts all invasives negatively, while fire incidence was negatively associated with invasion by Lantana spp. and the Pteridium spp. While the restoration of natural habitats primarily targets the highly invasive Acacia, less invasive Eucalyptus and Pinus are often not included. Our study suggests that retaining such invasive species in natural habitats, particularly protected areas, can hinder ongoing grassland restoration efforts by facilitating further invasions by multiple woody and herbaceous species.}, }
@article {pmid37065704, year = {2023}, author = {López-Tirado, J and Gonzalez-Andújar, JL}, title = {Spatial weed distribution models under climate change: a short review.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15220}, pmid = {37065704}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Climate change is a concern worldwide that could trigger many changes with severe consequences. Since human demography is steadily increasing, agriculture has to be constantly investigated to aim at improving its efficiency. Weeds play a key role in this task, especially in the recent past and at present, when new introductions have been favoured by a rise in tourism and international trade. To obtain knowledge relating weeds and their behaviour to climate change, species distribution models (SDMs) have also increased recently. In this work, we have reviewed some articles published since 2017 on modelled weeds, aiming to give a response to, among other things, the species most studied, the scale and location of the studies, the algorithms used and validation parameters, global change scenarios, types of variables, and the sources from which the data were collected. Fifty-nine articles were selected to be reviewed, with maximum entropy (MaxEnt) and area under the curve (AUC) being the most popular software and validation processes. Environmental and topographic variables were considered above pedological and anthropogenic ones. Europe was the continent and China, the USA, and India the countries most studied. In this review, it was found that the number of published articles between developed and developing countries is unbalanced and comes out in favour of the former. The current knowledge on this topic can be considered to be good not enough, especially in developing countries with high population densities. The more knowledge we can obtain, the better our understanding is of how to deal with this issue, which is a worldwide preoccupation.}, }
@article {pmid37064427, year = {2023}, author = {Závada, T and Malik, RJ and Mazumder, L and Kesseli, RV}, title = {Radical shift in the genetic composition of New England chicory populations.}, journal = {The Journal of ecology}, volume = {111}, number = {2}, pages = {391-399}, pmid = {37064427}, issn = {0022-0477}, abstract = {Human activities have been altering the flora and fauna across the planet. Distributions and the diversity of species, and the phenotypes of individuals in those species are changing. New England with its rapidly changing human demographics is an ideal place to investigate these temporal changes in the habitat. The flora of New England consists of both native and nonnative species. Non-indigenous plant species have been introduced since the first Europeans arrived in North America in the 15th century. Cichorium intybus (chicory), native to Eurasia, was first recorded in North America in 1774. Subsequently, chicory spread and became naturalized throughout much of the continent.In this study, we used chloroplast DNA sequences and 12 microsatellite nuclear markers to assess the temporal genetic changes in New England populations of chicory. We analysed 84 herbarium specimens and 18 contemporary extant populations (228 individuals in total).Three chloroplast DNA haplotypes were detected and all were present in New England prior to 1890; however, Hap3 was rare prior to the 1950s. The nuclear DNA markers showed a major shift in the genetic diversity and composition, with all historical herbarium collections belonging to a single genetic cluster and 16 out of 18 contemporary chicory populations belonging to different genetic clusters. This change occurred regionally and also on a local scale with contemporary populations being very different from herbarium specimens collected previously in the corresponding localities. Synthesis. Our results indicate that the genetic diversity and structure of Cichorium intybus populations have changed substantially since the founding populations in New England. These changes may have contributed to the success of this nonnative species and helped to fuel its rapid expansion and adaptation to the changing landscapes in both New England and the rest of North America.}, }
@article {pmid37062768, year = {2023}, author = {Subalusky, AL and Sethi, SA and Anderson, EP and Jiménez, G and Echeverri-Lopez, D and García-Restrepo, S and Nova-León, LJ and Reátiga-Parrish, JF and Post, DM and Rojas, A}, title = {Rapid population growth and high management costs have created a narrow window for control of introduced hippos in Colombia.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {6193}, pmid = {37062768}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {The introduction of hippos into the wild in Colombia has been marked by their rapid population growth and widespread dispersal on the landscape, high financial costs of management, and conflicting social perspectives on their management and fate. Here we use population projection models to investigate the effectiveness and cost of management options under consideration for controlling introduced hippos. We estimate there are 91 hippos in the middle Magdalena River basin, Colombia, and the hippo population is growing at an estimated rate of 9.6% per year. At this rate, there will be 230 hippos by 2032 and over 1,000 by 2050. Applying the population control methods currently under consideration will cost at least 1-2 million USD to sufficiently decrease hippo population growth to achieve long-term removal, and depending on the management strategy selected, there may still be hippos on the landscape for 50-100 years. Delaying management actions for a single decade will increase minimum costs by a factor of 2.5, and some methods may become infeasible. Our approach illustrates the trade-offs inherent between cost and effort in managing introduced species, as well as the importance of acting quickly, especially when dealing with species with rapid population growth rates and potential for significant ecological and social impacts.}, }
@article {pmid36931046, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, X and Zhang, X and Peng, J and Deng, Y and Liu, Y and Jiang, L and Zhao, L}, title = {Survival and physiological energetics of highly invasive mussels exposed to heatwaves.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {187}, number = {}, pages = {105948}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105948}, pmid = {36931046}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Mytilidae ; Climate Change ; Hot Temperature ; Energy Metabolism ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {The South American mussel, Mytella strigata, is a highly invasive fouling species of great concern along intertidal shores in East and Southeast Asia, posing serious threats to native biodiversity and ecosystems. Intertidal areas, being increasingly attacked by heatwaves over the last decade, are among the most thermally challenging habitats, yet the fate of this highly invasive mussel under scenarios of hotter heatwaves remains unknown. Here, we investigated how M. strigata responded to intensifying heatwaves frequently occurring in the South China Sea. Over 97% of individuals survived the five-day-lasting heatwaves, suggesting their high ability to cope with short-term heatwaves. Virtually unaffected clearance rate and absorption efficiency throughout the course of heatwaves indicate the maintenance of energy acquisition, and significantly decreased respiration rate implies the depression of energy metabolism, generating significant decreases in the O:N ratio when heatwaves occurred. Scope for growth of heatwaves-stressed mussels significantly decreased during initial exposure and then increased over time. These findings indicate the remarkable ability of M. strigata to cope with heatwaves recorded in its invasive habitats and call the attention for the rapid spread of this highly invasive fouling species in the context of climate change.}, }
@article {pmid37062133, year = {2023}, author = {Drillet, G and Gianoli, C and Gang, L and Zacharopoulou, A and Schneider, G and Stehouwer, P and Bonamin, V and Goldring, R and Drake, LA}, title = {Improvement in compliance of ships' ballast water discharges during commissioning tests.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {114911}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114911}, pmid = {37062133}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {The number of ships installing ballast water management systems (BWMS) has risen steeply since the Ballast Water Management Convention entered into force. Since June 2022, biological testing is required during commissioning to verify compliance with the Convention. Data from 676 tests (from 2019 to 2022) show substantial improvement over time: the failure rate decreased from ~20 % to ~6 %. Notably, nearly all failures occurred in the largest size class of organisms (≥50 μm). Interestingly, proxy measurements suggest that high concentrations of living organisms in uptake water did not cause the failures. Also, failures determined using "indicative" analysis (here, adenosine triphosphate, ATP) were typically not confirmed by "detailed" analysis (microscopy), suggesting that ATP limits are over-precautionary. Finally, discharges containing high levels of Total Residual Oxidants (TRO) decreased over time. These data highlight the need for ongoing testing-focusing at least on organisms ≥50 μm-to minimize environmental risks from organisms transported in ships' ballast water.}, }
@article {pmid37061528, year = {2023}, author = {Nelufule, T and Robertson, MP and Wilson, JRU and Faulkner, KT}, title = {An inventory of native-alien populations in South Africa.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {213}, pmid = {37061528}, issn = {2052-4463}, abstract = {Species can be both native and alien to a given administrative region. Here we present the first consolidated inventory of these 'native-alien populations' for South Africa, and provide an overview of the data it contains. To gather data, literature searches were performed and experts were consulted both directly and via an on-line survey. Putative native-alien populations were then scored based on a newly developed protocol. The final inventory contains information on 77 native species from 49 families across nine classes that have formed 132 native-alien populations across the terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. The phenomenon is rare when compared to the prevalence of related phenomena, such as alien species introduced from other countries (2033 alien species in South Africa), but is under-reported. However, they pose a specific problem for regulators and managers and their importance will likely increase with global change. These data will be integrated with an existing alien species list and, we hope, will provide a useful foundation to address the issue. We encourage those working on biodiversity to contribute more records.}, }
@article {pmid37058776, year = {2023}, author = {Merz, E and Kitahara, MV and Flores, AAV}, title = {A legacy of invasive sun corals: Distinct mobile invertebrate assemblages at near-reef coral-dominated rubble.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {188}, number = {}, pages = {105974}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105974}, pmid = {37058776}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Fast-growing and reproducing sun corals have successfully invaded rocky reefs around the Atlantic Ocean, markedly reducing the diversity of fouling invertebrates and macroalgae, and profoundly changing the composition of reef-associated mobile invertebrates. Here, we address sun-coral rubble depositions and report, for the first time, the effects of sun corals on near-reef soft-bottom invertebrate assemblages. Abundance, richness and diversity were higher at rubble habitats compared to bare sandy grounds, which could be a positive effect of substrate complexity. All those parameters were also higher at rubble patches dominated by sun-coral fragments compared to rubble patches dominated by pebbles or shell fragments, also suggesting possible additive effects of coral-borne chemical attraction (sun-coral specific, as inputs of other coral species were virtually absent). Different epifaunal groups were exclusive of rubble habitats and a subset of those exclusive of sun-coral rubble, explaining the incremental richness across habitats. The relative abundance of the two dominant groups - polychaetes (p) and amphipods (a) - contributed the most to the observed contrasts on community structure, as their proportion (p:a) changed from 10:1 in bare sand to nearly co-dominance in coral rubble. While previous research suggested that spreading sun corals reduce prey supply for fish foraging on reef walls, our results suggest they may increase prey abundance and diversity at the adjacent non-consolidated habitat, possibly reshaping trophic pathways connecting the benthic and the pelagic environment.}, }
@article {pmid37058226, year = {2023}, author = {da Silva, JMM and Ramos, RS and Souza, PGC and da Silva Paes, J and Picanço, MC and Silva, GA and da Silva, RS}, title = {Mapping Brazilian Expansion Risk Levels of Mango Weevil (Sternochetus mangiferae Fabricius) Based on MaxEnt.}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37058226}, issn = {1678-8052}, abstract = {The mango weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius) (Curculionidae), pest present in Brazil and is restricted to some municipalities in the Rio de Janeiro State. This curculionid attacks the mango crop exclusively and puts mango production globally at risk, especially those destined for export. Using ecological modeling tools, this study is the first to map the potential risk of S. mangiferae in Brazil. We aimed to identify the potential distribution of this pest in Brazilian states, drawing up thematic maps of regions that present suitable and unsuitable climatic conditions for the establishment of the pest using the MaxEnt ecological niche model. The average annual temperature, the annual precipitation, the average daytime temperature range, and the annual temperature range were the variables that contributed most to the selected model. The MaxEnt model predicted highly suitable areas for S. mangiferae throughout the Brazilian coast, especially on the northeast coast. The region responsible for more than 50% of mango production in Brazil, the São Francisco Valley, was classified by the model with suitability for the pest; it can impacts exportations due to the imposition of phytosanitary barriers. This information can be used in strategies to prevent the introduction and establishment of this pest in new areas and monitor programs in areas with recent occurrence. In addition, the model results can be used in future research plans on S. mangiferae in worldwide modeling studies and climate change scenarios.}, }
@article {pmid37057863, year = {2023}, author = {Marcogliese, DJ}, title = {Major drivers of biodiversity loss and their impacts on helminth parasite populations and communities.}, journal = {Journal of helminthology}, volume = {97}, number = {}, pages = {e34}, doi = {10.1017/S0022149X2300010X}, pmid = {37057863}, issn = {1475-2697}, abstract = {The world's biodiversity is in peril. The major threats to biodiversity globally are habitat change, overexploitation, climate change, invasive species and pollution. Not only do these stressors impact free-living organisms, but they affect parasitic ones as well. Herein, this perspective examines the potential consequences of these anthropogenic perturbations on helminth populations and communities, with emphasis on significant developments over the past decade. Furthermore, several case studies are examined in more detail for each of these threats to biodiversity. While effects are widespread and diverse, for the most part all these environmental stressors have negative effects on parasite populations and communities. Those parasites with complex life cycles that are trophically transmitted are often more at risk, although larval parasites with a wide host spectrum, and directly transmitted ectoparasites, appear less threatened and may even benefit. However, differential effects on hosts and parasites, on parasite life cycle stages and on host-parasite interactions made specific predictions difficult and context-dependent. Experimental laboratory and mesocosm studies on specific parasites that test effects on the different life cycle stages, hosts and host-parasite interactions, permitting the determination of net effects of an environmental stressor, yield insightful and sometimes counterintuitive results, although they remain a simplification of real-world complexity. Recent advances in the use of parasites as bioindicators of effects also are discussed.}, }
@article {pmid37056740, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, L and Yang, Z and Yang, F and Wang, G and Zeng, M and Zhang, Z and Yang, M and Wang, Z and Li, Z}, title = {Gut microbiota of two invasive fishes respond differently to temperature.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1087777}, pmid = {37056740}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Temperature variation structures the composition and diversity of gut microbiomes in ectothermic animals, key regulators of host physiology, with potential benefit to host or lead to converse results (i.e., negative). So, the significance of either effect may largely depend on the length of time exposed to extreme temperatures and how rapidly the gut microbiota can be altered by change in temperature. However, the temporal effects of temperature on gut microbiota have rarely been clarified. To understand this issue, we exposed two juvenile fishes (Cyprinus carpio and Micropterus salmoides), which both ranked among the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world, to increased environmental temperature and sampled of the gut microbiota at multiple time points after exposure so as to determine when differences in these communities become detectable. Further, how temperature affects the composition and function of microbiota was examined by comparing predicted metagenomic profiles of gut microbiota between treatment groups at the final time point of the experiment. The gut microbiota of C. carpio was more plastic than those of M. salmoides. Specifically, communities of C. carpio were greatly altered by increased temperature within 1 week, while communities of M. salmoides exhibit no significant changes. Further, we identified 10 predicted bacterial functional pathways in C. carpio that were temperature-dependent, while none functional pathways in M. salmoides was found to be temperature-dependent. Thus, the gut microbiota of C. carpio was more sensitive to temperature changes and their functional pathways were significantly changed after temperature treatment. These results showed the gut microbiota of the two invasive fishes differ in response to temperature change, which may indicate that they differ in colonization modes. Broadly, we have confirmed that the increased short-term fluctuations in temperatures are always expected to alter the gut microbiota of ectothermic vertebrates when facing global climate change.}, }
@article {pmid37056571, year = {2023}, author = {Luo, W}, title = {Nasopharyngeal carcinoma ecology theory: cancer as multidimensional spatiotemporal "unity of ecology and evolution" pathological ecosystem.}, journal = {Theranostics}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {1607-1631}, pmid = {37056571}, issn = {1838-7640}, abstract = {Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a particular entity of head neck cancer that is generally regarded as a genetic disease with diverse intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity. This perspective review mainly outlines the up-to-date knowledge of cancer ecology and NPC progression, and presents a number of conceptual stepping-stones. At the beginning, I explicitly advocate that the nature of NPC (cancer) is not a genetic disease but an ecological disease: a multidimensional spatiotemporal "unity of ecology and evolution" pathological ecosystem. The hallmarks of cancer is proposed to act as ecological factors of population fitness. Subsequently, NPC cells are described as invasive species and its metastasis as a multidirectional ecological dispersal. The foundational ecological principles include intraspecific relationship (e.g. communication) and interspecific relationship (e.g. competition, predation, parasitism and mutualism) are interpreted to understand NPC progression. "Mulberry-fish-ponds" model can well illustrate the dynamic reciprocity of cancer ecosystem. Tumor-host interface is the ecological transition zone of cancer, and tumor buddings should be recognized as ecological islands separated from the mainland. It should be noted that tumor-host interface has a significantly molecular and functional edge effect because of its curvature and irregularity. Selection driving factors and ecological therapy including hyperthermia for NPC patients, and future perspectives in such field as "ecological pathology", "multidimensional tumoriecology" are also discussed. I advance that "nothing in cancer evolution or ecology makes sense except in the light of the other". The cancer ecology tree is constructed to comprehensively point out the future research direction. Taken together, the establishment of NPC ecology theory and cancer ecology tree might provide a novel conceptual framework and paradigm for our understanding of cancer complex causal process and potential preventive and therapeutic applications for patients.}, }
@article {pmid37055139, year = {2023}, author = {Pacioni, C and Sentís, M and Kerimov, A and Bushuev, A and Lens, L and Strubbe, D}, title = {Seasonal variation in thermoregulatory capacity of three closely related Afrotropical Estrildid finches introduced to Europe.}, journal = {Journal of thermal biology}, volume = {113}, number = {}, pages = {103534}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103534}, pmid = {37055139}, issn = {0306-4565}, abstract = {A species' potential geographical range is largely determined by how the species responds physiologically to its changing environment. It is therefore crucial to study the physiological mechanisms that species use to maintain their homeothermy in order to address biodiversity conservation challenges, such as the success of invasions of introduced species. The common waxbill Estrilda astrild, the orange-cheeked waxbill E. melpoda, and the black-rumped waxbill E. troglodytes are small Afrotropical passerines that have established invasive populations in regions where the climate is colder than in their native ranges. As a result, they are highly suitable species for studying potential mechanisms for coping with a colder and more variable climate. Here, we investigated the magnitude and direction of seasonal variation in their thermoregulatory traits, such as basal (BMR), summit (Msum) metabolic rates and thermal conductance. We found that, from summer to autumn, their ability to resist colder temperatures increased. This was not related to larger body masses or higher BMR and Msum, but instead, species downregulated BMR and Msum toward the colder season, suggesting energy conservation mechanisms to increase winter survival. BMR and Msum were most strongly correlated with temperature variation in the week preceding the measurements. Common waxbill and black-rumped waxbill, whose native ranges encompass the highest degree of seasonality, showed the most flexibility in metabolic rates (i.e., stronger downregulation toward colder seasons). This ability to adjust thermoregulatory traits, combined with increased cold tolerance, may facilitate their establishment in areas characterized by colder winters and less predictable climates.}, }
@article {pmid37047017, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Q and Luo, C and Wang, R}, title = {Insecticide Resistance and Its Management in Two Invasive Cryptic Species of Bemisia tabaci in China.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {37047017}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; Introduced Species ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; *Hemiptera/genetics ; China ; }, abstract = {The sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a major agricultural pest with a wide host range throughout the world. The species designation for B. tabaci includes numerous distinct cryptic species or biotypes. Two invasive B. tabaci biotypes, MEAM1 (B) and MED (Q), were found in China at the end of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century. MEAM1 (B) and MED (Q) show higher pesticide resistance levels than native strains, and the levels of resistance vary with changes in insecticide selection pressure. Recent studies have revealed metabolic resistance mechanisms and target site mutations in invasive B. tabaci strains that render them resistant to a range of insecticides and have uncovered the frequency of these resistance-related mutations in B. tabaci populations in China. Novel pest control agents, such as RNA-based pesticides and nano-pesticides, have achieved effective control effects in the laboratory and are expected to be applied for field control of B. tabaci in the future. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of resistance developed by these invasive B. tabaci populations since their invasion into China. We also provide suggestions for ecologically sound and efficient B. tabaci control.}, }
@article {pmid37045818, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, D and Semenchuk, P and Essl, F and Lenzner, B and Moser, D and Blackburn, TM and Cassey, P and Biancolini, D and Capinha, C and Dawson, W and Dyer, EE and Guénard, B and Economo, EP and Kreft, H and Pergl, J and Pyšek, P and van Kleunen, M and Nentwig, W and Rondinini, C and Seebens, H and Weigelt, P and Winter, M and Purvis, A and Dullinger, S}, title = {The impact of land use on non-native species incidence and number in local assemblages worldwide.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2090}, pmid = {37045818}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Introduced Species ; Incidence ; Biodiversity ; *Ants ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {While the regional distribution of non-native species is increasingly well documented for some taxa, global analyses of non-native species in local assemblages are still missing. Here, we use a worldwide collection of assemblages from five taxa - ants, birds, mammals, spiders and vascular plants - to assess whether the incidence, frequency and proportions of naturalised non-native species depend on type and intensity of land use. In plants, assemblages of primary vegetation are least invaded. In the other taxa, primary vegetation is among the least invaded land-use types, but one or several other types have equally low levels of occurrence, frequency and proportions of non-native species. High land use intensity is associated with higher non-native incidence and frequency in primary vegetation, while intensity effects are inconsistent for other land-use types. These findings highlight the potential dual role of unused primary vegetation in preserving native biodiversity and in conferring resistance against biological invasions.}, }
@article {pmid37045264, year = {2023}, author = {Aspe, NM and Obusan, MCM}, title = {Pheretimoid earthworms (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) cultivated in a vermifacility in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, with description of a new species.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5255}, number = {1}, pages = {101-112}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5255.1.14}, pmid = {37045264}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Oligochaeta ; Philippines ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {We report two pheretimoid earthworm species cultivated in Folia Tropica vermifacility in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. One species is Pheretima losbanosensis sp. nov., which belongs to P. dubia group in Sims &amp; Easton 1972, characterized by having three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7-8/9. It has an adult size of 220-228 mm x 8-9 mm; and has 26-36 and 56-66 setae on vii and xx, respectively. The other species is Metaphire bahli Gates, 1945, characterized by having three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7-8/9 and post-clitellar genital markings at 17/18 and 18/19. The vermicasts of the two species are commercially produced and are harvested as organic fertilizers. We promote the utilization of native species for vermiculture and vermicomposting rather than using the introduced vermicomposting species African nightcrawler Eudrilus eugeniae.}, }
@article {pmid37045043, year = {2022}, author = {Ramalho, LV and Caballero-Herrera, JA}, title = {Detection of five non-indigenous species in fishing ports of Málaga Province, Spain (southwestern Mediterranean).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5200}, number = {2}, pages = {196-200}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5200.2.7}, pmid = {37045043}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Spain ; *Hunting ; *Introduced Species ; Ships ; }, }
@article {pmid37053077, year = {2023}, author = {Phanthian, C and Chaisuekul, C}, title = {Larval performance and adult phenotypic variation of Acraea terpsicore (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) on congeneric Passiflora host plants.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvad036}, pmid = {37053077}, issn = {1938-2936}, abstract = {The introduction of exotic plants into different habitats can have varied consequences for local herbivorous insects, such as altered the nutrient profiles that induce the host plant shifting or reduced food availability by competition with native plants. Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, 1758), a common butterfly in Southeast Asia that uses Passiflora as a host plant, has been studied to compare larval performance and adult phenotypes on one local wild Passiflora plant, P. foetida and 3 exotic congeneric plants, P. edulis, a fruit crop plant, and P. x alata-caerulea and P. x coccinea-caerulea, both hybrid ornamental plants. Laboratory caterpillars that fed on P. edulis and P. x alata-caerulea died within 1-10 days, while caterpillars fed on P. foetida and P. x coccinea-caerulea completed their life cycle in 30.42 ± 0.25 days. Although the caterpillars differed in several food utilization indices, the relative growth rate and consumption index were not affected. Adult butterflies that hatched from caterpillars fed on these experimental plants had different phenotypes, especially wing colors. Therefore, although some congeneric exotic plants may have a negative impact on the butterfly population, some exotic plants can serve as alternative larval host plants and expand the ecological niche of butterflies. Difference in the composition and concentration of nutrients and defensive chemicals in each host plant may exert an impact on the phenotypic traits of butterflies, such as their body size, coloration, and wing shape. Whether butterflies may separate into different subpopulations in the future due to phenotypic variation should be further examined.}, }
@article {pmid37051584, year = {2023}, author = {Lindsay, DL and Guan, X and Harms, NE and Cronin, JT and Meyerson, LA and Lance, RF}, title = {DNA assays for genetic discrimination of three Phragmites australis subspecies in the United States.}, journal = {Applications in plant sciences}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e11512}, pmid = {37051584}, issn = {2168-0450}, abstract = {PREMISE: To genetically discriminate subspecies of the common reed (Phragmites australis), we developed real-time quantitative (qPCR) assays for identifying P. australis subsp. americanus, P. australis subsp. australis, and P. australis subsp. berlandieri.<br><br>METHODS AND RESULTS: Utilizing study-generated chloroplast DNA sequences, we developed three novel qPCR assays. Assays were verified on individuals of each subspecies and against two non-target species, Arundo donax and Phalaris arundinacea. One assay amplifies only P. australis subsp. americanus, one amplifies P. australis subsp. australis and/or P. australis subsp. berlandieri, and one amplifies P. australis subsp. americanus and/or P. australis subsp. australis. This protocol enhances currently available rapid identification methods by providing genetic discrimination of all three subspecies.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed assays were validated using P. australis samples from across the United States. Application of these assays outside of this geographic range should be preceded by additional testing.}, }
@article {pmid37051087, year = {2023}, author = {Lu, H and Lyu, B and Tang, J and Wu, Q and Wyckhuys, KAG and Le, KH and Chongchitmate, P and Qiu, H and Zhang, Q}, title = {Ecology, invasion history and biodiversity-driven management of the coconut black-headed caterpillar Opisina arenosella in Asia.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1116221}, pmid = {37051087}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The coconut black-headed caterpillar (BHC), Opisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae) is an important herbivore of palm trees that originates in South Asia. Over the past decades, O. arenosella has spread to several countries in Eastern and Southeast Asia. BHC larval feeding can cause severe defoliation and occasional plant death, resulting in direct production losses (e.g., for coconut) while degrading the aesthetic value of urban and rural landscapes. In this review paper, we systematically cover taxonomy, bio-ecology, invasion history and current management of O. arenosella throughout Asia. Given that O. arenosella is routinely controlled with insecticides, we equally explore options for more sustainable management through agroecological and biodiversity-based tactics e.g., cultural control or biological control. Also, recent advances in chemical ecology have unlocked lucrative opportunities for volatile-mediated monitoring, mating disruption and mass-trapping. Substantial progress has been made in augmentation biological control, with scheduled releases of laboratory-reared parasitoids lowering BHC infestation pressure up to 95%. Equally, resident ants provide 75-98% mortality of BHC egg masses within the palm canopy. Biological control has been effectively paired with sanitary measures and good agronomy (i.e., proper fertilization, irrigation), and promoted through participatory farmer training programs. Our comprehensive listing of non-chemical preventative and curative tactics offer bright prospects for a more environmentally-sound, biodiversity-driven mitigation of a palm pest of regional allure.}, }
@article {pmid37050187, year = {2023}, author = {Tiawoun, MAP and Malan, PW and Comole, AA and Moshobane, MC}, title = {Impact of Prosopis velutina Wooton on the Composition and Diversity of Native Woody Species in a Semi-Arid Zone along the Molopo River, South Africa.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12071561}, pmid = {37050187}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Invasive alien species represent one of the main threats to biodiversity and species extinction. This is the case for the genus Prosopis, among which Prosopis velutina is the most invasive and common tree species along the Molopo River in the North-West Province, impacting native plant communities. However, its impact on the composition and diversity of native woody species remains poorly investigated in the area. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of P. velutina on native woody plant composition and diversity across three sites along the Molopo River. At each site, five quadrats of 20 × 20 m[2] were randomly established in invaded and adjacent uninvaded stands. A comparative methodological approach was adopted, and the woody plants in invaded and uninvaded stands with similar site conditions were sampled. The results showed that native woody species density differed significantly (p < 0.05) between invaded and uninvaded stands, except for Bray sites, where there was a marginal difference (p = 0.6). The overall native woody species density decreased by 79.7% in the invaded stand. However, non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) and analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) indicated significant differences in native tree composition between invaded and uninvaded stands at all sites. In all three sites, all ecological indices had significantly lower values in invaded stands compared to uninvaded stands. The decrease in all ecological indices in invaded over uninvaded stands indicated that P. velutina invasion reduced the diversity of native woody plant species. Due to the incessant spread of P. velutina, it may become a long-term dominant species with an increasing impact on the native vegetation. Therefore, the findings of this study call for urgent management and appropriate control measures against the ongoing spread of this invader within the riparian zones of the Molopo River in North-West Province.}, }
@article {pmid37050178, year = {2023}, author = {Ab Razak, N and Gange, AC and Sutton, BC and Mansor, A}, title = {The Invasive Plant Impatiens glandulifera Manipulates Microbial Associates of Competing Native Species.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12071552}, pmid = {37050178}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Impatiens glandulifera or Himalayan balsam is one of the most invasive weeds across Europe and can seriously reduce native plant diversity. It often forms continuous monocultures along river banks, but the mechanisms of this arrested succession are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on balsam competitive ability with two native plant species, Plantago lanceolata and Holcus lanatus. We also studied how competition with Impatiens affects colonisation by foliar endophytes and mycorrhizas of two other co-occurring native species, Urtica dioica and Cirsium arvense. Mycorrhizal colonisation reduced balsam growth when the plants were grown singly, but appeared to have little effect when balsam experienced intra- or interspecific competition. Competition with balsam together with the addition of mycorrhizas had no effect on P. lanceolata biomass, suggesting that the fungi were beneficial to the latter, enabling it to compete effectively with balsam. However, this was not so with H. lanatus. Meanwhile, competition with Impatiens reduced endophyte numbers and mycorrhizal colonisation in U. dioica and C. arvense, leading to enhanced susceptibility of these plants to insect attack. Himalayan balsam is known to degrade soil fungal populations and can also reduce foliar beneficial fungi in neighbouring plants. This allows the plant to compete effectively with itself and other native species, thereby leading to the continuous monocultures.}, }
@article {pmid37050136, year = {2023}, author = {Castillo, JM and Gallego-Tévar, B and Grewell, BJ}, title = {Wrack Burial Limits Germination and Establishment of Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus L.).}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12071510}, pmid = {37050136}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Seed burial under wrack, mats of water-transported plant debris, can limit recruitment of seedlings in wetlands. In a greenhouse experiment, we studied the effects of wrack burial (0, 1, 2, 4, 8 cm depths) on germination and emergence of the macrophyte Iris pseudacorus, native to Europe, Mediterranean Basin, and western Asia, that has invaded wetlands in nearly every global ecozone. We recorded the percentages of germinating, senescent, and quiescent seeds and evaluated seedling establishment and growth relative to substrate environmental variables. Seedling emergence of I. pseudacorus was reduced from >80% in controls without burial to <40% even at minimal wrack depths of 1 cm. Few I. pseudacorus seedlings were able to emerge from wrack burial of up to 8 cm in depth. We also found greater numbers of both quiescent seeds and germinated seeds that did not emerge from wrack burial. Reduced seedling emergence and increased seed quiescence with wrack burial were primarily explained by a reduction in daily temperature variation within the substrate. No senescent seedlings were observed with any depth of wrack burial. In view of our results, the management of I. pseudacorus invasion will be a long-term challenge, requiring continued control due to persistent seeds in wrack-buried seed banks.}, }
@article {pmid37050059, year = {2023}, author = {Kanmaz, O and Şenel, T and Dalfes, HN}, title = {A Modeling Framework to Frame a Biological Invasion: Impatiens glandulifera in North America.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12071433}, pmid = {37050059}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Biological invasions are a major component of global environmental change with severe ecological and economic consequences. Since eradicating biological invaders is costly and even futile in many cases, predicting the areas under risk to take preventive measures is crucial. Impatiens glandulifera is a very aggressive and prolific invasive species and has been expanding its invasive range all across the Northern hemisphere, primarily in Europe. Although it is currently spread in the east and west of North America (in Canada and USA), studies on its fate under climate change are quite limited compared to the vast literature in Europe. Hybrid models, which integrate multiple modeling approaches, are promising tools for making projections to identify the areas under invasion risk. We developed a hybrid and spatially explicit framework by utilizing MaxEnt, one of the most preferred species distribution modeling (SDM) methods, and we developed an agent-based model (ABM) with the statistical language R. We projected the I. glandulifera invasion in North America, for the 2020-2050 period, under the RCP 4.5 scenario. Our results showed a predominant northward progression of the invasive range alongside an aggressive expansion in both currently invaded areas and interior regions. Our projections will provide valuable insights for risk assessment before the potentially irreversible outcomes emerge, considering the severity of the current state of the invasion in Europe.}, }
@article {pmid37045291, year = {2022}, author = {Roca-Cusachs, M and Kment, P}, title = {Joppeicus paradoxus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Joppeicidae): a new alien species in the European Union?.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5195}, number = {3}, pages = {256-266}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5195.3.4}, pmid = {37045291}, issn = {1175-5334}, abstract = {Joppeicus paradoxus Puton, 1881 is the only representative of the family Joppeicidae. This tiny predaceous bug of around 3 mm long has a resemblance to members of the family Anthocoridae sensu lato. Herein we present an up-to-date distribution of the species, recording it for the first time in the Canary Islands (Fuerteventura Island) and in Yemen (Socotra Island). We provide pictures of the dorsal and lateral habitus of the species and discuss its current distribution. The collection circumstances suggest probably native occurrence in Socotra, but in Fuerteventura it was found in an urban environment with a fair chance it was introduced due to human activity. Details on the types of J. paradoxus are also provided.}, }
@article {pmid36870330, year = {2023}, author = {Ulyshen, M and Horn, S}, title = {Declines of bees and butterflies over 15 years in a forested landscape.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {7}, pages = {1346-1350.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.030}, pmid = {36870330}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Southeastern United States ; Animals ; *Butterflies ; *Bees ; *Forests ; Pollination ; Ecosystem ; Population Dynamics ; Climate Change ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Despite growing concerns about pollinator declines,[1][,][2][,][3][,][4] evidence that this is a widespread problem affecting entire communities remains limited.[5] There is a particular shortage of pollinator time series from relatively undisturbed natural habitats, such as forests, which are generally thought to provide refuge to biodiversity from anthropogenic stressors.[6] Here, we present the results from standardized pollinator sampling over 15 years (2007-2022) at three relatively undisturbed forested locations in the southeastern United States. We observed significant declines in the richness (39%) and abundance (62.5%) of bees as well as the abundance of butterflies (57.6%) over this time period. Unexpectedly, we detected much stronger declines in the richness and abundance of above-ground-nesting bees (81.1% and 85.3%, respectively) compared with below-ground-nesting bees. Even after dropping the first or last year of sampling, which happened to yield the greatest and lowest numbers of pollinators, respectively, we still detected many of the same negative trends. Our results suggest that sharp declines in pollinators may not be limited to areas experiencing direct anthropogenic disturbances. Possible drivers in our system include increasing mean annual minimum temperatures near our study sites as well as an invasive wood-nesting ant that has become increasingly widespread and abundant in the region over the course of this study.}, }
@article {pmid37044602, year = {2023}, author = {Boonzaaier-Davids, MK and Ma, KCK and McQuaid, CD}, title = {Epibiotic association of encrusting cheilostome bryozoans on shells of an invasive mussel from rocky shores of South Africa, with the description of a new aviculiferous species of Chaperia.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5258}, number = {2}, pages = {197-210}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5258.2.2}, pmid = {37044602}, issn = {1175-5334}, abstract = {Rocky shores typically exhibit a variety of sedentary and free-moving forms of epibionts associated with the shells of mussel basibionts. This paper provides a first report on epibiotic bryozoans found on shells of the invasive Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck. More than 2500 mussels were collected between December 2019 and October 2020 from rocky shores during low spring tides across the south-southeast coast of South Africa. Ten percent of these mussels hosted epibiotic bryozoans. We examined a subset of these epibiotised mussels to assess the diversity of bryozoans. Three encrusting cheilostome species were identified: Chaperia atypica n. sp., Celleporella hyalina (Linnaeus), and Hippomonavella sp. This new species is the first Chaperia with avicularia and the first South African species with ooecia. This study highlights the biological diversity of epibiotic bryozoans on mussel shells and, given their differences in microtopography, the possibility that invasive species can provide a new substratum for rare, overlooked or undescribed species of epibionts.}, }
@article {pmid37044257, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, NC and A, D and Chao, YQ and Li, HY and Li, C and Lin, QQ and Li, YY and Qiu, RL}, title = {Mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degradation in the rhizosphere of Phragmites australis: Organic acid co-metabolism, iron-driven, and microbial response.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {121608}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121608}, pmid = {37044257}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Microbial co-metabolism is crucial for the efficient biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); however, their intrinsic mechanisms remain unclear. To explore the co-metabolic degradation of PAHs, root organic acids (ROAs) (phenolic ROAs: caffeic acid [CA] and ferulic acid [FA]; non-phenolic ROAs: oxalic acid [OA]) were exogenously added as co-metabolic substrates under high (HFe) and low (LFe) iron levels in this study. The results demonstrated that more than 90% of PAHs were eliminated from the rhizosphere of Phragmites australis. OA can promote the enrichment of unrelated degrading bacteria and non-specific dioxygenases. FA with a monohydroxy structure can activate hydroxylase; however, it relies on phytosiderophores released by plants (such as OA) to adapt to stress. Therefore, non-specific co-metabolism occurred in these units. The best performance for PAH removal was observed in the HFe-CA unit because: (a) HFe concentrations enriched the Fe-reducing and denitrifying bacteria and promoted the rate-limiting degradation for PAHs as the enzyme cofactor; (b) CA with a dihydroxyl structure enriched the related degrading bacteria, stimulated specific dioxygenase, and activated Fe to concentrate around the rhizosphere simultaneously to perform the specific co-metabolism. Understanding the co-metabolic degradation of PAHs will help improve the efficacy of rhizosphere-mediated remediation.}, }
@article {pmid37043620, year = {2023}, author = {Hogg, BN and Nelson, EH and Daane, KM}, title = {A comparison of candidate banker plants for management of pests in lettuce.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvad029}, pmid = {37043620}, issn = {1938-2936}, abstract = {Agricultural systems are often lacking in resources for natural enemies. Providing alternative prey can help natural enemies persist through periods of low pest abundance, although this approach has been rarely commercially implemented in open field crops. In this study, we tested the potential of eight plant species to provide alternative prey to natural enemies in lettuce fields over a 2-yr period. Results showed that the tested plants would not act as sources of the lettuce aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri Mosley (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the primary lettuce pest. Of the banker plants tested, barley contained high numbers of non-lettuce aphids and appeared to provide reliable habitat for hoverfly larvae. However, lettuce aphids were present on lettuce early in the season, and may have dwarfed any effects of nonlettuce aphids on natural enemy populations. Numbers of hoverfly larvae were also high in lettuce, but did not appear to track numbers of non-lettuce aphids on banker plants. In contrast, numbers of lacewing larvae were highest on plants containing high numbers of non-lettuce aphids, and predatory hemipterans appeared to be associated with numbers of thrips on banker plants. Although barley showed promise as a source of alternative aphids, it did not appear to improve pest control in the adjacent crop.}, }
@article {pmid37043149, year = {2023}, author = {Gomard, Y and Sanchez, M and Bonanno, A and Caubit, M and Clémencet, J}, title = {Development and characterization of twenty microsatellite markers for Phelsuma inexpectata (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a critically endangered gecko endemic to Reunion Island.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37043149}, issn = {1573-4978}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Manapany day gecko (Phelsuma inexpectata) is endemic to the south of Reunion Island. Threatened by habitat fragmentation and loss, human activities and invasive species, P. inexpectata is considered as critically endangered. Conservation measures are required but data on the species are missing, notably on its genetic diversity and population structure for which no specific markers are available to date. Here, we aimed to develop molecular markers to allow genetic studies of P. inexpectata.<br><br>METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed and characterized 20 polymorphic microsatellite markers based on 23 P. inexpectata individuals sampled from 10 sites. Then, the markers were tested on a total of 101 individuals, 30 from a natural site and 71 from an anthropized site. The mean values of Na, Ho and He were 2.3 (&#xb1;&#x2009;0.2), 0.353 (&#xb1;&#x2009;0.053) and 0.345 (&#xb1;&#x2009;0.046) in the natural site and 2.8 (&#xb1;&#x2009;0.3), 0.345 (&#xb1;&#x2009;0.051) and 0.338 (&#xb1;&#x2009;0.048) in the anthropized site, respectively. Based on the combined loci, the probability of identity (PID) for unrelated specimens were 2.7&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10[-7] and 2.6&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10[-7] in the natural and anthropized site, respectively.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This work provides the first set of microsatellite markers for P. inexpectata, constituting a valuable tool to conduct classical genetic studies on the species, such as estimating genetic diversity, population structure and kinship relationships among individuals. Such studies will provide relevant information on P. inexpectata and will therefore be helpful in the implementation of conservation measures for this threatened species.}, }
@article {pmid37041598, year = {2023}, author = {Dragičević, P and Bielen, A and Žučko, J and Hudina, S}, title = {The mycobiome of a successful crayfish invader and its changes along the environmental gradient.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {37041598}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The microbiome plays an important role in biological invasions, since it affects various interactions between host and environment. However, most studies focus on the bacteriome, insufficiently addressing other components of the microbiome such as the mycobiome. Microbial fungi are among the most damaging pathogens in freshwater crayfish populations, colonizing and infecting both native and invasive crayfish species. Invading crayfish may transmit novel fungal species to native populations, but also, dispersal process and characteristics of the novel environment may affect the invaders' mycobiome composition, directly and indirectly affecting their fitness and invasion success. This study analyzes the mycobiome of a successful invader in Europe, the signal crayfish, using the ITS rRNA amplicon sequencing approach. We explored the mycobiomes of crayfish samples (exoskeletal biofilm, hemolymph, hepatopancreas, intestine), compared them to environmental samples (water, sediment), and examined the differences in fungal diversity and abundance between upstream and downstream segments of the signal crayfish invasion range in the Korana River, Croatia.<br><br>RESULTS: A low number of ASVs (indicating low abundance and/or diversity of fungal taxa) was obtained in hemolymph and hepatopancreas samples. Thus, only exoskeleton, intestine, sediment and water samples were analyzed further. Significant differences were recorded between their mycobiomes, confirming their uniqueness. Generally, environmental mycobiomes showed higher diversity than crayfish-associated mycobiomes. The intestinal mycobiome showed significantly lower richness compared to other mycobiomes. Significant differences in the diversity of sediment and exoskeletal mycobiomes were recorded between different river segments (but not for water and intestinal mycobiomes). Together with the high observed portion of shared ASVs between sediment and exoskeleton, this indicates that the environment (i.e. sediment mycobiome) at least partly shapes the exoskeletal mycobiome of crayfish.<br><br>CONCLUSION: This study presents the first data on crayfish-associated fungal communities across different tissues, which is valuable given the lack of studies on the crayfish mycobiome. We demonstrate significant differences in the crayfish exoskeletal mycobiome along the invasion range, suggesting that different local environmental conditions may shape the exoskeletal mycobiome during range expansion, while the mycobiome of the internal organ (intestine) remained more stable. Our results provide a basis for assessing how the mycobiome contributes to the overall health of the signal crayfish and its further invasion success.}, }
@article {pmid37041469, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, T and Wang, Y and Wu, X and Ye, J and Cheng, F}, title = {Promoting the application of Pinus thunbergii Parl. to enhance the growth and survival rates of post-germination somatic plantlets.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {195}, pmid = {37041469}, issn = {1471-2229}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: There is a growing need for nematode resistant Pinaceae species plantlets to cope with the global scale degradation of coniferous forests, due to the prevalence of pine wilt disease. One of the bottlenecks that limits the commercialization of Pinaceae species plantlets is regeneration following their transfer from controlled sterile environments to the field while maintaining high survival rates.<br><br>METHODS: The growth factors of somatic plantlets (SPs), such as sucrose, media, culture substrate, brassinolide and spectrum were investigated to promote the application of somatic nematode-resistant P. thunbergii plants in afforestation.<br><br>RESULTS: The 1/2 WPM liquid medium, culture substrate (perlite and vermiculite =1:1), and carbohydrate (20 g/L sucrose) were effective in stimulating the growth of rooted SPs. While for unrooted SPs, 1 ug/L of brassinolide enhanced plantlet growth and rooting. And blue light (B) significantly promoted the longitudinal growth of shoots, while red light (R) was beneficial for root growth during the laboratory domestication stage. High quality SPs were obtained at a R/B ratio of 8:2. Following this acclimatization protocol, the P. thunbergii SPs could be directly transplanted to the field with a higher survival rate (85.20 %) in a forcing house.<br><br>CONCLUSION: this acclimatization protocol extremely improved the survival rate of P. thunbergii SPs. Moreover, this work will contribute to enhancing the possibilities for somatic plant afforestation with Pinus species.}, }
@article {pmid37041141, year = {2023}, author = {Leihy, RI and Peake, L and Clarke, DA and Chown, SL and McGeoch, MA}, title = {Introduced and invasive alien species of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean Islands.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {200}, pmid = {37041141}, issn = {2052-4463}, abstract = {Open data on biological invasions are particularly critical in regions that are co-governed and/or where multiple independent parties have responsibility for preventing and controlling invasive alien species. The Antarctic is one such region where, in spite of multiple examples of invasion policy and management success, open, centralised data are not yet available. This dataset provides current and comprehensive information available on the identity, localities, establishment, eradication status, dates of introduction, habitat, and evidence of impact of known introduced and invasive alien species for the terrestrial and freshwater Antarctic and Southern Ocean region. It includes 3066 records for 1204 taxa and 36 individual localities. The evidence indicates that close to half of these species are not having an invasive impact, and that ~ 13% of records are of species considered locally invasive. The data are provided using current biodiversity and invasive alien species data and terminology standards. They provide a baseline for updating and maintaining the foundational knowledge needed to halt the rapidly growing risk of biological invasion in the region.}, }
@article {pmid37038527, year = {2023}, author = {Zimmer, EA and Berg, JA and Dudash, MR}, title = {Genetic diversity and population structure among native, naturalized, and invasive populations of the common yellow monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus (Phrymaceae).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e9596}, pmid = {37038527}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {An ongoing controversy in invasion biology is the prevalence of colonizing plant populations that are able to establish and spread, while maintaining limited amounts of genetic variation. Invasive populations can be established through several routes including from a single source or from multiple introductions. The aim of this study was to examine genetic diversity in populations of Mimulus guttatus in the United Kingdom, where the species is considered invasive, and compare this diversity to that in native populations on the west coast of North America. Additionally, we looked at diversity in non-native populations that have not yet become invasive (naturalized populations) in eastern North America. We investigated population structure among populations in these three regions and attempted to uncover the sources for populations that have established in the naturalized and invasive regions. We found that genetic diversity was, on average, relatively high in populations from the invasive UK region and comparable to native populations. Contrastingly, two naturalized M. guttatus populations were low in both genetic and genotypic diversity, indicating a history of asexual reproduction and self-fertilization. A third naturalized population was found to be a polyploid Mimulus hybrid of unknown origin. Our results demonstrate that M. guttatus has likely achieved colonization success outside of its native western North America distribution by a variety of establishment pathways, including those with genetic and demographic benefits resulting from multiple introductions in the UK, reproductive assurance through selfing, and asexual reproduction in eastern North America, and possible polyploidization in one Canadian population.}, }
@article {pmid37038526, year = {2023}, author = {Loureiro, NG and Guimarães-Lopes, VP and Rodrigues, FHG and Massara, RL}, title = {Landscape factors and allochthonous congeneric species influence Callithrix aurita occurrence in Brazilian Atlantic Forest remnants.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e9968}, pmid = {37038526}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix aurita) is a small primate endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome, and one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world, due to fragmentation, loss of habitat, and invasion by allochthonous Callithrix species. Using occurrence data for C. aurita from published data papers, we employed model selection using Akaike Information Criterion corrected for small samples and cumulative AICc weight (w +) to evaluate whether fragment size, distance to fragments with allochthonous species, altitude, connectivity, and surrounding matrices influence the occurrence of C. aurita within its distributional range. Distance to fragments with C. jacchus (w + = 0.94) and nonvegetated areas (w + = 0.59) correlated negatively with C. aurita occurrence. Conversely, the percentage of agriculture and pasture mosaic (w + = 0.61) and the percentage of savanna formation (w + = 0.59) in the surrounding matrix correlated positively with C. aurita occurrence. The findings indicate that C. aurita is isolated in forest fragments surrounded by potentially inhospitable matrices, along with proximity of a more generalist and invasive species, thereby increasing the possibility of introgressive hybridization. The findings also highlighted the importance of landscape elements and allochthonous congeneric species for C. aurita conservation, besides indicating urgency for allochthonous species management. Finally, the approach used here can be applied to improve conservation studies of other endangered species, such as C. flaviceps, which is also endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and faces the same challenges.}, }
@article {pmid37038276, year = {2023}, author = {Van Kleunen, LB and Peterson, KA and Hayden, MT and Keyes, A and Schwartz, AJ and Li, H and Dee, LE}, title = {Decision-making under uncertainty for species introductions into ecological networks.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14212}, pmid = {37038276}, issn = {1461-0248}, abstract = {Ecological communities are increasingly subject to natural and human-induced additions of species, as species shift their ranges under climate change, are introduced for conservation and are unintentionally moved by humans. As such, decisions about how to manage ecosystems subject to species introductions and considering multiple management objectives need to be made. However, the impacts of gaining new species on ecological communities are difficult to predict due to uncertainty in introduced species characteristics, the novel interactions that will be produced by that species, and the recipient ecosystem structure. Drawing on ecological and conservation decision theory, we synthesise literature into a conceptual framework for species introduction decision-making based on ecological networks in high-uncertainty contexts. We demonstrate the application of this framework to a theoretical decision surrounding assisted migration considering both biodiversity and ecosystem service objectives. We show that this framework can be used to evaluate trade-offs between outcomes, predict worst-case scenarios, suggest when one should collect additional data, and allow for improving knowledge of the system over time.}, }
@article {pmid37036068, year = {2023}, author = {Wei, C and Luo, S and Liu, L and Shi, K and Han, C and Mohamad, OAA and Shao, H}, title = {Potential of utilizing pathogen-derived mycotoxins as alternatives of synthetic herbicides in controlling the noxious invasive plant Xanthium italicum.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7499}, pmid = {37036068}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {Discovery of environment friendly agents for controlling alien invasive species (AIS) is challenging and in urgent need as their expansion continues to increase. Xanthium italicum is a notorious invasive weed that has caused serious ecological and economic impacts worldwide. For the purpose of exploring the possibility of utilizing herbicidal mycotoxins to control this species, three compounds, including a new compound, curvularioxide (1), a new naturally occurring compound, dehydroradicinin (2), and a known compound, radicinin (3), were isolated via activity-guided fractionation from the secondary metabolites of the pathogenic Curvularia inaequalis that was found to infect X. italicum in the natural habitats. All isolated compounds exhibited potent herbicidal activity on receiver species. It is noteworthy to mention that their effects on X. italicum in our bioassays were equivalent to the commercial herbicide glyphosate. Subsequent morphological analysis revealed that application of radicinin (3) severely hindered X. italicum seedlings' hypocotyl and root development. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the activity of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) of the seedlings were also significantly different from the control, implying the occurrence of induced oxidative stress. Our results suggest that pathogens infecting invasive plants might be valuable resources for developing safer herbicides in controlling weeds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid37033896, year = {2023}, author = {Torson, AS and Bowman, S and Doucet, D and Roe, AD and Sinclair, BJ}, title = {Molecular signatures of diapause in the Asian longhorned beetle: Gene expression.}, journal = {Current research in insect science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {100054}, pmid = {37033896}, issn = {2666-5158}, abstract = {Most previous studies on gene expression during insect diapause do not address among-tissue variation in physiological processes. We measured transcriptomic changes during larval diapause in the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). We conducted RNA-seq on fat body, the supraesophageal ganglion, midgut, hindgut, and Malpighian tubules during pre-diapause, diapause maintenance, post-diapause quiescence, and post-diapause development. We observed a small, but consistent, proportion of genes within each gene expression profile that were shared among tissues, lending support for a core set of diapause-associated genes whose expression is tissue-independent. We evaluated the overarching hypotheses that diapause would be associated with cell cycle arrest, developmental arrest, and increased stress tolerance and found evidence of repressed TOR and insulin signaling, reduced cell cycle activity and increased capacity of stress response via heat shock protein expression and remodeling of the cytoskeleton. However, these processes varied among tissues, with the brain and fat body appearing to maintain higher levels of cellular activity during diapause than the midgut or Malpighian tubules. We also observed temperature-dependent changes in gene expression during diapause maintenance, particularly in genes related to the heat shock response and MAPK, insulin, and TOR signaling pathways. Additionally, we provide evidence for epigenetic reorganization during the diapause/post-diapause quiescence transition and expression of genes involved in post-translational modification, highlighting the need for investigations of the protein activity of these candidate genes and processes. We conclude that diapause development is coordinated via diverse tissue-specific gene expression profiles and that canonical diapause phenotypes vary among tissues.}, }
@article {pmid37032330, year = {2023}, author = {Wos, G and Palomar, G and Marszałek, M and Babik, W and Sniegula, S}, title = {The effect of temperature and invasive alien predator on genetic and phenotypic variation in the damselfly Ischnura elegans: cross-latitude comparison.}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {13}, pmid = {37032330}, issn = {1742-9994}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding and predicting how organisms respond to human-caused environmental changes has become a major concern in conservation biology. Here, we linked gene expression and phenotypic data to identify candidate genes underlying existing phenotypic trait differentiation under individual and combined environmental variables. For this purpose, we used the damselfly Ischnura elegans. Egg clutches from replicated high- (southern Sweden) and central-latitude (southern Poland) populations facing different degrees of seasonal time constraints were collected. Damselfly larvae were exposed to experimental treatments: current and mild warming temperatures crossed with the presence or absence of an invasive alien predator cue released by the spiny-cheek crayfish, Faxonius limosus, which is only present in Poland to date. We measured the following traits: larval development time, body size, mass and growth rate, and used the larvae for gene expression analysis by RNA-seq. Data were analysed using a multivariate approach.<br><br>RESULTS: We showed latitudinal differences in coping with mild warming and predator cues. When exposed to an increased temperature and a predator cue, central-latitude individuals had the shortest development and the fastest growth compared to high-latitude individuals. There was a general effect of predator cues regarding mass and growth rate reduction independent of latitude. Transcriptome analysis revealed that metabolic pathways related to larval anatomy and development tended to be upregulated in response to mild warming but only in fast-growing central-latitude individuals. Metabolic pathways linked to oxidative stress tended to be downregulated in response to a predator cue, especially in central-latitude individuals.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Different phenotypic and transcriptomic responses to environmental factors might be attributed to the variability in I. elegans life history strategies between the two latitudes caused by seasonal time constraints and to its coexistence with the invasive alien predator in nature. By providing insights into how organisms may respond to future anthropogenic changes, our results may be of particular interest in conservation biology.}, }
@article {pmid37023202, year = {2023}, author = {Kronauer, DJC}, title = {The unusual genetics of invasive ants.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {380}, number = {6640}, pages = {33-34}, doi = {10.1126/science.adh1664}, pmid = {37023202}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; Male ; *Ants/genetics ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {The males of an invasive ant species are chimeras of two distinct genetic lineages.}, }
@article {pmid37030293, year = {2023}, author = {Booher, DB and Gotelli, NJ and Nelsen, MP and Ohyama, L and Deyrup, M and Moreau, CS and Suarez, AV}, title = {Six decades of museum collections reveal disruption of native ant assemblages by introduced species.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.044}, pmid = {37030293}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {There is a looming environmental crisis characterized by widespread declines in global biodiversity,[1][,][2][,][3][,][4][,][5][,][6] coupled with the establishment of introduced species at accelerated rates.[7][,][8][,][9][,][10][,][11][,][12][,][13][,][14] We quantified how multi-species invasions affect litter ant communities in natural ecosystems by leveraging museum records and contemporary collections to assemble a large (18,990 occurrences, 6,483 sampled local communities, and 177 species) 54-year (1965-2019) dataset for the entire state of Florida, USA. Nine of ten species that decreased most strongly in relative abundance ("losers") were native, while nine of the top ten "winners" were introduced species. These changes led to shifts in the composition of rare and common species: in 1965, only two of the ten most common ants were introduced, whereas by 2019, six of ten were introduced species. Native losers included seed dispersers and specialist predators, suggesting a potential loss of ecosystem function through time, despite no obvious loss of phylogenetic diversity. We also examined the role of species-level traits as predictors of invasion success. Introduced species were more likely to be polygynous than native species. The tendency to form supercolonies, where workers from separate nests integrate, also differed between native and introduced species and was correlated with the degree to which species increased in their rank abundances over 50 years. In Florida, introduced ants now account for 30% of occurrence records, and up to 70% in southern Florida. If current trends continue, introduced species will account for over half of occurrence records in all Florida's litter ant communities within the next 50 years.}, }
@article {pmid37030011, year = {2023}, author = {Olabiyi, D and Stelinski, LL and Diepenbrock, LM}, title = {Laboratory evaluation of the life history of hibiscus mealybug, Nipaecocus viridis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on selected citrus and potential non-citrus hosts in Florida.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toad055}, pmid = {37030011}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is an emerging invasive pest of citrus. There is no information on the life history of N. viridis in relation to citrus cultivars produced in Florida. Here, we quantified the life-history parameters of N. viridis on 6 citrus and 3 non-citrus host plant species under laboratory conditions. We also investigated the effect of mode of reproduction (sexual vs. parthenogenic) on the fecundity of N. viridis. Nipaecoccus viridis was able to develop to maturity and reproduce on all host plant taxa tested. The individual host plants affected the developmental and survival rate, adult longevity, and offspring production of N. viridis. All citrus genotypes commercially grown in Florida were susceptible to N. viridis, with the exception of Citrus aurantium L., which suggests that there is need for management of this invasive pest in Florida citrus groves. Murraya paniculata L., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., and Punica granatum L. were also acceptable hosts for N. viridis. Sexually reproducing female N. viridis produced significantly more eggs than those reproducing asexually. Based on our results, propagation of M. paniculata and other citrus relatives should be discouraged around citrus groves in Florida. Given the fitness benefit of sexual reproduction in this pest, pheromone-based tools like mating disruption and mass trapping of adult males could be considered as part of an integrated pest management program with insecticides.}, }
@article {pmid37028257, year = {2023}, author = {Lawrence, MJ and Grayson, P and Jeffrey, JD and Docker, MF and Garroway, CJ and Wilson, JM and Manzon, RG and Wilkie, MP and Jeffries, KM}, title = {Transcriptomic impacts and potential routes of detoxification in a lampricide-tolerant teleost exposed to TFM and niclosamide.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics &amp; proteomics}, volume = {46}, number = {}, pages = {101074}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101074}, pmid = {37028257}, issn = {1878-0407}, abstract = {Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control in the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America often relies on the application of 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and niclosamide mixtures to kill larval sea lamprey. Selectivity of TFM against lampreys appears to be due to differential detoxification ability in these jawless fishes compared to bony fishes, particularly teleosts. However, the proximate mechanisms of tolerance to the TFM and niclosamide mixture and the mechanisms of niclosamide toxicity on its own are poorly understood, especially among non-target fishes. Here, we used RNA sequencing to identify specific mRNA transcripts and functional processes that responded to niclosamide or a TFM:niclosamide mixture in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Bluegill were exposed to niclosamide or TFM:niclosamide mixture, along with a time-matched control group, and gill and liver tissues were sampled at 6, 12, and 24 h. We summarized the whole-transcriptome patterns through gene ontology (GO) term enrichment and through differential expression of detoxification genes. The niclosamide treatment resulted in an upregulation of several transcripts associated with detoxification (cyp, ugt, sult, gst), which may help explain the relatively high detoxification capacity in bluegill. Conversely, the TFM:niclosamide mixture resulted in an enrichment of processes related to arrested cell cycle and growth, and cell death alongside a diverse detoxification gene response. Detoxification of both lampricides likely involves the use of phase I and II biotransformation genes. Our findings strongly suggest that the unusually high tolerance of bluegill to lampricides is due to these animals having an inherently high capacity and flexible detoxification response to such compounds.}, }
@article {pmid37027964, year = {2023}, author = {Zamora-Marín, JM and Herrero-Reyes, AA and Ruiz-Navarro, A and Oliva-Paterna, FJ}, title = {Non-indigenous aquatic fauna in transitional waters from the Spanish Mediterranean coast: A comprehensive assessment.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {114893}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114893}, pmid = {37027964}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {Understanding drivers of spatial variation in non-indigenous species (NIS) is a key goal in invasion biology, but comprehensive assessments providing high-resolution data are extremely scarce. Anthropogenic modifications to transitional waters facilitate the invasion of NIS where they cause both ecological and economic important damage. By screening validated data sources, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of non-indigenous aquatic fauna in Spanish Mediterranean transitional waters (30 sites), as well as assessed introduction pathways, native regions, NIS assemblage patterns and temporal introduction rate. One hundred and twenty-nine NIS were inventoried, with 72 % established and more than half listed before 1980. Two intentional (release, escape) and two unintentional (contaminant, stowaway) introduction pathways were dominant. Recorded NIS originated mostly from North America and Asia. A clear nested pattern in NIS assemblages was observed across sites, suggesting secondary spread from the most invaded waters placed in the northern regions. Our updated inventory should be pivotal for designing prevention protocols and informing specific management plans on non-indigenous fauna in transitional waters.}, }
@article {pmid37025903, year = {2023}, author = {Hussein, A and Estifanos, S}, title = {Modeling impacts of climate change on the distribution of invasive Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. in Ethiopia: Implications on biodiversity conservation.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e14927}, pmid = {37025903}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {The main danger to biological diversity is the introduction of exotic species. Opuntia ficus-indica (O. ficus-indica) is a dangerous invasive species that has seriously harmed Ethiopia's ecology and economy. To properly inform decision-making about the control of this invasive species, it is crucial to investigate the projected invasion dynamics of O. ficus-indica in the country under the current climate change scenarios. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the current distribution and relative importance of environmental variables for O. ficus-indica distribution, map the habitat's future suitability under scenarios of climate change and assess how habitat change would affect the species' future expected suitability in Ethiopia. The SDM R program was used to perform species distribution modeling (SDM) using 311 georeferenced presence records along with climatic variables. Predictive models were developed as an agreement model from six modeling methodologies to investigate the climatic suitability of target species for the years 2050 and 2070 under two shared socio-economic pathway (SSP) scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and 5-8.5) in order to estimate the risks of climate change to the species. Under the current climatic scenario, only 9.26% (104939.3 km[2]) and 4.05% (45850.6 km[2]) of the country were moderately and highly suitable for species dispersion and invasion respectively. The remaining 86.69% (980648 km[2]) was suitable for the distribution and invasion of the species. In 2050, under the SSP2-4.5 and 5-8.5, the highly suitable range of O. ficus-indica is anticipated to expand by 2.30% and 1.76%, whereas the moderately suitable area is predicted to decrease by 1.66% and 2.69%, respectively. Under the SSP2-4.5 and 5-8.5 scenarios, the highly suitable region for the species is expected to grow by 1.47% and 0.65%, respectively, in 2070 compared to the current climatic conditions. This invasive species had already had a considerable negative influence on rangelands in a significant portion of the country with the current cover. Its continuing growth would exacerbate the issue, cause significant economic and environmental harm, and endanger the community's way of living. If preventive and efficient management methods are not taken seriously, the species will have considerable negative environmental impacts, which would be one of the biggest difficulties for pastoralism and their livelihoods.}, }
@article {pmid37025631, year = {2023}, author = {Avila-Arias, H and Turco, RF and Scharf, ME and Groves, RL and Richmond, DS}, title = {Larvae of an invasive scarab increase greenhouse gas emissions from soils and recruit gut mycobiota involved in C and N transformations.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1102523}, pmid = {37025631}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Soil-derived prokaryotic gut communities of the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica Newman (JB) larval gut include heterotrophic, ammonia-oxidizing, and methanogenic microbes potentially capable of promoting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, no research has directly explored GHG emissions or the eukaryotic microbiota associated with the larval gut of this invasive species. In particular, fungi are frequently associated with the insect gut where they produce digestive enzymes and aid in nutrient acquisition. Using a series of laboratory and field experiments, this study aimed to (1) assess the impact of JB larvae on soil GHG emissions; (2) characterize gut mycobiota associated with these larvae; and (3) examine how soil biological and physicochemical characteristics influence variation in both GHG emissions and the composition of larval gut mycobiota.<br><br>METHODS: Manipulative laboratory experiments consisted of microcosms containing increasing densities of JB larvae alone or in clean (uninfested) soil. Field experiments included 10 locations across Indiana and Wisconsin where gas samples from soils, as well as JB and their associated soil were collected to analyze soil GHG emissions, and mycobiota (ITS survey), respectively.<br><br>RESULTS: In laboratory trials, emission rates of CO2, CH4, and N2O from infested soil were &#x2265; 6.3&#xd7; higher per larva than emissions from JB larvae alone whereas CO2 emission rates from soils previously infested by JB larvae were 1.3&#xd7; higher than emissions from JB larvae alone. In the field, JB larval density was a significant predictor of CO2 emissions from infested soils, and both CO2 and CH4 emissions were higher in previously infested soils. We found that geographic location had the greatest influence on variation in larval gut mycobiota, although the effects of compartment (i.e., soil, midgut and hindgut) were also significant. There was substantial overlap in the composition and prevalence of the core fungal mycobiota across compartments with prominent fungal taxa being associated with cellulose degradation and prokaryotic methane production/consumption. Soil physicochemical characteristics such as organic matter, cation exchange capacity, sand, and water holding capacity, were also correlated with both soil GHG emission, and fungal a-diversity within the JB larval gut. Conclusions: Results indicate JB larvae promote GHG emissions from the soil directly through metabolic activities, and indirectly by creating soil conditions that favor GHG-associated microbial activity. Fungal communities associated with the JB larval gut are primarily influenced by adaptation to local soils, with many prominent members of that consortium potentially contributing to C and N transformations capable of influencing GHG emissions from infested soil.}, }
@article {pmid37025129, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, X and Ma, JY and Liu, LL and Li, MY and Wang, H and Sun, YK and Wang, T and Wang, KL and Meyerson, LA}, title = {Effects of salt stress on interspecific competition between an invasive alien plant Oenothera biennis and three native species.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1144511}, pmid = {37025129}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Biological invasions and soil salinization have become increasingly severe environmental problems under global change due to sea-level rise and poor soil management. Invasive species can often outcompete native species, but few studies focus on whether invasive alien species are always superior competitors under increasing stressors. We grew an invasive grass species, Oenothera biennis L., and three native grass species (Artemisia argyi Lévl. et Vant., Chenopodium album L., and Inula japonica Thunb.) as a monoculture (two seedlings of each species) or mixture (one seedling of O. biennis and one native species seedling) under three levels of salt treatments (0, 1, and 2 g/kg NaCl) in a greenhouse. We found that invasive O. biennis exhibited greater performance over native C. album and I. japonica, but lower performance compared to A. argyi, regardless of the soil salinity. However, salinity did not significantly affect the relative dominance of O. biennis. Interspecific competition enhanced the growth of O. biennis and inhibited the growth of I. japonica. Although O. biennis seedlings always had growth dominance over C. album seedlings, C. album was not affected by O. biennis at any salt level. At high salt levels, O. biennis inhibited the growth of A. argyi, while A. argyi did not affect the growth of O. biennis. Salt alleviated the competitive effect of O. biennis on I. japonica but did not mitigate the competition between O. biennis and the other two native species. Therefore, our study provides evidence for a better understanding of the invasive mechanisms of alien species under various salinity conditions.}, }
@article {pmid37023619, year = {2023}, author = {Oficialdegui, FJ and Zamora-Marín, JM and Guareschi, S and Anastácio, PM and García-Murillo, P and Ribeiro, F and Miranda, R and Cobo, F and Gallardo, B and García-Berthou, E and Boix, D and Arias, A and Cuesta, JA and Medina, L and Almeida, D and Banha, F and Barca, S and Biurrun, I and Cabezas, MP and Calero, S and Campos, JA and Capdevila-Argüelles, L and Capinha, C and Casals, F and Clavero, M and Encarnação, J and Fernández-Delgado, C and Franco, J and Guillén, A and Hermoso, V and Machordom, A and Martelo, J and Mellado-Díaz, A and Morcillo, F and Oscoz, J and Perdices, A and Pou-Rovira, Q and Rodríguez-Merino, A and Ros, M and Ruiz-Navarro, A and Sánchez, MI and Sánchez-Fernández, D and Sánchez-González, JR and Sánchez-Gullón, E and Teodósio, MA and Torralva, M and Vieira-Lanero, R and Oliva-Paterna, FJ}, title = {Corrigendum to 'A horizon scan exercise for aquatic invasive alien species in Iberian inland waters' Sci. Total Environ.869 (2023) 161798.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {879}, number = {}, pages = {162809}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162809}, pmid = {37023619}, issn = {1879-1026}, }
@article {pmid37013934, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, Y and Tao, J and Yang, J and Zong, S and Ge, X}, title = {Niche shifts and range expansions after the invasions of two major pests: Asian Longhorned Beetle and Citrus Longhorned Beetle.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7490}, pmid = {37013934}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In recent years, the quarantine forestry pests Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Anoplophora glabripennis and Citrus Longhorned Beetle (CLB) Anoplophora chinensis have spread across the Northern Hemisphere, triggering concern about their potential distribution. However, little is known about the niche shifts of the pests during the invasion, making it difficult to assess their potential ranges. We thus employed two distinct approaches (i.e., ordination-based and reciprocal model-based) to compare the native and invaded niches of ALB and CLB after their spread to new continents based on sufficient global occurrence records. We further constructed models with pooled occurrences from both the native and invaded ranges to analyze the effects of occurrence partitioning on predicted ranges.<br><br>RESULTS: We detected expansions in the invaded niches of both pests, indicating that the niches shifted to varying extents after the invasion. Large shares of the native niches of ALB and CLB remained unfilled, revealing the potential for further invasion in new regions. The models calibrated with pooled occurrences obviously underestimated the potential ranges in invaded regions compared with the projections based on partitioned models considering native and invaded areas separately.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These results emphasize the importance of grasping the niche dynamics of invasive species for obtaining accurately predicted ranges, which may help identify risk areas masked by the assumption of niche conservatism. Furthermore, prevention and quarantine measures for ALB and CLB are clearly needed to avoid future serious damage to forest ecosystems. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36940433, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Z and Kacimi, A and Xu, H and Du, M}, title = {Global Impacts of a Bilateral Trade Policy on Ballast Water-Mediated Species Spread Risk: A Case Study of Sino-US Trade.}, journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology}, volume = {57}, number = {13}, pages = {5275-5283}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.2c09119}, pmid = {36940433}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {*Introduced Species ; *Ships ; Water ; Risk Assessment ; Policy ; }, abstract = {A trade policy could generate both economic and environmental impacts. This work is focused on the impacts of a bilateral trade policy on ballast water-mediated nonindigenous species (NIS) spread risk. Taking the hypothetical Sino-US trade restriction as an example, we integrate a computable general equilibrium model and a higher-order NIS spread risk assessment model to examine the impacts of bilateral trade policy on both the economy and NIS spread risks. We have two important findings. First, the Sino-US trade restriction would cause decreases in NIS spread risks to China and the US, as well as to three quarters of worldwide countries/regions. However, the rest one fourth would experience increased NIS spread risks. Second, the relationship between changes in exports and changes in NIS spread risks might not be directly proportional. This is observed with 46% of countries and regions that would see their exports increase but their NIS spread risks drop, with positive impacts on both their economies and environment under the Sino-US trade restriction. These results reveal both broader global impacts as well as the decoupled economic and ecological impacts of a bilateral trade policy. These broader impacts demonstrate the necessity for national governments, which are parties to bilateral agreements to give due consideration to the economic and environmental impacts on countries and regions outside of the agreement.}, }
@article {pmid37013102, year = {2023}, author = {Harms, NE and Knight, IA and DeRossette, AB and Williams, DA}, title = {Intraspecific trait plasticity to N and P of the wetland invader, Alternanthera philoxeroides under flooded conditions.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e9966}, pmid = {37013102}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Interactions between invaders and resource availability may explain variation in their success or management efficacy. For widespread invaders, regional variation in plant response to nutrients can reflect phenotypic plasticity of the invader, genetic structure of invading populations, or a combination of the two. The wetland weed Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligatorweed) is established throughout the southeastern United States and California and has high genetic diversity despite primarily spreading clonally. Despite its history in the United States, the role of genetic variation for invasion and management success is only now being uncovered. To better understand how nutrients and genotype may influence A. philoxeroides invasion, we measured the response of plants from 26 A. philoxeroides populations (three cp haplotypes) to combinations of nitrogen (4 or 200 mg/L N) and phosphorus (0.4 or 40 mg/L P). We measured productivity (biomass accumulation and allocation), plant architecture (stem diameter and thickness, branching intensity), and foliar traits (toughness, dry matter content, percent N, and percent P). A short-term developmental assay was also conducted by feeding a subset of plants from the nutrient experiment to the biological control agent Agasicles hygrophila, to determine whether increased availability of N or P to its host influenced agent performance, as has been previously suggested. Alternanthera philoxeroides haplotype Ap1 was more plastic than other haplotypes in response to nutrient amendments, producing more than double the biomass from low to high N and 50%-68% higher shoot: root ratio than other haplotypes in the high N treatment. Alternanthera philoxeroides haplotypes differed in seven of 10 variables in response to increased N. We found no differences in short-term A. hygrophila development between haplotypes but mass was 23% greater in high than low N treatments. This study is the first to explore the interplay between nutrient availability, genetic variation, and phenotypic plasticity in invasive characteristics of the global invader, A. philoxeroides.}, }
@article {pmid37013099, year = {2023}, author = {Hou, Y and Li, J and Li, G and Qi, W}, title = {Negative effects of urbanization on plants: A global meta-analysis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e9894}, pmid = {37013099}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Understanding the response of plant diversity to urbanization is essential for conserving urban biodiversity. In this paper, a meta-analysis of 34 articles and 163 observations regarding the impact of urbanization on plant diversity was conducted. The results revealed that urbanization had marked negative effects on plants. Urbanization had positive effects on introduced species and negative effects on native species. In the subgroup analysis, we found that trees responded better to the effect of urbanization than herbs and shrubs. There was no evidence that urban size, population density, nighttime light, and GDP per capita had moderating effects on plant richness. Based on meta-regression analyses, native species in urban areas were less affected by urbanization at lower latitudes. Overall, urbanization had a marginally negative effect on plant abundance. The effects of urbanization on plant diversity during different stages of urban development were inconsistent. Our research shows that the suburbs play a crucial role in the urbanization gradient; there, plants survive with high species richness.}, }
@article {pmid37012996, year = {2023}, author = {Latombe, G and Seebens, H and Lenzner, B and Courchamp, F and Dullinger, S and Golivets, M and Kühn, I and Leung, B and Roura-Pascual, N and Cebrian, E and Dawson, W and Diagne, C and Jeschke, JM and Pérez-Granados, C and Moser, D and Turbelin, A and Visconti, P and Essl, F}, title = {Capacity of countries to reduce biological invasions.}, journal = {Sustainability science}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {771-789}, pmid = {37012996}, issn = {1862-4057}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The extent and impacts of biological invasions on biodiversity are largely shaped by an array of socio-economic and environmental factors, which exhibit high variation among countries. Yet, a global analysis of how these factors vary across countries is currently lacking. Here, we investigate how five broad, country-specific socio-economic and environmental indices (Governance, Trade, Environmental Performance, Lifestyle and Education, Innovation) explain country-level (1) established alien species (EAS) richness of eight taxonomic groups, and (2) proactive or reactive capacity to prevent and manage biological invasions and their impacts. These indices underpin many aspects of the invasion process, including the introduction, establishment, spread and management of alien species. They are also general enough to enable a global comparison across countries, and are therefore essential for defining future scenarios for biological invasions. Models including Trade, Governance, Lifestyle and Education, or a combination of these, best explained EAS richness across taxonomic groups and national proactive or reactive capacity. Historical (1996 or averaged over 1996-2015) levels of Governance and Trade better explained both EAS richness and the capacity of countries to manage invasions than more recent (2015) levels, revealing a historical legacy with important implications for the future of biological invasions. Using Governance and Trade to define a two-dimensional socio-economic space in which the position of a country captures its capacity to address issues of biological invasions, we identified four main clusters of countries in 2015. Most countries had an increase in Trade over the past 25 years, but trajectories were more geographically heterogeneous for Governance. Declines in levels of Governance are concerning as they may be responsible for larger levels of invasions in the future. By identifying the factors influencing EAS richness and the regions most susceptible to changes in these factors, our results provide novel insights to integrate biological invasions into scenarios of biodiversity change to better inform decision-making for policy and the management of biological invasions.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11625-022-01166-3.}, }
@article {pmid37009439, year = {2023}, author = {,  and Bragard, C and Baptista, P and Chatzivassiliou, E and Di Serio, F and Gonthier, P and Jaques Miret, JA and Justesen, AF and Magnusson, CS and Milonas, P and Navas-Cortes, JA and Parnell, S and Potting, R and Reignault, PL and Stefani, E and Thulke, HH and Van der Werf, W and Vicent Civera, A and Yuen, J and Zappalà, L and Grégoire, JC and Malumphy, C and Kertesz, V and Maiorano, A and MacLeod, A}, title = {Pest categorisation of Paracoccus marginatus.}, journal = {EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {e07899}, pmid = {37009439}, issn = {1831-4732}, abstract = {The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Pseudococcidae), the papaya scale, for the EU. It is native to Central America and since the 1990s, it has spread rapidly in mainly tropical areas of the Caribbean, islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Africa and southern Asia. Large populations were detected in northern Israel in 2016. It has not been reported within the EU. It is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. It reproduces sexually and there are up to 11 generations per year in India. The estimated minimum, optimum and maximum temperature thresholds for the adult females are 13.9, 28.4 and 32.1°C, respectively. First-instar nymphs may move to neighbouring plants by crawling, or be passively dispersed by wind, or hitchhiking on clothing, equipment or animals. It is highly polyphagous, feeding on plants in 172 genera and 54 families. It is an important pest of custard apple (Annona spp.), papaya (Carica papaya) and Hibiscus spp. It also feeds on a wide range of plants cultivated in the EU such as eggplant (Solanum melongena), avocado (Persea americana), citrus (Citrus spp.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), grapevine (Vitis vinifera), guava (Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica), passionfruit (Passiflora edulis), pomegranate (Punica granatum), pepper (Capsicum annuum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Plants for planting, fruits, vegetables and cut flowers are the main potential pathways for entry of P. marginatus into the EU. Climatic conditions in the warmest areas of Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain, where host plants occur, would likely allow this species to successfully establish and spread. Reductions in yield and quality of some cultivated hosts including Annona spp., Hibiscus spp. and papaya are anticipated if establishment occurs. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry and spread. P. marginatus meets the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.}, }
@article {pmid37006391, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Q and Zhang, CH and Wang, CJ and Wan, JZ}, title = {Complete chloroplast genome data for Mimosa diplotricha and Mimosa diplotricha var. inermis from China.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {48}, number = {}, pages = {109045}, pmid = {37006391}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Mimosa diplotricha (Fabaceae) and Mimosa diplotricha var. inermis are invasive taxa introduced in the Chinese mainland in the 19th century. M. diplotricha has been listed in the list of highly invasive species in China, which has seriously endangered the growth and reproduction of local species. As a poisonous plant, M. diplotricha var. inermis, a variant of M. diplotricha, will also endanger the safety of animals. We report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of M. diplotricha and M. diplotricha var. inermis. The chloroplast genome of M. diplotricha is 164,450 bp long and the chloroplast genome of M. diplotricha var. inermis is 164,445 bp long. Both M. diplotricha and M. diplotricha var. inermis contain a large single-copy region (LSC) of 89,807 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,728 bp. The overall GC content of the two species is both 37.45%. A total of 84 genes were annotated in the two species, namely 54 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and one rRNA gene. The phylogenetic tree based on the chloroplast genome of 22 related species showed that Mimosa diplotricha var. inermis is most closely related to M. diplotricha, while the latter clade is sister to Mimosa pudica, Parkia javanica, Faidherbia albida, and Acacia puncticulata. Our data provide a theoretical basis for the molecular identification, genetic relationships, and invasion risk monitoring of M. diplotricha and M. diplotricha var. inermis.}, }
@article {pmid37004736, year = {2023}, author = {Sarabeev, V and Balbuena, JA and Jarosiewicz, A and Voronova, N and Sueiro, RA and Leiro, JM and Ovcharenko, M}, title = {Disentangling the determinants of symbiotic species richness in native and invasive gammarids (Crustacea, Amphipoda) of the Baltic region.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.02.006}, pmid = {37004736}, issn = {1879-0135}, abstract = {Dispersal of alien species is a global problem threatening native biodiversity. Co-introduction of non-native parasites and pathogens adds to the severity of this threat, but this indirect impact has received less attention. To shed light on the key factors determining the richness of microorganisms in native and invasive host species, we compared symbiotic (parasitic and epibiotic) communities of gammarids across different habitats and localities along the Baltic coast of Poland. Seven gammarid species, two native and five invasive, were sampled from 16 freshwater and brackish localities. Sixty symbiotic species of microorganisms of nine phyla were identified. This taxonomically diverse species assemblage of symbionts allowed us to assess the effect of host translocation and regional ecological determinants driving assembly richness in the gammarid hosts. Our results revealed that (i) the current assemblages of symbionts of gammarid hosts in the Baltic region are formed by native and co-introduced species; (ii) species richness of the symbiotic community was higher in the native Gammarus pulex than in the invasive hosts, probably reflecting a process of species loss by invasive gammarids in the new area and the distinct habitat conditions occupied by G. pulex and invasive hosts; (iii) both host species and locality were key drivers shaping assembly composition of symbionts, whereas habitat condition (freshwater versus brackish) was a stronger determinant of communities than geographic distance; (iv) the dispersion patterns of the individual species richness of symbiotic communities were best described by Poisson distributions; in the case of an invasive host, the dispersion of the rich species diversity may switch to a right-skewed negative binomial distribution, suggesting a host-mediated regulation process. We believe this is the first analysis of the symbiotic species richness in native and invasive gammarid hosts in European waters based on original field data and a broad range of taxonomic groups including Microsporidia, Choanozoa, Ciliophora, Apicomplexa, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Nematomorha, Acanthocephala and Rotifera, to document the patterns of species composition and distribution.}, }
@article {pmid36963776, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, B and Chen, J and Zou, Y and Dai, Z and Xing, P and Wu, QL}, title = {Co-occurrence pattern of bacteria and fungi on the leaves of the invasive aquatic plant Alternanthera philoxeroides.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {99}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad022}, pmid = {36963776}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {The microbes that are attached to aquatic plants play critical roles in nutrient cycles and the maintenance of water quality. However, their community compositions, biodiversity and functions have not been well explored for the invasive plants in inland waters. Here, the co-occurrence patterns between bacteria and fungi on the leaves of Alternanthera philoxeroides and their potential ecological interactions were studied during the growing seasons. Along with significant variations in the alpha diversity of attached microbes over time, shifts in their community composition were significantly associated with the dynamics of plant stoichiometry, substrate composition and extracellular enzyme activity. Deterministic processes (heterogenous selection) play a predominant role in community assembly of the attached bacteria, while stochasticity (undominated process) was the major driver for the attached fungal assembly. Compared with the free-living microbial network, the attached microbial network was structurally simple but highly modular. The attached microbes had more intra-phylum links (primarily within the phyla Actinomycetota, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacillota and Basidiomycota) and distinct co-exclusion patterns between bacteria and fungi in the modules. In summary, the study will be helpful in understanding the microbes and their interactions in the phyllosphere of A. philoxeroides, an key invasive species under national management and control.}, }
@article {pmid37001426, year = {2023}, author = {Smith, AL and Strickland, BK and Leopold, BD and Cummins, JL and Mayer, JJ and Street, GM}, title = {Cultural and regulatory factors influence distribution and trajectory of invasive species in the United States: A wild pig case study.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {338}, number = {}, pages = {117742}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117742}, pmid = {37001426}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Since 2012, control of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in the United States (US) has become a state and national priority due to their propensity to damage agricultural commodities and infrastructure, transmit disease, detrimentally affect ecological processes, and compete with native wildlife for resources. While several life-history characteristics certainly aided their proliferation, the recreational value of wild pigs was likely the stimulus for translocation and subsequent establishment of populations in ≥35 states, causing an annual economic burden of $1.5 billion in the US. Consequently, state-level legislative procedures regarding wild pigs are expanding in scope and priority, but policy among states lacks uniformity. States vary in their treatment of wild pig control based on differing resource appropriations and stakeholder interests. We conducted an evaluation to determine if policy was associated with state-level 1) presence of wild pigs, 2) spatial extent of wild pig population occupancy, and 3) trajectory of wild pig population occupancy. Our results suggest the presence of wild pigs in various states was influenced by hunting preserves and the sale of hunting opportunities. In occupied states, the spatial extent of wild pigs was again associated with the sale of hunting opportunities and a wild pig hunting culture. Finally, the trajectory of state-level wild pig spatial occupancy was positively influenced by the sale of hunting opportunities, and negatively influenced by transportation policies. Based on these findings, we propose state governments standardize transportation policy and fenced hunting regulations across regions of the US in a more prohibitive fashion to diminish range expansion through illegal and negligent introductions via transportation, release, and escapes from game farms. Moreover, in states where wild pigs have yet to establish, we strongly recommend states proactively prohibit transportation through intra- and interstate movement.}, }
@article {pmid36999552, year = {2023}, author = {Villiger, N and Paulose, J}, title = {The influence of explicit local dynamics on range expansions driven by long-range dispersal.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/g3journal/jkad066}, pmid = {36999552}, issn = {2160-1836}, abstract = {Range expansions are common in natural populations. They can take such forms as an invasive species spreading into a new habitat or a virus spreading from host to host during a pandemic. When the expanding species is capable of dispersing offspring over long distances, population growth is driven by rare but consequential long-range dispersal events that seed satellite colonies far from the densely occupied core of the population. These satellites accelerate growth by accessing unoccupied territory, and also act as reservoirs for maintaining neutral genetic variation present in the originating population, which would ordinarily be lost to drift. Prior theoretical studies of dispersal-driven expansions have shown that the sequential establishment of satellites causes initial genetic diversity to be either lost or maintained to a level determined by the breadth of the distribution of dispersal distances. If the tail of the distribution falls off faster than a critical threshold, diversity is steadily eroded over time; by contrast, broader distributions with a slower falloff allow some initial diversity to be maintained for arbitrarily long times. However, these studies used lattice-based models and assumed an instantaneous saturation of the local carrying capacity after the arrival of a founder. Real-world populations expand in continuous space with complex local dynamics, which potentially allow multiple pioneers to arrive and establish within the same local region. Here, we evaluate the impact of local dynamics on the population growth and the evolution of neutral diversity using a computational model of range expansions with long-range dispersal in continuous space, with explicit local dynamics that can be controlled by altering the mix of local and long-range dispersal events. We found that many qualitative features of population growth and neutral genetic diversity observed in lattice-based models are preserved under more complex local dynamics, but quantitative aspects such as the rate of population growth, the level of maintained diversity, and the rate of decay of diversity all depend strongly on the local dynamics. Besides identifying situations in which modeling the explicit local population dynamics becomes necessary to understand the population structure of jump-driven range expansions, our results show that local dynamics affects different features of the population in distinct ways, and can be more or less consequential depending on the degree and form of long-range dispersal as well as the scale at which the population structure is measured.}, }
@article {pmid36998059, year = {2023}, author = {Doi, K and Tokiwa, T and Imoto, M and Chou, S and Yamasaki, F and Kato, T and Hayama, SI}, title = {Molecular characterization of oriental eyeworm (Thelazia callipaeda) detected from raccoon (Procyon lotor) and Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus) in Kanto region, Japan.}, journal = {Parasites &amp; vectors}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {116}, pmid = {36998059}, issn = {1756-3305}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The oriental eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida: Thelaziidae) is an emerging parasitic ocular nematode of carnivores and humans. In domestic animals and humans, the infection causes varying degrees of inflammation and lacrimation, and wild carnivores represent an important reservoir. In this study we examined the infection status and molecular characterization of T. callipaeda in two urban carnivores, raccoons Procyon lotor and wild Japanese raccoon dogs Nyctereutes viverrinus, in the Kanto region of Japan.<br><br>METHODS: From January 2020 to December 2021, 193 carcasses including 178 raccoons and 15 raccoon dogs were examined for the presence of worms in the eye. The worms from infected animals (one worm per host) were morphologically identified as T. callipaeda. Worms (1-5 worms per host) were subjected to genetic analysis using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences.<br><br>RESULTS: The prevalence of T. callipaeda in raccoons and Japanese raccoon dogs was 20.2% (36/178) and 13.3% (2/15), respectively. The cox1 sequences from 56 worms from 38 animals revealed three haplotypes (h9, h10, and h12). Analysis of multiple worms for five raccoons showed co-infection of two different haplotypes (h9 and h10) in a single host. Comparing our data with published sequences, three sequences obtained from raccoons and raccoon dogs shared the same haplotypes as those reported in humans, dogs, and cats in Japan.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show a high prevalence of T. callipaeda in raccoons, suggesting that this invasive carnivore species serves as an important natural reservoir of T. callipaeda in the Kanto region of Japan, an area with the highest human population of the country.}, }
@article {pmid36994381, year = {2023}, author = {Mattingly, KZ and Braasch, BN and Hovick, SM}, title = {Greater flowering and response to flooding in Lythrum virgatum than L. salicaria (purple loosestrife).}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {plad009}, pmid = {36994381}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Newly introduced trait diversity can spur rapid evolution and facilitate local adaptation in the introduced plant Lythrum salicaria. The horticultural plant L. virgatum might further introduce meaningful trait variation by escaping into established L. salicaria populations or by hybridizing with L. salicaria. Although many experiments have focused on L. salicaria genotypes, relatively little is known about L. virgatum ecology. We used a greenhouse common garden to compare traits and flood response of L. salicaria and L. virgatum collected from two sources each in their native range. We tested the hypotheses that these two wetland taxa have comparable responses to flooding (inundation), and that flood tolerance correlated to higher fitness. Flooding produced stronger stress responses in L. virgatum. Compared to L. salicaria, L. virgatum shifted more aboveground allocation away from reproduction, decreased inflorescence biomass by 40% more, and produced 7% more stem aerenchymatous phellum, a specialized tissue that maintains aeration. Despite these more pronounced responses to flooding stress, L. virgatum had higher fitness (inflorescence biomass and reproductive allocation) than L. salicaria. Overall, L. virgatum differed from L. salicaria in functionally important ways. Lythrum virgatum persisted under flooding and produced more reproductive biomass than L. salicaria under both flooded and non-flooded conditions. However, inundation stressed L. virgatum more than L. salicaria. Lythrum virgatum is likely able to establish into the wetland habitats in which L. salicaria prevails but may possess broader habitat tolerances.}, }
@article {pmid36992943, year = {2023}, author = {Diagne, C and Ballesteros-Mejia, L and Cuthbert, RN and Bodey, TW and Fantle-Lepczyk, J and Angulo, E and Bang, A and Dobigny, G and Courchamp, F}, title = {Economic costs of invasive rodents worldwide: the tip of the iceberg.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14935}, pmid = {36992943}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rodents are among the most notorious invasive alien species worldwide. These invaders have substantially impacted native ecosystems, food production and storage, local infrastructures, human health and well-being. However, the lack of standardized and understandable estimation of their impacts is a serious barrier to raising societal awareness, and hampers effective management interventions at relevant scales.<br><br>METHODS: Here, we assessed the economic costs of invasive alien rodents globally in order to help overcome these obstacles. For this purpose, we combined and analysed economic cost data from the InvaCost database-the most up-to-date and comprehensive synthesis of reported invasion costs-and specific complementary searches within and beyond the published literature.<br><br>RESULTS: Our conservative analysis showed that reported costs of rodent invasions reached a conservative total of US$ 3.6 billion between 1930 and 2022 (annually US$ 87.5 million between 1980 and 2022), and were significantly increasing through time. The highest cost reported was for muskrat Ondatra zibethicus (US$ 377.5 million), then unspecified Rattus spp. (US$ 327.8 million), followed by Rattus norvegicus specifically (US$ 156.6 million) and Castor canadensis (US$ 150.4 million). Of the total costs, 87% were damage-related, principally impacting agriculture and predominantly reported in Asia (60%), Europe (19%) and North America (9%). Our study evidenced obvious cost underreporting with only 99 documents gathered globally, clear taxonomic gaps, reliability issues for cost assessment, and skewed breakdowns of costs among regions, sectors and contexts. As a consequence, these reported costs represent only a very small fraction of the expected true cost of rodent invasions (e.g., using a less conservative analytic approach would have led to a global amount more than 80-times higher than estimated here).<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings strongly suggest that available information represents a substantial underestimation of the global costs incurred. We offer recommendations for improving estimates of costs to fill these knowledge gaps including: systematic distinction between native and invasive rodents' impacts; monetizing indirect impacts on human health; and greater integrative and concerted research effort between scientists and stakeholders. Finally, we discuss why and how this approach will stimulate and provide support for proactive and sustainable management strategies in the context of alien rodent invasions, for which biosecurity measures should be amplified globally.}, }
@article {pmid36988560, year = {2023}, author = {Rau, J and Fischer, S and Werner, D and Kampen, H}, title = {Impact of larvae of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus on larvae of the Culex pipiens complex from Germany in laboratory co-breeding studies.}, journal = {Medical and veterinary entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mve.12650}, pmid = {36988560}, issn = {1365-2915}, abstract = {Since the first detection of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) eggs in Germany in 2007, several populations of this species have established in Germany. Although colloquially Ae. albopictus is called an 'invasive species', it is not considered 'invasive' and therefore to be controlled according to the European Union (EU) Environmental and Nature Protection Act since evidence of displacement of native species is missing. To test the competitive potential of Ae. albopictus towards mosquito species native to Germany, laboratory experiments were conducted with larvae of this species and indigenous Cx. pipiens complex species/biotypes. First instar larvae of Ae. albopictus and of one of the native taxa were exposed to different temperatures and fed with different food sources. The ratio of individuals developing into adults as well as the time the larvae needed for development were taken as a measure of competitive outcome. In addition, the size of emerging adults was compared between control and experimental groups. Regarding developmental time, no significant differences were found between treatments and controls while significant differences were found regarding developmental rate and average wing size of individuals. Because no evidence of competitive repression of the native species was found, Ae. albopictus cannot be included in the EU list of invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid36988091, year = {2023}, author = {Matthews, TJ and Wayman, JP and Whittaker, RJ and Cardoso, P and Hume, JP and Sayol, F and Proios, K and Martin, TE and Baiser, B and Borges, PAV and Kubota, Y and Dos Anjos, L and Tobias, JA and Soares, FC and Si, X and Ding, P and Mendenhall, CD and Sin, YCK and Rheindt, FE and Triantis, KA and Guilhaumon, F and Watson, DM and Brotons, L and Battisti, C and Chu, O and Rigal, F}, title = {A global analysis of avian island diversity-area relationships in the Anthropocene.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14203}, pmid = {36988091}, issn = {1461-0248}, abstract = {Research on island species-area relationships (ISAR) has expanded to incorporate functional (IFDAR) and phylogenetic (IPDAR) diversity. However, relative to the ISAR, we know little about IFDARs and IPDARs, and lack synthetic global analyses of variation in form of these three categories of island diversity-area relationship (IDAR). Here, we undertake the first comparative evaluation of IDARs at the global scale using 51 avian archipelagic data sets representing true and habitat islands. Using null models, we explore how richness-corrected functional and phylogenetic diversity scale with island area. We also provide the largest global assessment of the impacts of species introductions and extinctions on the IDAR. Results show that increasing richness with area is the primary driver of the (non-richness corrected) IPDAR and IFDAR for many data sets. However, for several archipelagos, richness-corrected functional and phylogenetic diversity changes linearly with island area, suggesting that the dominant community assembly processes shift along the island area gradient. We also find that archipelagos with the steepest ISARs exhibit the biggest differences in slope between IDARs, indicating increased functional and phylogenetic redundancy on larger islands in these archipelagos. In several cases introduced species seem to have 're-calibrated' the IDARs such that they resemble the historic period prior to recent extinctions.}, }
@article {pmid36987640, year = {2023}, author = {Marino, C and Bellard, C}, title = {When origin, reproduction ability and diet define the role of birds in invasions.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {1995}, pages = {20230196}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2023.0196}, pmid = {36987640}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {The ecological impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) are increasingly documented; however, they are usually studied through the lens of either the IAS or the affected species (IAS-threatened species). A clear understanding of how both protagonists of biological invasions are characterized is still lacking. We investigated the morphology, life history and ecology of birds involved in biological invasions. Evaluating the distribution of 450 IAS-threatened birds and 400 alien birds in a functional space, we found that both groups retained various strategies. Aliens had larger clutches and were more likely to be herbivores than IAS-threatened and worldwide birds, while IAS-threatened birds were more insular endemic from the Australia region than alien and worldwide birds. IAS-threatened species showed opposite strategies to aliens regarding traits related to diet, origin and reproduction. Further comparing traits associated with impact magnitude, we found that even if aliens were mostly herbivorous, those with high impact had more a generalist behaviour and an animal-based diet compared to aliens with low impact. By emphasizing differences relating to the distribution of bird groups in a functional space, we opened new opportunities to identify the role of birds in biological invasions.}, }
@article {pmid36987614, year = {2023}, author = {Gossner, MM and Menzel, F and Simons, NK}, title = {Less overall, but more of the same: drivers of insect population trends lead to community homogenization.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {20230007}, doi = {10.1098/rsbl.2023.0007}, pmid = {36987614}, issn = {1744-957X}, }
@article {pmid36987069, year = {2023}, author = {Shabbir, A and Zalucki, MP and Dhileepan, K and Khan, N and Adkins, SW}, title = {The Current and Potential Distribution of Parthenium Weed and Its Biological Control Agent in Pakistan.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12061381}, pmid = {36987069}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae), commonly known as parthenium weed, is a highly invasive weed spreading rapidly from northern to southern parts of Pakistan. The persistence of parthenium weed in the hot and dry southern districts suggests that the weed can survive under more extreme conditions than previously thought. The development of a CLIMEX distribution model, which considered this increased tolerance to drier and warmer conditions, predicted that the weed could still spread to many other parts of Pakistan as well as to other regions of south Asia. This CLIMEX model satisfied the present distribution of parthenium weed within Pakistan. When an irrigation scenario was added to the CLIMEX program, more parts of the southern districts of Pakistan (Indus River basin) became suitable for parthenium weed growth, as well as the growth of its biological control agent, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister. This expansion from the initially predicted range was due to irrigation producing extra moisture to support its establishment. In addition to the weed moving south in Pakistan due to irrigation, it will also move north due to temperature increases. The CLIMEX model indicated that there are many more areas within South Asia that are suitable for parthenium weed growth, both under the present and a future climate scenario. Most of the south-western and north-eastern parts of Afghanistan are suitable under the current climate, but more areas are likely to become suitable under climate change scenarios. Under climate change, the suitability of southern parts of Pakistan is likely to decrease.}, }
@article {pmid36987058, year = {2023}, author = {Cui, M and Yang, B and Ren, G and Yu, H and Dai, Z and Li, J and Ran, Q and Stevanato, P and Wan, J and Du, D}, title = {Effects of Warming, Phosphorous Deposition, and Both Treatments on the Growth and Physiology of Invasive Solidago canadensis and Native Artemisia argyi.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12061370}, pmid = {36987058}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Anthropogenic climate change and species invasion are two major threats to biodiversity, affecting the survival and distribution of many species around the world. Studying the responses of invasive species under climate change can help better understand the ecological and genetic mechanisms of their invasion. However, the effects of warming and phosphorus deposition on the phenotype of native and invasive plants are unknown. To address the problem, we applied warming (+2.03 °C), phosphorus deposition (4 g m[-2] yr[-1] NaH2PO4), and warming × phosphorus deposition to Solidago canadensis and Artemisia argyi to measure the direct effects of environmental changes on growth and physiology at the seedling stage. Our results reveal that the physiology parameters of A. argyi and S. canadensis did not change significantly with the external environment. Under phosphorus deposition, S. canadensis had higher plant height, root length, and total biomass compared to A. argyi. Interestingly, warming has an inhibitory effect on the growth of both A. argyi and S. canadensis, but overall, the reduction in total biomass for S. canadensis (78%) is significantly higher than A. argyi (52%). When the two plants are treated with warming combined with phosphorus deposition, the advantage gained by S. canadensis from phosphorus deposition is offset by the negative effects of warming. Therefore, under elevated phosphorus, warming has a negative effect on the invasive S. canadensis and reduces its growth advantage.}, }
@article {pmid36986995, year = {2023}, author = {Adams, LD and Giovannoni, D and Clark, VR and Steenhuisen, SL and Martin, GD}, title = {Reproductive Ecology of the Invasive Alien Shrub Pyracantha angustifolia in the Grassland Biome, South Africa.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12061308}, pmid = {36986995}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Knowledge on reproductive traits of problematic invasive alien plants, such as the woody invasive shrub Pyracantha angustifolia of temperate Chinese origin, can help better manage invasive species. To determine factors contributing to its invasion, we investigated floral visitors and pollen loads, self-compatibility, seed set, seed rain, soil seed banks, and seed longevity in the soil. Generalist insects were recorded visiting flowers and all carried pollen loads of high purity (>70%). Floral visitor exclusion experiments showed that P. angustifolia can set seed (66%) without pollen vectors, although natural pollination resulted in higher fruit set (91%). Fruit count surveys and seed set showed an exponentially increased relationship between seed set and plant size with high natural seed yield (±2 million seeds m[-2]). Soil core samples revealed a high seed density of 46,400 ± (SE) 8934 m[-2] under shrubs, decreasing with distance away from the shrub. Bowl traps stationed under trees and fences confirmed that seeds were efficiently dispersed by animals. Buried seeds survived for less than six months in the soil. Due to high seed production, self-compatibility augmented by generalist pollen vectors, and effective seed dispersal by local frugivores, it is difficult to manage the spread manually. Management of this species should focus on the short life span of seeds.}, }
@article {pmid36986968, year = {2023}, author = {Jones, SA and DeKeyser, ES and Dixon, C and Kobiela, B}, title = {Invasive Species Change Plant Community Composition of Preserved Prairie Pothole Wetlands.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12061281}, pmid = {36986968}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Plant communities in North American prairie pothole wetlands vary depending on hydrology, salinity, and anthropogenic disturbance in and around the wetland. We assessed prairie pothole conditions on United States Fish and Wildlife Service fee-title lands in North Dakota and South Dakota to improve our understanding of current conditions and plant community composition. Species-level data were collected at 200 randomly chosen temporary and seasonal wetland sites located on native prairie remnants (n = 48) and previously cultivated lands that were reseeded into perennial grassland (n = 152). The majority of species surveyed appeared infrequently and were low in relative cover. The four most frequently observed species were introduced invasive species common to the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. Our results suggested relative cover of a few invasive species (i.e., Bromus inermis Leyss., Phalaris arundinacea L., and Typha ×glauca Godr. (pro sp.) [angustifolia or domingensis × latifolia]) affect patterns of plant community composition. Wetlands in native and reseeded grasslands possessed distinct plant community composition related to invasive species' relative cover. Invasive species continue to be prevalent throughout the region and pose a major threat to biological diversity, even in protected native prairie remnants. Despite efforts to convert past agricultural land into biologically diverse, productive ecosystems, invasive species continue to dominate these landscapes and are becoming prominent in prairie potholes located in native areas.}, }
@article {pmid36986920, year = {2023}, author = {Abbas, AM and Soliman, WS and Alomran, MM and Alotaibi, NM and Novak, SJ}, title = {Four Invasive Plant Species in Southwest Saudi Arabia Have Variable Effects on Soil Dynamics.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12061231}, pmid = {36986920}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Predicting the direction and magnitude of change in soil dynamics caused by invasive plant species has proven to be difficult because these changes are often reported to be species- and habitat-specific. This study was conducted to determine changes in three soil properties, eight soil ions, and seven soil microelements under established stands of four invasive plants, Prosopis juliflora, Ipomoea carnea, Leucaena leucocephala, and Opuntia ficus-indica. Soil properties, ions, and microelements were measured in sites invaded by these four species in southwest Saudi Arabia, and these values were compared to the results for the same 18 parameters from adjacent sites with native vegetation. Because this study was conducted in an arid ecosystem, we predict that these four invasive plants will significantly alter the soil properties, ions, and microelements in the areas they invaded. While the soils of sites with the four invasive plant species generally had higher values for soil properties and ions compared to sites with native vegetation, in most instances these differences were not statistically significant. However, the soils within sites invaded by I. carnea, L. leucocephala, and P. juliflora had statistically significant differences for some soil parameters. For sites invaded by O. puntia ficus-indica, no soil properties, ions, or microelements were significantly different compared to adjacent sites with native vegetation. Sites invaded by the four plant species generally exhibited differences in the 11 soil properties, but in no instance were these differences statistically significant. All three soil properties and one soil ion (Ca) were significantly different across the four stands of native vegetation. For the seven soil microelements, significantly different values were detected for Co and Ni, but only among stands of the four invasive plant species. These results indicate that the four invasive plant species altered soil properties, ions, and microelements, but for most of the parameters we assessed, not significantly. Our results do not support our initial prediction, but are in general agreement with previous published findings, which indicate that the effects of invasive plants on soil dynamics vary idiosyncratically among invasive species and among invaded habitats.}, }
@article {pmid36985605, year = {2023}, author = {de Moraes, &#xc2;AB and Cascaes, MM and do Nascimento, LD and de Jesus Pereira Franco, C and Ferreira, OO and Anjos, TOD and Karakoti, H and Kumar, R and da Silva Souza-Filho, AP and de Oliveira, MS and de Aguiar Andrade, EH}, title = {Chemical Evaluation, Phytotoxic Potential, and In Silico Study of Essential Oils from Leaves of Guatteria schomburgkiana Mart. and Xylopia frutescens Aubl. (Annonaceae) from the Brazilian Amazon.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {28}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/molecules28062633}, pmid = {36985605}, issn = {1420-3049}, abstract = {The essential oils (EOs) of Guatteria schomburgkiana (Gsch) and Xylopia frutescens (Xfru) (Annonaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Herbicide activity was measured by analyzing the seed germination percentage and root and hypocotyl elongation of two invasive species: Mimosa pudica and Senna obtusifolia. The highest yield was obtained for the EO of Xfru (1.06%). The chemical composition of Gsch was characterized by the presence of the oxygenated sesquiterpenes spathulenol (22.40%) and caryophyllene oxide (14.70%). Regarding the EO of Xfru, the hydrocarbon monoterpenes α-pinene (35.73%) and β-pinene (18.90%) were the components identified with the highest concentrations. The germination of seeds of S. obtusifolia (13.33 ± 5.77%) showed higher resistance than that of seeds of M. pudica (86.67 ± 5.77%). S. obtusifolia was also more sensitive to the EO of Xfru in terms of radicle (55.22 ± 2.72%) and hypocotyl (71.12 ± 3.80%) elongation, while M. pudica showed greater sensitivity to the EO of Gsch. To screen the herbicidal activity, the molecular docking study of the major and potent compounds was performed against 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) protein. Results showed good binding affinities and attributed the strongest inhibitory activity to δ-cadinene for the target protein. This work contributes to the study of the herbicidal properties of the EOs of species of Annonaceae from the Amazon region.}, }
@article {pmid36985252, year = {2023}, author = {Ren, X and Zhang, G and Jin, M and Wan, F and Day, MD and Qian, W and Liu, B}, title = {Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Reveal the Response Mechanisms of Mikania micrantha to Puccinia spegazzinii Infection.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11030678}, pmid = {36985252}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Mikania micrantha is one of the worst invasive species globally and can cause significant negative impacts on agricultural and forestry economics, particularly in Asia and the Pacific region. The rust Puccinia spegazzinii has been used successfully as a biological control agent in several countries to help manage M. micrantha. However, the response mechanisms of M. micrantha to P. spegazzinii infection have never been studied. To investigate the response of M. micrantha to infection by P. spegazzinii, an integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics was performed. The levels of 74 metabolites, including organic acids, amino acids, and secondary metabolites in M. micrantha infected with P. spegazzinii, were significantly different compared to those in plants that were not infected. After P. spegazzinii infection, the expression of the TCA cycle gene was significantly induced to participate in energy biosynthesis and produce more ATP. The content of most amino acids, such as L-isoleucine, L-tryptophan and L-citrulline, increased. In addition, phytoalexins, such as maackiain, nobiletin, vasicin, arachidonic acid, and JA-Ile, accumulated in M. micrantha. A total of 4978 differentially expressed genes were identified in M. micrantha infected by P. spegazzinii. Many key genes of M. micrantha in the PTI (pattern-triggered immunity) and ETI (effector-triggered immunity) pathways showed significantly higher expression under P. spegazzinii infection. Through these reactions, M. micrantha is able to resist the infection of P. spegazzinii and maintain its growth. These results are helpful for us to understand the changes in metabolites and gene expression in M. micrantha after being infected by P. spegazzinii. Our results can provide a theoretical basis for weakening the defense response of M. micrantha to P. spegazzinii, and for P. spegazzinii as a long-term biological control agent of M. micrantha.}, }
@article {pmid36983545, year = {2023}, author = {Bamisile, BS and Siddiqui, JA and Nie, L and Idrees, A and Aguila, LCR and Jia, C and Xu, Y}, title = {Baseline Analysis of Endophytic Fungal Associates of Solenopsis invicta Buren from Mounds across Five Counties of Guangdong Province, China.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9030377}, pmid = {36983545}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Red imported fire ants mounds have been suggested as a potential reservoir for beneficial entomopathogenic fungal species that are vital for more complex roles in the ecosystem aside from infecting the insects. In the current study, the assemblage of fungal symbionts of the red imported fire ants (RIFA) were obtained across five cities in Guangdong Province, China. The sampling areas were selected because of high occurrence of fire ants mounds in the regions. Mound soils, plant debris within mounds, and ants were collected from three sampling locations in each city for potential isolation of entomopathogenic fungal associates of RIFA. All samples were collected during the spring of 2021. Following successful isolation from substrates, the patterns of fungal species composition, and richness were evaluated. In total, 843 isolates were recovered, and based on their phenotypic distinctiveness and molecular characterization based on DNA sequences of multiple loci including the ITS, SSU, and LSU regions, 46 fungal taxa were obtained, including 12 that were unidentified. Species richness and abundance was highest in the mound soils, while the lowest value was recorded from the ant body. As per the different locations, the highest abundance level was recorded in Zhuhai, where 15 fungal taxa were cultivated. The most common taxa across all substrates and locations was Talaromyces diversus. A baseline analysis of the fungal community composition of RIFA would better our understanding on the interactions between these social ants and their associated microbial organisms, and this knowledge in turn would be important for the successful management of the RIFA.}, }
@article {pmid36979174, year = {2023}, author = {Schoeman, S and Simon, CA}, title = {Live to Die Another Day: Regeneration in Diopatra aciculata Knox and Cameron, 1971 (Annelida: Onuphidae) Collected as Bait in Knysna Estuary, South Africa.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12030483}, pmid = {36979174}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Regeneration is critical for survivorship after injury, sublethal predation, and asexual reproduction; it allows individuals to recover, potentially enabling populations of bait species to overcome the effects of bait collection through incidental asexual reproduction. Opportunities for regeneration are created when worms break during collection (which happens more often than not) and are thrown back into the estuary. Additionally, the trade and movement of bait could result in the range expansion of invasive species. This study investigated bait collection habits of local fishermen and the in situ incidence of regeneration in the estuarine moonshine worm, Diopatra aciculata. The evidence shows that this species is capable of anterior and posterior regeneration. The disproportionately small percentage of worms that seem to be recovering from the degree of damage that may be inflicted during bait collection suggests that regeneration may not help worms to withstand the effects of bait collection. However, the continuous movement and discarding of even small numbers of bait in other estuaries can lead to range expansion through incremental build-up, forming new populations, if these fragments are large enough to regenerate.}, }
@article {pmid36979127, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, BX and Zhu, L and Ma, G and Najar-Rodriguez, A and Zhang, JP and Zhang, F and Avila, GA and Ma, CS}, title = {Current and Potential Future Global Distribution of the Raisin Moth Cadra figulilella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) under Two Different Climate Change Scenarios.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12030435}, pmid = {36979127}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Global trade facilitates the introduction of invasive species that can cause irreversible damage to agriculture and the environment, as well as stored food products. The raisin moth (Cadra figulilella) is an invasive pest that poses a significant threat to fruits and dried foods. Climate change may exacerbate this threat by expanding moth's distribution to new areas. In this study, we used CLIMEX and MaxEnt niche modeling tools to assess the potential global distribution of the raisin moth under current and future climate change scenarios. Our models projected that the area of suitable distribution for the raisin moth could increase by up to 36.37% by the end of this century under high emission scenario. We also found that excessive precipitation decreased the probability of raisin moth establishment and that the optimum temperature range for the species during the wettest quarter of the year was 0-18 °C. These findings highlight the need for future research to utilize a combined modeling approach to predict the distribution of the raisin moth under current and future climate conditions more accurately. Our results could be used for environmental risk assessments, as well as to inform international trade decisions and negotiations on phytosanitary measures with regards to this invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid36978633, year = {2023}, author = {Bonaffini, G and Serpieri, M and Ottino, C and Scandone, L and Quaranta, G and Mauthe von Degerfeld, M}, title = {Laparoscopic Salpingectomy and Vasectomy to Inhibit Fertility in Free-Ranging Nutrias (Myocastor coypus).}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13061092}, pmid = {36978633}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The nutria (Myocastor coypus), an invasive alien species, is widely spread in Europe. Pursuant to regulation (EU) no. 1143/2014, the nutria is subject to management programs to reduce its spread. Surgical fertility control is considered an acceptable method, particularly in urban circumstances, avoiding euthanasia. To maintain the hormonal patterns and the social and behavioral dynamics, surgical infertilization preserving the gonads (i.e., salpingectomy and vasectomy) is recommended. Mini-invasive surgery is an eligible choice when dealing with wildlife, allowing reduced captivation time. For these reasons, 77 free-ranging nutrias, captured in urban nuclei in Italy, underwent infertilization under general anesthesia; laparoscopic salpingectomy and vasectomy were performed on 32 animals and traditional surgery on the remainder, leaving the gonads in place. A three-port technique was used, with two paramedian trocars (5 mm) for the instruments and a median one for the telescope. Ablation was obtained through Onemytis[®] plasma device, allowing a rapid surgical time with no need to place visceral sutures; the skin was surgically closed. After recovery, the animals were released, and no overt complications were noted. No modification of the behavioral patterns was noted, and the population decreased during the following months.}, }
@article {pmid36978565, year = {2023}, author = {Sladonja, B and Tlak Gajger, I and Uzelac, M and Poljuha, D and Garau, C and Landeka, N and Barták, M and Bacaro, G}, title = {The Impact of Beehive Proximity, Human Activity and Agricultural Intensity on Diptera Diversity in a Mediterranean Mosaic of Agroecosystems, with a Focus on Pest Species.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13061024}, pmid = {36978565}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Diptera, with their participation in pollination, significantly contribute to the maintenance of plant diversity, and they also have great potential for assessing habitat health and preserving it. A decline in their abundance and diversity has been recorded worldwide as a consequence of biotic, abiotic, and anthropic alterations. In addition to pollinators, these orders include agricultural and forestry pests, which are a threat to both cultivated and wild plants that are very important to the economy. Many pests have escaped from their native areas, and it is important to monitor their spread to implement sustainable means of control. Our study provides baseline information on Diptera and Vespidae diversity in the Mediterranean mosaic of agroecosystems, giving information on the importance of human influence on insect diversity. We carried out an insect inventory in Istria, Croatia, using a set of traps placed in the proximity of beehives. This study was also important in determining the presence of pests and newly introduced species. A total of 94 species from 24 families were recorded-7 important agricultural pests of Diptera and 17 new records for Croatia. The correlation between species diversity and environmental and anthropogenic factors leads to the conclusion that total insect species richness, pest species richness, and the first findings depend on human activities. The number of honeybee colonies negatively correlated with species richness, while anthropic influence positively affected total and pest species richness.}, }
@article {pmid36977969, year = {2023}, author = {Martínez, AS and Buteler, M and Villacide, JM and Serra, MN and Masciocchi, M}, title = {Honeydew production by the Giant Willow Aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus, Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its effect on foraging yellowjackets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7468}, pmid = {36977969}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the factors that promote the success of invasive species is important for managing biological invasions. Interactions between invasives and other species (e.g., competitors, pathogens, or predators), could favor or limit their success. In recent decades, yellowjacket wasps, including Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris, have successfully established in Patagonia. Additionally, the invasive willow Salix fragilis has invaded areas next to watercourses, which in turn are typically colonized by the giant willow aphid (GWA, Tuberolagnus salignus), an additional species characterized as a successful invader in many regions worldwide. Aphid exudate (honeydew) has been reported to be used as a carbohydrate source by social wasps. The aim of our study was to gain a better understanding of the infestation pattern of the GWA in northwestern Patagonia, its effect on exudate availability and its relationship with yellowjacket foraging patterns. The study was conducted under the working hypothesis that the increase in the size of GWA colonies and resulting honeydew production, will fuel an increase in local Vespula spp.<br><br>RESULTS: We found that the aphid honeydew is produced in relatively high amounts in the region (estimated at 1517 &#xb1; 139 Kg/ha/season), with strong indications that it is used by yellowjackets because of the significantly higher abundance levels of yellowjackets foraging on honeydew.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The interaction of three invasive species, willows, GWA and yellowjackets, needs to receive special attention to develop future environmentally-sound mitigation tools of these nuisance pest.}, }
@article {pmid36976314, year = {2023}, author = {Wen, TY and Wu, XQ and Ye, JR and Qiu, YJ and Rui, L and Zhang, Y}, title = {Two Novel Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Kunitz Effector Proteins Using Different Infection and Survival Strategies to Suppress Immunity in Pine.}, journal = {Phytopathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {PHYTO04220127R}, doi = {10.1094/PHYTO-04-22-0127-R}, pmid = {36976314}, issn = {0031-949X}, abstract = {Pine wilt disease, caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, results in tremendous economic loss in conifer production every year. To disturb the host immune responses, plant pathogens secrete a mass of effector proteins that facilitate the infection process. Although several effectors of B. xylophilus have been identified, detailed mechanisms of their functions remain largely unexplored. Here, we reveal two novel B. xylophilus Kunitz effectors, named BxKU1 and BxKU2, using different infection strategies to suppress immunity in Pinus thunbergii. We found that both BxKU1 and BxKU2 could suppress PsXEG1-triggered cell death and were present in the nucleus and cytoplasm in Nicotiana benthamiana. However, they had different three-dimensional structures and various expression patterns in B. xylophilus infection. In situ hybridization experiments showed that BxKU2 was expressed in the esophageal glands and ovaries, whereas BxKU1 was only expressed in the esophageal glands of females. We further confirmed that the morbidity was significantly decreased in P. thunbergii infected with B. xylophilus when BxKU1 and BxKU2 were silenced. The silenced BxKU2I, but not BxKU1, affected the reproduction and feeding rate of B. xylophilus. Moreover, BxKU1 and BxKU2 targeted to different proteins in P. thunbergii, but they all interacted with thaumatin-like protein 4 (TLP4) according to yeast two-hybrid screening. Collectively, our study showed that B. xylophilus could incorporate two Kunitz effectors in a multilayer strategy to counter immune response in P. thunbergii, which could help us better understand the interaction between plant and B. xylophilus.}, }
@article {pmid36975982, year = {2023}, author = {Shin, J and Rahman, MM and Kim, J and Marcombe, S and Jung, J}, title = {Genetic Diversity of Dengue Vector Aedes albopictus Collected from South Korea, Japan, and Laos.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14030297}, pmid = {36975982}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Aedes albopictus is native to Southeast Asia and has emerged as a major vector for vector-borne diseases that are spreading rapidly worldwide. Recent studies have shown that Ae. albopictus populations have different genetic groups dependent on their thermal adaptations; however, studies on Korean populations are limited. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity and structure of two mitochondrial genes (COI and ND5) and sixteen microsatellites in mosquitoes inhabiting Korea, Japan, and Laos. The results indicate that the Korean population has low genetic diversity, with an independent cluster distinct from the Laos population. Mixed clusters have also been observed in the Korean population. On the basis of these findings, two hypotheses are proposed. First, certain Korean populations are native. Second, some subpopulations that descended from the metapopulation (East Asian countries) were introduced to Japan before migrating to Korea. Furthermore, we previously demonstrated that Ae. albopictus appears to have been imported to Korea. In conclusion, the dengue-virus-carrying mosquitoes could migrate to Korea from Southeast Asian epidemic regions, where they can survive during the severe winter months. The key findings can be used to establish an integrated pest management strategy based on population genetics for the Korean Ae. albopictus population.}, }
@article {pmid36975952, year = {2023}, author = {Jung, S and Kim, J and Balvín, O and Yamada, K}, title = {Molecular Phylogeny of Cimicoidea (Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha) Revisited: Increased Taxon Sampling Reveals Evolution of Traumatic Insemination and Paragenitalia.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14030267}, pmid = {36975952}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The molecular phylogeny of the Cimicoidea was reconstructed from an expanded sampling based on mitochondrial (16S, COI) and nuclear (18S, 28SD3) genes. The data were analyzed using maximum likelihood (ML), maximum parsimony (MP), and Bayesian inference (BI) phylogenetic frameworks. The phylogenetic relationships inferred by the model-based analyses (ML and BI) were largely congruent with those inferred by the MP analysis in terms of the monophyly of most of the higher taxonomic groups and the species-level relationships. The following clades were recovered in all analyses: Cimiciformes; Nabidae: Prostemmatinae; Nabidae: Nabinae; Plokiophilidae; Microphysidae; Lasiochilidae; Cimicidae: Cacodminae; Cimicidae; Lyctocoridae; Anthocoridae s. str.; Cardiastethini excluding Amphiareus; Almeidini; Scolopini; Anthocorini; Oriini; Curaliidae + Lasiochilidae; Almeidini + Xylocorini; Oriini + Cardiastethini; and Anthocorini + Amphiareus. Reconstructions of ancestral copulation states based on Bayesian and parsimony inference indicated that at least one shift from standard insemination (SI) to traumatic insemination (TI) occurred within Cimicoidea, and an investigation of the evolutionary correlation between TI and paragenitalia (PG) revealed that the acquisition of PG in cimicoid females was correlated with the TI habit. Additionally, our morphological examination of various types of PG suggested that even the same PG type may not constitute a homologous feature at various taxonomic levels, indicating the convergent evolution of female morphology to adapt to TI.}, }
@article {pmid36975948, year = {2023}, author = {Sarkar, SC and Hatt, S and Philips, A and Akter, M and Milroy, SP and Xu, W}, title = {Tomato Potato Psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in Australia: Incursion, Potential Impact and Opportunities for Biological Control.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14030263}, pmid = {36975948}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Incursion and establishment of an exotic pest may threaten natural habitats and disrupt ecosystems. On the other hand, resident natural enemies may play an important role in invasive pest control. Bactericera cockerelli, commonly known as the tomato-potato psyllid, is an exotic pest, first detected on mainland Australia in Perth, Western Australia, in early 2017. B. cockerelli causes direct damage to crops by feeding and indirectly by acting as the vector of the pathogen that causes zebra chip disease in potatoes, although the latter is not present in mainland Australia. At present, Australian growers rely on the frequent use of insecticides to control B. cockerelli, which may lead to a series of negative economic and environmental consequences. The incursion of B. cockerelli also provides a unique opportunity to develop a conservation biological control strategy through strategically targeting existing natural enemy communities. In this review, we consider opportunities to develop biological control strategies for B. cockerelli to alleviate the dependence on synthetic insecticides. We highlight the potential of existing natural enemies to contribute toward regulating populations of B. cockerelli in the field and discuss the challenges ahead to strengthen the key role they can play through conservation biological control.}, }
@article {pmid36975941, year = {2023}, author = {Eleftheriadou, N and Lubanga, UK and Lefoe, GK and Seehausen, ML and Kenis, M and Kavallieratos, NG and Avtzis, DN}, title = {Uncovering the Male Presence in Parthenogenetic Marchalina hellenica (Hemiptera: Marchalinidae): Insights into Its mtDNA Divergence and Reproduction Strategy.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14030256}, pmid = {36975941}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Marchalina hellenica (Hemiptera: Marchalinidae), an endemic species in Greece and Turkey, is a major contributor to the annual honey production in its native range. However, in the areas that it invades, lacking natural enemies, it has detrimental effects on pine trees and potentially contributes to tree mortality. Although it was originally reported as thelytokous, males were later reported in Turkey and on several of the islands of Greece. To further disambiguate the exact parthenogenetic reproduction strategy of M. hellenica, we studied the emergence pattern of male individuals in Greece for two consecutive years (2021 and 2022). Furthermore, we examined the genetic variation among 15 geographically distant populations of M. hellenica in Greece using a mitochondrial DNA marker and compared the results with data from Turkey. The findings of this study document the existence of an additional M. hellenica population in its native range that repeatedly produces males, apart from the areas of Greece and Turkey in which they were initially reported, suggesting that males play a major, so far unknown role in the reproduction of this species. The populations in Greece and Turkey exhibited a strong genetic affinity, while human-aided dispersal seems to have obscured the genetic pattern acquired.}, }
@article {pmid36975937, year = {2023}, author = {Li, H and Jiang, Z and Zhou, J and Liu, X and Zhang, Y and Chu, D}, title = {Ecological Factors Associated with the Distribution of Bemisia tabaci Cryptic Species and Their Facultative Endosymbionts.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14030252}, pmid = {36975937}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci species complex, comprises at least 44 morphologically indistinguishable cryptic species, whose endosymbiont infection patterns often varied at the spatial and temporal dimension. However, the effects of ecological factors (e.g., climatic or geographical factors) on the distribution of whitefly and the infection frequencies of their endosymbionts have not been fully elucidated. We, here, analyzed the associations between ecological factors and the distribution of whitefly and their three facultative endosymbionts (Candidatus Cardinium hertigii, Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa, and Rickettsia sp.) by screening 665 individuals collected from 29 geographical localities across China. The study identified eight B. tabaci species via mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) gene sequence alignment: two invasive species, MED (66.9%) and MEAM1 (12.2%), and six native cryptic species (20.9%), which differed in distribution patterns, ecological niches, and high suitability areas. The infection frequencies of the three endosymbionts in different cryptic species were distinct and multiple infections were relatively common in B. tabaci MED populations. Furthermore, the annual mean temperature positively affected Cardinium sp. and Rickettsia sp. infection frequencies in B. tabaci MED but negatively affected the quantitative distribution of B. tabaci MED, which indicates that Cardinium sp. and Rickettsia sp. maybe play a crucial role in the thermotolerance of B. tabaci MED, although the host whitefly per se exhibits no resistance to high temperature. Our findings revealed the complex effects of ecological factors on the expansion of the invasive whitefly.}, }
@article {pmid36975933, year = {2023}, author = {Mermer, S and Maslen, EA and Dalton, DT and Nielsen, AL and Rucker, A and Lowenstein, D and Wiman, N and Bhattarai, M and Soohoo-Hui, A and Harris, ET and Pfab, F and Walton, VM}, title = {Temperature-Dependent Life Table Parameters of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in the United States.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14030248}, pmid = {36975933}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a generalist pest that causes serious injury to a variety of crops around the world. After the first detection in the USA, H. halys became a serious threat to growers resulting in significant crop damage. Understanding the effect of temperature on H. halys development will help to achieve successful control by predicting the phenological timing of the pest. Here, life table parameters (survival, development, reproduction, and daily mortality) of H. halys were evaluated for New Jersey and Oregon populations in the US. Parameters were determined from field-collected and laboratory-reared individuals. The results indicated that New Jersey populations had higher levels of egg-laying than Oregon populations and exhibited higher and earlier fecundity peaks. Survival levels were similar between populations. Linear and nonlinear fit were used to estimate the minimum (14.3 °C), optimal (27.8 °C), and maximum (35.9 °C) temperatures where development of H. halys can take place. An age-specific fecundity peak (Mx = 36.63) was recorded at 936 degree days for New Jersey populations, while maximum fecundity (Mx = 11.85) occurred at 1145 degree days in Oregon. No oviposition was recorded at the lowest (15 °C) or highest (35 °C) trialed temperatures. Developmental periods increased at temperatures above 30 °C, indicating that such higher temperatures are suboptimal for H. halys development. Altogether the most optimal temperatures for population increase (rm) ranged from 25 to 30 °C. Survival rates of H. halys at suboptimal low temperatures of 8 °C (i.e., 61%) is comparable to previous reports. The present paper provides additional data and context from a range of experimental conditions and populations. Such temperature-related H. halys life table parameters can be used to provide determine the risk to susceptible crops.}, }
@article {pmid36975931, year = {2023}, author = {Dalmaso, G and Ioriatti, C and Gualandri, V and Zapponi, L and Mazzoni, V and Mori, N and Baldessari, M}, title = {Orientus ishidae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): Biology, Direct Damage and Preliminary Studies on Apple Proliferation Infection in Apple Orchard.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14030246}, pmid = {36975931}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The mosaic leafhopper, Orientus ishidae (Matsumura), is an Asian species widespread in Europe that can cause leaf damage in wild trees and transmit disease phytoplasmas to grapevines. Following an O. ishidae outbreak reported in 2019 in an apple orchard in northern Italy, the biology and damage caused by this species to apples were investigated during 2020 and 2021. Our studies included observations on the O. ishidae life cycle, leaf symptoms associated to its trophic activity, and its capability to acquire "Candidatus Phytoplasma mali," a causal agent of Apple Proliferation (AP). The results indicate that O. ishidae can complete the life cycle on apple trees. Nymphs emerged between May and June, and adults were present from early July to late October, with the peak of flight between July and early August. Semi-field observations allowed for an accurate description of leaf symptoms that appeared as a distinct yellowing after a one-day exposure. In field experiments, 23% of the leaves were found damaged. In addition, 16-18% of the collected leafhoppers were found carrying AP phytoplasma. We conclude that O. ishidae has the potential to be a new apple tree pest. However, further studies are required to better understand the economic impact of the infestations.}, }
@article {pmid36972520, year = {2023}, author = {Nguyen, V and Weaver-Romero, AL and Wang, X and Tavares, Y and Bauer, A and McDowell, RC and Dorsainvil, C and Eason, MD and Malcolm, AN and Raz, CD and Byrd, BD and Riegel, C and Clark, M and Ber, J and Harrison, RL and Evans, CL and Zohdy, S and Allen, B and Campbell, LP and Killingsworth, D and Grey, EW and Riles, MT and Lee, Y and Giordano, BV}, title = {SURVEY OF INVASIVE MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL CAPACITY IN SOUTHEASTERN USA REVEALS TRAINING AND RESOURCE NEEDS.}, journal = {Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2987/22-7107}, pmid = {36972520}, issn = {1943-6270}, abstract = {Several invasive mosquito species that are nuisances or of medical and veterinary importance have been introduced into the Southeastern region of the USA, posing a threat to other species and the local ecosystems and/or increasing the risk of pathogen transmission to people, livestock, and domestic pets. Prompt and effective monitoring and control of invasive species is essential to prevent them from spreading and causing harmful effects. However, the capacity for invasive mosquito species surveillance is highly variable among mosquito control programs in the Southeast, depending on a combination of factors such as regional geography and climate, access to resources, and the ability to interact with other programs. To facilitate the development of invasive mosquito surveillance in the region, we, the Mosquito BEACONS (Biodiversity Enhancement and Control of Non-native Species) working group, conducted a survey on the capacities of various public health agencies and pest control agencies engaged in mosquito surveillance and control in seven Southeastern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina). Ninety control programs completed the survey, representing an overall response rate of 25.8%. We report key findings from our survey, emphasizing the training and resource needs, and discuss their implications for future invasive mosquito surveillance and control capacity building. By increasing communication and collaboration opportunities (e.g., real-time sharing of collection records, coordinated multistate programs), the establishment of Mosquito BEACONS and the implementation of this survey can accelerate knowledge transfer and improve decision support capacity in response to or in preparation for invasive mosquito surveillance and can establish infrastructure that can be used to inform programs around the world.}, }
@article {pmid36878062, year = {2023}, author = {Bereza, D and Grey, E and Shenkar, N}, title = {Prioritizing management of high-risk routes and ports by vessel type to improve marine biosecurity efforts.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {336}, number = {}, pages = {117597}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117597}, pmid = {36878062}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Biosecurity ; Ships ; Travel ; *Biofouling ; Risk Assessment ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {The shipping industry constitutes the main vector of marine bioinvasions. Over 90,000 vessels world-wide create a highly complex shipping network that requires appropriate management tools. Here we characterized a novel vessel category, Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV), in terms of potential contribution to the dispersal of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) in comparison to smaller vessels traveling similar routes. Such approach is essential for providing precise information-based risk analysis necessary to enforce biosecurity regulations and reduce the adverse global effects of marine NIS. We used Automatic Identification System (AIS) based websites to extract shipping data that will enable us to test for differences in two vessel behaviors linked to NIS dispersal: port visit durations and voyage sailing times. We then examined the geographic spread of ULCVs and small vessels, quantifying the accumulation of new port visits, countries, and ecoregions for each vessel category. Finally, Higher Order Network (HON) analysis revealed emergent patterns within shipping traffic, species flow, and invasion risk networks of these two categories. Compared to the smaller vessels, ULCVs spent significantly longer time in 20% of the ports and were more geographically constrained, with fewer port visits, countries, and regions. HON analysis revealed that the ULCV shipping species flow and invasion risk networks were more similar to each other than to those of the smaller vessels. However, HON port importance shifts were discernible for both vessel categories, with major shipping hubs not necessarily being major invasion hubs. Overall, compared to smaller vessels, ULCVs behave differently in ways that potentially increase biofouling risk, albeit in a smaller set of ports. Future studies using HON analysis of other dispersal vectors appears critical for prioritizing management of high-risk routes and ports.}, }
@article {pmid36969137, year = {2023}, author = {Picq, S and Wu, Y and Martemyanov, VV and Pouliot, E and Pfister, SE and Hamelin, R and Cusson, M}, title = {Range-wide population genomics of the spongy moth, Lymantria dispar (Erebidae): Implications for biosurveillance, subspecies classification and phylogeography of a destructive moth.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {638-656}, pmid = {36969137}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {The spongy moth, Lymantria dispar, is an irruptive forest pest native to Eurasia where its range extends from coast to coast and overspills into northern Africa. Accidentally introduced from Europe in Massachusetts in 1868-1869, it is now established in North America where it is considered a highly destructive invasive pest. A fine-scale characterization of its population genetic structure would facilitate identification of source populations for specimens intercepted during ship inspections in North America and would enable mapping of introduction pathways to help prevent future incursions into novel environments. In addition, detailed knowledge of L. dispar's global population structure would provide new insight into the adequacy of its current subspecies classification system and its phylogeographic history. To address these issues, we generated >2000 genotyping-by-sequencing-derived SNPs from 1445 contemporary specimens sampled at 65 locations in 25 countries/3 continents. Using multiple analytical approaches, we identified eight subpopulations that could be further partitioned into 28 groups, achieving unprecedented resolution for this species' population structure. Although reconciliation between these groupings and the three currently recognized subspecies proved to be challenging, our genetic data confirmed circumscription of the japonica subspecies to Japan. However, the genetic cline observed across continental Eurasia, from L. dispar asiatica in East Asia to L. d. dispar in Western Europe, points to the absence of a sharp geographical boundary (e.g., the Ural Mountains) between these two subspecies, as suggested earlier. Importantly, moths from North America and the Caucasus/Middle East displayed high enough genetic distances from other populations to warrant their consideration as separate subspecies of L. dispar. Finally, in contrast with earlier mtDNA-based investigations that identified the Caucasus as L. dispar's place of origin, our analyses suggest continental East Asia as its evolutionary cradle, from where it spread to Central Asia and Europe, and to Japan through Korea.}, }
@article {pmid36966457, year = {2023}, author = {Kilgo, JC and Vukovich, M and Cox, KJ and Larsen, M and Mims, TT and Garabedian, JE}, title = {Assessing whole-sounder removal versus traditional control for reducing invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) populations.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7478}, pmid = {36966457}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Trapping is commonly used as the primary management tool in attempts to reduce invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa), but traditional trapping techniques are often ineffective. However, recently developed traps permit the capture of entire social groups (sounders) of wild pigs, and the strategy of whole-sounder removal may achieve more effective control. Our objective was to experimentally compare traditional control (TC; primarily traditional trapping, but including hunting with dogs, and opportunistic shooting) and whole-sounder removal (WSR) strategies by assessing density reduction and removal rate after 1 and 2 years of treatment.<br><br>RESULTS: After one year of trapping, average wild pig density on WSR units declined 53% and remained stable after the second year, whereas on TC units, pig density did not differ after trapping, although it declined 33% and remained stable after the second year of trapping. The median removal rate (percentage of uniquely marked pigs present at the beginning of each year that were removed) was 42.5% for WSR units and 0.0% for TC units during 2018 and were 29.6% from WSR units and 5.3% from TC units during 2019.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: WSR removal was more effective at reducing wild pig density than TC, but factors such as previous exposure of this population to traditional traps and the lack of barriers to recolonization from surrounding areas may have reduced WSR efficacy. Whole-sounder removal can effectively reduce wild pig density to a greater extent than TC, but managers should recognize the additional time and expense necessary for implementation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36966383, year = {2023}, author = {Tolo, IE and Bajer, PG and Mor, SK and Phelps, NBD}, title = {Disease ecology and host range of Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) in CyHV-3 endemic lakes of North America.}, journal = {Journal of fish diseases}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jfd.13778}, pmid = {36966383}, issn = {1365-2761}, abstract = {Cyprinid herpesvirus-3 (CyHV-3) is an important pathogen of common carp (Cyprinus carpio, carp) causing significant economic and ecological impacts worldwide. The recent emergence of CyHV-3 in the Upper Midwest region of the United States has raised questions related to the disease ecology and host specificity of CyHV-3 in wild carp populations. To determine the prevalence of CyHV-3 in wild populations of fishes in Minnesota, we surveyed five lakes in 2019 in which the virus was known to have caused mass mortality events in carp from 2017 to 2018. A total of 28 species (n = 756 total fish) of native fishes and 730 carp were screened for the presence of CyHV-3 DNA using specific qPCR. None of the native fish tissues tested positive for CyHV-3 although the prevalence of CyHV-3 in carp was 10%-50% in the five lakes. A single lake (Lake Elysian) with a 50% DNA detection rate and evidence of ongoing transmission and CyHV-3-associated mortality was surveyed again in 2020 from April to September. During this period, none of the tissues from 24 species (n = 607 total fish) tested positive for CyHV-3 though CyHV-3 DNA and mRNA (indicating viral replication) was detected in carp tissues during the sampling period. CyHV-3 DNA was detected most often in brain samples without evidence of replication, potentially indicating that brain tissue is a site for CyHV-3 latency. Paired qPCR and ELISA testing for Lake Elysian in 2019-2020 identified young carp (especially males) to be the primary group impacted by CyHV-3-associated mortality and acute infections, but with no positive detections in juvenile carp. Seroprevalence of carp from Lake Elysian was 57% in 2019, 92% in April of 2020 and 97% in September 2020. These results further corroborate the host specificity of CyHV-3 to carp in mixed wild populations of fishes in Minnesota and provide additional insights into the ecological niche of CyHV-3 in shallow lake populations of carp in North America.}, }
@article {pmid36966160, year = {2023}, author = {Ruzzier, E and Ortis, G and Vallotto, D and Faccoli, M and Martinez-Sañudo, I and Marchioro, M}, title = {The first full host plant dataset of Curculionidae Scolytinae of the world: tribe Xyleborini LeConte, 1876.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {166}, pmid = {36966160}, issn = {2052-4463}, abstract = {Xyleborini is the largest tribe of Scolytinae accounting for about 1300 species worldwide; all species are primarily xylomycetophagous, developing on symbiotic fungi farmed in plant woody tissues. Xyleborini wood-boring action, associated with the inoculum of symbiotic fungi, can lead, sometimes, to the emergence of host plant dieback, wood damage and death; for this reason, multiple Xyleborini are major pests on both cultivated, forest and ornamental trees. Many Xyleborini are invasive worldwide and great effort is expended to manage their biological invasions or prevent new arrivals. Imports of host plants often have a primary role as a pathway for introduction and are frequently responsible for the establishment of species in non-native environments. In this context, data availability on Xyleborini host plants is a major limiting factor in the development of effective detection and monitoring strategies as well as a fundamental variable to consider in risk assessment of plant pests and invasive species. This contribution provides updated host records and the hosts economic categorization for the 1293 Xyleborini known worldwide to date.}, }
@article {pmid36964580, year = {2023}, author = {Andriamanantena, M and Pithon, S and Dijoux, M and Hoareau, M and Fontaine, C and Ferrard, J and Lavergne, C and Petit, T and Caro, Y}, title = {A survey on the potential contribution of Reunion Island dye plant species diversity to the market demand for bioactive plant-based dyes and pigments.}, journal = {Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {8}, pmid = {36964580}, issn = {1746-4269}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Proven toxicity and environmental burdens caused by artificial dyes have motivated dyeing industries to turn to natural alternatives. Plant-based dyestuffs are an interesting group of alternative crops. Reunion Island located in the Indian Ocean is the only European region in the southern hemisphere. It has a great number of assets to find new molecules in the abundant plant biodiversity. However, the dye-producing plants diversity in this island had not been documented to date.<br><br>METHODOLOGY: The assessment of the Reunion Island's plant biodiversity through the "PLANTIN" project allowed us to establish here the first ethnobotanical inventory of plants growing on Reunion Island which may have promising properties as a new alternative source of dyes or colorants for the industries. First, an ethnobotanical survey focused on the uses of plants traditionally used in dyeing was conducted on local stakeholders. Then, the importance of different criteria (e.g., endemicity, accessibility and cultivability, plant organs used for the extraction, industrial interests of the species, etc.) has been considered to establish a classification method of the species, to finally select the most interesting plants which have been further harvested and investigated for their coloring property and dyeing application on natural fibers.<br><br>RESULTS: The results showed that local people have accumulated traditional knowledge of dyeing plants, but that this approach had been discontinued in Reunion. The uses of 194 plant species potentially rich in dyes or pigments, belonging to 72 different families, with diverse botanical status (endemic, native, introduced or alien-invasive species) have been recorded. Then, 43 species were harvested and their coloring property were investigated. It demonstrated that dyes extracted from promising species, e.g., Terminalia bentzoe, Weinmannia tinctoria, Thespesia populnea, Erythroxylum laurifolium, Morinda citrifolia, Leea guinensis, Ochrosia borbonica, Danais fragrans, Terminalia cattapa, Casuarina equisetifolia, and Coccoloba uvifera, amongst others, could be used as new textile dyes. Their efficacy in the wool and cotton dyeing has been successfully demonstrated here.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These plant-based dyestuffs showed promising coloring properties with different shades that could meet industrial application requirement. It's an area that could promote local cultural inheritance, create opportunity for business and farmers, and that can make a significant contribution to preserving endangered native species by supporting reforestation schemes. Additional researches are in progress to evaluate the safety of these plant-based colored extracts, their chemical composition and biological activities.}, }
@article {pmid36960319, year = {2020}, author = {Bailey, SA and Brown, L and Campbell, ML and Canning-Clode, J and Carlton, JT and Castro, N and Chinho, P and Chan, FT and Creed, JC and Curd, A and Darling, J and Fofonoff, P and Galil, BS and Hewitt, CL and Inglis, GJ and Keith, I and Mandrak, NE and Marchini, A and McKenzie, CH and Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A and Ojaveer, H and Pires-Teixeira, LM and Robinson, TB and Ruiz, GM and Seaward, K and Schwindt, E and Son, MO and Therriault, TW and Zhan, A}, title = {Trends in the detection of aquatic non-indigenous species across global marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems: A 50-year perspective.}, journal = {Diversity &amp; distributions}, volume = {26}, number = {12}, pages = {1780-1797}, pmid = {36960319}, issn = {1366-9516}, support = {EPA999999/ImEPA/Intramural EPA/United States ; }, abstract = {AIM: The introduction of aquatic non-indigenous species (ANS) has become a major driver for global changes in species biogeography. We examined spatial patterns and temporal trends of ANS detections since 1965 to inform conservation policy and management.<br><br>LOCATION: Global.<br><br>METHODS: We assembled an extensive dataset of first records of detection of ANS (1965-2015) across 49 aquatic ecosystems, including the (a) year of first collection, (b) population status and (c) potential pathway(s) of introduction. Data were analysed at global and regional levels to assess patterns of detection rate, richness and transport pathways.<br><br>RESULTS: An annual mean of 43 (&#xb1;16 SD) primary detections of ANS occurred-one new detection every 8.4 days for 50 years. The global rate of detections was relatively stable during 1965-1995, but increased rapidly after this time, peaking at roughly 66 primary detections per year during 2005-2010 and then declining marginally. Detection rates were variable within and across regions through time. Arthropods, molluscs and fishes were the most frequently reported ANS. Most ANS were likely introduced as stowaways in ships' ballast water or biofouling, although direct evidence is typically absent.<br><br>MAIN CONCLUSIONS: This synthesis highlights the magnitude of recent ANS detections, yet almost certainly represents an underestimate as many ANS go unreported due to limited search effort and diminishing taxonomic expertise. Temporal rates of detection are also confounded by reporting lags, likely contributing to the lower detection rate observed in recent years. There is a critical need to implement standardized, repeated methods across regions and taxa to improve the quality of global-scale comparisons and sustain core measures over longer time-scales. It will be fundamental to fill in knowledge gaps given that invasion data representing broad regions of the world's oceans are not yet readily available and to maintain knowledge pipelines for adaptive management.}, }
@article {pmid36958810, year = {2023}, author = {Walentowitz, A and Lenzner, B and Essl, F and Strandberg, N and Castilla-Beltrán, A and Fernández-Palacios, JM and Björck, S and Connor, S and Haberle, SG and Ljung, K and Prebble, M and Wilmshurst, JM and Froyd, CA and de Boer, EJ and de Nascimento, L and Edwards, ME and Stevenson, J and Beierkuhnlein, C and Steinbauer, MJ and Nogué, S}, title = {Long-term trajectories of non-native vegetation on islands globally.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14196}, pmid = {36958810}, issn = {1461-0248}, abstract = {Human-mediated changes in island vegetation are, among others, largely caused by the introduction and establishment of non-native species. However, data on past changes in non-native plant species abundance that predate historical documentation and censuses are scarce. Islands are among the few places where we can track human arrival in natural systems allowing us to reveal changes in vegetation dynamics with the arrival of non-native species. We matched fossil pollen data with botanical status information (native, non-native), and quantified the timing, trajectories and magnitude of non-native plant vegetational change on 29 islands over the past 5000 years. We recorded a proportional increase in pollen of non-native plant taxa within the last 1000 years. Individual island trajectories are context-dependent and linked to island settlement histories. Our data show that non-native plant introductions have a longer and more dynamic history than is generally recognized, with critical implications for biodiversity baselines and invasion biology.}, }
@article {pmid36949607, year = {2023}, author = {Irshad, MS and Arshad, N and Liu, G and Mushtaq, N and Lashari, AA and Qin, W and Asghar, MS and Li, H and Wang, X}, title = {Biomass-Printed Hybrid Solar Evaporator Derived from Bio-polluted Invasive Species, a Potential Step toward Carbon Neutrality.}, journal = {ACS applied materials &amp; interfaces}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.2c20207}, pmid = {36949607}, issn = {1944-8252}, abstract = {Biomass-based photothermal conversion is of great importance for solar energy utilization toward carbon neutrality. Herein, a hybrid solar evaporator is innovatively designed via UV-induced printing of pyrolyzed Kudzu biochar on hydrophilic cotton fabric (KB@CF) to integrate all parameters in a single evaporator, such as solar evaporation, salt collection, waste heat recovery for thermoelectricity, sieving oil emulsions, and water disinfection from microorganisms. The UV-induced printed fabric demonstrates stronger material adhesion as compared to the conventional dip-dry technique. The hybrid solar evaporator gives an enhanced evaporation rate (2.32 kg/m[2] h), and the complementary waste heat recovery system generates maximum open-circuit voltage (Vout ∼ 143.9 mV) and solar to vapor conversion efficiency (92%), excluding heat losses under one sun illumination. More importantly, 99.98% of photothermal-induced bacterial killing efficiency was achieved within 20 min under 1 kW m[-2] using the hyperthermia effect of Kudzu biochar. Furthermore, numerical heat-transfer simulations were performed successfully to analyze the enhanced interfacial heat accumulation (75.3 °C) and heat flux distribution of the thermoelectric generators under one sun. We firmly believe that the safe use of bio-polluted invasive species in hybrid solar-driven evaporation systems eases the environmental pressure toward carbon neutrality.}, }
@article {pmid36949138, year = {2023}, author = {Wrońska-Pilarek, D and Maciejewska-Rutkowska, I and Lechowicz, K and Bocianowski, J and Hauke-Kowalska, M and Baranowska, M and Korzeniewicz, R}, title = {The effect of herbicides on morphological features of pollen grains in Prunus serotina Ehrh. in the context of elimination of this invasive species from European forests.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {4657}, pmid = {36949138}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Prunus serotina Ehrh. is an alien invasive neophyte widespread in European forests. So far, no effective methods of its elimination have been developed. For this reason, the aim of our study was to determine how herbicides affect the morphological characteristics of pollen grains. This knowledge may be crucial to control this invasive species. The current study was carried out in a research area of 2.7 ha located in the Zielonka Forest near Poznań, Poland (N 52°31'58.016″, E 17°05'55.588″). We tested morphological differences among ten features of P. serotina pollen, based on the samples collected from 15 control trees compared to the 50 trees treated with five different herbicides. In total 1950 pollen grains were measured. We confirmed the adopted hypotheses of long-term herbicide influence on P. serotina pollen. Pollen grains from the control trees had a longer equatorial axis, were more elongated in shape and had the largest range of exine thickness compared to the pollen from the herbicide-treated samples. Exine thickness in the control sample was on average 0.74 µm, ranging from 0.42 to 1.19 µm. The average values and the ranges of this trait in the samples treated with herbicides were larger (e.g. average exine thickness was from 0.90 to 0.95 µm). There were differences in the P/E ranges of variability between the control and herbicide-treated samples. In the control sample the P/E ratio was 1.32-2.04 and elongated forms of pollen shapes prevailed, while in the herbicide-treated samples it ranged from 1.03 to 1.47. The share of deformed pollen grains in the herbicide-treated samples was lower than expected, ranging from 8.7 to 25.3%, while in the control samples it was 6%. Logo and Mustang turned out to be the most effective among the herbicides used in the described research. The two used application methods were found to have an effect on pollen quality.}, }
@article {pmid36948323, year = {2023}, author = {Lozano, V and Di Febbraro, M and Brundu, G and Carranza, ML and Alessandrini, A and Ardenghi, NMG and Barni, E and Bedini, G and Celesti-Grapow, L and Cianfaglione, K and Cogoni, A and Domina, G and Fascetti, S and Ferretti, G and Foggi, B and Iberite, M and Lastrucci, L and Lazzaro, L and Mainetti, A and Marinangeli, F and Montagnani, C and Musarella, CM and Orsenigo, S and Peccenini, S and Peruzzi, L and Poggio, L and Proietti, C and Prosser, F and Ranfa, A and Rosati, L and Santangelo, A and Selvaggi, A and Spampinato, G and Stinca, A and Vacca, G and Villani, M and Siniscalco, C}, title = {Plant invasion risk inside and outside protected areas: Propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors definitively matter.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {162993}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162993}, pmid = {36948323}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Invasive alien species are among the main global drivers of biodiversity loss posing major challenges to nature conservation and to managers of protected areas. The present study applied a methodological framework that combined invasive Species Distribution Models, based on propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors for 14 invasive alien plants of Union concern in Italy, with the local interpretable model-agnostic explanation analysis aiming to map, evaluate and analyse the risk of plant invasions across the country, inside and outside the network of protected areas. Using a hierarchical invasive Species Distribution Model, we explored the combined effect of propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors on shaping invasive alien plant occurrence across three biogeographic regions (Alpine, Continental, and Mediterranean) and realms (terrestrial and aquatic) in Italy. We disentangled the role of propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors on invasive alien plant distribution and projected invasion risk maps. We compared the risk posed by invasive alien plants inside and outside protected areas. Invasive alien plant distribution varied across biogeographic regions and realms and unevenly threatens protected areas. As an alien's occurrence and risk on a national scale are linked with abiotic factors followed by propagule pressure, their local distribution in protected areas is shaped by propagule pressure and biotic filters. The proposed modelling framework for the assessment of the risk posed by invasive alien plants across spatial scales and under different protection regimes represents an attempt to fill the gap between theory and practice in conservation planning helping to identify scale, site, and species-specific priorities of management, monitoring and control actions. Based on solid theory and on free geographic information, it has great potential for application to wider networks of protected areas in the world and to any invasive alien plant, aiding improved management strategies claimed by the environmental legislation and national and global strategies.}, }
@article {pmid36946141, year = {2023}, author = {Case, SB and Tarwater, CE}, title = {Exploitation competition between seed predators and dispersers introduced to Hawaiian forests.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e4038}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.4038}, pmid = {36946141}, issn = {1939-9170}, abstract = {Exploitation competition occurs when one group of organisms reduces the availability of a resource for another group of organisms. For instance, plants produce a certain number of fruits for seed dispersal by fruit-eating animals (hereafter frugivores), and fruit consumption by one group of frugivores can reduce the number of fruits available for other frugivores. However, it is uncertain whether exploitation competition is common among frugivores, particularly in novel ecosystems, where food resources are generally thought to be abundant and invasive species are dietary generalists. In a novel ecosystem in Hawai'i, we used gut passage experiments with captive birds to identify roles of introduced frugivores and found they were either distinctly seed dispersers or predators. We then experimentally tested how frugivory by seed predators influenced frugivory by seed dispersers. Specifically, we used exclosures around fruiting plants that blocked seed predator access, while permitting seed disperser access, and we had two control treatments that allowed for access by all frugivores (n=139 plants). When seed predators were excluded from plants, there was more frugivory by dispersers compared to controls, and results varied by year and plant species. Overall, we show that introduced frugivores occupied distinct ecological roles (seed predator or seed disperser), exploitation competition occurred between these introduced frugivore groups, and seed predators had both direct (via seed destruction) and indirect (via reduction in frugivory by dispersers) effects on seed dispersal. Thus, in this novel ecosystem, multiple frugivory is subtractive, and competition for fruit between introduced seed predators and seed dispersers scales up to affect invasions and the conservation of native flora.}, }
@article {pmid36944500, year = {2023}, author = {Reeves, LE and Sloyer, KE and Tyler-Julian, K and Heinig, R and Rosales, A and Domingo, C and Burkett-Cadena, ND}, title = {Culex (Phenacomyia) lactator (Diptera: Culicidae) in southern Florida, USA: a new subgenus and species country record.}, journal = {Journal of medical entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jme/tjad023}, pmid = {36944500}, issn = {1938-2928}, abstract = {The Culex subgenus Phenacomyia is a small and poorly studied group of three mosquito species native to the American tropics. Here, we report the first detections of established populations of Culex (Phenacomyia) lactator Dyar &amp; Knab in three counties of southern Florida. Culex lactator was first detected in May 2018 in southern Miami-Dade County, and, at this locality, was collected in subsequent years from 2018 to 2022 as both adults and immatures. Larvae and adults were subsequently collected in 2022, ~175 km northwest of the initial locality at nine sites in Collier and Lee Counties. Identification of specimens collected in these counties as Cx. lactator is supported by molecular analysis and morphological characters of the adult female, male genitalia, and larva. The host associations and vector competence of Cx. lactator have not been extensively studied, and the public health implications, if any, of the addition of this species to Florida's mosquito fauna are unclear. These collections represent the first detections of Cx. lactator, or any Phenacomyia species, in the United States, adding to a trend in which detections of established populations of mosquito species from the American tropics in Florida appear to be increasing.}, }
@article {pmid36932085, year = {2023}, author = {Hocking, S and Toop, T and Jones, D and Graham, I and Eastwood, D}, title = {Assessing the relative impacts and economic costs of Japanese knotweed management methods.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {3872}, pmid = {36932085}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Environment ; *Fallopia japonica ; *Herbicides ; *Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Sustainable land management encompasses a range of activity that balance land use requirements with wider conservation and ecosystem impact considerations. Perennial invasive alien plants (IAPs), such as Japanese knotweed, cause severe ecological and socio-economic impacts, and methods to control their spread also come at a cost. Synthetic herbicides are generally viewed as less sustainable and more ecologically damaging than alternative approaches. Here we used a comparative Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate the sustainability of herbicide-based management approaches and physical alternatives, using a large-scale Japanese knotweed field study as a model IAP system. Glyphosate-based methods elicited the lowest environmental impacts and economic costs during production. Geomembrane covering and integrated physiochemical methods were the costliest and imposed the greatest impacts. We discuss the costs and benefits of chemical and physical approaches for the sustainable management of invaded land and question how sustainable environmental stewardship is defined for the control of IAPs.}, }
@article {pmid36944039, year = {2023}, author = {Masetti, A and Rathé, A and Robertson, N and Anderson, D and Walker, J and Pasqualini, E and Depalo, L}, title = {Effects of three chitin synthesis inhibitors on egg masses, nymphs and adults of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7465}, pmid = {36944039}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Halyomorpha halys, (brown marmorated stink bug, BMSB), is a high-concern invasive species causing severe damage to orchards in many countries outside its native Asian range. Management methods other than frequent sprays of broad-spectrum insecticides are needed to restore integrated pest management (IPM) practices in orchards. Chitin synthesis inhibitors are usually regarded as desirable options in IPM programs because of lower toxicity to beneficial insects and non-target organisms compared to neurotoxic insecticides. In this study, the activity of three chitin synthesis inhibitors (namely buprofezin, novaluron and triflumuron) was investigated on BMSB egg masses, 3[rd] instars and adults by means of laboratory bioassays.<br><br>RESULTS: Novaluron and to a lesser extent triflumuron were detrimental to BMSB nymphs exposed to residues on potted peach plants. Novaluron caused high mortality among early instars emerged from sprayed egg masses. No significant differences were found between buprofezin and water control on eggs or 3[rd] instars. When sprayed on BMSB adults, none of the chitin synthesis inhibitors affected survival, fecundity or egg hatching.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Given the activity on nymphs, but the lack of effects on adults, novaluron and triflumuron might be considered for field applications only as a tool in a wider management strategy along with other methods aimed at preventing the invasion of crops by BMSB adults. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36938535, year = {2023}, author = {Foster, WJ and Allen, BJ and Kitzmann, NH and Münchmeyer, J and Rettelbach, T and Witts, JD and Whittle, RJ and Larina, E and Clapham, ME and Dunhill, AM}, title = {How predictable are mass extinction events?.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {221507}, pmid = {36938535}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Many modern extinction drivers are shared with past mass extinction events, such as rapid climate warming, habitat loss, pollution and invasive species. This commonality presents a key question: can the extinction risk of species during past mass extinction events inform our predictions for a modern biodiversity crisis? To investigate if it is possible to establish which species were more likely to go extinct during mass extinctions, we applied a functional trait-based model of extinction risk using a machine learning algorithm to datasets of marine fossils for the end-Permian, end-Triassic and end-Cretaceous mass extinctions. Extinction selectivity was inferred across each individual mass extinction event, before testing whether the selectivity patterns obtained could be used to 'predict' the extinction selectivity exhibited during the other mass extinctions. Our analyses show that, despite some similarities in extinction selectivity patterns between ancient crises, the selectivity of mass extinction events is inconsistent, which leads to a poor predictive performance. This lack of predictability is attributed to evolution in marine ecosystems, particularly during the Mesozoic Marine Revolution, associated with shifts in community structure alongside coincident Earth system changes. Our results suggest that past extinctions are unlikely to be informative for predicting extinction risk during a projected mass extinction.}, }
@article {pmid36936381, year = {2023}, author = {Meeus, S and Silva-Rocha, I and Adriaens, T and Brown, PMJ and Chartosia, N and Claramunt-López, B and Martinou, AF and Pocock, MJO and Preda, C and Roy, HE and Tricarico, E and Groom, QJ}, title = {More than a Bit of Fun: The Multiple Outcomes of a Bioblitz.}, journal = {Bioscience}, volume = {73}, number = {3}, pages = {168-181}, pmid = {36936381}, issn = {0006-3568}, abstract = {Bioblitzes are a popular approach to engage people and collect biodiversity data. Despite this, few studies have actually evaluated the multiple outcomes of bioblitz activities. We used a systematic review, an analysis of data from more than 1000 bioblitzes, and a detailed analysis of one specific bioblitz to inform our inquiry. We evaluated five possible bioblitz outcomes, which were creating a species inventory, engaging people in biological recording, enhancing learning about nature, discovering a species new to an area, and promoting an organization. We conclude that bioblitzes are diverse but overall effective at their aims and have advantages over unstructured biodiversity recording. We demonstrate for the first time that bioblitzes increase the recording activity of the participants for several months after the event. In addition, we provide evidence that bioblitzes are effective at bringing people and organizations together to build communities of professionals and amateurs, critical for conserving and protecting biodiversity.}, }
@article {pmid36934941, year = {2023}, author = {Karpowicz, M and Feniova, IY and Sakharova, EG and Gorelysheva, ZI and Więcko, A and Górniak, A and Dzialowski, AR}, title = {Top-down and bottom-up control of phytoplankton communities by zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {162899}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162899}, pmid = {36934941}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Zebra mussels (ZM), Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), are one of the most aggressive invasive species. ZM have a strong bidirectional impact on phytoplankton because of their high nutrient excretion rates and high grazing pressure. Furthermore, the interactions between excretion and selective grazing are related to the trophic status of a waterbody and could cause unpredictable changes in phytoplankton. We performed three types of experiments: (i) bottom-up where we measured ZM excretion rates; (ii) top-down where we analyzed the effects of ZM on phytoplankton taxonomic structure via grazing in different trophic conditions; (iii) mesocosm experiment where we estimated the combined top-down and bottom-up effects of ZM on phytoplankton assemblages under different trophic conditions. Our first experiment confirmed high excretion rates of dissolved nutrients (PO4[3-] and NH4[+]) and DOC by ZM. The other experiments revealed selective grazing by ZM, where diatoms were mostly selectively rejected, while green algae were preferred. In the top-down experiment, ZM decreased the total biomass of phytoplankton, while in mesocosm experiments where top-down and bottom-up controls acted simultaneously, we observed increased phytoplankton biomass mainly through increases in filamentous green algae. Our experiments show that ZM can influence phytoplankton through a combination of bottom-up and top-down effects that vary with trophic state.}, }
@article {pmid36934311, year = {2023}, author = {Schatz, AM and Park, AW}, title = {Patterns of host-parasite co-invasion promote enemy release and specialist parasite spillover.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13910}, pmid = {36934311}, issn = {1365-2656}, abstract = {Species invasion and redistribution, driven by climate change and other anthropogenic influences, alter global biodiversity patterns and disrupt ecosystems. As host species move, they can bring their associated parasites with them, potentially infecting resident species, or leave their parasites behind, enhancing their competitive ability in their new ranges. General rules to predict why invading hosts will retain some parasites but not others are relatively unexplored, and the potential predictors are numerous, ranging from parasite life history to host community composition. In this study, we focus on the parasite retention process during host invasion. We used the Global Mammal Parasite Database to identify terrestrial mammal hosts sampled for parasites in both native and non-native ranges. We then selected predictors likely to play a role in parasite retention, such as parasite type, parasite specialism, species composition of the invaded community, and the invading host's phylogenetic or trait-based similarity to the new community. We modeled parasite retention using boosted regression trees, with a suite of 25 predictors describing parasite and host community traits. We further tested the generality of our predictions by cross-validating models on data for other hosts and invasion locations. Our results show that parasite retention is non-random and predictable across hosts and invasions. It is broadly shaped by parasite type and parasite specialism, with more specialist parasites that infect many closely related hosts more likely to be retained. This trend is pronounced across parasite types; helminths, however, show a more uniform likelihood of retention regardless of specificity. Overall, we see that most parasites are not retained (11% retained), meaning many invasive species may benefit from enemy release. However, species redistribution does have the potential to spread parasites, and this also has great relevance to understanding conservation implications of species invasions. We see that specialist parasites are most likely to co-invade with their hosts, which suggests that species closely related to the invasive hosts are most likely to be affected by parasite spillover.}, }
@article {pmid36933722, year = {2023}, author = {Courtois, P and Martinez, C and Thomas, A}, title = {Spatial priorities for invasive alien species control in protected areas.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {162675}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162675}, pmid = {36933722}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Given the limited funds available for the management of invasive alien species (IASs), there is a need to design cost-effective strategies to prioritize their control. In this paper, we propose a cost-benefit optimization framework that incorporates the spatially explicit costs and benefits of invasion control, as well as the spatial invasion dynamics. Our framework offers a simple yet operational priority-setting criterion for the spatially explicit management of IASs under budget constraints. We applied this criterion to the control of the invasion of primrose willow (genus Ludwigia) in a protected area in France. Using a unique geographic information system panel dataset on control costs and invasion levels through space for a 20-year period, we estimated the costs of invasion control and a spatial econometric model of primrose willow invasion dynamics. Next, we used a field choice experiment to estimate the spatially explicit benefits of invasion control. Applying our priority criterion, we show that, unlike the current management strategy that controls the invasion in a spatially homogeneous manner, the criterion recommends targeted control on heavily invaded areas that are highly valued by users. We also show that the returns on investment are high, justifying the need to increase the allocated budgets and to treat the invasion more drastically. We conclude with policy recommendations and possible extensions, including the development of operational cost-benefit decision-support tools to assist local decision-makers in setting management priorities.}, }
@article {pmid36933097, year = {2023}, author = {Takyi, EM and Bhattacharyya, J and Parshad, RD}, title = {A Gender-Selective Harvesting Strategy: Weak Allee Effects and a Non-hyperbolic Extinction Boundary.}, journal = {Acta biotheoretica}, volume = {71}, number = {2}, pages = {11}, pmid = {36933097}, issn = {1572-8358}, abstract = {Recently a gender-selective harvesting strategy has been proposed for possible control of aquatic invasive species, wherein females of the invasive species are harvested, whilst stocking the males (abbreviated as FHMS strategy) (Lyu et al. in Nat Resour Model 33(2):e12252, 2020). We consider the FHMS strategy with a weak Allee effect, and show that its extinction boundary need not be hyperbolic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a non-hyperbolic extinction boundary in two-compartment mating models structured by sex. The model possesses a rich dynamical structure, with several local co-dimension one bifurcations occurring. We also show the occurrence of a global homoclinic bifurcation, which has applicability for large scale strategic bio-control.}, }
@article {pmid36932847, year = {2023}, author = {Riegl, B and Walentowitz, A and Sevilla, C and Chango, R and Jäger, H}, title = {Invasive blackberry outcompetes the endemic Galapagos tree daisy Scalesia pedunculata.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2846}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2846}, pmid = {36932847}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Island florae are under threat from habitat loss and competition with introduced species worldwide. In the Galapagos Islands, the endemic tree daisy Scalesia pedunculata (Asteraceae) is the dominant tree in the cloud forest of Santa Cruz Island but suffers from competition with the invasive blackberry Rubus niveus. At the site Los Gemelos, a S. pedunculata population was monitored from 2014 to 2021 following mechanical and chemical removal of R. niveus from 17 plots and compared with 17 additional plots where R. niveus remained. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of the R. niveus invasion on S. pedunculata by characterizing the effects of R. niveus removal. Parameters measured in S. pedunculata were diameter at breast height (DBH, from which annual growth rates were determined), total height, survival of individual plants, and recruitment. In the presence of R. niveus, S. pedunculata trees had smaller DBH stems and shorter asymptotic maximum heights, growth rates declined for thin trees, the mortality of larger trees was elevated, and S. pedunculata recruitment was absent. R. niveus removal resulted in DBH ratios of S. pedunculata more frequently meeting our threshold for fast growth (1.2), trees growing significantly thicker and taller, annual mortality being lower (12.5 vs. 16.2% per year), and recruitment being successful. In the presence of R. niveus, lower survival, growth, and absent recruitment suggested that S. pedunculata could reach quasi-extinction in ~20 years. Swift and decisive management action is needed to prevent the Scalesia forest on Santa Cruz Island from disappearing in less than two decades.}, }
@article {pmid36930698, year = {2023}, author = {Schall, JJ and Nouri-Aiin, M and Görres, J}, title = {APOLOCYSTIS BOSANQUETI N. SP. (APICOMPLEXA: EUGREGARINORIDA) FROM THE INVASIVE EARTHWORM AMYNTHAS AGRESTIS (ANNELIDA: MEGASCOLECIDAE), WITH SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE MONOPHYLY OF THE FAMILY MONOCYSTIDAE.}, journal = {The Journal of parasitology}, volume = {109}, number = {2}, pages = {56-64}, doi = {10.1645/22-66}, pmid = {36930698}, issn = {1937-2345}, abstract = {Apolocystis bosanqueti n. sp., a parasite of an important invasive earthworm in North America, Amynthas agrestis, is described from a site in northern Vermont. The earthworm host follows an annual life cycle in Vermont, so the entire life cycle of the parasite can be observed in 7 mo. In spring, the parasites were first seen in juvenile worms as paired gamonts (suggesting precocious association). These paired gamonts mature into gametocytes that form an opaque structure, with a thick gelatinous envelope (epicyst), that becomes full of zygotes. The resulting gametocyst becomes packed with ∼105 fusiform oocysts. The mature orbicular gametocysts are large (∼1 mm in diameter) and visible to the naked eye through the body wall of the host's anterior segments. The new species most resembles Apolocystis herculea described from many lumbricid earthworm species in Europe but differs from that parasite because Ap. herculea infects the intestinal wall in the posterior of the host rather than the anterior segments. A survey of 9 other earthworm species sympatric with Am. agrestis revealed that only Amynthas tokioensis, also an invasive species, was infected with Ap. bosanqueti, albeit much less commonly. Diagnosis for the family Monocystidae is problematic because cardinal characters are lacking, and the commonly cited character, a trophozoite with no anterior differentiation, is violated in most genera placed in the family. For the first time, a molecular phylogeny is presented that includes 3 genera of monocystids with diverse cell morphology (including the new species) and supports the monophyly of the family. The only morphological character that may be used to diagnose the Monocystidae is the morphology of oocysts, which are fusiform with extended terminal tips. A comparison of oocysts from 7 parasites recovered from local earthworms, including from 3 monocystid species in the phylogeny, confirms the utility of this diagnostic trait. The 2 hosts of the new species were most likely introduced from Japan, so the range of Apolocystis likely extends into East Asia.}, }
@article {pmid36929483, year = {2023}, author = {Herlevi, H and Wallin Kihlberg, I and Aarnio, K and Bonsdorff, E and Florin, AB and Ljung, A and Lundström, K and Mattila, J and Östman, &#xd6;}, title = {Environmental abundances of the non-native round goby Neogobius melanostomus influence feeding of native fish predators.}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.15380}, pmid = {36929483}, issn = {1095-8649}, abstract = {We assessed the importance of the round goby Neogobius melanostomus as prey for three native predatory fish species, Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, European perch Perca fluviatilis and Northern pike Esox lucius, in a northern and southern area of the Baltic Proper, using a combination of visual analysis and DNA metabarcoding of predator stomach contents. To explore the influence of environmental abundances of N. melanostomus on predation, we related the occurrence of N. melanostomus in predator diets to its abundance in survey fishing. Gadus morhua and E. lucius in the southern area showed the highest tendency to feed on N. melanostomus when it was abundant, as N. melanostomus occurred in up to 100% of stomachs and constituted up to 88% of the total diet volume proportion. The diet contribution of N. melanostomus was associated with N. melanostomus abundances for G. morhua and E. lucius, and when N. melanostomus was abundant, these predators exhibited lower prey richness and a higher degree of piscivory. G. morhua and P. fluviatilis also fed less on crustacean prey when N. melanostomus was abundant. The high importance of N. melanostomus in diets of native fish predators may modify indirect interactions between N. melanostomus and native prey species in invaded coastal communities.}, }
@article {pmid36928355, year = {2023}, author = {Walter, M and Mondal, P}, title = {Mapping of Phragmites in estuarine wetlands using high-resolution aerial imagery.}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {195}, number = {4}, pages = {478}, pmid = {36928355}, issn = {1573-2959}, abstract = {Phragmites australis is a widespread invasive plant species in the USA that greatly impacts estuarine wetlands by creating dense patches and outcompeting other plants. The invasion of Phragmites into wetland ecosystems is known to decrease biodiversity, destroy the habitat of threatened and endangered bird species, and alter biogeochemistry. While the impact of Phragmites is known, the spatial extent of this species is challenging to document due to its fragmented occurrence. Using high-resolution imagery from the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) from 2017, we evaluated a geospatial method of mapping the spatial extent of Phragmites across the state of DE. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and principal component analysis (PCA) bands are generated from the NAIP data and used as inputs in a random forest classifier to achieve a high overall accuracy for the Phragmites classification of around 95%. The classified gridded dataset has a spatial resolution of 1 m and documents the spatial distribution of Phragmites throughout the state's estuarine wetlands (around 11%). Such detailed classification could aid in monitoring the spread of this invasive species over space and time and would inform the decision-making process for landscape managers.}, }
@article {pmid36924970, year = {2023}, author = {Haubrock, PJ and Cuthbert, RN and Haase, P}, title = {Long-term trends and drivers of biological invasion in Central European streams.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {162817}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162817}, pmid = {36924970}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Rates of biological invasion continue to accelerate and threaten the structure and function of ecosystems worldwide. High habitat connectivity, multiple pathways, and inadequate monitoring have rendered aquatic ecosystems vulnerable to species introductions going unnoticed. Past riverine invasion dynamics were largely restricted to large rivers, leaving out smaller rivers that commonly harbour high freshwater biodiversity. Moreover, biodiversity time series have rarely been used to investigate invasions across larger spatial-temporal scales, limiting our understanding of aquatic invasion dynamics. Here, we used 6067 benthic invertebrate samples from streams and small rivers from the EU Water Framework Directive monitoring program collected across Central Europe between 2000 and 2018 to assess temporal changes to benthic invertebrate communities as well as non-native species. We assessed invasion rates according to temperature, precipitation, elevation, latitude, longitude, and stream type. Overall, average daily temperatures significantly increased by 0.02 °C per annum (0.34 °C in total) while annual precipitation significantly decreased by 0.01 mm per annum (-67.8 mm over the study period), paralleled with significant increases in overall species richness (12.3 %) and abundance (14.9 %); water quality was relatively stable. Non-native species richness increased 5-fold and abundance 40-fold, indicating an ongoing community shift from native to non-native species. The observed increase in invasions was stronger in low mountain rivers compared to low mountain streams, with the share of non-native species abundance and richness declining with increasing elevation and latitude but increasing with temperature. We found thermophilic non-native species invasion success was greatest in larger sized streams, at lower latitudes, lower elevations and higher temperatures. These results indicate that widespread environmental characteristics (i.e., temperature) could heighten invasion success and confer refuge effects (i.e., elevation and latitude) in higher elevation sites. High altitude and latitude environments should be prioritised for prevention efforts, while biosecurity and management should be improved in lowland areas subject to greater anthropogenic pressure, where non-native introductions are more likely.}, }
@article {pmid36924139, year = {2023}, author = {Krause, LMK and Manderfeld, E and Gnutt, P and Vogler, L and Wassick, A and Richard, K and Rudolph, M and Hunsucker, KZ and Swain, GW and Rosenhahn, B and Rosenhahn, A}, title = {Semantic segmentation for fully automated macrofouling analysis on coatings after field exposure.}, journal = {Biofouling}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-16}, doi = {10.1080/08927014.2023.2185143}, pmid = {36924139}, issn = {1029-2454}, abstract = {Biofouling is a major challenge for sustainable shipping, filter membranes, heat exchangers, and medical devices. The development of fouling-resistant coatings requires the evaluation of their effectiveness. Such an evaluation is usually based on the assessment of fouling progression after different exposure times to the target medium (e.g. salt water). The manual assessment of macrofouling requires expert knowledge about local fouling communities due to high variances in phenotypical appearance, has single-image sampling inaccuracies for certain species, and lacks spatial information. Here an approach for automatic image-based macrofouling analysis was presented. A dataset with dense labels prepared from field panel images was made and a convolutional network (adapted U-Net) for the semantic segmentation of different macrofouling classes was proposed. The establishment of macrofouling localization allows for the generation of a successional model which enables the determination of direct surface attachment and in-depth epibiotic studies.}, }
@article {pmid36924007, year = {2023}, author = {Li, J and Jiang, M and Pei, J and Fang, C and Li, B and Nie, M}, title = {Convergence of carbon sink magnitude and water table depth in global wetlands.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14199}, pmid = {36924007}, issn = {1461-0248}, abstract = {Wetlands are strategic areas for carbon uptake, but accurate assessments of their sequestration ability are limited by the uncertainty and variability in their carbon balances. Based on 2385 observations of annual net ecosystem production from global wetlands, we show that the mean net carbon sinks of inland wetlands, peatlands and coastal wetlands are 0.57, 0.29 and 1.88 tons of carbon per hectare per year, respectively, with a mean value of 0.57 tons of carbon per hectare per year weighted by the distribution area of different wetland types. Carbon sinks are mainly in Asia and North America. Within and across wetland types, we find that water table depth (WTD) exerts greater control than climate- and ecosystem-related variables, and an increase in WTD results in a stronger carbon sink. Our results highlight an urgent need to sustain wetland hydrology under global change; otherwise, wetlands are at high risk of becoming carbon sources to the atmosphere.}, }
@article {pmid36923130, year = {2023}, author = {Zarraonaindia, I and Cretazzo, E and Mena-Petite, A and Díez-Navajas, AM and Pérez-López, U and Lacuesta, M and Pérez-Álvarez, EP and Puertas, B and Fernandez-Diaz, C and Bertazzon, N and Cantos-Villar, E}, title = {Holistic understanding of the response of grapevines to foliar application of seaweed extracts.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1119854}, pmid = {36923130}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Viticulture is highly dependent on phytochemicals to maintain good vineyard health. However, to reduce their accumulation in the environment, green regulations are driving the development of eco-friendly strategies. In this respect, seaweeds have proven to be one of the marine resources with the highest potential as plant protective agents, representing an environmentally-friendly alternative approach for sustainable wine production. The current work follows an interdisciplinary framework to evaluate the capacity of Ulva ohnoi and Rugulopteryx okamurae seaweeds to induce defense mechanisms in grapevine plants. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate Rugulopteryx okamurae as a biostimulator . This macroalgae is relevant since it is an invasive species on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast causing incalculable economic and environmental burdens. Four extracts (UL1, UL2, RU1 and RU2 developed from Ulva and Rugulopteryx, respectively) were foliar applied to Tempranillo plants cultivated under greenhouse conditions. UL1 and RU2 stood out for their capacity to induce defense genes, such as a PR10, PAL, STS48 and GST1, mainly 24 hours after the first application. The increased expression level of these genes agreed with i) an increase in trans-piceid and trans-resveratrol content, mainly in the RU2 treated leaves, and, ii) an increase in jasmonic acid and decrease in salicylic acid. Moreover, an induction of the activity of the antioxidant enzymes was observed at the end of the experiment, with an increase in superoxide dismutase and catalase in the RU2-treated leaves in particular. Interestingly, while foliar fungal diversity was not influenced by the treatments, alga extract amendment modified fungal composition, RU2 application enriching the content of various groups known for their biocontrol activity. Overall, the results evidenced the capacity of Rugulopteryx okamurae for grapevine biostimulation, inducing the activation of several secondary metabolite pathways and promoting the abundance of beneficial microbiota involved in grapevine protection. While further studies are needed to unravel the bioactive compound(s) involved, including conducting field experiments etc., the current findings are the first steps towards the inclusion of Rugulopteryx okamurae in a circular scheme that would reduce its accumulation on the coast and benefit the viticulture sector at the same time.}, }
@article {pmid36921381, year = {2023}, author = {Meo-Filho, P and Hood, J and Lee, MRF and Fleming, H and Meethal, ME and Misselbrook, T}, title = {Performance and enteric methane emissions from housed beef cattle fed silage produced on pastures with different forage profiles.}, journal = {Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {100726}, doi = {10.1016/j.animal.2023.100726}, pmid = {36921381}, issn = {1751-732X}, abstract = {Methane (CH4) produced by ruminants is a significant source of greenhouse gases from agriculture in the United Kingdom (UK), accounting for approximately 50% of the emissions in this sector. Ration modification is linked to changes in rumen fermentation and can be an effective means of CH4 abatement. In temperate climate countries, forage silage represents a major feed component for cattle during the housing period. The objective of this study was, therefore, to compare enteric CH4 emission from cattle offered silage produced from different types of grassland. Beef cattle, steers (n = 89) and heifers (n = 88) with average liveweight (LW) of 328 ± 57.1 kg were evaluated during two housing seasons (2016-2017 and 2017-2018) from November to April, at the Rothamsted Research North Wyke Farm Platform (UK). The treatments corresponded to three diet types, comprising silage harvested from three different pastures: MRG, monoculture of perennial ryegrass (PRG, Lolium perenne L.cv. AberMagic), bred to express the high-sugar phenotype; RG-WC, a mixed sward comprised of the same perennial ryegrass cultivar with white clover (Trifolium repens L.) with a target clover proportion of 30% as land cover; and permanent pasture (PP) dominated by PRG and a small number of non-introduced species. MRG and PP received 160-200 kg N/ha/year. Cattle were weighed every 30 days, and the enteric CH4 emission was determined using GreenFeed automated systems. No significant differences in enteric CH4 emission per head or per kg LW were observed between treatments. However, emission expressed per average daily gain (ADG) in LW was greater (P < 0.001) for MRG compared with RG-WC and PP, at 270, 248 and 235 g CH4/kg ADG, respectively. This related to a lower ADG (P = 0.041) for the animals fed MRG silage compared with RG-WC and PP which were similar, with respective values of 0.67, 0.71 and 0.74 kg/day. The forages compared in this study showed little or no potential to reduce enteric CH4 emission when fed as silage to growing beef cattle during the winter housing period.}, }
@article {pmid36864146, year = {2023}, author = {Mega, ER}, title = {Pablo Escobar's 'cocaine hippos' spark conservation row.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {615}, number = {7952}, pages = {382-383}, pmid = {36864146}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {*Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Artiodactyla ; Cocaine ; *Dissent and Disputes ; Colombia ; Introduced Species/legislation &amp; jurisprudence ; Animals ; *Research Personnel ; }, }
@article {pmid36920898, year = {2023}, author = {Helmer, EH and Kay, S and Marcano-Vega, H and Powers, JS and Wood, TE and Zhu, X and Gwenzi, D and Ruzycki, TS}, title = {Multiscale predictors of small tree survival across a heterogeneous tropical landscape.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {e0280322}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0280322}, pmid = {36920898}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Uncertainties about controls on tree mortality make forest responses to land-use and climate change difficult to predict. We tracked biomass of tree functional groups in tropical forest inventories across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and with random forests we ranked 86 potential predictors of small tree survival (young or mature stems 2.5-12.6 cm diameter at breast height). Forests span dry to cloud forests, range in age, geology and past land use and experienced severe drought and storms. When excluding species as a predictor, top predictors are tree crown ratio and height, two to three species traits and stand to regional factors reflecting local disturbance and the system state (widespread recovery, drought, hurricanes). Native species, and species with denser wood, taller maximum height, or medium typical height survive longer, but short trees and species survive hurricanes better. Trees survive longer in older stands and with less disturbed canopies, harsher geoclimates (dry, edaphically dry, e.g., serpentine substrates, and highest-elevation cloud forest), or in intervals removed from hurricanes. Satellite image phenology and bands, even from past decades, are top predictors, being sensitive to vegetation type and disturbance. Covariation between stand-level species traits and geoclimate, disturbance and neighboring species types may explain why most neighbor variables, including introduced vs. native species, had low or no importance, despite univariate correlations with survival. As forests recovered from a hurricane in 1998 and earlier deforestation, small trees of introduced species, which on average have lighter wood, died at twice the rate of natives. After hurricanes in 2017, the total biomass of trees ≥12.7 cm dbh of the introduced species Spathodea campanulata spiked, suggesting that more frequent hurricanes might perpetuate this light-wooded species commonness. If hurricane recovery favors light-wooded species while drought favors others, climate change influences on forest composition and ecosystem services may depend on the frequency and severity of extreme climate events.}, }
@article {pmid36920234, year = {2023}, author = {Rehm, EM and D'Antonio, C and Yelenik, S}, title = {Crossing the threshold: Invasive grasses inhibit forest restoration on Hawaiian Islands.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2841}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2841}, pmid = {36920234}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Forest removal for livestock grazing is a striking example of human-caused state change leading to a stable, undesirable invasive grass system that is resistant to restoration efforts. Understanding which factors lead to resilience the alternative grass state can greatly benefit managers when planning forest restoration. We address how thresholds of grass cover and seed rain might influence forest recovery in a restoration project on Hawai'i Island, USA. Since the 1980s, over 400,000 Acacia koa (koa) trees were planted across degraded pasture and invasive grasses still dominate the understory with no native woody-plant recruitment. Between this koa/grass matrix are remnant native Metrosideros polymorpha ('ōhi'a) trees beneath which native woody plants naturally recruit. We tested whether there were threshold levels of native woody understory that accelerate recruitment under both tree species by monitoring seed rain at 40 trees (20 koa and 'ōhi'a) with a range of native woody understory basal area (BA). We found a positive relationship between total seed rain (but not bird-dispersed seed rain) and native woody BA, and a negative relationship between native woody BA and grass cover, with no indication of threshold dynamics. We also experimentally combined grass removal levels with seed rain density (6 levels) of two common understory species in plots under koa (n = 9) and remnant 'ōhi'a (n = 9). Few seedlings emerged when no grass was removed despite adding seeds at densities 2-75 times higher than naturally occurring. However, seedling recruitment increased 2 to 3 times once at least 50% of grass was removed. Existing survey data of naturally occurring seedlings also supported a threshold of grass cover below which seedlings were able to establish. Thus, removal of all grasses are not necessary to achieve system responses: even moderate reductions (~50%) can increase rates of native woody recruitment. The non-linear thresholds found here highlight how incremental changes to an inhibitory factor lead to limited restoration success until a threshold is crossed. The resources needed to fully eradicate an invasive species may be unwarranted for state change, making understanding where thresholds lie of the utmost importance to prioritize resources. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36919167, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, X and Wang, G and Peng, P and Zhou, Y and Chen, Z and Feng, Y and Wang, Y and Shi, S and Li, J}, title = {Influences of environment, human activity, and climate on the invasion of Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) in Southwest China.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14902}, doi = {10.7717/peerj.14902}, pmid = {36919167}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {With economic and social globalization, invasive alien species have significantly threatened local ecological security. Identifying the invasive mechanisms of invasive alien species can aid in preventing species invasions and protecting local ecological and economic security. As a globally invasive plant, Ageratina adenophora (Asteraceae) has spread to many parts of the world and had a seriously impacted the ecology and economy of its invaded areas. Using observational data and Landsat OLI images in an arid valley region in southwest China, this study examined how climate, human activity and environmental factors influence the invasion of A. adenophora and its underlying mechanism. Our results showed that the invasion abundance of A. adenophora was significantly affected by environmental factors (the relative importance was 87.2%), but was less influenced by human activity and climate factors (the relative importance was 2% and 10.8%, respectively). The A. adenophora abundance significantly decreased with aspect, community canopy density, shrub layer coverage, herb layer coverage, Simpson diversity index of shrub and herb layers, the shortest distance to residential areas and temperature seasonality, whereas it increased with soil moisture, temperature annual range, precipitation of wettest month and precipitation of driest month. We conclude that biotic competition is the most influential factor in the invasion of this plant in the arid valley regions. Our results are of great significance for invasion prevention and forest conservation and management in southwest China. Our work emphasized that optimizing the community structure, such as by increasing canopy and shrub coverage and species biodiversity, may help control and mitigate the A. adenophora invasion in southwest China.}, }
@article {pmid36918476, year = {2023}, author = {Shen, C and Chen, P and Zhang, K and He, M and Wan, J and Wang, Y and Tao, Z and Huang, W and Siemann, E}, title = {Dynamics and mechanisms of secondary invasion following biological control of an invasive plant.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18878}, pmid = {36918476}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Secondary invasions in which non-target invaders expand following eradication of a target invader commonly occur in habitats with multiple invasive plant species and can prevent recovery of native communities. However, the dynamics and mechanisms of secondary invasion remain unclear. Here, we conducted a common garden experiment to test underlying mechanisms of secondary invasion for 14 non-target invaders after biological control of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in two consecutive years. We found secondary invasion for all tested non-target invaders, but secondary invasiveness (change relative to natives) varied with species and time. Specifically, secondary invasiveness depended most strongly on phylogenetic relatedness between the target and non-target invaders in the first year with closely related non-target invaders being most invasive. In contrast, secondary invasiveness in the second year was mostly driven by functional traits with taller non-target invaders or those with higher SLA, or smaller seeds especially invasive. Our study indicates that secondary invasion is likely to occur wherever other invasive plants co-occur with an invasive species targeted for control. Furthermore, the most problematic invaders will initially be species closely related to the target invader but then species with rapid growth and high reproduction are most likely to be more aggressive secondary invaders.}, }
@article {pmid36917579, year = {2023}, author = {Crichton, BRJ and Hickford, MJH and McIntosh, AR and Schiel, DR}, title = {Predicting biomass of resident kōkopu (Galaxias) populations using local habitat characteristics.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {e0261993}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0261993}, pmid = {36917579}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {With the global decline of freshwater fishes, quantifying the body size-specific habitat use of vulnerable species is crucial for accurately evaluating population health, identifying the effects of anthropogenic stressors, and directing effective habitat restoration. Populations of New Zealand's endemic kōkopu species (Galaxias fasciatus, G. argenteus, and G. postvectis) have declined substantially over the last century in response to anthropogenic stressors, including habitat loss, migratory barriers, and invasive species. Despite well-understood habitat associations, key within-habitat features underpinning the reach-scale biomass of small and large kōkopu remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether the total biomass of large (> 90 mm) size classes of each kōkopu species and the composite biomass of all small (≤ 90 mm) kōkopu were associated with components of the physical environment that provided refuge and prey resources across fifty-seven 50-m stream reaches. Because kōkopu are nocturnal, populations were sampled by removal at night using headlamps and hand-nets until reaches were visually depleted. Based on Akaike's information criterion, greater large banded kōkopu biomass was most parsimoniously explained by greater pool volume and forest cover, greater large giant kōkopu biomass by greater bank cover and pool volume, and greater large shortjaw kōkopu biomass by greater substrate size and pool volume. In contrast, greater composite small kōkopu biomass was best explained by smaller substrate size, reduced bank cover, and greater pool volume. Local habitat associations therefore varied among kōkopu species and size classes. Our study demonstrates the importance of considering the ontogenetic shift in species' habitat use and provides an effective modelling approach for quantifying size-specific local habitat use of stream-dwelling fish.}, }
@article {pmid36914973, year = {2023}, author = {Sarabian, C and Wilkinson, A and Sigaud, M and Kano, F and Tobajas, J and Darmaillacq, AS and Kalema-Zikusoka, G and Plotnik, JM and MacIntosh, AJJ}, title = {Disgust in animals and the application of disease avoidance to wildlife management and conservation.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13903}, pmid = {36914973}, issn = {1365-2656}, abstract = {Disgust is an adaptive system hypothesized to have evolved to reduce the risk of becoming sick. It is associated with behavioural, cognitive and physiological responses tuned to allow animals to avoid and/or get rid of parasites, pathogens and toxins. Little is known about the mechanisms and outcomes of disease avoidance in wild animals. Furthermore, given the escalation of negative human-wildlife interactions, the translation of such knowledge into the design of evolutionarily relevant conservation and wildlife management strategies is becoming urgent. Contemporary methods in animal ecology and related fields, using direct (sensory cues) or indirect (remote sensing technologies and machine learning) means, provide a flexible toolbox for testing and applying disgust at individual and collective levels. In this review/perspective paper, we provide an empirical framework for testing the adaptive function of disgust and its associated disease avoidance behaviours across species, from the least to the most social, in different habitats. We predict various trade-offs to be at play depending on the social system and ecology of the species. We propose five contexts in which disgust-related avoidance behaviours could be applied, including endangered species rehabilitation, invasive species, crop-raiding, urban pests and animal tourism. We highlight some of the perspectives and current challenges of testing disgust in the wild. In particular, we recommend future studies to consider together disease, predation and competition risks. We discuss the ethics associated with disgust experiments in the above contexts. Finally, we promote the creation of a database gathering disease avoidance evidence in animals and its applications.}, }
@article {pmid36913856, year = {2023}, author = {Bergamo, TF and de Lima, RS and Kull, T and Ward, RD and Sepp, K and Villoslada, M}, title = {From UAV to PlanetScope: Upscaling fractional cover of an invasive species Rosa rugosa.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {336}, number = {}, pages = {117693}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117693}, pmid = {36913856}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Invasive plant species pose a direct threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Among these, Rosa rugosa has had a severe impact on Baltic coastal ecosystems in recent decades. Accurate mapping and monitoring tools are essential to quantify the location and spatial extent of invasive plant species to support eradication programs. In this paper we combined RGB images obtained using an Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle, with multispectral PlanetScope images to map the extent of R. rugosa at seven locations along the Estonian coastline. We used RGB-based vegetation indices and 3D canopy metrics in combination with a random forest algorithm to map R. rugosa thickets, obtaining high mapping accuracies (Sensitivity = 0.92, specificity = 0.96). We then used the R. rugosa presence/absence maps as a training dataset to predict the fractional cover based on multispectral vegetation indices derived from the PlanetScope constellation and an Extreme Gradient Boosting algorithm (XGBoost). The XGBoost algorithm yielded high fractional cover prediction accuracies (RMSE = 0.11, R[2] = 0.70). An in-depth accuracy assessment based on site-specific validations revealed notable differences in accuracy between study sites (highest R[2] = 0.74, lowest R[2] = 0.03). We attribute these differences to the various stages of R. rugosa invasion and the density of thickets. In conclusion, the combination of RGB UAV images and multispectral PlanetScope images is a cost-effective method to map R. rugosa in highly heterogeneous coastal ecosystems. We propose this approach as a valuable tool to extend the highly local geographical scope of UAV assessments into wider areas and regional evaluations.}, }
@article {pmid36912967, year = {2023}, author = {Matzrafi, M and Wolberg, S and Abu-Nassar, J and Zelinger, E and Bar, E and Cafri, D and Lewinsohn, E and Shtein, I}, title = {Distinctive foliar features and volatile profiles in three Ambrosia species (Asteraceae).}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {257}, number = {4}, pages = {79}, pmid = {36912967}, issn = {1432-2048}, abstract = {Ambrosia species differ both in their trichome types and in metabolic profiles of leaf volatiles. The current study provides tools for easier taxonomic identification of ragweed species. The genus Ambrosia (Asteraceae) includes some of the most noxious allergenic invasive weeds in the world. Due to high polymorphism in this genus, identification of species is often difficult. This study focuses on microscopic investigation of foliar features and GC-MS identification of the main leaf volatile components of three Ambrosia species currently found in Israel-invasive species Ambrosia confertiflora and A. tenuifolia, and transient A. grayi. A. confertiflora and A. tenuifolia have three trichome types: non-glandular trichomes, capitate glandular trichomes and linear glandular trichomes. Their non-glandular trichomes and capitate trichomes have distinct structures and can serve as taxonomic characters. A. grayi (the least successful invader) has only very dense covering trichomes. All three Ambrosia species have secretory structures in their leaf midrib. A. confertiflora, the most problematic invasive plant in Israel, had a ten times higher volatiles content than the other two species. In A. confertiflora, the most abundant volatiles were chrysanthenone (25.5%), borneol (18%), germacrene D and (E)-caryophyllene (both around 12%). In A. tenuifolia, the most abundant volatiles were β-myrcene (32.9%), (2E)-hexenal (13%) and 1,8-cineole (11.7%). In A. grayi, the most abundant volatiles were β-myrcene (17.9%), germacrene D (17.8%) and limonene (14%). The three examined species have distinct trichome types and metabolic profiles. Non-glandular trichomes show structural diversification between species and are a good descriptive character. Considering the anthropocentric significance of this highly problematic genus, the current study provides tools for easier identification of ragweed species.}, }
@article {pmid36912726, year = {2023}, author = {Larrue, S and Baray, JL and Chadeyron, J and Meyer, JY and Mazal, L and Daehler, CC and Fumanal, B}, title = {Modeling long-distance seed dispersal of the invasive tree Spathodea campanulata in the Society Islands.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2839}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2839}, pmid = {36912726}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Long-distance dispersal is a key factor explaining the success of invasive alien species, particularly across oceanic islands. However, it is often not feasible to reliably measure long-distance seed dispersal over many kilometers in the field. Here, we used a 3-D kinematic trajectory model (Computing Atmospheric Trajectory tool (CAT)) initiated from regional wind field data to assess the potential for long-distance seed dispersal (LDD) of a wind-dispersed invasive tree, Spathodea campanulata (African tulip tree) across the Society Islands (French Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean) following its initial planting and spread on the island of Tahiti. The main objective of our study was to determine whether S. campanulata can be expected to spread naturally among islands. Atmospheric dynamics, seed terminal velocity, precipitation and temperature of air masses were considered to assess the potential for LDD between oceanic islands, with the island of Tahiti serving as the island source for multiple, geographically distant invasions. Aerial trajectories of modeled S. campanulata seeds indicated that wind-dispersed seeds originating from trees on the island of Tahiti could reach most of the Society Islands and disperse as far as 1364 km. This result suggests that Spathodea can be expected to spread naturally among the Society Islands. When rainfall events were modeled as causal agents of seed settlement, fewer seeds reached distant islands, but more seeds settled on the closest island (20 km away). Including effects of island topography ("barrier effects") also resulted in more seeds settling on the closest island and fewer seeds reaching the most distant islands. Overall, our findings suggest that recent atmospheric models can provide valuable insights into LDD and invasion patterns of wind dispersed invasive species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36911981, year = {2023}, author = {Staton, T and Girling, RD and Redak, RA and Smith, SM and Allison, JD}, title = {Can morphological traits explain species-specific differences in meta-analyses? A case study of forest beetles.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2838}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2838}, pmid = {36911981}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Meta-analyses have become a valuable tool with which to synthesise effects across studies, but in ecology and evolution, they are often characterised by high heterogeneity, where effect sizes vary between studies. Much of this heterogeneity can be attributed to species-specific differences in responses to predictor variables. Here, we aimed to incorporate a novel trait-based approach to explain species-specific differences in a meta-analysis by testing the ability of morphological traits to explain why the effectiveness of flight-intercept trap design varies according to beetle species, a critical issue in forest pest management. An existing morphological trait database for forest beetles was supplemented, providing trait data for 97 species, while data from a previous meta-analysis on capture rates of bark or woodboring beetles according to different trap designs was updated. We combined these sources by including nine morphological traits as moderators in meta-analysis models, for five different components of trap design. Traits were selected based on theoretical hypotheses relating to beetle movement, manoeuvrability, and sensory perception. We compared the performance of morphological traits as moderators, versus guild, taxonomic family, and null meta-analysis models. Morphological traits for the effect of trap type (panel vs multiple-funnel) on beetle capture rates improved model fit (AICc), reduced within-study variance (σ[2]), and explained more variation (McFadden's pseudo-R[2]) compared with null, guild, and taxonomic family models. For example, morphological trait models explained 10% more of the variance (pseudo-R[2]) when compared with a null model. However, using traits was less informative to explain how detailed elements of trap design such as surface treatment and colour influence capture rates. The reduction of within-study variance when accounting for morphological traits demonstrates their potential value for explaining species-specific differences. Morphological traits associated with flight efficiency, manoeuvrability, and eye size were particularly informative for explaining the effectiveness of trap type. This could lead to improved predictability of optimal trap design according to species. Therefore, morphological traits could be a valuable tool for understanding species-specific differences in community ecology, but other causes of heterogeneity across studies, such as forest type and structure, require further investigation.}, }
@article {pmid36911387, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, Y and Hu, J and Wu, J and Li, Z}, title = {ChIP-seq profiling of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 in an invasive insect, Bactrocera dorsalis.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1108104}, pmid = {36911387}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Introduction: While it has been suggested that histone modifications can facilitate animal responses to rapidly changing environments, few studies have profiled whole-genome histone modification patterns in invasive species, leaving the regulatory landscape of histone modifications in invasive species unclear. Methods: Here, we screen genome-wide patterns of two important histone modifications, trimethylated Histone H3 Lysine 4 (H3K4me3) and trimethylated Histone H3 Lysine 27 (H3K27me3), in adult thorax muscles of a notorious invasive pest, the Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq). Results: We identified promoters featured by the occupancy of H3K4me3, H3K27me3 or bivalent histone modifications that were respectively annotated with unique genes key to muscle development and structure maintenance. In addition, we found H3K27me3 occupied the entire body of genes, where the average enrichment was almost constant. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that H3K4me3 is associated with active gene transcription, and H3K27me3 is mostly associated with transcriptional repression. Importantly, we identified genes and putative motifs modified by distinct histone modification patterns that may possibly regulate flight activity. Discussion: These findings provide the first evidence of histone modification signature in B. dorsalis, and will be useful for future studies of epigenetic signature in other invasive insect species.}, }
@article {pmid36911316, year = {2023}, author = {Deane, DC and Hui, C and McGeoch, M}, title = {Two dominant forms of multisite similarity decline - Their origins and interpretation.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {e9859}, pmid = {36911316}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The number of species shared by two or more sites is a fundamental measure of spatial variation in species composition. As more sites are included in the comparison of species composition, the average number of species shared across them declines, with a rate increasingly dependent on only the most widespread species. In over 80% of empirical communities, models of decline in shared species across multiple sites (multisite similarity decline) follow one of two distinct forms. An exponential form is assumed to reflect stochastic assembly and a power law form niche-based sorting, yet these explanations are largely untested, and little is known of how the two forms arise in nature. Using simulations, we first show that the distribution of the most widespread species largely differentiates the two forms, with the power law increasingly favored where such species occupy more than ~75% of sites. We reasoned the less cosmopolitan distribution of widespread species within exponential communities would manifest as differences in community biodiversity properties, specifically more aggregated within-species distributions, less even relative abundance distributions, and weaker between-species spatial associations. We tested and largely confirmed these relationships using 80 empirical datasets, suggesting that the form of multisite similarity decline offers a basis to predict how landscape-scale loss or gain of widespread species is reflected in different local-scale community structures. Such understanding could, for example, be used to predict changes in local-scale competitive interactions following shifts in widespread species' distributions. We propose multiple explanations for the origin of exponential decline, including high among-site abiotic variation, sampling of highly specialized (narrow niche width) taxa, and strong dispersal limitation. We recommend these are evaluated as alternative hypotheses to stochastic assembly.}, }
@article {pmid36909462, year = {2023}, author = {Barrett, CF and Corbett, CW and Thixton-Nolan, HL and , }, title = {A lack of population structure characterizes the invasive Lonicera japonica in West Virginia and across eastern North America.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.03.01.530604}, pmid = {36909462}, abstract = {Invasive plant species cause massive ecosystem damage globally, yet represent powerful case studies in population genetics and rapid adaptation to new habitats. The availability of digitized herbarium collections data, and the ubiquity of invasive species across the landscape make them highly accessible for studies of invasion history and population dynamics associated with their introduction, establishment, spread, and ecological interactions. Here we focus on Lonicera japonica , one of the most damaging invasive vine species in North America. We leveraged digitized collections data and contemporary field collections to reconstruct the invasion history and characterize patterns of genomic variation in the eastern USA, using a straightforward method for generating nucleotide polymorphism data and a recently published, chromosome-level genome for the species. We found an overall lack of population structure among sites in northern West Virginia, USA, as well as across sites in the central and eastern USA. Heterozygosity and population differentiation were both low based on Fst , analysis of molecular variance, principal components analysis, and cluster-based analyses. We also found evidence of high inbreeding coefficients and significant linkage disequilibrium, in line with the ability of this otherwise outcrossing, perennial species to propagate vegetatively. Our findings corroborate earlier studies based on allozyme data, and suggest that intentional, human-assisted spread explains the lack of population structure, as this species was planted for erosion control and as an ornamental, escaping cultivation repeatedly across the USA. Finally, we discuss how plant invasion genomics can be incorporated into experiential undergraduate education as a way to integrate teaching and research.}, }
@article {pmid36907404, year = {2023}, author = {Bueno, ML and Heringer, G and de Carvalho, DR and Robinson, TB and Pompeu, PS and Zenni, RD}, title = {Ecosystem variables importance in the presence and abundance of a globally invasive fish.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {876}, number = {}, pages = {162795}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162795}, pmid = {36907404}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Changes in physical habitat that are associated with anthropogenic disturbances facilitate the establishment and expansion of non-native species in receiving environments. Here, we evaluated the relative importance of ecosystem variables for the presence and abundance of the invasive fish Poecilia reticulata in Brazil. We collected fish species and assessed environmental variables through an established physical habitat protocol in 220 stream sites located in southeastern and midwestern Brazil. A total of 14,816 P. reticulata individuals were collected in 43 stream sites, and 258 variables that describe the physical characteristics of streams were assessed, including measures of channel morphology, substrate size and type, habitat complexity and cover, riparian vegetation cover and structure, and human influence. Dimensionality reduction methods were employed to limit redundancy, resulting in a smaller set of the most relevant environmental variables. Subsequently, we used random forest models to assess the relative importance of these variables in determining the presence and abundance of P. reticulata. The presence of this invasive fish was primarily explained by human disturbance variables related to urbanization (total impact, pavement, artificial structure areal cover, riparian canopy cover, electrical conductivity, mean thalweg depth, and sand), whereas channel morphology (mean bank full height) and fish cover variables (natural fish cover, and aquatic macrophyte areal cover) were important predictors of its abundance. Identifying which ecosystem variables are favorable to the establishment of non-native species is an important step in preventing future biological invasions, as well as managing those that already occur.}, }
@article {pmid36893236, year = {2023}, author = {Stokstad, E}, title = {China battles alien weed at unprecedented scale.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {379}, number = {6636}, pages = {972}, doi = {10.1126/science.adh4966}, pmid = {36893236}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Birds ; China ; *Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {"Mammoth" plan to control a coastal invader would benefit migratory birds.}, }
@article {pmid36702858, year = {2023}, author = {Iseli, E and Chisholm, C and Lenoir, J and Haider, S and Seipel, T and Barros, A and Hargreaves, AL and Kardol, P and Lembrechts, JJ and McDougall, K and Rashid, I and Rumpf, SB and Arévalo, JR and Cavieres, L and Daehler, C and Dar, PA and Endress, B and Jakobs, G and Jiménez, A and Küffer, C and Mihoc, M and Milbau, A and Morgan, JW and Naylor, BJ and Pauchard, A and Ratier Backes, A and Reshi, ZA and Rew, LJ and Righetti, D and Shannon, JM and Valencia, G and Walsh, N and Wright, GT and Alexander, JM}, title = {Rapid upwards spread of non-native plants in mountains across continents.}, journal = {Nature ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {405-413}, pmid = {36702858}, issn = {2397-334X}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Altitude ; Introduced Species ; Plants ; Plant Dispersal ; }, abstract = {High-elevation ecosystems are among the few ecosystems worldwide that are not yet heavily invaded by non-native plants. This is expected to change as species expand their range limits upwards to fill their climatic niches and respond to ongoing anthropogenic disturbances. Yet, whether and how quickly these changes are happening has only been assessed in a few isolated cases. Starting in 2007, we conducted repeated surveys of non-native plant distributions along mountain roads in 11 regions from 5 continents. We show that over a 5- to 10-year period, the number of non-native species increased on average by approximately 16% per decade across regions. The direction and magnitude of upper range limit shifts depended on elevation across all regions. Supported by a null-model approach accounting for range changes expected by chance alone, we found greater than expected upward shifts at lower/mid elevations in at least seven regions. After accounting for elevation dependence, significant average upward shifts were detected in a further three regions (revealing evidence for upward shifts in 10 of 11 regions). Together, our results show that mountain environments are becoming increasingly exposed to biological invasions, emphasizing the need to monitor and prevent potential biosecurity issues emerging in high-elevation ecosystems.}, }
@article {pmid36904052, year = {2023}, author = {Bhatt, A and Chen, X and Pompelli, MF and Jamal, A and Mancinelli, R and Radicetti, E}, title = {Characterization of Invasiveness, Thermotolerance and Light Requirement of Nine Invasive Species in China.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12051192}, pmid = {36904052}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Understanding responsible functional traits for promoting plant invasiveness could be important to aid in the development of adequate management strategies for invasive species. Seed traits play an important role in the plant life cycle by affecting dispersal ability, formation of the soil seed bank, type and level of dormancy, germination, survival and/or competitive ability. We assessed seed traits and germination strategies of nine invasive species under five temperature regimes and light/dark treatments. Our results showed a considerable level of interspecific variation in germination percentage among the tested species. Both cooler (5/10 °C) and warmer (35/40 °C) temperatures tended to inhibit germination. All study species were considered small-seeded, and seed size did not affect germination in the light. Yet, a slightly negative correlation was found between germination in the dark and seed dimensions. We classified the species into three categories according to their germination strategies: (i) risk-avoiders, mostly displaying dormant seeds with low G%; (ii) risk-takers, reaching a high G% in a broad range of temperatures; (iii) intermediate species, showing moderate G% values, which could be enhanced in specific temperature regimes. Variability in germination requirements could be important to explain species coexistence and invasion ability of plants to colonize different ecosystems.}, }
@article {pmid36903875, year = {2023}, author = {Barta, C&#xc9; and Jenkins, BC and Lindstrom, DS and Zahnd, AK and Székely, G}, title = {The First Evidence of Gibberellic Acid's Ability to Modulate Target Species' Sensitivity to Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) Allelochemicals.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12051014}, pmid = {36903875}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Invasive species employ competitive strategies such as releasing allelopathic chemicals into the environment that negatively impact native species. Decomposing Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) leaves leach various allelopathic phenolics into the soil, decreasing the vigor of several native species. Notable differences in the net negative impacts of L. maackii metabolites on target species were argued to depend on soil properties, the microbiome, the proximity to the allelochemical source, the allelochemical concentration, or environmental conditions. This study is the first to address the role of target species' metabolic properties in determining their net sensitivity to allelopathic inhibition by L. maackii. Gibberellic acid (GA3) is a critical regulator of seed germination and early development. We hypothesized that GA3 levels might affect the target sensitivity to allelopathic inhibitors and evaluated differences in the response of a standard (control, Rbr), a GA3-overproducing (ein), and a GA3-deficient (ros) Brassica rapa variety to L. maackii allelochemicals. Our results demonstrate that high GA3 concentrations substantially alleviate the inhibitory effects of L. maackii allelochemicals. A better understanding of the importance of target species' metabolic properties in their responses to allelochemicals will contribute to developing novel invasive species control and biodiversity conservation protocols and may contribute to applications in agriculture.}, }
@article {pmid36902324, year = {2023}, author = {Au, MFF and Williams, GA and Hui, JHL}, title = {Status Quo and Future Perspectives of Molecular and Genomic Studies on the Genus Biomphalaria-The Intermediate Snail Host of Schistosoma mansoni.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24054895}, pmid = {36902324}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Schistosomiasis, or also generally known as bilharzia or snail fever, is a parasitic disease that is caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. It is considered by the World Health Organisation as the second most prevalent parasitic disease after malaria and affects more than 230 million people in over 70 countries. People are infected via a variety of activities ranging from agricultural, domestic, occupational to recreational activities, where the freshwater snails Biomphalaria release Schistosoma cercariae larvae that penetrate the skin of humans when exposed in water. Understanding the biology of the intermediate host snail Biomphalaria is thus important to reveal the potential spread of schistosomiasis. In this article, we present an overview of the latest molecular studies focused on the snail Biomphalaria, including its ecology, evolution, and immune response; and propose using genomics as a foundation to further understand and control this disease vector and thus the transmission of schistosomiasis.}, }
@article {pmid36901319, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, J and Duan, X and Li, G and Cai, Z and Wei, S and Song, Q and Zheng, Z}, title = {Changes in Bacterial Communities and Their Effects on Soil Carbon Storage in Spartina alterniflora Invasion Areas, Coastal Wetland Bare Flats, and Sueada salsa Areas.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph20054308}, pmid = {36901319}, issn = {1660-4601}, abstract = {Spartina alterniflora is considered an invasive species that has affected the biogeochemical circle of carbon in coastal wetlands around the world. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how S. alternation invasion affects the carbon storage capacity of coastal wetlands as carbon pools through bacterial changes. Herein, bacterial communities and soil carbon content in coastal wetland native areas and S. alterniflora invasion areas were detected. It was found that an S. alterniflora invasion brought more organic carbon and resulted in the increase in Proteobacteria in bare flats and Sueada salsa areas. When decomposition capacity was not sufficient, large amounts of organic carbon may be stored in specific chemical forms, such as monosaccharides, carboxylic acids, alcohols, etc. The results have also shown that soil bacterial communities were highly similar between the bare flat and S. alterniflora invasion area, which is extremely conducive to the rapid growth of S. alterniflora. However, an S. alterniflora invasion would decrease total carbon contents and inorganic carbon contents in the Sueada salsa area. This is not conducive to the stability of the soil carbon pool and soil health. These findings may complement, to some extent, the shortcomings of the interaction between S. alterniflora and bacterial communities, and their joint effect on soil carbon storage.}, }
@article {pmid36898302, year = {2023}, author = {López-Reyes, K and Osorio-Olvera, L and Rojas-Soto, O and Chiappa-Carrara, X and Patrón-Rivero, C and Yáñez-Arenas, C}, title = {An exhaustive evaluation of modeling ecological niches above species level to predict marine biological invasions.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {186}, number = {}, pages = {105926}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105926}, pmid = {36898302}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Identifying the areas of the world with suitable environmental conditions for the establishment of invasive species represents a fundamental basis for preventing their impacts. One of the most widely used tools for this is ecological niche modeling. Nonetheless, this approach may underestimate the specie's physiological tolerances (it's potential niche) since wildlife populations of species usually do not occupy their entire environmental tolerance. Recently, it has been suggested that incorporating occurrences of phylogenetically related species improves the prediction of biological invasions. However, the reproducibility of this technique remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the generality of this protocol by assessing whether the construction of modeling units above species level improves the capacity of niche models to predict the distribution of 26 target marine invasive species. For each, we constructed supraspecific modeling units based on published phylogenies by grouping the native occurrence records of each invasive species with the records of its phylogenetically closest relative. We also considered units at species level, including only the presence of records in the native areas of the target species. We generated ecological niche models for each unit with three modeling methods (minimum volume ellipsoids - MVE, machine learning algorithms - Maxent and a presence-absence method - GLM). In addition, we grouped the 26 target species based on whether or not the species are in environmental pseudo-equilibrium (i.e., it occupies all habitats where it can disperse) and have any geographical or biological constraints. Our results suggest that the construction of supraspecific units improves the predictive capacity of correlative models to estimate the invasion area of our target species. This modeling approach consistently generated models with a higher predictive ability for species in non-environmental pseudo-equilibrium and with geographical constraints.}, }
@article {pmid36894073, year = {2023}, author = {Worischka, S and Schöll, F and Winkelmann, C and Petzoldt, T}, title = {Twenty-eight years of ecosystem recovery and destabilisation: Impacts of biological invasions and climate change on a temperate river.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {162678}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162678}, pmid = {36894073}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Most river ecosystems are exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors affecting the composition and functionality of benthic communities. Identifying main causes and detecting potentially alarming trends in time depends on the availability of long-term monitoring data sets. Our study aimed to improve the knowledge about community effects of multiple stressors that is needed for effective, sustainable management and conservation. We conducted a causal analysis to detect the dominant stressors and hypothesised that multiple stressors, such as climate change and multiple biological invasions, reduce biodiversity and thus endanger ecosystem stability. Using a data set from 1992 to 2019 for the benthic macroinvertebrate community of a 65-km stretch of the upper Elbe river in Germany, we evaluated the effects of alien species, temperature, discharge, phosphorus, pH and abiotic conditional variables on the taxonomic and functional composition of the benthic community and analysed the temporal behaviour of biodiversity metrics. We observed fundamental taxonomic and functional changes in the community, with a shift from collectors/gatherers to filter feeders and feeding opportunists preferring warm temperatures. A partial dbRDA revealed significant effects of temperature and alien species abundance and richness. The occurrence of distinct phases in the development of community metrics suggests a temporally varying impact of different stressors. Taxonomic and functional richness responded more sensitively than the diversity metrics whereas the functional redundancy metric remained unchanged. Especially the last 10-year phase, however, showed a decline in richness metrics and an unsaturated, linear relationship between taxonomic and functional richness, which rather indicates reduced functional redundancy. We conclude that the varying anthropogenic stressors over three decades, mainly biological invasions and climate change, affected the community severely enough to increase its vulnerability to future stressors. Our study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring data and emphasises a careful use of biodiversity metrics, preferably considering also community composition.}, }
@article {pmid36881709, year = {2023}, author = {Nixon, LJ and Barnes, C and Deecher, E and Madalinska, K and Nielsen, A and Urban, J and Leskey, TC}, title = {Evaluating deployment strategies for spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) traps.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toad038}, pmid = {36881709}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), is an invasive planthopper that was first detected in the United States in Berks County, PA, in 2014, and has since spread to 13 states in the Eastern United States. This phloem-feeding pest has a broad host range, including economically important crops such as grapevine, Vitis spp. Monitoring presence and relative abundance of L. delicatula is essential to develop pest management tools. Here, we compared deployment strategies to optimize use of L. delicatula monitoring traps. Standard circle traps, sticky bands, and circle traps with replaceable bag tops were deployed at sites with either high or low populations present. Trap deployment at different heights and on different host tree species and trap sampling intervals were evaluated for standard circle traps only. Circle traps captured significantly more L. delicatula adults at low-density sites compared with other trap types in 2021, and no differences were detected at high-density sights. Traps deployed 1 m from the ground captured significantly more adults than those deployed at 0.5 m; no differences were detected for nymphs. While no significant differences in captures were found among intervals, weekly or biweekly sampling prevented specimen degradation. Although traps deployed on Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae) captured significantly or numerically more L. delicatula at most sites, traps deployed on other hosts also yielded consistent captures. We were also able to alter the construction of circle trap skirts to allow for deployment on different sized tree trunks.}, }
@article {pmid36881623, year = {2023}, author = {Rohwer, RR and Hale, RJ and Vander Zanden, MJ and Miller, TR and McMahon, KD}, title = {Species invasions shift microbial phenology in a two-decade freshwater time series.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {11}, pages = {e2211796120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2211796120}, pmid = {36881623}, issn = {1091-6490}, abstract = {Invasive species impart abrupt changes on ecosystems, but their impacts on microbial communities are often overlooked. We paired a 20 y freshwater microbial community time series with zooplankton and phytoplankton counts, rich environmental data, and a 6 y cyanotoxin time series. We observed strong microbial phenological patterns that were disrupted by the invasions of spiny water flea (Bythotrephes cederströmii) and zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). First, we detected shifts in Cyanobacteria phenology. After the spiny water flea invasion, Cyanobacteria dominance crept earlier into clearwater; and after the zebra mussel invasion, Cyanobacteria abundance crept even earlier into the diatom-dominated spring. During summer, the spiny water flea invasion sparked a cascade of shifting diversity where zooplankton diversity decreased and Cyanobacteria diversity increased. Second, we detected shifts in cyanotoxin phenology. After the zebra mussel invasion, microcystin increased in early summer and the duration of toxin production increased by over a month. Third, we observed shifts in heterotrophic bacteria phenology. The Bacteroidota phylum and members of the acI Nanopelagicales lineage were differentially more abundant. The proportion of the bacterial community that changed differed by season; spring and clearwater communities changed most following the spiny water flea invasion that lessened clearwater intensity, while summer communities changed least following the zebra mussel invasion despite the shifts in Cyanobacteria diversity and toxicity. A modeling framework identified the invasions as primary drivers of the observed phenological changes. These long-term invasion-mediated shifts in microbial phenology demonstrate the interconnectedness of microbes with the broader food web and their susceptibility to long-term environmental change.}, }
@article {pmid36881607, year = {2023}, author = {Salomé-Díaz, J and Golubov, J and Díaz-Segura, O and Ramírez-Gutiérrez, MC and Sifuentes de la Torre, S and Koleff, P and Quintero, E and Martínez, AJ}, title = {Practice makes the expert: The importance of training volunteers in the generation of phenological data from photographs of biodiversity observation platforms.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {e0282750}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0282750}, pmid = {36881607}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Phenology studies the time at which events in the life cycle of a species occur sand how they are related to environmental cues. Patterns of change in phenology at different scales can be used as an indicator of ecosystem changes and climate change, but the data necessary to detect these changes can be difficult to obtain due to their temporal and regional dimensions. Citizen science can contribute to generate large amounts of data on phenological changes at wide geographical scales that would be almost impossible for professional scientists to generate, but the quality and reliability of these data are often questioned. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of a biodiversity observation citizen science platform based on photographic information as a potential source of large-scale phenological information, and to identify the key benefits and limitations of this type of information source. We used the Naturalista photographic databases for two invasive species in a tropical region: Leonotis nepetifolia and Nicotiana glauca. The photographs were classified into different phenophases (initial growth, immature flower, mature flower, dry fruit) by three groups of volunteers: a group of experts, a trained group with information on the biology and phenology of both species, and an untrained group. The degree of reliability of the phenological classifications was estimated for each group of volunteers and each phenophase. The degree of reliability of the phenological classification of the untrained group was generally very low for all phenophases. The group of trained volunteers showed accuracy levels for the reproductive phenophases that equaled the degree of reliability among the expert group, regardless of species, and was consistent across phenophases. We conclude that volunteer classification of photographic information contained in biodiversity observation platforms can provide phenological information with high geographic coverage and an increasing temporal coverage on general phenological patterns of species with wide distributions but has limited applicability in the identification of exact start and end dates. and peaks of the different phenophases.}, }
@article {pmid36874980, year = {2023}, author = {Goode, K and Weber, MJ and Dixon, PM}, title = {WhoseEgg: classification software for invasive carp eggs.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14787}, pmid = {36874980}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Carps ; Eggs ; Knowledge ; Language ; Software ; }, abstract = {The collection of fish eggs is a commonly used technique for monitoring invasive carp. Genetic identification is the most trusted method for identifying fish eggs but is expensive and slow. Recent work suggests random forest models could provide an inexpensive method for identifying invasive carp eggs based on morphometric egg characteristics. While random forests provide accurate predictions, they do not produce a simple formula for obtaining new predictions. Instead, individuals must have knowledge of the R coding language, limiting the individuals who can use the random forests for resource management. We present WhoseEgg: a web-based point-and-click application that allows non-R users to access random forests via a point and click interface to rapidly identify fish eggs with an objective of detecting invasive carp (Bighead, Grass, and Silver Carp) in the Upper Mississippi River basin. This article provides an overview of WhoseEgg, an example application, and future research directions.}, }
@article {pmid36874973, year = {2023}, author = {Peñafiel-Ricaurte, A and Price, SJ and Leung, WTM and Alvarado-Rybak, M and Espinoza-Zambrano, A and Valdivia, C and Cunningham, AA and Azat, C}, title = {Is Xenopus laevis introduction linked with Ranavirus incursion, persistence and spread in Chile?.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14497}, pmid = {36874973}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; Chile ; Phylogeny ; *Ranavirus ; Xenopus laevis ; Anura ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Ranaviruses have been associated with amphibian, fish and reptile mortality events worldwide and with amphibian population declines in parts of Europe. Xenopus laevis is a widespread invasive amphibian species in Chile. Recently, Frog virus 3 (FV3), the type species of the Ranavirus genus, was detected in two wild populations of this frog near Santiago in Chile, however, the extent of ranavirus infection in this country remains unknown. To obtain more information about the origin of ranavirus in Chile, its distribution, species affected, and the role of invasive amphibians and freshwater fish in the epidemiology of ranavirus, a surveillance study comprising wild and farmed amphibians and wild fish over a large latitudinal gradient (2,500 km) was carried out in 2015-2017. In total, 1,752 amphibians and 496 fish were tested using a ranavirus-specific qPCR assay, and positive samples were analyzed for virus characterization through whole genome sequencing of viral DNA obtained from infected tissue. Ranavirus was detected at low viral loads in nine of 1,011 X. laevis from four populations in central Chile. No other amphibian or fish species tested were positive for ranavirus, suggesting ranavirus is not threatening native Chilean species yet. Phylogenetic analysis of partial ranavirus sequences showed 100% similarity with FV3. Our results show a restricted range of ranavirus infection in central Chile, coinciding with X. laevis presence, and suggest that FV3 may have entered the country through infected X. laevis, which appears to act as a competent reservoir host, and may contribute to the spread the virus locally as it invades new areas, and globally through the pet trade.}, }
@article {pmid36801685, year = {2023}, author = {Li, X and Yang, W and Ma, X and Zhu, Z and Sun, T and Cui, B and Yang, Z}, title = {Invasive Spartina alterniflora habitat forms high energy fluxes but low food web stability compared to adjacent native vegetated habitats.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {334}, number = {}, pages = {117487}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117487}, pmid = {36801685}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Food Chain ; Introduced Species ; Poaceae ; Wetlands ; China ; }, abstract = {Invasive Spartina spp. mostly colonizes a bare tidal flat and then establishes a new vegetated habitat, where it promotes the productivity of local ecosystems. However, it was unclear whether the invasive habitat could well exhibit ecosystem functioning, e.g. how its high productivity propagates throughout the food web and whether it thereby develops a high food web stability relative to native vegetated habitats. By developing quantitative food webs for a long-established invasive Spartina alterniflora habitat and adjacent native salt marsh (Suaeda salsa) and seagrass (Zostera japonica) habitats in China's Yellow River Delta, we investigated the distributions of energy fluxes, assessed the stability of food webs, and investigated the net trophic effects between trophic groups by combining all direct and indirect trophic interactions. Results showed that the total energy flux in the invasive S. alterniflora habitat was comparable to that in the Z. japonica habitat, whereas 4.5 times higher than that in the S. salsa habitat. While, the invasive habitat had the lowest trophic transfer efficiencies. Food web stability in the invasive habitat was about 3 and 40 times lower than that in the S. salsa and Z. japonica habitats, respectively. Additionally, there were strong net effects caused by intermediate invertebrate species in the invasive habitat rather than by fish species in both native habitats. This study revealed the contradiction between the promotion of energy fluxes and the decrease of food web stability resulting from the invasion of S. alterniflora, which provides new insights into the community-based management of plant invasions.}, }
@article {pmid36793230, year = {2023}, author = {Vogel, S and Taraschewski, H}, title = {Intermediate host patterns of acanthocephalans in the Weser river system: co-invasion vs host capture.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182023000124}, pmid = {36793230}, issn = {1469-8161}, abstract = {Anthropogenic interference is a major driver of ecological change in freshwater ecosystems. Pollution and the introduction of new species not only alter macrozoobenthic community structures, but can also affect their respective parasite communities. The ecology of the Weser river system experienced a drastic decline in biodiversity over the past century due to salinization caused by the local potash industry. As a response, the amphipod Gammarus tigrinus was released into the Werra in 1957. A few decades after the introduction and subsequent spread of this North American species, its natural acanthocephalan Paratenuisentis ambiguus was recorded in the Weser in 1988, where it had captured the European eel Anguilla anguilla as a novel host. To assess the recent ecological changes in the acanthocephalan parasite community, we investigated gammarids and eel in the Weser river system. In addition to P. ambiguus, 3 Pomphorhynchus species and Polymorphus cf. minutus were discovered. The introduced G. tigrinus serves as a novel intermediate host for the acanthocephalans Pomphorhynchus tereticollis and P. cf. minutus in the tributary Werra. Pomphorhynchus laevis is persistent in the tributary Fulda in its indigenous host Gammarus pulex. Pomphorhynchus bosniacus colonized the Weser with its Ponto-Caspian intermediate host Dikerogammarus villosus. This study highlights the anthropogenically driven changes in ecology and evolution in the Weser river system. Based on morphological and phylogenetic identification, the shifts in distribution and host usage described here for the first time contribute to the puzzling taxonomy of the genus Pomphorhynchus in times of ecological globalization.}, }
@article {pmid36872956, year = {2023}, author = {Doiron, G}, title = {Invasive Plant Relations in a Global Pandemic: Caring for a "Problematic Pesto".}, journal = {Environment and planning. E, Nature and space}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {600-616}, pmid = {36872956}, issn = {2514-8494}, abstract = {In Spring 2020, amidst a COVID-19 state of emergency, the City of Toronto's Parks &amp; Urban Forestry department posted signs in the city's remaining Black Oak Savannahs to announce the cancellation of the yearly 'prescribed burn' practice, citing fears it would exacerbate pandemic conditions. With this activity and other nature management events on hold, many invasive plants continued to establish and proliferate. This paper confronts dominant attitudes in invasion ecology with Indigenous epistemologies and ideas of transformative justice, asking what can be learned from building a relationship with a much-maligned invasive plant like garlic mustard. Written in isolation as the plant began to flower in the Black Oak savannahs and beyond, this paper situates the plant's abundance and gifts within pandemic-related 'cancelled care' and 'cultivation activism' as a means of exploring human-nature relations in the settler-colonial city. It also asks what transformative lessons garlic mustard can offer about precarity, non-linear temporalities, contamination, multispecies entanglements, and the impacts of colonial property regimes on possible relations. Highlighting the entanglements of historical and ongoing violences with invasion ecology, this paper presents 'caring for invasives' as a path toward more liveable futures.}, }
@article {pmid36872563, year = {2023}, author = {Baecher, JA and Johnson, SA and Roznik, EA and Scheffers, BR}, title = {Experimental evaluation of how biological invasions and climate change interact to alter the vertical assembly of an amphibian community.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13899}, pmid = {36872563}, issn = {1365-2656}, abstract = {While biotic-abiotic interactions are increasingly documented in nature, a process-based understanding of how such interactions influence community assembly is lacking in the ecological literature. Perhaps the most emblematic and pervasive example of such interactions is the synergistic threat to biodiversity posed by climate change and invasive species. Invasive species often out-compete or prey on native species. Despite this long-standing and widespread issue, little is known about how abiotic conditions, such as climate change, will influence the frequency and severity of negative biotic interactions that threaten the persistence of native fauna. Treefrogs are a globally diverse group of amphibians that climb to complete life-cycle processes, such as foraging and reproduction, as well as to evade predators and competitors, resulting in frog communities that are vertically partitioned. Furthermore, treefrogs adjust their vertical position to maintain optimal body temperature and hydration in response to environmental change. Here, utilizing this model group, we designed a novel experiment to determine how extrinsic abiotic and biotic factors (changes to water availability and an introduced predator, respectively) interact with intrinsic biological traits, such as individual physiology and behaviour, to influence treefrogs' vertical niche. Our study found that treefrogs adjusted their vertical niche through displacement behaviours in accordance with abiotic resources. However, biotic interactions resulted in native treefrogs distancing themselves from abiotic resources to avoid the non-native species. Importantly, under altered abiotic conditions, both native species avoided the non-native species 33 $$ 33 $$ %- 70 % $$ 70\% $$ more than they avoided their native counterpart. Additionally, exposure to the non-native species resulted in native species altering their tree climbing behaviours by 56 % - 78 % $$ 56\%\hbox{--} 78\% $$ and becoming more vertically dynamic to avoid the non-native antagonist. Our experiment determined that vertical niche selection and community interactions were most accurately represented by a biotic-abiotic interaction model, rather than a model that considers these factors to operate in an isolated (singular) or even additive manner. Our study provides evidence that native species may be resilient to interacting disturbances via physiological adaptations to local climate and plasticity in space-use behaviours that mediate the impact of the introduced predator.}, }
@article {pmid36867968, year = {2023}, author = {Acosta-Coley, I and Cabarcas-Montalvo, M and Hernandez-Lambraño, RE and Sierra-Marquez, L and Valcarcel-Castellanos, C and Duque, D and Martinez-Silva, S and Marrugo, M and Benavides-Serrato, M}, title = {Mercury assessment in invasive Lionfish Pterois (Oken, 1817) from marine protected areas in the Colombian Caribbean.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {189}, number = {}, pages = {114753}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114753}, pmid = {36867968}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {Lionfish (Pterois spp.) are invasive species reported since 2009 in the Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo National Natural Park in the Caribbean. Their capture and consumption are strategies to control their dispersion and limit ecological damage. The natural park is influenced by the vicinity of Cartagena's residential, industrial, and touristic activities, as well as sediments loaded with mercury from the Dique Channel. For the first time, total mercury levels in muscle from 58 lionfish were determined, with values ranging from 0.01 to 0.38 μg/g (mean = 0.11 ± 0.01 μg/g). Fish length ranged from 17.4 to 44.0 cm (mean = 28.0 ± 0.63 cm). Mercury levels did not increase proportionally to fish length for pooled data, but the relationship was significant for specimens from Rosario Island. Mercury levels comply with legislation for fish consumption, but the risk to human health may appear if it occurs daily. Therefore, precautionary approach and a permanent monitoring strategy are strongly advised.}, }
@article {pmid36864292, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, M and Ni, Y and Li, M}, title = {Evaluation of the growth, adaption, and ecosystem services of two potentially-introduced urban tree species in Guangzhou under drought stress.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {3563}, pmid = {36864292}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Trees ; Droughts ; Forests ; Biomass ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Under rapid urbanization and agglomeration of population, cities are facing various environmental challenges. As urban forests play a crucial role in mitigating native environmental problems and providing ecosystem services, cities might enhance their urban forest construction through multiple approaches, of which the introduction of exotic tree species could be an effective way. Under the background of constructing a high-quality forest city, Guangzhou was considering introducing a series of exotic tree species to improve the local urban greening, among which Tilia cordata Mill. and Tilia tomentosa Moench became the potential objects. As Guangzhou was reported to experience higher temperatures with less precipitation and face drought events with increasing frequency and intensity, whether the two tree species could survive in the dry environment required to be investigated profoundly. Thus, we launched a drought-simulation experiment and measured their above- and below-ground growth in 2020. In addition, their ecosystem services were also simulated and evaluated for their future adaption. Furthermore, a congeneric native tree species Tilia miqueliana Maxim was also measured in the same experiment as a comparison. Our results showed that Tilia miqueliana exhibited moderate patterns of growth and advantages in evapotranspiration and cooling. Besides, its investment in root development at horizontal level could account for its special strategy against drought stress. Tilia tomentosa's vigorous root growth could be the most positive behavior of coping with water deficit, which explained its maintenance of carbon fixation and implied a well adaption. Tilia cordata showed a complete decrease in above- and below-ground growth, especially for its fine root biomass. In addition, its ecosystem services were significantly reduced, reflecting a comprehensive failure when it faced a long-term scarcity of water. Therefore, it was necessary to supply sufficient water and under-ground space for their living in Guangzhou, especially for Tilia cordata. In the future, long-time observation of their growth under different stresses can be practical approaches to amplify their multiple ecosystem services.}, }
@article {pmid36864075, year = {2023}, author = {Licata, F and Ficetola, GF and Falaschi, M and Muller, BJ and Andreone, F and Harison, RF and Freeman, K and Monteiro, AT and Rosa, S and Crottini, A}, title = {Spatial ecology of the invasive Asian common toad in Madagascar and its implications for invasion dynamics.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {3526}, pmid = {36864075}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bufo bufo ; Ecology ; Madagascar ; *Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Invasion dynamics are determined, among other aspects, by the spatial behaviour of invasive populations. The invasive toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus is spreading inland from the eastern coast of Madagascar, causing considerable ecological impacts. Understanding the basic factors determining the spread dynamics can inform management strategies and provide insights into spatial evolutionary processes. We radio-tracked 91 adult toads in three localities along the invasion gradient to determine whether spatial sorting of dispersive phenotypes is occurring, and investigate intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of spatial behaviour. Overall, toads in our study appeared as habitat generalists, and their sheltering behaviour was tied to water proximity, with toads changing shelter more frequently closer to waterbodies. Toads showed low displacement rates (mean = 4.12 m/day) and quite a philopatric behaviour but were able to perform daily movements of over 50 m. We did not detect any spatial sorting of dispersal-relevant traits nor sex- or size-biased dispersal. Our results suggest that toads are more likely to expand their range during the wet season, and that the range expansion is probably dominated by short-distance dispersal at this stage of the invasion, although a future increase in invasion speed is expected, due to the capacity for long-distance movements of this species.}, }
@article {pmid36867967, year = {2023}, author = {Cannarozzi, L and Paoli, C and Vassallo, P and Cilenti, L and Bevilacqua, S and Lago, N and Scirocco, T and Rigo, I}, title = {Donor-side and user-side evaluation of the Atlantic blue crab invasion on a Mediterranean lagoon.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {189}, number = {}, pages = {114758}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114758}, pmid = {36867967}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {The recent invasion of Callinectes sapidus in the Lesina Lagoon has raised great concern about its potential impacts on the ecosystem and on local fisheries. The effects of the blue crab presence on the receiving ecosystem were evaluated from both a donor-side perspective, through the application of emergy analysis, and a user-side perspective, by means of interviews to the local fishermen. While emergy analysis showed that C. sapidus brings to an increase of both natural capital and ecosystem functions values, results from interviews highlighted that the major problem caused by the presence of the blue crab in the lagoon concerned the local economy. As the first quantitative assessment of the ecological and economic impact of C. sapidus in invaded habitats, the present investigation provided original and useful information for a comprehensive risk assessment of the species in European waters and in Mediterranean Sea.}, }
@article {pmid36867207, year = {2023}, author = {Gervazoni, P and Minuti, G and Fuentes-Rodriguez, D and Coetzee, J and Sosa, A and Sabater, L and Franceschini, C}, title = {Citizen Science Improves the Known and Potential Distribution of a Strong Wetland Invader: Implications for Niche Modeling and Invasion Management.}, journal = {Environmental management}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36867207}, issn = {1432-1009}, abstract = {Invasive alien species are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and ecosystem alteration. Obtaining up-to-date occurrence records and accurate invasion risk maps has become crucial to develop timely and effective management strategies. Unfortunately, gathering and validating distribution data can be labor-intensive and time-consuming, with different data sources unavoidably leading to biases in the results. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a tailored citizen science project compared with other data sources, in mapping the current and potential distribution of Iris pseudacorus, a strong invasive alien plant in Argentina. To do so, we used geographic information systems and ecological niche modeling with Maxent, and compared data from: i) a citizen science tailored project; ii) the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF); and iii) an exhaustive professional data collection (i.e. field samplings across Argentina, literature and collections review). Results suggest that the citizen science tailored project provided a larger and more diversified amount of data compared to the other sources. All data-sources showed good performance in the ecological niche models, however, data from the tailored citizen science project predicted a greater suitable area, including regions not yet reported. This allowed us to better identify critical and vulnerable areas, where management and prevention strategies are necessary. Professional data provided more reports in non-urban areas, whereas citizen science based data sources (i.e. GBIF and the citizen science project conducted in this study) reported more sites in urban areas, which indicates that different data-sources are complementary and there is a big potential in combining methods. We encourage the use of tailored citizen science campaigns to gather a more diverse amount of data, generating better knowledge about aquatic invasive species and helping decision-making in ecosystem management.}, }
@article {pmid36864737, year = {2023}, author = {Farrell, HL and Munson, SM and Butterfield, BJ and Duniway, MC and Faist, AM and Gornish, ES and Havrilla, CA and Larios, L and Reed, SC and Rowe, HI and Laushman, KM and McCormick, ML}, title = {Soil surface treatments and precipitation timing determine seedling development across southwestern US restoration sites.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2834}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2834}, pmid = {36864737}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Restoration in dryland ecosystems often has poor success due to low and variable water availability, degraded soil conditions, and slow plant community recovery rates. Restoration treatments can mitigate these constraints, but because treatments and subsequent monitoring are typically limited in space and time, our understanding of their applicability across broader environmental gradients remains limited. To address this limitation, we implemented and monitored a standardized set of seeding and soil surface treatments (pits, mulch, and ConMod artificial nurse plants) designed to enhance soil moisture and seedling establishment across RestoreNet, a growing network of 21 diverse dryland restoration sites in the southwestern US over 3 years. Generally, we found that the timing of precipitation relative to seeding and the use of soil surface treatments were more important in determining seeded species emergence, survival, and growth than site-specific characteristics. Using soil surface treatments in tandem with seeding promoted up to 3x greater seedling emergence densities, compared with seeding alone. The positive effect of soil surface treatments became more prominent with increased cumulative precipitation since seeding. The seed mix type with species currently found within or near a site and adapted to the historical climate promoted greater seedling emergence densities compared to the seed mix type with species from warmer, drier conditions expected to perform well under climate change. Seed mix and soil surface treatments had a diminishing effect as plants developed beyond the first season of establishment. However, we found strong effects of the initial period seeded and precipitation leading up to each monitoring date on seedling survival over time, especially for annual and perennial forbs. The presence of exotic species exerted a negative influence on seedling survival and growth, but not initial emergence. Our findings suggest that seeded species recruitment across drylands can generally be promoted, regardless of location, by: 1) incorporation of soil surface treatments, 2) employment of near-term seasonal climate forecasts, 3) suppression of exotic species, and 4) seeding at multiple times. Taken together, these results point to a multi-faceted approach to ameliorate harsh environmental conditions for improved seeding success in drylands, both now and under expected aridification.}, }
@article {pmid36864722, year = {2023}, author = {Banerjee, AK and Lee, TM and Feng, H and Liang, X and Lin, Y and Wang, J and Yin, M and Peng, H and Huang, Y}, title = {Implications for biological invasion of non-native plants for sale in the world's largest online market.}, journal = {Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e14055}, doi = {10.1111/cobi.14055}, pmid = {36864722}, issn = {1523-1739}, abstract = {Internet trade is increasingly recognized as a dispersal pathway of non-native plant species that is difficult to monitor. We sought to identify non-native flora present in the Chinese online market, the largest e-commerce market globally, and to decipher the effect of existing trade regulations, among other variables, on e-trading patterns and to inform policy. We used a comprehensive list of 811 non-native plant species in China present in 1 of the 3 phases of the invasion continuum (i.e., introduced, naturalized, and invasive). The price, propagule types, and quantities of the species offered for sale were retrieved from 9 online stores, including 2 of the largest platforms. Over 30% of the non-native species were offered for sale in the online marketplaces; invasive non-native species dominated the list (45.53%). No significant price difference was observed across the non-native species of the 3 invasion categories. Among the 5 propagule types, a significantly higher number of non-native species were offered for sale as seeds. The regression models and path analyses consistently revealed a direct positive effect of the number of uses and species' minimum residence time and an indirect effect of biogeography on the pattern of trade in non-native plant species when minimal phylogenetic signal was detected. A review of the existing phytosanitary regulations in China revealed their inadequacy in managing e-trading of non-native plant species. To address the problem, we propose integration of a standardized risk assessment framework that considers perceptions of stakeholders and is adaptable based on continuous surveillance of the trade network. If implemented successfully, the measures could provide a template for other countries to strengthen trading regulations for non-native plant species and take proactive management measures.}, }
@article {pmid36864680, year = {2023}, author = {Sujeeun, L and Thomas, SC}, title = {Biochar mitigates allelopathic effects in temperate trees.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2832}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2832}, pmid = {36864680}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Many invasive and some native tree species in North America exhibit strong allelopathic effects that may contribute to their local dominance. Pyrogenic carbon (PyC; including soot, charcoal, and black carbon) is produced by the incomplete combustion of organic matter and is widespread in forest soils. Many forms of PyC have sorptive properties that can reduce the bioavailability of allelochemicals. We investigated the potential for PyC produced by controlled pyrolysis of biomass ("biochar") to reduce the allelopathic effects of black walnut (Juglans nigra) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides), a common native tree species and a widespread invasive species in North America, respectively. Seedling growth of two native tree species (Acer saccharinum (silver maple) and Betula papyrifera (paper birch)) in response to leaf-litter-incubated soils were examined; litter incubation treatments included leaves of black walnut, Norway maple, and a non-allelopathic species (Tilia americana (American basswood)) in a factorial design with varying dosages; responses to the known primary allelochemical of black walnut (juglone) were also examined. Juglone and leaf litter of both allelopathic species strongly suppressed seedling growth. Biochar treatments substantially mitigated these effects, consistent with sorption of allelochemicals; in contrast no positive effects of biochar were observed in leaf litter treatments involving controls or additions of non-allelopathic leaf litter. Treatments of leaf litter and juglone with biochar increased the total biomass of silver maple by ~35% and in some cases more than doubled the biomass of paper birch. We conclude that biochars have the capacity to largely counteract allelopathic effects in temperate forest systems, suggesting effects of natural PyC in determining forest community structure, and also applied use of biochar as a soil amendment to mitigate allelopathic effects of invasive tree species.}, }
@article {pmid36863580, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, B and Ma, J and Yang, C and Xiao, X and Kou, W and Wu, Z and Yun, T and Zaw, ZN and Nawan, P and Sengprakhon, R and Zhou, J and Wang, J and Sun, R and Zhang, X and Xie, G and Lan, G}, title = {Diversified land conversion deepens understanding of impacts of rapid rubber plantation expansion on plant diversity in the tropics.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {162505}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162505}, pmid = {36863580}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Understanding the status and changes of plant diversity in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations is essential for sustainable plantation management in the context of rapid rubber expansion in the tropics, but remains very limited at the continental scale. In this study, we investigated plant diversity from 10-meter quadrats in 240 different rubber plantations in the six countries of the Great Mekong Subregion (GMS)-where nearly half of the world's rubber plantations are located-and analyzed the influence of original land cover types and stand age on plant diversity using Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery since the late 1980s. The results indicate that the average plant species richness of rubber plantations is 28.69 ± 7.35 (1061 species in total, of which 11.22 % are invasive), approximating half the species richness of tropical forests but roughly double that of the intensively managed croplands. Time-series satellite imagery analysis revealed that rubber plantations were primarily established in place of cropland (RPC, 37.72 %), old rubber plantations (RPORP, 27.63 %), and tropical forests (RPTF, 24.12 %). Plant species richness in RPTF (34.02 ± 7.62) was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that in RPORP (26.41 ± 7.02) and RPC (26.34 ± 5.37). More importantly, species richness can be maintained for the duration of the 30-year economic cycle, and the number of invasive species decreases as the stand ages. Given diverse land conversions and changes in stand age, the total loss of species richness due to rapid rubber expansion in the GMS was 7.29 %, which is far below the traditional estimates that only consider tropical forest conversion. In general, maintaining higher species richness at the earliest stages of cultivation has significant implications for biodiversity conservation in rubber plantations.}, }
@article {pmid36716544, year = {2023}, author = {Vacek, Z and Vacek, S and Cukor, J}, title = {European forests under global climate change: Review of tree growth processes, crises and management strategies.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {332}, number = {}, pages = {117353}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117353}, pmid = {36716544}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Trees ; *Ecosystem ; Climate Change ; Forests ; Forestry/methods ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {The ongoing global climate change is challenging all sectors, forestry notwithstanding. On the one hand, forest ecosystems are exposed to and threatened by climate change, but on the other hand, forests can influence the course of climate change by regulating the water regime, air quality, carbon sequestration, and even reduce climate extremes. Therefore, it is crucial to see climate change not only as a risk causing forest disturbances and economic consequences but also as an opportunity for innovative approaches to forest management, conservation, and silviculture based on the results of long-term research. We reviewed 365 studies evaluating the impact of climate change on European forest ecosystems, all published during the last 30 years (1993-2022). The most significant consequences of climate change include more frequent and destructive large-scale forest disturbances (wildfire, windstorm, drought, flood, bark beetle, root rot), and tree species migration. Species distribution shifts and changes in tree growth rate have substantial effects on ecosystem carbon storage. Diameter/volume increment changed from -1 to +99% in Central and Northern Europe, while it decreased from -12 to -49% in Southern Europe across tree species over the last ca. 50 years. However, it is important to sharply focus on the causes of climate change and subsequently, on adaptive strategies, which can successfully include the creation of species-diverse, spatially and age-wise structured stands (decrease drought stress and increase production), prolongation of the regenerative period, or the use of suitable introduced tree species (e.g., Douglas fir, black pine, and Mediterranean oaks). But the desired changes are based on increasing diversity and the mitigation of climate change, and will require significantly higher initial costs for silviculture practices. In conclusion, the scope and complexity of the topic require further comprehensive and long-term studies focusing on international cooperation. We see a critical gap in the transfer of research results into actual forest practice, which will be the key factor influencing afforestation of forest stands and forest growth in the following decades. What our forests will look like for future generations and what the resulting impact of climate change will be on forestry is in the hands of forest managers, depending on supportive forestry research and climate change policy, including adaptive and mitigation strategies.}, }
@article {pmid36394506, year = {2023}, author = {Moseby, K and Van der Weyde, L and Letnic, M and Blumstein, DT and West, R and Bannister, H}, title = {Addressing prey naivety in native mammals by accelerating selection for antipredator traits.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {e2780}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2780}, pmid = {36394506}, issn = {1051-0761}, mesh = {Cats ; Animals ; *Mammals ; *Biological Evolution ; Predatory Behavior/physiology ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Harnessing natural selection to improve conservation outcomes is a recent concept in ecology and evolutionary biology and a potentially powerful tool in species conservation. One possible application is the use of natural selection to improve antipredator responses of mammal species that are threatened by predation from novel predators. We investigated whether long-term exposure of an evolutionary naïve prey species to a novel predator would lead to phenotypic changes in a suite of physical and behavioral traits. We exposed a founder population of 353 burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) to feral cats (Felis catus) over 5 years and compared the physical and behavioral traits of this population (including offspring) to a control (non-predator exposed) population. We used selection analysis to investigate whether changes in the traits of bettongs were likely due to phenotypic plasticity or natural selection. We also quantified selection in both populations before and during major population crashes caused by drought (control) and high predation pressure (predator-exposed). Results showed that predator-exposed bettongs had longer flight initiation distances, larger hind feet, and larger heads than control bettongs. Trait divergence began soon after exposure and continued to intensify over time for flight initiation distance and hind foot length relative to control bettongs. Selection analysis found indicators of selection for larger hind feet and longer head length in predator-exposed populations. Results of a common garden experiment showed that the progeny of predator-exposed bettongs had larger feet than control bettongs. Results suggest that long-term, low-level exposure of naïve prey to novel predators can drive phenotypic changes that may assist with future conservation efforts.}, }
@article {pmid36860480, year = {2023}, author = {Richards, ZT and Kise, H and West, KM}, title = {The complete mitochondrial genome of the invasive cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota (Demospongiae, Suberitida, Suberitidae).}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {319-323}, pmid = {36860480}, issn = {2380-2359}, abstract = {The cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota occurs on tropical reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. The species encrusts live coral, and other benthos, and is considered a pest species that can threaten the health and productivity of locally native benthic communities on coral reefs. Here we assemble a complete mitochondrial genome to aid further research into the range expansion of this species. The circular genome was 20,504 bp in length and encoded 14 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 25 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. A phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences of 14 protein-coding genes of 12 members of the subclass Heteroscleromorpha including the newly sequenced T. hoshinota, suggests further taxonomic revisions within the order Suberitida may be warranted.}, }
@article {pmid36860184, year = {2023}, author = {Xin, Y and Yang, Z and Du, Y and Cui, R and Xi, Y and Liu, X}, title = {Vulnerability of protected areas to future climate change, land use modification and biological invasions in China.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2831}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2831}, pmid = {36860184}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Anthropogenic climate change, land use modifications, and alien species invasions are major threats to global biodiversity. Protected areas (PAs) are regarded as the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation, however, few studies have quantified the vulnerability of PAs to these global change factors together. Here, we overlay the risks of climate change, land use change, and alien vertebrate establishment within boundaries of a total of 1,020 PAs with different administrative levels in China to quantify their vulnerabilities. Our results show that 56.6% of PAs will face at least one stress factor, and 21 PAs are threatened under the highest risk with three stressors simultaneously. PAs designed for forest conservation in Southwest and South China are most sensitive to the three global change factors. In addition, wildlife and wetland PAs are predicted to mainly experience climate change and high land use anthropogenetic modifications, and many wildlife PAs can also provide suitable habitats for alien vertebrate establishment. Our study highlights the urgent need for proactive conservation and management planning of Chinese PAs by considering different global change factors together.}, }
@article {pmid36857395, year = {2023}, author = {Matzrafi, M and Abu-Nassar, J and Klap, C and Shtarkman, M and Smith, E and Dombrovsky, A}, title = {Solanum elaeagnifolium and S. rostratum as potential hosts of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {e0282441}, pmid = {36857395}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Invasive weeds cause significant crop yield and economic losses in agriculture. The highest indirect impact may be attributed to the role of invasive weeds as virus reservoirs within commercial growing areas. The new tobamovirus tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), first identified in the Middle East, overcame the Tm-22 resistance allele of cultivated tomato varieties and caused severe damage to crops. In this study, we determined the role of invasive weed species as potential hosts of ToBRFV and a mild strain of pepino mosaic virus (PepMV-IL). Of newly tested weed species, only the invasive species Solanum elaeagnifolium and S. rostratum, sap inoculated with ToBRFV, were susceptible to ToBRFV infection. S. rostratum was also susceptible to PepMV-IL infection. No phenotype was observed on ToBRFV-infected S. elaeagnifolium grown in the wild or following ToBRFV sap inoculation. S. rostratum plants inoculated with ToBRFV contained a high ToBRFV titer compared to ToBRFV-infected S. elaeagnifolium plants. Mixed infection with ToBRFV and PepMV-IL of S. rostratum plants, as well as S. nigrum plants (a known host of ToBRFV and PepMV), displayed synergism between the two viruses, manifested by increasing PepMV-IL levels. Additionally, when inoculated with either ToBRFV or PepMV-IL, disease symptoms were apparent in S. rostratum plants and the symptoms were exacerbated upon mixed infections with both viruses. In a bioassay, ToBRFV-inoculated S. elaeagnifolium, S. rostratum and S. nigrum plants infected tomato plants harboring the Tm-22 resistant allele with ToBRFV. The distribution and abundance of these Solanaceae species increase the risks of virus transmission between species.}, }
@article {pmid36856200, year = {2023}, author = {Mofu, L and Dalu, T and Wasserman, RJ and Woodford, DJ and Weyl, OL}, title = {Trophic ecology of co-occurring fishes in the Sundays River Valley irrigation ponds, assessed using stable isotope and gut content analyses.}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.15360}, pmid = {36856200}, issn = {1095-8649}, abstract = {The analysis of food web structures has increased our understanding of the dynamics of organisms belonging to different trophic levels. Here, the diet of two native species, Glossogobius callidus and Gilchristella aestuaria were assessed in the presence of two non-native species, Oreochromis mossambicus and Gambusia affinis in irrigation ponds, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. The proportion of dietary items consumed and assimilated by the four fish species were inferred from gut contents and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. Stable isotope analysis revealed that both G. affinis and O. mossambicus had a larger isotopic niche size than G. callidus and G. aestuaria. While G. callidus fed on benthic resources and G. aestuaria fed on phytoplankton. Gut content analysis showed that G. callidus, O. mossambicus and G. affinis fed predominantly on benthic resources, while G. aestuaria fed mainly on plankton resources. Considerable niche overlap corroborates the view that resource competition is a major factor shaping the composition of the four fish species. This study highlighted the low diversity of the food web within the Sundays River Valley irrigation ponds, where food items are shared by all the small-bodied fishes.}, }
@article {pmid36855906, year = {2023}, author = {Verhelst, P and Verreycken, H}, title = {First record in Europe of the Asian gobiid, shimofuri (marbled) goby Tridentiger bifasciatus Steindachner, 1881.}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.15362}, pmid = {36855906}, issn = {1095-8649}, abstract = {In November 2022, two shimofuri (marbled) gobies Tridentiger bifasciatus Steindachner, 1881 were caught in the Gent-Terneuzen shipping canal, Belgium. It is the first record of the species in Europe. Outside its native distribution area in Japan, China and South Korea, thus far the shimofuri goby has only been observed on the west coast of the USA, where established populations exist. The introduction vector potentially was ballast water exchange. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36852917, year = {2023}, author = {Baichman-Kass, A and Song, T and Friedman, J}, title = {Competitive interactions between culturable bacteria are highly non-additive.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.83398}, pmid = {36852917}, issn = {2050-084X}, abstract = {Microorganisms are found in diverse communities whose structure and function are determined by interspecific interactions. Just as single species seldom exist in isolation, communities as a whole are also constantly challenged and affected by external species. Though much work has been done on characterizing how individual species affect each other through pairwise interactions, the joint effects of multiple species on a single (focal) species, remain under explored. As such, it is still unclear how single species effects combine to a community-level effect on a species of interest. To explore this relationship, we assayed thousands of communities of two, three, and four bacterial species, measuring the effect of single, pairs of, and trios of 61 affecting species on six different focal species. We found that when multiple species each have a negative effect on a focal species, their joint effect is typically not given by the sum of the effects of individual affecting species. Rather, they are dominated by the strongest individual-species effect. Therefore, while joint effects of multiple species are often non-additive, they can still be derived from the effects of individual species, making it plausible to map complex interaction networks based on pairwise measurements. This finding is important for understanding the fate of species introduced into an occupied environment, and is relevant for applications in medicine and agriculture, such as probiotics and biocontrol agents, as well as for ecological questions surrounding migrating and invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid36851475, year = {2023}, author = {Lombardo, A and Diano, M and Brocherel, G and Palmerini, L and Giovannini, S and Mezher, Z and Iurescia, M and Cerci, T and Caprioli, A and Eleni, C and Raso, C and Mariacher, A and Del Lesto, I and Cappai, N and Mattioli, L and De Liberato, C and Fichi, G}, title = {Detection of Endoparasites in Non-Native Raccoons from Central Italy.}, journal = {Veterinary sciences}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/vetsci10020171}, pmid = {36851475}, issn = {2306-7381}, abstract = {The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a carnivore native to North and Central America, gradually introduced into Asia and Europe, including Italy. It is an important carrier of multiple endoparasites, both Protozoa and Helminths, some of them being zoonotic. The aim of this study was to investigate the endoparasites of the non-native raccoon population of Central Italy. Sixty-two raccoons were collected by local competent authorities (sixty trapped and euthanized, two found dead) and subjected to necroscopic examination. Carcasses underwent a broad parasitological investigation, including coprological techniques (macroscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, trachea, and heart, Flotac[®], Baermann test, and immunofluorescence for Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp.), research on respiratory/urinary capillariosis and artificial digestion for Trichinella spp. larvae, and a histopathological examination of the ileum. Ascarid parasites were further identified at the species level using a next-generation sequencing-based amplicon sequencing approach. The results showed the presence of different Protozoa and Nematodes: Baylisascaris procyonis (26/62; 41.9%), Pearsonema sp. (6/62; 9.6%), Capillariidae (6/62; 9.6%), Eimeria sp. (2/62; 3.2%), Cryptosporidium sp. (2/62; 3.2%), and Ancylostomatidae (2/62; 3.2%). B. procyonis is an emerging helminthic zoonotic agent considered a serious concern for public and animal health, given the possibility of its transmission to paratenic hosts, including humans and pets. The demonstrated role of the raccoon as a multi-parasite carrier should be an incentive to continuing the eradication/control of this alien species, and supports the need to implement related disease surveillance programs.}, }
@article {pmid36851068, year = {2023}, author = {Yan, ZG and Zheng, X and Zhang, YZ and Yang, ZH and Zhou, Q and Men, SH and Du, JZ}, title = {Chinese Technical Guideline for Deriving Water Quality Criteria for Protection of Freshwater Organisms.}, journal = {Toxics}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/toxics11020194}, pmid = {36851068}, issn = {2305-6304}, abstract = {In recent years, China has determined the national goal of "developing national environmental criteria", thereby promoting the rapid development of environmental quality criteria research in China. In 2017, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (MEEC, formerly the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China) issued the technical guideline for deriving water quality criteria (WQC) for protection of freshwater organisms (HJ 831-2017), and in 2022, they organized the guideline revision and issued an updated version (HJ 831-2022). The primary contents of the revision included the following. The minimum toxicity data requirements were upgraded from 6 to 10, and the species mean toxicity value was replaced by the same effect toxicity value for the criteria calculation. It is now required that the tested organisms must be distributed in China's natural fresh waters, and the toxicity data of non-native model species will no longer be used. The list of freshwater invasive species in China that cannot be used as test species was added into the guideline. The acute/chronic ratio (ACR) method for the criteria derivation and the extreme value model were deleted, and the provisions for testing the toxicity data distribution were also deleted. The exposure time of the toxicity test of various tested organisms was refined, and the priority of the toxicity data was clearly specified. This paper introduces the framework and specific technical requirements of HJ 831-2022 in detail, including data collection, pre-processing of toxicity data, criteria derivation, fitting models, and quality control. This introduction is helpful for international peers to understand the latest research progress of China's WQC.}, }
@article {pmid36846446, year = {2023}, author = {Singh, M and Daehler, CC}, title = {Meta-analytic evidence that allelopathy may increase the success and impact of invasive grasses.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14858}, pmid = {36846446}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Poaceae ; Phylogeny ; *Allelopathy ; Bayes Theorem ; Introduced Species ; Pheromones/metabolism ; Soil ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In the grass family, a disproportionate number of species have been designated as being invasive. Various growth traits have been proposed to explain the invasiveness of grasses; however, the possibility that allelopathy gives invasive grasses a competitive advantage has attracted relatively little attention. Recent research has isolated plant allelochemicals that are mostly specific to the grass family that can breakdown into relatively stable, toxic byproducts.<br><br>METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis of studies on grass allelopathy to test three prominent hypotheses from invasion biology and competition theory: (1) on native recipients, non-native grasses will have a significantly more negative effect compared to native grasses (Novel Weapons Hypothesis); (2) among native grasses, their effect on non-native recipients will be significantly more negative compared to their effect on native recipients (Biotic Resistance Hypothesis); and (3) allelopathic impacts will increase with phylogenetic distance (Phylogenetic Distance Hypothesis). From 23 studies, we gathered a dataset of 524 observed effect sizes (delta log response ratios) measuring the allelopathic impact of grasses on growth and germination of recipient species, and we used non-linear mixed-effects Bayesian modeling to test the hypotheses.<br><br>RESULTS: We found support for the Novel Weapons Hypothesis: on native recipients, non-native grasses were twice as suppressive as native grasses (22% vs 11%, respectively). The Phylogenetic Distance Hypothesis was supported by our finding of a significant correlation between phylogenetic distance and allelopathic impact. The Biotic Resistance Hypothesis was not supported. Overall, this meta-analysis adds to the evidence that allelochemicals may commonly contribute to successful or high impact invasions in the grass family. Increased awareness of the role of allelopathy in soil legacy effects associated with grass invasions may improve restoration outcomes through implementation of allelopathy-informed restoration practices. Examples of allelopathy-informed practices, and the knowledge needed to utilize them effectively, are discussed, including the use of activated carbon to neutralize allelochemicals and modify the soil microbial community.}, }
@article {pmid35157108, year = {2023}, author = {Mo, S and He, S and Sang, Y and Li, J and Kashif, M and Zhang, Z and Su, G and Jiang, C}, title = {Integration of Microbial Transformation Mechanism of Polyphosphate Accumulation and Sulfur Cycle in Subtropical Marine Mangrove Ecosystems with Spartina alterniflora Invasion.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {85}, number = {2}, pages = {478-494}, pmid = {35157108}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Wetlands ; Polyphosphates/analysis/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Introduced Species ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Poaceae ; *Microbiota ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Sulfates/metabolism ; China ; }, abstract = {Excessive phosphorus can lead to eutrophication in marine and coastal ecosystems. Sulfur metabolism-associated microorganisms stimulate biological phosphorous removal. However, the integrating co-biotransformation mechanism of phosphorus and sulfur in subtropical marine mangrove ecosystems with Spartina alterniflora invasion is poorly understood. In this study, an ecological model of the coupling biotransformation of sulfur and phosphorus is constructed using metagenomic analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction strategies. Phylogenetic analysis profiling, a distinctive microbiome with high frequencies of Gammaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria, appears to be an adaptive characteristic of microbial structures in subtropical mangrove ecosystems. Functional analysis reveals that the levels of sulfate reduction, sulfur oxidation, and poly-phosphate (Poly-P) aggregation decrease with increasing depth. However, at depths of 25-50 cm in the mangrove ecosystems with S. alterniflora invasion, the abundance of sulfate reduction genes, sulfur oxidation genes, and polyphosphate kinase (ppk) significantly increased. A strong positive correlation was found among ppk, sulfate reduction, sulfur oxidation, and sulfur metabolizing microorganisms, and the content of sulfide was significantly and positively correlated with the abundance of ppk. Further microbial identification suggested that Desulfobacterales, Anaerolineales, and Chromatiales potentially drove the coupling biotransformation of phosphorus and sulfur cycling. In particular, Desulfobacterales exhibited dominance in the microbial community structure. Our findings provided insights into the simultaneous co-biotransformation of phosphorus and sulfur bioconversions in subtropical marine mangrove ecosystems with S. alterniflora invasion.}, }
@article {pmid36846041, year = {2022}, author = {Antonio Orden, J and Martínez-Rodrigo, A and Isabel Vela, A and Francisco Fernández-Garayzábal, J and Hurtado-Morillas, C and Mas, A and Domínguez-Bernal, G}, title = {Detection and Antimicrobial Resistance of Enterobacteriaceae other than Escherichia Coli in Raccoons from the Madrid Region of Spain.}, journal = {Journal of veterinary research}, volume = {66}, number = {4}, pages = {565-569}, pmid = {36846041}, issn = {2450-7393}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Raccoons are an invasive alien species widely distributed in the Madrid region of Spain. These animals can carry a variety of enteric bacteria with associated antimicrobial resistance, which can infect humans and livestock. However, to our knowledge, the presence of non-E. coli Enterobacteriaceae in raccoons has not been previously studied.<br><br>MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a study to examine the species distribution of Enterobacteriaceae isolates other than E. coli, as well as their antimicrobial resistance, in the faeces of 83 raccoons in the Madrid region.<br><br>RESULTS: We detected 12 Enterobacteriaceae isolates other than E. coli belonging to seven different species: Citrobacter freundii (1 isolate), Citrobacter gillenii (3 isolates), Citrobacter murliniae (1 isolate), Citrobacter portucalensis (2 isolates), Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii (1 isolate), Hafnia paralvei (2 isolates) and Raoultella ornithinolytica (2 isolates). These isolates were found in 7 of the 83 (8.4%) animals studied. To our knowledge, this study is the first report of the presence of non-E. coli Enterobacteriaceae in raccoon faeces. All isolates but one were resistant to at least one of the 14 antimicrobials tested. Resistance to ampicillin (83.3%), amoxicillinclavulanic acid (50%) and cefoxitin (33.3%) was the most frequent.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that raccoons are a potential source of infection with Enterobacteriaceae other than E. coli for humans and livestock in the Madrid region.}, }
@article {pmid36842586, year = {2023}, author = {Pérez-Diz, M and Rodríguez-Addesso, B and Hussain, MI and Rodríguez, J and Novoa, A and González, L}, title = {Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions provide new insights into the phenotypic plasticity of the invasive species Carpobrotus sp. pl. in different coastal habitats.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {162470}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162470}, pmid = {36842586}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The genus Carpobrotus N.E.Br. comprises several aggressive invasive species that threaten biodiversity in coastal areas worldwide. We studied the phenotypic plasticity of Carpobrotus sp. pl. invading four coastal habitats in the north-western Iberian Peninsula (coastal cliffs, disturbed areas, dunes and coastal forests). We measured morphological traits and carbon (δ[13]C) and nitrogen (δ[15]N) stable isotope ratios of Carpobrotus sp. pl. individuals collected in each habitat. Our results indicated that leaf carbon content (% C) and dry shoot weight were higher on cliffs and lower in mixed forests. In contrast, leaf water content was higher in mixed forests and lower on cliffs. Leaf nitrogen content (% N) was higher in forests, which might be due to the presence of Acacia longifolia, an alien tree that accumulates N in the soil through symbiotic associations with N fixing bacteria. Differences in δ[15]N showed the use of different N sources in each habitat. Values were higher in disturbed areas with greater human activity and lower on cliffs and forests. δ[13]C was higher in cliffs and dunes, suggesting CAM activity where drought and salinity are more intense. Water use efficiency (iWUE) and δ[13]C were higher on cliffs and dunes, suggesting an adaptation and high tolerance of Carpobrotus sp. pl. to unfavourable conditions such as drought or salinity in the invaded areas.}, }
@article {pmid36642049, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, G and Jia, J and Zhao, Q and Wang, W and Wang, D and Bai, J}, title = {Seasonality and assembly of soil microbial communities in coastal salt marshes invaded by a perennial grass.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {331}, number = {}, pages = {117247}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117247}, pmid = {36642049}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Wetlands ; Poaceae ; Soil/chemistry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Introduced Species ; *Microbiota ; Plants ; Soil Microbiology ; China ; Bacteria ; Carbon ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Plant invasion profoundly changes the microbial-driven processes in the ecosystem; however, the seasonality of soil microbial communities and their assembly under plant invasion is poorly understood. In this study, coastal salt marshes with native Suaeda salsa (L.) Pall. and exotic Spartina alterniflora Loisel. in the Yellow River Estuary, North China, were selected, and soil bacterial and fungal communities and their seasonal variance were characterized by metabarcoding sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 regions, respectively. The importance of deterministic and stochastic processes in shaping bacterial and fungal seasonal assembly was explored by the null model. Results showed that soil microbes exhibited the lowest diversities in spring, while their diversity significantly improved in summer and autumn with the increase in organic carbon and nitrogen content in soils. Strong seasonal variances in microbial communities were observed, but plant invasion reduced the seasonal variation strength of soil bacteria. For the microbial assembly, the seasonal variability of soil bacterial community was mainly controlled by homogeneous selection, whereas soil fungal community was dominantly structured by stochastic processes. Among the selected variables, soil pH was the key abiotic factor driving the seasonal changes in bacteria and fungi. The microbial function annotation derived from taxonomy-based inference suggested that carbon metabolism was relatively stronger in spring, but nitrogen and sulfur metabolism increased evidently in summer and autumn, and the proportion of saprophytic fungi increased substantially after plant invasion. The seasonal turnover of bacterial and fungal groups were tightly associated with the seasonal variation in soil carbon and nitrogen contents. Collectively, these findings reveal the strong seasonal variability of different soil microbial constituents in plant-invaded coastal salt marshes and suggest the linkage between microbial community assembly and microbial-mediated functions in the context of plant invasions.}, }
@article {pmid36842575, year = {2023}, author = {Avigliano, E and Niklitschek, E and Chung, MT and Diaz, B and Chalde, T and Di Prinzio, C and Solimano, P and Llompart, F and Garcés, C and Ochoa, JD and Aldea, C and Huang, KF and Duquenoy, C and Leisen, M and Volpedo, A}, title = {Isotope geochemistry as a natural tag of fish in Patagonian freshwater environments: The invasive Chinook salmon case.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {162395}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162395}, pmid = {36842575}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Patagonian aquatic environments have been invaded since the end of the last century by different species of salmonids. Knowing the natal origin and homing/straying rate of the salmonids in colonised environments is essential to understanding the dispersal mechanisms and developing management plans. In the last two decades, Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha showed the greatest natural dispersal capacity in Patagonia. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the environmental strontium isotope ratio ([87]Sr/[86]Sr) as a potential natural tag to infer the natal origin and ontogenetic habitat use of salmonids in Patagonia, specifically Chinook salmon. [87]Sr/[86]Sr ratio was determined in water samples from 26 sites distributed in 14 Atlantic and Pacific basins in low and high water seasons. Environmental [87]Sr/[86]Sr showed greater spatial than temporal variation, revealing great potential as a tool to infer the natal origin and life history of several migratory fish species in Patagonia. Otolith core-to-edge [87]Sr/[86]Sr profiles were also analysed in 108 Chinook salmon from six basins. A cluster analysis based on the Unweighted Pair Group method (UPGMA) and Euclidean distances without prior classification grouped the sampled rivers into five main groups with significantly different (p < 0.05) isotopic ratios, sometimes integrated basins with different slopes (Atlantic or Pacific). The cluster analysis (UPGMA) based on the natal [87]Sr/[86]Sr period in otolith (~natal origin) showed clear segregation between the Atlantic and Pacific samples. A mismatch between water and otolith natal [87]Sr/[86]Sr ratio was detected in some Atlantic (e.g. De las Vueltas River in Santa Cruz Basin) and Pacific (e.g. Liquiñe Basin) basins and, which could be explained either by straying behaviours or by large geochemical variability between tributaries, within river systems. Our results showed that [87]Sr/[86]Sr is a useful natural tag to trace the life history of migratory fishes in Patagonia, especially for invasive species such as Chinook salmon.}, }
@article {pmid36841407, year = {2023}, author = {Rowan, NJ}, title = {Current decontamination challenges and potentially complementary solutions to safeguard the vulnerable seafood industry from recalcitrant human norovirus in live shellfish: Quo Vadis?.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {162380}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162380}, pmid = {36841407}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Safeguarding the seafood industry is important given its contribution to supporting our growing global population. However, shellfish are filter feeders that bioaccumulate microbial contaminants in their tissue from wastewater discharged into the same coastal growing environments leading to significant human disease outbreaks unless appropriately mitigated. Removal or inactivation of enteric viruses is very challenging particularly as human norovirus (hNoV) binds to specific histo-blood ligands in live oyster tissue that are consumed raw or lightly cooked. The regulatory framework that sets out use of clean seawater and UV disinfection is appropriate for bacterial decontamination at the post-harvest land-based depuration (cleaning) stage. However, additional non-thermal technologies are required to eliminate hNoV in live shellfish (particularly oysters) where published genomic studies report that low-pressure UV has limited effectiveness in inactivating hNoV. The use of the standard genomic detection method (ISO 15, 216-1:2017) is not appropriate for assessing the loss of infectious hNoV in treated live shellfish. The use of surrogate viral infectivity methods appear to offer some insight into the loss of hNoV infectiousness in live shellfish during decontamination. This paper reviews the use of existing and potentially other combinational treatment approaches to enhance the removal or inactivation of enteric viruses in live shellfish. The use of alternative and complementary novel diagnostic approaches to discern viable hNoV are discussed. The effectiveness and virological safety of new affordable hNoV intervention(s) require testing and validating at commercial shellfish production in conjunction with laboratory-based research. Appropriate risk management planning should encompass key stakeholders including a partnership with local government and the wastewater industry. Gaining a mechanistic understanding of the relationship between hNoV response at molecular and structural levels in individually treated oysters as a unit will inform predictive modeling and appropriate treatment technologies. Global warming of coastal growing environments may introduce additional contaminant challenges (such as invasive species); thus, underscoring need to develop real-time ecosystem monitoring of growing environments to alert shellfish producers to appropriately mitigate these threats.}, }
@article {pmid36840320, year = {2023}, author = {Chaves Lobón, N and González Félix, M and Alías Gallego, JC}, title = {Comparison of the Allelopathic Potential of Non-Native and Native Species of Mediterranean Ecosystems.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12040972}, pmid = {36840320}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Allelopathy is a frequent interaction between species in Mediterranean ecosystems and it is also one of the proposed strategies to explain the colonisation of invasive species. To confirm the importance of allelopathic potential as a mechanism of invasion of non-native species in Mediterranean ecosystems, it would be advisable to compare the allelopathic effects of non-native plants with native plants on the same target species and thus avoid overestimating the role of phytotoxicity in the invasion process. The main objective of this work was to compare the allelopathic activity of native species typical of Mediterranean ecosystems, classified as allelopathic, with the allelopathic activity of non-native species that may have an invasive character in these ecosystems. To this end, we selected three native species (Cistus ladanifer, Pistacia lentiscus, and Pistacia terebithus) and three non-native species (Acacia dealbata, Acer negundo, and Salix babylonica), and we analysed their effect on the species Lactuca sativa and the native species Lavandula stoechas and Echium plantagineum. The tests on L. sativa showed that all species have allelopathic activity. The tests on L. stoechas and E. plantagineum revealed that P. terebinthus exerted the greatest effect, being the only species that maintained an inhibitory effect at extract concentrations of 50% and 25% in all the analysed parameters, except in germination and cotyledon emergence for E. plantagineum. There were no significant differences in the effect on germination between non-native and native species, although significant differences were found in the effect on root size in the three analysed concentrations, with the native species producing greater inhibition. In conclusion, these species exert a negative effect on the selected native target species, but the negative effect of the native species is greater than that of the non-native species. These results indicate that it is important to compare the allelopathic effects of invasive and native species to correctly estimate the phytotoxic effect of invasive species on their invasiveness.}, }
@article {pmid36840268, year = {2023}, author = {Andonova, T and Muhovski, Y and Slavov, I and Vrancheva, R and Georgiev, V and Apostolova, E and Naimov, S and Mladenov, R and Pavlov, A and Dimitrova-Dyulgerova, I}, title = {Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant and DNA-Protective Capacity, and Microscopic Characters of Ailanthus altissima Aerial Substances.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12040920}, pmid = {36840268}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Invasive species as sources of natural components are of increasing interest for scientific research. This is the case of Ailanthus altissima, which belongs to the top 100 of the most dangerous invasive plant species in Europe, and which is the subject of the present study. The purpose of the research was to analyze the main phenolic compounds in the flowers, leaves, and stem bark of A. altissima and determine the DNA-protective and antioxidant potential of their ethanolic extracts. HPLC profiling revealed the presence of 6 flavonoids and 10 phenolic acids, of which 15 were found in flowers, 14 in leaves, and 11 in the stem bark. Rutin (5.68 mg/g dw in flowers), hesperidin (2.67 mg/g dw in leaves) and (+)-catechin (2.15 mg/g dw in stem bark) were the best-represented flavonoids. Rosmarinic (10.32 mg/g dw in leaves) and salicylic (6.19 mg/g dw in leaves) acids were predominant among phenolic acids. All plant extracts tested showed in vitro antioxidant activity (determined by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays) and DNA-protection capacity (assay with supercoiled plasmid DNA-pUC19). The highest antioxidant activity was recorded in the flower parts (in the range from 661 to 893 mmol TE/g dw), followed by the leaves. A DNA protective potential for A. altissima leaf and flower extracts has not been established to date. In addition, the main microscopic diagnostic features of studied plant substances were described, with data for the flower parts being reported for the first time. The present study proves that A. altissima could be a natural source of DNA protection and antioxidants.}, }
@article {pmid36840203, year = {2023}, author = {Visztra, GV and Frei, K and Hábenczyus, AA and Soóky, A and Bátori, Z and Laborczi, A and Csikós, N and Szatmári, G and Szilassi, P}, title = {Applicability of Point- and Polygon-Based Vegetation Monitoring Data to Identify Soil, Hydrological and Climatic Driving Forces of Biological Invasions-A Case Study of Ailanthus altissima, Elaeagnus angustifolia and Robinia pseudoacacia.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12040855}, pmid = {36840203}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Invasive tree species are a significant threat to native flora. They modify the environment with their allelopathic substances and inhibit the growth of native species by shading, thus reducing diversity. The most effective way to control invasive plants is to prevent their spread which requires identifying the environmental parameters promoting it. Since there are several types of invasive plant databases available, determining which database type is the most relevant for investigating the occurrence of alien plants is of great importance. In this study, we compared the efficiency and reliability of point-based (EUROSTAT Land Use and Coverage Area Frame Survey (LUCAS)) and polygon-based (National Forestry Database (NFD)) databases using geostatistical methods in ArcGIS software. We also investigated the occurrence of three invasive tree species (Ailanthus altissima, Elaeagnus angustifolia, and Robinia pseudoacacia) and their relationships with soil, hydrological, and climatic parameters such as soil organic matter content, pH, calcium carbonate content, rooting depth, water-holding capacity, distance from the nearest surface water, groundwater depth, mean annual temperature, and mean annual precipitation with generalized linear models in R-studio software. Our results show that the invasion levels of the tree species under study are generally over-represented in the LUCAS point-based vegetation maps, and the point-based database requires a dataset with a larger number of samples to be reliable. Regarding the polygon-based database, we found that the occurrence of the invasive species is generally related to the investigated soil and hydrological and climatic factors.}, }
@article {pmid36840146, year = {2023}, author = {Valicharla, SK and Li, X and Greenleaf, J and Turcotte, R and Hayes, C and Park, YL}, title = {Precision Detection and Assessment of Ash Death and Decline Caused by the Emerald Ash Borer Using Drones and Deep Learning.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12040798}, pmid = {36840146}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive pest that has killed millions of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in the USA since its first detection in 2002. Although the current methods for trapping emerald ash borers (e.g., sticky traps and trap trees) and visual ground and aerial surveys are generally effective, they are inefficient for precisely locating and assessing the declining and dead ash trees in large or hard-to-access areas. This study was conducted to develop and evaluate a new tool for safe, efficient, and precise detection and assessment of ash decline and death caused by emerald ash borer by using aerial surveys with unmanned aerial systems (a.k.a., drones) and a deep learning model. Aerial surveys with drones were conducted to obtain 6174 aerial images including ash decline in the deciduous forests in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, USA. The ash trees in each image were manually annotated for training and validating deep learning models. The models were evaluated using the object recognition metrics: mean average precisions (mAP) and two average precisions (AP50 and AP75). Our comprehensive analyses with instance segmentation models showed that Mask2former was the most effective model for detecting declining and dead ash trees with 0.789, 0.617, and 0.542 for AP50, AP75, and mAP, respectively, on the validation dataset. A follow-up in-situ field study conducted in nine locations with various levels of ash decline and death demonstrated that deep learning along with aerial survey using drones could be an innovative tool for rapid, safe, and efficient detection and assessment of ash decline and death in large or hard-to-access areas.}, }
@article {pmid36840097, year = {2023}, author = {Jacobson, TKB and Gerber, D and Azevedo, JC}, title = {Invasiveness, Monitoring and Control of Hakea sericea: A Systematic Review.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12040751}, pmid = {36840097}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Solutions for ecological and economic problems posed by Hakea sericea invasions rely on scientific knowledge. We conducted a systematic review to analyze and synthesize the past and current scientific knowledge concerning H. sericea invasion processes and mechanisms, as well as monitoring and control techniques. We used ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and CAPES Periodicals to look for publications on the ecological and environmental factors involved in H. sericea establishment (question 1); responses of H. sericea to fire in native and invaded ecosystems (question 2); and H. sericea monitoring and control methods (question 3). We identified 207 publications, 47.4% of which related to question 1, mainly from Australia and South Africa, with an increasing trend in the number of publications on monitoring and modeling. The traits identified in our systematic review, such as adaptations to dystrophic environments, drought resistance, sclerophylly, low transpiration rates, high nutrient use efficiency, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rates, strong serotiny, proteoid roots and high post-fire seed survival and seedling recruitment, highlighted that H. sericea is a successful invader species due to its long adaptive history mediated by an arsenal of ecophysiological mechanisms that place it at a superior competitive level, especially in fire-prone ecosystems. Integrated cost-effective control methods in selected areas and the incorporation of information on the temporal invasion dynamics can significantly improve invasion control and mitigate H. sericea impacts while maintaining the supply of ecosystem services in invaded areas.}, }
@article {pmid36840049, year = {2023}, author = {Garcia-Murillo, P}, title = {Hydrocharis laevigata in Europe.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12040701}, pmid = {36840049}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Hydrocharis laevigata (Humb. &amp; Bonpl. ex Willd.) Byng &amp; Christenh. [= Limnobium laevigatum (Humb. &amp; Bonpl. ex Willd.) Heine], Hydrocharitaceae, is a floating-leaf aquatic plant that is native to inland South America. It is an invasive species in several parts of the world. Reports of its presence in Europe have been recently published: naturalised populations occur in three locations on the Iberian Peninsula. The literature also contains records of the species in Hungary and Poland. In addition, it has been observed in Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands. H. laevigata is highly adaptable and can profoundly transform habitat conditions in its invasive range, causing major issues for ecosystem conservation and human activities. Until recently, H. laevigata was not to be found in natural environments in Europe. Factors explaining its spread include its use as an ornamental plant, the eutrophication of inland waters, and the effects of global warming. With a focus on Europe, this short communication provides information on the species' distribution, taxonomy, biology, habitat, and negative impacts.}, }
@article {pmid36839469, year = {2023}, author = {Perec-Matysiak, A and Hildebrand, J and Popiołek, M and Buńkowska-Gawlik, K}, title = {The Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Wild-Living Carnivores in Poland-A Question Concerning Its Host Specificity.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/pathogens12020198}, pmid = {36839469}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Cryptosporidium is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite that primarily infects the gastrointestinal epithelium in humans and domestic and wild animals. The majority of studies have been focused on human, livestock, and pet infections. Hence, Cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife, including wild carnivores, remained neglected. There are several studies reporting the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild foxes, but these are only a few molecular surveys; no data is available concerning the occurrence of this parasite in raccoon dogs and martens in Europe, and to the best of our knowledge to date, only one study has reported Cryptosporidium from badgers in Spain. Therefore, we used molecular analyses to identify and genotype Cryptosporidium spp. in wild-living mesocarnivores in Poland. A total of 322 individual fecal samples from six carnivore species, i.e., raccoon, raccoon dog, red fox, European badger, pine, and beech martens were collected and then analyzed for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. using the nested PCR method. The appearance of PCR products in the reaction with Cryptosporidium-specific primers against the 18S rRNA and actin genes demonstrated that Cryptosporidium spp. occurred in 23.0% of all examined species of animals. Performed sequence analyses showed the presence of the Cryptosporidium skunk genotype, Cryptosporidium vole genotype II, Cryptosporidium canis dog and fox genotypes, as well as Cryptosporidium erinacei, Cryptosporidium ditrichi, Cryptosporidium suis, and Cryptosporidium alticolis, in these hosts. Molecular data presented here indicate that examined mesocarnivores may be a significant reservoir of specific and non-specific Cryptosporidium species, including those with zoonotic potential. Most studies of carnivores have described the presence of non-specific Cryptosporidium spp. in carnivore hosts, and this is probably the result of the transfer of these parasites from prey species through the digestive tract or the transfer of the parasite from a contaminated environment.}, }
@article {pmid36839450, year = {2023}, author = {Veronesi, F and Deak, G and Diakou, A}, title = {Wild Mesocarnivores as Reservoirs of Endoparasites Causing Important Zoonoses and Emerging Bridging Infections across Europe.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/pathogens12020178}, pmid = {36839450}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Mesocarnivores are small- or mid-sized carnivore species that display a variety of ecologies and behaviours. In Europe, wild mesocarnivores are represented by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the golden jackal (Canis aureus), the European wildcat (Felis silvestris), the Mustelidae of the genera Meles, Martes, Mustela, Lutra, the invasive species of raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), raccoons (Procyon lotor), and American mink (Neogale vison). These abundant animals thrive in various habitats and often develop their activity close to human settlements. Thus, they may play an important role in the introduction, maintenance, and transmission of major parasitic zoonoses and promote bridging infections with domestic animals. Against this background, this article reports and discusses some of the most important endoparasites of wild mesocarnivores living in Europe, on the basis of their actual role as reservoirs, spreaders, or sentinels. The data derived from epizootiological studies in different European countries, and the proven or speculated implications of the detected endoparasites in human and domestic animals' health, are discussed. Through older and recent literature review, the state-of-the-art knowledge on the occurrence and prevalence of the parasites under consideration is presented, showing further, warranted investigations and the need for surveillance and vigilance.}, }
@article {pmid36839447, year = {2023}, author = {Perin, PP and Lapera, IM and Arias-Pacheco, CA and Mendonça, TO and Oliveira, WJ and de Souza Pollo, A and Dos Santos Silva, C and Tebaldi, JH and da Silva, B and Lux-Hoppe, EG}, title = {Epidemiology and Integrative Taxonomy of Helminths of Invasive Wild Boars, Brazil.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/pathogens12020175}, pmid = {36839447}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are a significant invasive species in Brazil. We evaluated the helminth diversity of 96 wild boars in São Paulo state. Helminth infection descriptors were calculated, the species were identified and their 18S, 28S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were amplified for phylogenetic analyses. Ascarops strongylina, Strongyloides ransomi, Globocephalus urosubulatus, Oesophagostomum dentatum, Trichuris suis, Metastrongylus salmi, Metastrongylus pudendotecus, Ascaris suum and Stephanurus dentatus and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus were identified. Globocephalus urosubulatus had the highest prevalence and mean abundance, and most animals had mixed infections with three parasite species. There was no association between parasite intensity and prevalence and host sex and body condition index (p > 0.05). Novel DNA sequences were obtained from G. urosubulatus, A. strongylina, and S. dentatus. This is the first study on the helmint diversity of non-captive wild boars in Brazil, and the first report of the occurrence of M. hirudinaceus, G. urosubulatus and S. dentatus in Brazilian wild boars. Non-captive wild boars of São Paulo State did not act as capture hosts for native helminth species but maintained their typical parasites, common to domestic pigs. They may act as parasite dispersers for low-tech subsistence pig farming and for native Tayassuidae.}, }
@article {pmid36835779, year = {2023}, author = {Li, JY and Gao, YX and Li, CY and Jin, YL and Yang, SQ and Xia, JH and Zhang, YF and Bu, Y and Li, K}, title = {Effects of Species Invasion and Inundation on the Collembola Community in Coastal Mudflat Wetland from the Perspective of Functional Traits.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14020210}, pmid = {36835779}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The group of soil arthropods known as Collembola is characterized by its abundance and sensitivity to environmental changes. They are ideal an species for soil indicators. In order to clarify the effects of species invasion and inundation on the Collembola community in coastal mudflat wetlands, the correlation between the collembolan functional traits and environmental factors was studied in Shanghai Jiuduansha Wetland National Nature Reserve for the first time. Five sample plots, including three vegetations-Spartina alterniflora (an invasive species), Phragmites australis, and Zizania latifolia-were set up following the differences in vegetation types and between high and low tidal flats. Data on the diversity of the Collembolan species and their functional traits were collected and combined with the soil physicochemical properties and vegetation environment factors in different tidal flats. The key findings and conclusions of the study are as follows: a total of 18 species, four families, and three orders make up the obtained Collembola, two species of Proisotoma are dominant species that account for 49.59% and 24.91% of the total, respectively. The maintenance of the species diversity of Collembola is disturbed by the higher conversion efficiency of Spartina alterniflora rather than Phragmites australis with lower organic carbon (C) content and higher total nitrogen (N) content. The primary environmental variables influencing species distribution were the C/N ratio, total N, and bulk soil density. The bulk density of the soil impacts the movement and dispersal of the functional traits. The depth of the soil layer is related to the functional traits of the sensory ability. The analysis of the functional traits and environment is fairly helpful in exploring how species respond to their environment and offers a better explanation for the habitat selection of Collembola.}, }
@article {pmid36835766, year = {2023}, author = {McCarthy, J and Khadka, A and Hakanoglu, H and Sun, Q}, title = {Influence of Soldiers on Exploratory Foraging Behavior in the Formosan Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14020198}, pmid = {36835766}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Termites are eusocial insects that live in organized colonies consisting of reproductives, workers, and soldiers. Soldiers are specialized for defense but are expensive to maintain, as they are incapable of husbandry and must be fed and groomed by workers. The soldiers of several species influence foraging behavior by acting as scouts that initiate foraging or by mediating worker behavioral plasticity during food exploration. These behaviors imply that soldiers may play a keystone role in termite colony function, apart from defense. Subterranean termite workers tunnel through soil in search of food while accompanied by varying proportions of soldiers, depending on the species and colony conditions. Previous studies have shown that soldiers accelerate worker exploratory tunneling behavior in two Reticulitermes species, the colonies of which contain fewer than 2% soldiers. This effect, however, is unknown in other subterranean species with different soldier proportions. In this study, we examined the influence of soldiers on exploratory foraging behavior in the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, which is an economically devastating invasive species that maintains a relatively high soldier proportion (about 10%). When 100 foraging workers were grouped with 0, 2, 10, or 30 soldiers in two-dimensional foraging arenas, we found no significant effect of soldiers on the tunnel length, branch pattern, food source interception, or food collected within 96 h. These results suggest that C. formosanus colonies maintain food exploration efficiency regardless of soldier proportion variation.}, }
@article {pmid36835739, year = {2023}, author = {Yasui, H and Uechi, N and Fujiwara-Tsujii, N}, title = {Differences in Male Mate Recognition between the Invasive Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Japanese Native A. malasiaca.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14020171}, pmid = {36835739}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The Asian longicorn beetle Anoplophora glabripennis is a recently arrived invasive species to Japan. The Japanese native A. malasiaca shows an extensive overlap with A. glabripennis with host plants, niches, and emergence season. Hybridization between these two species is suspected in Japan. The surface of the female is covered with contact sex pheromones that elicit male mating behavior within species. We evaluated the contact pheromonal activity of crude extract and fractions of female A. glabripennis coated on a black glass model and revealed a hydrocarbon fraction and a blend of fractions to show activity but relatively weak, suggesting the presence of other unknown active compounds. Few male A. glabripennis showed mating behavior when they were exposed to a crude extract of female A. malasiaca. However, a considerable number of A. malasiaca males mounted and showed abdominal bending behavior when presented with glass models that were coated with each extract of female A. glabripennis and A. malasiaca. Gomadalactones are essential contact pheromone components that elicit mating behavior in male A. malasiaca; however, we could not detect them in female A. glabripennis extract. Here, we investigated the possible reasons for this phenomenon and the difference in male mate recognition systems between these two species.}, }
@article {pmid36835694, year = {2023}, author = {Richardson, KV and Alston, DG and Spears, LR}, title = {Efficacy of Kairomone Lures to Attract Parasitoids of Halyomorpha halys.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14020125}, pmid = {36835694}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {In its native range, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) is suppressed by parasitoids in the genus Trissolcus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Trissolcus native to Utah have demonstrated low parasitism of H. halys, while adventive Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) have shown parasitism of up to 20%. Custom rubber septa lures containing stink bug kairomones, n-tridecane (attractant), and (E)-2-decenal (repellent), at 100%, 90%, and 80% levels of attractant (10 mg load rate), were placed adjacent to sentinel H. halys egg masses in northern Utah field trials. Egg masses were evaluated for the presence and intensity (proportion of parasitized eggs) of parasitism. Parasitism by T. japonicus and T. euschisti (Ashmead) was low; however, the 100% lure showed double the parasitism of the control and more than three times that of the 90% and 80%. Two-way choice mesocosm trials in the laboratory evaluated previous lures and a lower load rate of 5 mg-100% attractant treatment. Lures of 10 mg at 100% and 80% were more attractive to T. japonicus than the control, while 5 mg at 100% and 10 mg at 90% showed no significant attraction. Our results support a proof-of-concept of rubber septa as release devices for kairomones to attract T. japonicus and provide a baseline for future field-based studies.}, }
@article {pmid36835687, year = {2023}, author = {Zollota, S and Perez, P and Allen, J and Argenti, T and Read, QD and Ascunce, MS}, title = {Are Ants Good Organisms to Teach Elementary Students about Invasive Species in Florida?.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14020118}, pmid = {36835687}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of our outreach program "The ImportANTs of ANTs" in communicating scientific topics to elementary school children, using ants as example organisms. In this program's first phase, we focused on the concepts of native and invasive species and how invasive species affect ecosystems. The program included various active learning approaches, including presentations, handouts, crafts, and live colony viewings. At two schools (one in rural and one in suburban areas), 210 students from 5th grade were assessed using short, anonymous pre- and post-surveys. We analyzed the students' responses to questions from the following categories: general feelings about ants, ant knowledge, general care for the environment, general impact knowledge, and native/invasive species knowledge. The school populations displayed distinct opinion changes and knowledge gains; however, there was a significant increase in knowledge of native and invasive species in both populations. Our study demonstrates that ants are good models to teach children about the impact of invasive species. The project aims to drive universal responsibility by forging proactive attitudes toward protecting the environment and native species early.}, }
@article {pmid36833307, year = {2023}, author = {Pinho, CJ and Cardoso, L and Rocha, S and Vasconcelos, R}, title = {Aliens on Boats? The Eastern and Western Expansion of the African House Gecko.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/genes14020381}, pmid = {36833307}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Invasive species disrupt relations between endemics and their ecosystem and are an increasing biodiversity conservation problem. The Hemidactylus genus comprises the most successful invasive reptile species, including the worldwide-distributed Hemidactylus mabouia. In this study, we used 12S and ND2 sequences to taxonomically identify and tentatively determine the diversity and origin of these invaders in Cabo Verde while also clarifying this for several Western Indian Ocean (WIO) populations. By comparing our sequences to recently published ones, we showed, for the first time, that Cabo Verde individuals belong to the H. mabouia sensu stricto lineage and that both of its sublineages (a and b) occur there. Both haplotypes are also in Madeira, which indicates a connection between these archipelagos, possibly related to the past Portuguese trading routes. Across the WIO, results clarified the identity of many island and coastal populations, showing that this likely invasive H. mabouia lineage is widespread in the region, including northern Madagascar, with important conservation implications. Colonisation origins were difficult to access due to the wide geographical spread of these haplotypes; thus, several possible scenarios were outlined. The introduction of this species throughout western and eastern Africa may threaten endemic taxa and needs to be closely monitored.}, }
@article {pmid36830533, year = {2023}, author = {Göttert, T and Perry, G}, title = {Going Wild in the City-Animal Feralization and Its Impacts on Biodiversity in Urban Environments.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13040747}, pmid = {36830533}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Domestication describes a range of changes to wild species as they are increasingly brought under human selection and husbandry. Feralization is the process whereby a species leaves the human sphere and undergoes increasing natural selection in a wild context, which may or may not be geographically adjacent to where the originator wild species evolved prior to domestication. Distinguishing between domestic, feral, and wild species can be difficult, since some populations of so-called "wild species" are at least partly descended from domesticated "populations" (e.g., junglefowl, European wild sheep) and because transitions in both directions are gradual rather than abrupt. In urban settings, prior selection for coexistence with humans provides particular benefit for a domestic organism that undergoes feralization. One risk is that such taxa can become invasive not just at the site of release/escape but far away. As humanity becomes increasingly urban and pristine environments rapidly diminish, we believe that feralized populations also hold conservation value.}, }
@article {pmid36830468, year = {2023}, author = {Sanz, N and Franch, N and Araguas, RM and Viñas, J and Vidal, O}, title = {Environmental DNA Assay for the Detection of the American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in the Early Stages of the Invasion in the Ebre Delta.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13040683}, pmid = {36830468}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is considered to be one of the most harmful invasive species. In the Iberian Peninsula, this species had been cited occasionally until the year 2018, when L. catesbeianus appeared in the Ebre Delta, and, for the first time, it started breeding in a territory of the Peninsula. Using environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis and visual surveys, the American bullfrog invasion in the Ebre Delta was monitored across two consecutive years (2019-2020). No specimens were observed in 2019, and results for the eDNA survey also failed to detect this species in the Delta. In 2020, two individuals were captured and, under the most conservative criteria to constrain the number of positive detections, eDNA analyses detected the presence of the American bullfrog in at least five locations. Performing an eDNA assay yielded a higher sensitivity with a lower sampling effort than traditional methods. Although the American bullfrog does not appear to still be well-established in the Ebre Delta, only a few bullfrog individuals could be enough for their establishment in suitable habitats. In this context, eDNA assays are essential tools to facilitate the detection, control, and eradication of this species in the first stage of the invasion process.}, }
@article {pmid36829588, year = {2023}, author = {Scoparo, M and Cardinali, I and La Porta, G and Caldaroni, B and Magara, G and Dörr, AJM and Elia, AC and Lancioni, H}, title = {Phylogenetic Diversity of the Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus clarkii and Its Dispersal Pattern in Northern and Central Italy.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12020313}, pmid = {36829588}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii is one of the most threatening freshwater species in the world. The aim of this study is to provide a better understanding of the phylogeography and the invasion routes of P. clarkii populations in the Italian Peninsula through the analysis of mitochondrial phylogeny. Mitochondrial control region and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of 153 samples collected from six Italian basins were analyzed and compared to worldwide data. Except for the lakes Bolsena and Posta Fibreno, a high genetic variability was found in the other basins. The mitochondrial DNA pattern of P. clarkii from the lakes Candia and Massaciuccoli confirmed the hypothesis of double introduction events. Another entry point could be represented by Lake Trasimeno, which shows haplotypes originating from Louisiana and not shared with other Italian basins. Moreover, unique lineages were also found in the Stella River, thus enhancing the hypothesis that multiple introductions of P. clarkii occurred in northern and Central Italy and strengthening the idea that knowledge about the dispersion routes of this alien species can be useful to predict its invasiveness and elaborate control strategies to preserve biodiversity.}, }
@article {pmid36829530, year = {2023}, author = {Li, J and Leng, Z and Jia, H and Wei, L and Yuguda, TK and Du, D}, title = {Effect of Seawall Embankment Reclamation on the Distribution of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn Pollution in Invasive Spartina alterniflora and Native Phragmites australis Coastal Saltmarshes of East China.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12020253}, pmid = {36829530}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Coastal reclamation by seawall embankments and the spread of invasive C4 perennial grass Spartina alterniflora have recently become more prevalent in eastern China's coastal wetlands. While trace metals (TMs), carbon, and nitrogen dynamics concerning reclamation have extensively been explored across China's coastal wetlands, to date, the impact of reclamation by coastal embankment and exotic plant invasion on TMs' pollution dynamics in coastal marshes remains largely unexplored. We compared TMs Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn cumulation in coastal embankment-reclaimed versus unreclaimed S. alterniflora and Phragmites australis saltmarshes in eastern China coastal wetlands. In both S. alterniflora and P. australis marshes, coastal embankment reclamation spurred an increase in Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations by 31.66%, 53.85%, 32.14%, 33.96% and by 59.18%, 87.50%, 55.55%, 36.84%, respectively, in both marsh types. Reclamation also reduced plant biomass, soil moisture, and soil salinity in both plants' marshes. Our findings suggest that the impact of coastal embankment reclamation and replacement of native saltmarshes by invasive S. alterniflora had a synergistic effect on TM accumulation in the P. australis marshes, as corroborated by bioaccumulation and translocation factors. Reclamation by coastal embankments and invasive alien plants could significantly impair the physico-chemical properties of native plant saltmarsh and essentially weaken the accumulation of Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn potential of the coastal saltmarshes. Our findings provide policymakers with an enhanced knowledge of the relationship between reclamation, plant invasiveness, and TM pollution dynamics in coastal wetlands, providing a baseline for attaining future goals and strategies related to the tradeoffs of various wetland reclamation types.}, }
@article {pmid36829491, year = {2023}, author = {Sherwood, AR and Guiry, MD}, title = {Inventory of the Seaweeds and Seagrasses of the Hawaiian Islands.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12020215}, pmid = {36829491}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {This updated list is composed of a total of 661 records, which includes 71 brown algae, 450 red algae, 137 green algae, and three seagrasses, with an overall rate of endemism of 13.2%. Almost half (46.7%) of the Hawaiian records presented here are represented by at least one DNA sequence, while 16.3% are confirmed through a DNA sequence match to a topotype, and 6.7% are confirmed through a DNA sequence match to a type specimen. The data are presented in the context of the natural history of the Hawaiian Islands, which is heavily influenced by the volcanic hotspot origin of the archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, as well as the important cultural role of seaweeds and other marine plants in Hawai'i, and the current threats to marine ecosystems, which include the introduction and proliferation of a number of invasive marine macroalgae.}, }
@article {pmid36828223, year = {2023}, author = {Clagnan, E and Dell'Orto, M and Štěrbová, K and Grivalský, T and Artur Câmara Manoel, J and Masojídek, J and D'Imporzano, G and Gabriel Acién-Fernández, F and Adani, F}, title = {Impact of photobioreactor design on microalgae-bacteria communities grown on wastewater: differences between thin-layer cascade and thin-layer raceway ponds.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {128781}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128781}, pmid = {36828223}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Thin-layer (TL) photobioreactors (PBRs) are characterised by high productivity. However, their use is limited to lab/pilot-scale, and a deeper level of characterisation is needed to reach industrial scale and test the resistance of multiple microalgae. Here, the performance and composition of eight microalgal communities cultivated in the two main TLs design (thin-layer cascade (TLC) and thin-layer raceway pond (RW)) were investigated through Illumina sequencing. Chlorella vulgaris showed robustness in both designs and often acted as an "invasive" species. Inoculum and reactor type brought variability. Eukaryotic microalgae inocula led to a more robust and stable community (higher similarity), however, RWs were characterised by a higher variability and did not favour the eukaryotic microalgae. The only cyanobacterial inoculum, Nostoc piscinale, was maintained, however the community was variable between designs. The reactor design had an effect on the N cycle with the TLC and RW configurations, enhancing nitrification and denitrification respectively.}, }
@article {pmid36827463, year = {2023}, author = {Davis, JS and Sim, S and Geib, S and Sheffler, B and Linnen, CR}, title = {Whole-genome resequencing data support a single introduction of the invasive white pine sawfly, Diprion similis.}, journal = {The Journal of heredity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jhered/esad012}, pmid = {36827463}, issn = {1465-7333}, abstract = {Biological introductions are unintended "natural experiments" that provide unique insights into evolutionary processes. Invasive phytophagous insects are of particular interest to evolutionary biologists studying adaptation, as introductions often require rapid adaptation to novel host plants. However, adaptive potential of invasive populations may be limited by reduced genetic diversity-a problem known as the "genetic paradox of invasions". One potential solution to this paradox is if there are multiple invasive waves that bolster genetic variation in invasive populations. Evaluating this hypothesis requires characterizing genetic variation and population structure in the invaded range. To this end, we assemble a reference genome and describe patterns of genetic variation in the introduced white pine sawfly, Diprion similis. This species was introduced to North America in 1914, where it has rapidly colonized the thin-needled eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), making it an ideal invasion system for studying adaptation to novel environments. To evaluate evidence of multiple introductions, we generated whole-genome resequencing data for 64 D. similis females sampled across the North American range. Both model-based and model-free clustering analyses supported a single population for North American D. similis. Within this population, we found evidence of isolation-by-distance and a pattern of declining heterozygosity with distance from the hypothesized introduction site. Together, these results support a single-introduction event. We consider implications of these findings for the genetic paradox of invasion and discuss priorities for future research in D. similis, a promising model system for invasion biology.}, }
@article {pmid36827303, year = {2023}, author = {Glassic, HC and Guy, CS and Tronstad, LM and Lujan, DR and Briggs, MA and Albertson, LK and Koel, TM}, title = {Invasive predator diet plasticity has implications for native fish conservation and invasive species suppression.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {e0279099}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0279099}, pmid = {36827303}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Diet plasticity is a common behavior exhibited by piscivores to sustain predator biomass when preferred prey biomass is reduced. Invasive piscivore diet plasticity could complicate suppression success; thus, understanding invasive predator consumption is insightful to meeting conservation targets. Here, we determine if diet plasticity exists in an invasive apex piscivore and whether plasticity could influence native species recovery benchmarks and invasive species suppression goals. We compared diet and stable isotope signatures of invasive lake trout and native Yellowstone cutthroat trout (cutthroat trout) from Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, U.S.A. as a function of no, low-, moderate-, and high-lake trout density states. Lake trout exhibited plasticity in relation to their density; consumption of cutthroat trout decreased 5-fold (diet proportion from 0.89 to 0.18) from low- to high-density state. During the high-density state, lake trout switched to amphipods, which were also consumed by cutthroat trout, resulting in high diet overlap (Schoener's index value, D = 0.68) between the species. As suppression reduced lake trout densities (moderate-density state), more cutthroat trout were consumed (proportion of cutthroat trout = 0.42), and diet overlap was released between the species (D = 0.30). A shift in lake trout δ13C signatures from the high- to the moderate-density state also corroborated increased consumption of cutthroat trout and lake trout diet plasticity. Observed declines in lake trout are not commensurate with expected cutthroat trout recovery due to lake trout diet plasticity. The abundance of the native species in need of conservation may take longer to recover due to the diet plasticity of the invasive species. The changes observed in diet, diet overlap, and isotopes associated with predator suppression provides more insight into conservation and suppression dynamics than using predator and prey biomass alone. By understanding these dynamics, we can better prepare conservation programs for potential feedbacks caused by invasive species suppression.}, }
@article {pmid36825354, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, Y and Champer, J}, title = {Simulations Reveal High Efficiency and Confinement of a Population Suppression CRISPR Toxin-Antidote Gene Drive.}, journal = {ACS synthetic biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acssynbio.2c00611}, pmid = {36825354}, issn = {2161-5063}, abstract = {Though engineered gene drives hold great promise for spreading through and suppressing populations of disease vectors or invasive species, complications such as resistance alleles and spatial population structure can prevent their success. Additionally, most forms of suppression drives, such as homing drives or driving Y chromosomes, will generally spread uncontrollably between populations with even small levels of migration. The previously proposed CRISPR-based toxin-antidote system called toxin-antidote dominant embryo (TADE) suppression drive could potentially address the issues of confinement and resistance. However, it is a relatively weak form of drive compared to homing drives, which might make it particularly vulnerable to spatial population structure. In this study, we investigate TADE suppression drive using individual-based simulations in a continuous spatial landscape. We find that the drive is actually more confined than in simple models without space, even in its most efficient form with low cleavage rate in embryos from maternally deposited Cas9. Furthermore, the drive performed well in continuous space scenarios if the initial release requirements were met, suppressing the population in a timely manner without being severely affected by chasing, a phenomenon in which wild-type individuals avoid the drive by recolonizing empty areas. At higher embryo cut rates, the drive loses its ability to spread, but a single, widespread release can often still induce rapid population collapse. Thus, if TADE suppression gene drives can be successfully constructed, they may play an important role in control of disease vectors and invasive species when stringent confinement to target populations is desired.}, }
@article {pmid36824515, year = {2022}, author = {Van Bortel, W and Versteirt, V and Dekoninck, W and Hance, T and Brosens, D and Hendrickx, G}, title = {MODIRISK: Mosquito vectors of disease, collection, monitoring and longitudinal data from Belgium.}, journal = {GigaByte (Hong Kong, China)}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {gigabyte58}, doi = {10.46471/gigabyte.58}, pmid = {36824515}, issn = {2709-4715}, abstract = {The MODIRISK project studied mosquito biodiversity and monitored and predicted biodiversity changes, to actively prepare to address issues of biodiversity change, especially invasive species and new pathogen risks. This work is essential given continuing global changes that may create suitable conditions for invasive species spread and the (re-)emergence of vector-borne diseases in Europe. Key strengths of MODIRISK, in the context of sustainable development, were the links between biodiversity and health and the environment, and its contribution to the development of tools for describing the spatial distribution of mosquito biodiversity. MODIRISK addressed key topics of the global Diversitas initiative, which was a main driver of the Belspo 'Science for a Sustainable Development' research program. Three different MODIRISK datasets were published in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): the Collection dataset (the Culicidae collection of the Museum of Natural History in Brussels); the Inventory dataset (data from the MODIRISK inventory effort); and the Longitudinal dataset (experiment data used for risk assessments).}, }
@article {pmid36824207, year = {2023}, author = {Silva, CP and López, DN and Naulin, PI and Estay, SA}, title = {Can suitability indices predict plant growth in the invaded range? The case of Acacias species.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1125019}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2023.1125019}, pmid = {36824207}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Forestry in many parts of the world depends on exotic species, making this industry a source of invasions in some countries. Among others, plantations of the genus Pinus, Eucalyptus, Acacia, Populus, and Pseudotsuga underpin the forestry industry and are a vital component of many countries economies. Among woody plants, the cosmopolitan genus Acacia includes some of the most commonly planted trees worldwide. In order to prevent, manage and control invasive plant species, one of the most used tools is species distribution models. The output of these models can also be used to obtain information about population characteristics, such as spatial abundance patterns or species performance. Although ecological theory suggests a direct link between fitness and suitability, this link is often absent. The reasons behind the lack of this relationship are multiple. Chile is one of the countries where Acacia species, in particular, A. dealbata and A. melanoxylon, have become invaders.<br><br>METHODS: Here, we used climatic and edaphic variables to predict thepotentially suitable habitats for A. dealbata and A. melanoxylon in continental Chile and evaluate if the suitability indices obtained from these models are associated with the observed performance of the trees along the country.<br><br>RESULTS: Our models show that variable importance showed significant similarities between the variables that characterize each species' niche. However, despite the high accuracy of our models, we did not observe an association between suitability and tree growth.<br><br>DISCUSSION: This disconnection between suitability and performance can result from multiple causes, from structural limitations, like the lack of biotic interactions in the models, to methodological issues, like the usefulness of the performance metric used. Whatever the scenario, our results suggest that plans to control invasive species should be cautious in assuming this relationship in their design and consider other indicators such as species establishment success.}, }
@article {pmid36823195, year = {2023}, author = {Heinen, JH and Florens, FBV and Baider, C and Hume, JP and Kissling, WD and Whittaker, RJ and Rahbek, C and Borregaard, MK}, title = {Novel plant-frugivore network on Mauritius is unlikely to compensate for the extinction of seed dispersers.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {1019}, pmid = {36823195}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Insular communities are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic extinctions and introductions. Changes in composition of island frugivore communities may affect seed dispersal within the native plant community, risking ecological shifts and ultimately co-extinction cascades. Introduced species could potentially mitigate these risks by replacing ecological functions of extinct species, but conclusive evidence is lacking. Here, we investigate changes in plant-frugivore interactions involving frugivorous birds, mammals and reptiles in Mauritius, an oceanic island with an exceptionally well-specified frugivore community and well-described species introduction history. We demonstrate substantial losses of binary interaction partnerships (at the species level) resulting from native species extinctions, but also gains of equal numbers of novel interactions with introduced species, potentially supporting the idea that non-native species might compensate for lost seed dispersal. However, closer investigation of animal seed handling behaviour reveals that most interactions with seed dispersers are replaced by ecologically different interactions with seed predators. Therefore, restoration of seed dispersal functionality in this novel plant-frugivore community is unlikely.}, }
@article {pmid36634777, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, M and Schwarz, C and Lin, W and Naing, H and Cai, H and Zhu, Z}, title = {A new perspective on the impacts of Spartina alterniflora invasion on Chinese wetlands in the context of climate change: A case study of the Jiuduansha Shoals, Yangtze Estuary.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {868}, number = {}, pages = {161477}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161477}, pmid = {36634777}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {China ; Climate Change ; *Estuaries ; *Introduced Species ; *Poaceae ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Spartina alterniflora, an invasive plant, was introduced to the Chinese coastal zone in the early 90s. As an eco-engineering species, S. alterniflora not only alters saltmarsh species distributions, previously described as habitat degradation, but it also plays a vital role in coastal protection, especially for the development of recently emerged intertidal shoals. To provide a reference for coastal management under global change, we quantified the impact of the invasion process on provided ecological and coastal protection functions, exemplified at the emerging Jiuduansha Shoals (JDS) in the Yangtze Estuary. Results obtained by high-precision satellite monitoring and numerical modelling showed that the establishment and growth of S. alterniflora can exert considerable changes on local environment. The invasion of S. alterniflora to JDS wetland can be divided into three distinct phases, (1) establishment 1998-2003, (2) expansion 2003-2009, and (3) dominant 2009-2018 stages according to the changes in saltmarsh composition. Spatially, S. alterniflora continuously replaced Scirpus mariqueter, forcing S. mariqueter and Phragmites australis slowly to the lower and higher intertidal habitats, respectively. Notably, S. alterniflora expansion was the main driver that contributed to over 70 % of recent JDS wetland expansion even under sediment deficit conditions. Established S. alterniflora marsh (directly) dampens more waves because of aboveground stems, but it also causes more accretion and indirectly leads to higher "morphological" wave dampening. Thus, it increases coastal defense provided by the saltmarsh in the context of sea-level rise and strengthening storms. In conclusion, the role of S. alterniflora invasion to the local environment under global changes is controversial. For sustainable coastal management, we need context-dependent S. alterniflora management to maximize the benefit of coastal protection and minimize the impact on local ecology, especially in sediment-starving estuaries with expected coastline retreat.}, }
@article {pmid36416762, year = {2023}, author = {Cowan, ZL and Brooker, RM and Gasc, J and Gache, C and Lecchini, D and Feeney, WE}, title = {Targeted census of lionfishes (Scorpaenidae) reveals high densities in their native range.}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {102}, number = {2}, pages = {532-536}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.15277}, pmid = {36416762}, issn = {1095-8649}, mesh = {Animals ; *Censuses ; Introduced Species ; *Perciformes ; Coral Reefs ; Predatory Behavior ; }, abstract = {Indo-Pacific lionfishes generally exhibit cryptic behaviours and so can be missed when conducting non-targeted surveys. Here, the authors report the results from targeted surveys of lionfish at Moorea, French Polynesia. Lionfish from three species (Pterois antennata, Pterois radiata, Dendrochirus biocellatus) were observed at a mean density of 267 individuals ha[-1] . This is substantially higher than previous estimates from the same area (Moorea) and represents the highest reported density of lionfishes from their Pacific range. Overall, this study highlights the importance of targeted survey techniques for detecting cryptic species on coral reefs.}, }
@article {pmid36824336, year = {2021}, author = {Lehmann, P and Javal, M and Du Plessis, A and Tshibalanganda, M and Terblanche, JS}, title = {X-ray micro-tomographic data of live larvae of the beetle Cacosceles newmannii.}, journal = {GigaByte (Hong Kong, China)}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {gigabyte18}, doi = {10.46471/gigabyte.18}, pmid = {36824336}, issn = {2709-4715}, abstract = {Quantifying insect respiratory structures and their variation has remained challenging due to their microscopic size. Here we measure insect tracheal volume using X-ray micro-tomography (μCT) scanning (at 15 μm resolution) on living, sedated larvae of the cerambycid beetle Cacosceles newmannii across a range of body sizes. In this paper we provide the full volumetric data and 3D models for 12 scans, providing novel data on repeatability of imaging analyses and structural tracheal trait differences provided by different image segmentation methods. The volume data is provided here with segmented tracheal regions as 3D models.}, }
@article {pmid36814414, year = {2023}, author = {Stuart, KC and Edwards, RJ and Sherwin, WB and Rollins, LA}, title = {Contrasting patterns of single nucleotide polymorphisms and structural variation across multiple invasions.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msad046}, pmid = {36814414}, issn = {1537-1719}, abstract = {Genetic divergence is the fundamental process that drives evolution and ultimately speciation. Structural variants (SVs) are large-scale genomic differences within a species or population, and can cause functionally important phenotypic differences. Characterising SVs across invasive species will fill knowledge gaps regarding how patterns of genetic diversity and genetic architecture shape rapid adaptation under new selection regimes. Here, we seek to understand patterns in genetic diversity within the globally invasive European starling, Sturnus vulgaris. Using whole genome sequencing of eight native United Kingdom (UK), eight invasive North America (NA), and 33 invasive Australian (AU) starlings, we examine patterns in genome-wide SNPs and SVs between populations and within Australia. Our findings detail the landscape of standing genetic variation across recently diverged continental populations of this invasive avian. We demonstrate that patterns of genetic diversity estimated from SVs do not necessarily reflect relative patterns from SNP data, either when considering patterns of diversity along the length of the organism's chromosomes (owing to enrichment of SVs in sub telomeric repeat regions), or interpopulation diversity patterns (possibly a result of altered selection regimes or introduction history). Finally, we find that levels of balancing selection within the native range differ across SNP and SV of different classes and outlier classifications. Overall, our results demonstrate that the processes that shape allelic diversity within populations is complex and supports the need for further investigation of SVs across a range of taxa to better understand correlations between often well studied SNP diversity and that of SVs.}, }
@article {pmid36811388, year = {2023}, author = {DeVos, TB and Bock, DG and Kolbe, JJ}, title = {Rapid introgression of non-native alleles following hybridization between a native Anolis lizard species and a cryptic invader across an urban landscape.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16897}, pmid = {36811388}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Invasive species can impact native populations through competition, predation, habitat alteration, and disease transmission, but also genetically through hybridization. Potential outcomes of hybridization span the continuum from extinction to hybrid speciation and can be further complicated by anthropogenic habitat disturbance. Hybridization between the native green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis) and a morphologically similar invader (A. porcatus) in south Florida provides an ideal opportunity to study interspecific admixture across a heterogeneous landscape. We used reduced-representation sequencing to describe introgression in this hybrid system and to test for a relationship between urbanization and non-native ancestry. Our findings indicate that hybridization between green anole lineages was likely a limited, historic event, producing a hybrid population characterized by a diverse continuum of ancestry proportions. Genomic cline analyses revealed rapid introgression and disproportionate representation of non-native alleles at many loci and no evidence for reproductive isolation between parental species. Three loci were associated with urban habitat characteristics; urbanization and non-native ancestry were positively correlated, although this relationship did not remain significant when accounting for spatial nonindependence. Ultimately, our study demonstrates the persistence of non-native genetic material even in the absence of ongoing immigration, indicating that selection favoring non-native alleles can override the demographic limitation of low propagule pressure. We also note that not all outcomes of admixture between native and non-native species should be considered intrinsically negative. Hybridization with ecologically robust invaders can lead to adaptive introgression, which may facilitate the long-term survival of native populations otherwise unable to adapt to anthropogenically mediated global change.}, }
@article {pmid36811274, year = {2023}, author = {Falagiarda, M and Carnio, V and Chiesa, SG and Pignalosa, A and Anfora, G and Angeli, G and Ioriatti, C and Mazzoni, V and Schmidt, S and Zapponi, L}, title = {Factors influencing short term parasitoid establishment and efficacy for the biological control of Halyomorpha halys with the samurai wasp Trissolcus japonicus.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7423}, pmid = {36811274}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Classical biological control has been identified as the most promising approach to limit the impact of the invasive pest species Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). This study investigated the parasitism rate at sites where the biocontrol agent Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was released and where its unintentional introduction took place, in the Trentino-South Tyrol region. The effect of land use composition was studied to understand which factors favor the establishment of hosts and parasitoids, including native and exotic species.<br><br>RESULTS: The released T. japonicus were detected a year after the start of the program, with a significant parasitoid impact and discovery, compared to control sites. Trissolcus japonicus was the most abundant H. halys parasitoid, Trissolcus mitsukurii and Anastatus bifasciatus were recorded as well. The efficacy of T. mitsukurii was lower in sites where T. japonicus was successfully established, suggesting a possible competitive interaction. Parasitism level by T. japonicus at the release sites was 12.5% in 2020 and 16.4% in 2021. The combined effect of predation and parasitization increased H. halys mortality up to 50% at the release sites. Landscape composition analysis showed that both H. halys and T. japonicus were more likely found at sites with lower altitude and with permanent crops, while other hosts and parasitoids preferred different conditions.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Trissolcus japonicus showed a promising impact on H. halys, at release and adventive sites, with minor non-target effects, mediated by landscape heterogeneity. The prevalence of T. japonicus in landscapes with permanent crops could support IPM in the future. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36807984, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, XY and Wu, XQ and Wen, TY and Feng, YQ and Zhang, Y}, title = {Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Differentially Expressed Genes Associated with Pine Wood Nematode Resistance in Resistant Pinus thunbergii.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpad018}, pmid = {36807984}, issn = {1758-4469}, abstract = {Pine wilt disease (PWD) (caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) is extremely harmful to pine forests in East Asia. As a low-resistance pine species, Pinus thunbergii is more vulnerable to pine wood nematode (PWN) than Pinus densiflora and Pinus massoniana. Field inoculation experiments were conducted on PWN-resistant and susceptible P. thunbergii, and the difference in transcription profiles 24 hours after inoculation was analyzed. We identified 2,603 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PWN-susceptible P. thunbergii, while 2,559 DEGs were identified in PWN-resistant P. thunbergii. Before inoculation, DEGs between PWN-resistant and PWN-susceptible P. thunbergii were enriched in the REDOX activity pathway (152 DEGs), followed by the oxidoreductase activity pathway (106 DEGs); After inoculation with PWN, however, the opposite was observed, DEGs were enriched in the oxidoreductase activity pathway (119 DEGs), followed by the REDOX activity pathway (84 DEGs). Before inoculation, according to the metabolic pathway analysis results, we found more genes upregulated in phenylpropanoid metabolic pathways and enriched in lignin synthesis pathways; cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR)-coding genes related to lignin synthesis were upregulated in PWN-resistant P. thunbergii and downregulated in PWN-susceptible P. thunbergii, and the lignin content was always higher in resistant than in susceptible P. thunbergii. These results reveal distinctive strategies of resistant and susceptible P. thunbergii in dealing with PWN infections.}, }
@article {pmid36806368, year = {2023}, author = {Ibáñez, I and Petri, L and Barnett, DT and Beaury, EM and Blumenthal, DM and Corbin, JD and Diez, J and Dukes, JS and Early, R and Pearse, IS and Sorte, CJB and Vilà, M and Bradley, B}, title = {Combining local, landscape, and regional geographies to assess plant community vulnerability to invasion impact.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2821}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2821}, pmid = {36806368}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Invasive species science has heavily focused on the invasive agent. However, management to protect native species also requires a proactive approach focused on resident communities, and the features affecting their vulnerability to invasion impacts. Vulnerability is likely the result of factors acting across spatial scales, from local to regional, and it is the combined effects of these factors that will determine the magnitude of vulnerability. Here, we introduce an analytical framework that quantifies the scale-dependent impact of biological invasions on native richness from the shape of the native species-area-relationship (SAR). We leveraged newly available, biogeographically extensive vegetation data from the U.S. National Ecological Observatory Network to assess plant community vulnerability to invasion impact as a function of factors acting across scales. We analyzed more than 1,000 SARs widely distributed across the USA along environmental gradients and under different levels of non-native plant cover. Decreases in native richness were consistently associated with non-native species cover, but native richness was compromised only at relatively high levels of non-native cover. After accounting for variation in baseline ecosystem diversity, net primary productivity, and human modification, ecoregions that were colder and wetter were most vulnerable to losses of native plant species at the local level, while warmer and wetter areas were most susceptible at the landscape level. We also document how the combined effects of cross-scale factors result in a heterogenous spatial pattern of vulnerability. This pattern could not be predicted by analyses at any single scale, underscoring the importance of accounting for factors acting across scales. Simultaneously assessing differences in vulnerability between distinct plant communities at local, landscape and regional scales provided outputs that can be used to inform policy and management aimed at reducing vulnerability to the impact of plant invasions.}, }
@article {pmid36805144, year = {2023}, author = {Reed, EMX and Schenk, T and Brown, BL and Rogers, H and Haak, DC and Drake, JC and Barney, JN}, title = {Holistic valuation of non-native species requires broadening the tent.}, journal = {Trends in ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2023.01.004}, pmid = {36805144}, issn = {1872-8383}, }
@article {pmid36804015, year = {2023}, author = {Raiyemo, DA and Bobadilla, LK and Tranel, PJ}, title = {Genomic profiling of dioecious Amaranthus species provides novel insights into species relatedness and sex genes.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {37}, pmid = {36804015}, issn = {1741-7007}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Amaranthus L. is a diverse genus consisting of domesticated, weedy, and non-invasive species distributed around the world. Nine species are dioecious, of which Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson and Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D. Sauer are troublesome weeds of agronomic crops in the USA and elsewhere. Shallow relationships among the dioecious Amaranthus species and the conservation of candidate genes within previously identified A. palmeri and A. tuberculatus male-specific regions of the Y (MSYs) in other dioecious species are poorly understood. In this study, seven genomes of dioecious amaranths were obtained by paired-end short-read sequencing and combined with short reads of seventeen species in the family Amaranthaceae from NCBI database. The species were phylogenomically analyzed to understand their relatedness. Genome characteristics for the dioecious species were evaluated and coverage analysis was used to investigate the conservation of sequences within the MSY regions.<br><br>RESULTS: We provide genome size, heterozygosity, and ploidy level inference for seven newly sequenced dioecious Amaranthus species and two additional dioecious species from the NCBI database. We report a pattern of transposable element proliferation in the species, in which seven species had more Ty3 elements than copia elements while A. palmeri and A. watsonii had more copia elements than Ty3 elements, similar to the TE pattern in some monoecious amaranths. Using a Mash-based phylogenomic analysis, we accurately recovered taxonomic relationships among the dioecious Amaranthus species that were previously identified based on comparative morphology. Coverage analysis revealed eleven candidate gene models within the A. palmeri MSY region with male-enriched coverages, as well as regions on scaffold 19 with female-enriched coverage, based on A. watsonii read alignments. A previously reported FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) within A. tuberculatus MSY contig was also found to exhibit male-enriched coverages for three species closely related to A. tuberculatus but not for A. watsonii reads. Additional characterization of the A. palmeri MSY region revealed that 78% of the region is made of repetitive elements, typical of a sex determination region with reduced recombination.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study further increase our understanding of the relationships among the dioecious species of the Amaranthus genus as well as revealed genes with potential roles in sex function in the species.}, }
@article {pmid36801313, year = {2023}, author = {Soto, I and Ahmed, DA and Balzani, P and Cuthbert, RN and Haubrock, PJ}, title = {Sigmoidal curves reflect impacts and dynamics of aquatic invasive species.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {161818}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161818}, pmid = {36801313}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Identifying general patterns and trends underlying the impacts and dynamics of biological invasions has proven elusive for scientists. Recently, the impact curve was proposed as a means to predict temporal impacts of invasive alien species, characterised by a sigmoidal growth pattern with an initial exponential increase, followed by a subsequent rate of decline and approaching a saturation level in the long-term where impact is maximised. While the impact curve has been empirically demonstrated with monitoring data of a single invasive alien species (the New Zealand mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum), however, broadscale applicability remains to be tested for other taxa. Here, we examined whether the impact curve can adequately describe the invasion dynamics of 13 other aquatic species (Amphipoda, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Hirudinea, Isopoda, Mysida, and Platyhelminthes) at the European level, employing multi-decadal time series of macroinvertebrate abundances from regular benthic monitoring efforts. For all except one tested species (the killer shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus), the sigmoidal impact curve was strongly supported (R[2] > 0.95) on a sufficiently long enough time-scale. For D. villosus, the impact had not yet reached saturation, likely reflecting the early phase of an ongoing European invasion. The impact curve facilitated estimation of introduction years and lag phases, as well as parameterisation of growth rates and carrying capacities, providing strong support for the boom-bust dynamics typically observed in several invader populations. These findings suggest that impact can grow rapidly before saturating at a high level, with timely monitoring often lacking for the detection of invasive species post-introduction. We further confirm the applicability of the impact curve to determine trends in invasion stages, population dynamics, and impacts of pertinent invaders, ultimately helping inform the timing of management interventions. We hence call for improved monitoring and reporting of invasive alien species over broad spatio-temporal scales to permit further testing of large-scale impact consistencies across various habitat types.}, }
@article {pmid36799406, year = {2023}, author = {Woyda-Ploszczyca, AM}, title = {Direct and indirect targets of carboxyatractyloside, including overlooked toxicity toward nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) and mitochondrial H[+] leak.}, journal = {Pharmaceutical biology}, volume = {61}, number = {1}, pages = {372-390}, doi = {10.1080/13880209.2023.2168704}, pmid = {36799406}, issn = {1744-5116}, mesh = {Animals ; Atractyloside/toxicity ; *Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase ; Glycosides/toxicity ; Adenosine Diphosphate ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {CONTEXT: The toxicity of atractyloside/carboxyatractyloside is generally well recognized and commonly ascribed to the inhibition of mitochondrial ADP/ATP carriers, which are pivotal for oxidative phosphorylation. However, these glycosides may 'paralyze' additional target proteins.<br><br>OBJECTIVE: This review presents many facts about atractyloside/carboxyatractyloside and their plant producers, such as Xanthium spp. (Asteraceae), named cockleburs.<br><br>METHODS: Published studies and other information were obtained from databases, such as 'CABI - Invasive Species Compendium', 'PubMed', and 'The World Checklist of Vascular Plants', from 1957 to December 2022. The following major keywords were used: 'carboxyatractyloside', 'cockleburs', 'hepatotoxicity', 'mitochondria', 'nephrotoxicity', and 'Xanthium'.<br><br>RESULTS: In the third decade of the twenty first century, public awareness of the severe toxicity of cockleburs is still limited. Such toxicity is often only perceived by specialists in Europe and other continents. Interestingly, cocklebur is among the most widely distributed invasive plants worldwide, and the recognition of new European stands of Xanthium spp. is provided here. The findings arising from field and laboratory research conducted by the author revealed that (i) some livestock populations may instinctively avoid eating cocklebur while grazing, (ii) carboxyatractyloside inhibits ADP/GDP metabolism, and (iii) the direct/indirect target proteins of carboxyatractyloside are ambiguous.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Many aspects of the Xanthium genus still require substantial investigation/revision in the future, such as the unification of the Latin nomenclature of currently distinguished species, bur morphology status, true fruit (achene) description and biogeography of cockleburs, and a detailed description of the physiological roles of atractyloside/carboxyatractyloside and the toxicity of these glycosides, mainly toward mammals. Therefore, a more careful interpretation of atractyloside/carboxyatractyloside data, including laboratory tests using Xanthium-derived extracts and purified toxins, is needed.}, }
@article {pmid36200166, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, L and Wei, C and He, Y and Tang, X and Chen, W and Xu, H and Wu, Y and Wilschut, RA and Lu, X}, title = {Aboveground herbivory can promote exotic plant invasion through intra- and interspecific aboveground-belowground interactions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {237}, number = {6}, pages = {2347-2359}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18520}, pmid = {36200166}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Herbivory ; Introduced Species ; Plants ; Larva ; *Coleoptera ; Soil ; *Amaranthaceae ; }, abstract = {Aboveground herbivores and soil biota profoundly affect plant invasions. However, how they interactively affect plant invasions through plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) remains unclear. To explore how herbivory by the introduced beetle Agasicles hygrophila affects Alternanthera philoxeroides invasions in China, we integrated multiyear field surveys and a 2-yr PSF experiment, in which we examined how herbivory affects PSFs on the performance of native and invasive plants and the introduced beetles. Despite increased herbivory from A. hygrophila, A. philoxeroides dominance over co-occurring congeneric native Alternanthera sessilis remained constant from 2014 to 2019. While occurring at lower abundances, A. sessilis experienced similar herbivore damage, suggesting apparent competitive effects. Our experiments revealed that herbivory on A. philoxeroides altered soil microbial communities, prolonged its negative PSF on A. sessilis, and decreased A. hygrophila larvae performance on the next-generation invasive plants. Consequently, A. hygrophila larvae performed better on leaves of natives than those of invasives when grown in soils conditioned by invasive plants defoliated by the introduced beetles. Our findings suggest that aboveground herbivory might promote rather than suppress A. philoxeroides invasion by enhancing its soil-mediated self-reinforcement, providing a novel mechanistic understanding of plant invasions. These findings highlight the need to incorporate an aboveground-belowground perspective during the assessment of potential biocontrol agents.}, }
@article {pmid36799015, year = {2023}, author = {Andrés, J and Czechowski, P and Grey, E and Saebi, M and Andres, K and Brown, C and Chawla, N and Corbett, JJ and Brys, R and Cassey, P and Correa, N and Deveney, MR and Egan, SP and Fisher, JP and Vanden Hooff, R and Knapp, CR and Leong, SCY and Neilson, BJ and Paolucci, EM and Pfrender, ME and Pochardt, MR and Prowse, TAA and Rumrill, SS and Scianni, C and Sylvester, F and Tamburri, MN and Therriault, TW and Yeo, DCJ and Lodge, DM}, title = {Environment and shipping drive eDNA beta-diversity among commercial ports.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16888}, pmid = {36799015}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Spread of nonindigenous species by shipping is a large and growing global problem that harms coastal ecosystems and economies and may blur coastal biogeographic patterns. This study coupled eukaryotic environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with dissimilarity regression to test the hypothesis that ship-borne species spread homogenizes port communities. We first collected and metabarcoded water samples from ports in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. We then calculated community dissimilarities between port pairs and tested for effects of environmental dissimilarity, biogeographic region, and four alternative measures of ship-borne species transport risk. We predicted that higher shipping between ports would decrease community dissimilarity, that shipping's effect would be small compared to that of environment dissimilarity and shared biogeography, and that more complex shipping risk metrics (which account for ballast water and stepping-stone spread) would perform better. Consistent with our hypotheses, community dissimilarities significantly increased with environmental dissimilarity and, to a lesser extent, decreased with ship-borne species transport risks, particularly if the ports had similar environments and stepping-stone risks were considered. Unexpectedly, we found no clear effect of shared biogeography, and that risk metrics incorporating estimates of ballast discharge did not offer more explanatory power than simpler traffic-based risks. Overall, we found that shipping homogenizes eukaryotic communities between ports in predictable ways, which could inform improvements in invasive species policy and management. We demonstrated the usefulness of eDNA metabarcoding and dissimilarity regression for disentangling the drivers of large-scale biodiversity patterns. We conclude by outlining logistical considerations and recommendations for future studies using this approach.}, }
@article {pmid36798355, year = {2023}, author = {Barrett, CF and Ramachandran, D and Chen, CH and Corbett, CW and Huebner, CD and Sinn, BT and Yu, WB and Suetsugu, K}, title = {Mitochondrial genome sequencing and analysis of the invasive Microstegium vimineum : a resource for systematics, invasion history, and management.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.02.10.527995}, pmid = {36798355}, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE RESEARCH: Plants remain underrepresented among species with sequenced mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), due to the difficulty in assembly with short-read technology. Invasive species lag behind crops and other economically important species in this respect, representing a lack of tools for management and land conservation efforts.<br><br>METHODOLOGY: The mitogenome of Microstegium vimineum , one of the most damaging invasive plant species in North America, was sequenced and analyzed using long-read data, providing a resource for biologists and managers. We conducted analyses of genome content, phylogenomic analyses among grasses and relatives based on mitochondrial coding regions, and an analysis of mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphism in this invasive grass species.<br><br>PIVOTAL RESULTS: The assembly is 478,010 bp in length and characterized by two large, inverted repeats, and a large, direct repeat. However, the genome could not be circularized, arguing against a "master circle" structure. Long-read assemblies with data subsets revealed several alternative genomic conformations, predominantly associated with large repeats. Plastid-like sequences comprise 2.4% of the genome, with further evidence of Class I and Class II transposable element-like sequences. Phylogenetic analysis placed M. vimineum with other Microstegium species, excluding M. nudum , but with weak support. Analysis of polymorphic sites across 112 accessions of M. vimineum from the native and invasive ranges revealed a complex invasion history.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We present an in-depth analysis of mitogenome structure, content, phylogenetic relationships, and range-wide genomic variation in M. vimineum's invasive US range. The mitogenome of M. vimineum is typical of other andropogonoid grasses, yet mitochondrial sequence variation across the invasive and native ranges is extensive. Our findings suggest multiple introductions to the US over the last century, with subsequent spread, secondary contact, long-distance dispersal, and possibly post-invasion selection on awn phenotypes. Efforts to produce genomic resources for invasive species, including sequenced mitochondrial genomes, will continue to provide tools for their effective management, and to help predict and prevent future invasions.}, }
@article {pmid36797315, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Thomas, ML and Coupland, GT and Wang, P and Zheng, D and McKirdy, SJ}, title = {Info-gap theory to determine cost-effective eradication of invasive species.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {2744}, pmid = {36797315}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Invasive species eradication campaigns often fail due to stochastic arrival events, unpredictable detectability and incorrect resource allocation. Severe uncertainty in model parameter estimates may skew the eradication policy results. Using info-gap decision theory, this research aims to provide managers with a method to quantify their confidence in realizing successful eradication of particular invasive species within their specified eradication budgets (i.e. allowed eradication cost) in face of information-gaps. The potential introduction of the Asian house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus to Barrow Island, Australia is used as a case study to illustrate the model. Results of this research demonstrate that, more robustness to uncertainty in the model parameters can be earnt by (1) increasing the allowed eradication cost (2) investment in pre-border quarantine and border inspection (i.e. prevention) or (3) investment in post-border detection surveillance. The combination of a post-border spatial dispersal model and info-gap decision theory demonstrates a novel and spatially efficient method for managers to evaluate the robustness of eradication policies for incursion of invasive species with unexpected behaviour. These methods can be used to provide insight into the success of management goals, in particular the eradication of invasive species on islands or in broader mainland areas. These insights will assist in avoiding eradication failure and wasteful budget allocation and labour investment.}, }
@article {pmid36795686, year = {2023}, author = {Cheon, SJ and Rahman, MM and Lee, JA and Park, SM and Park, JH and Lee, DH and Sung, HC}, title = {Confirmation of the local establishment of alien invasive turtle, Pseudemys peninsularis, in South Korea, using eggshell DNA.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {e0281808}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0281808}, pmid = {36795686}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Alien invasive species are posing conservation challenges worldwide. Pet trade, one of the many ways, is worsening the situation. Especially, pet turtles have been released into nature due to their longer life span and peoples' religious and traditional beliefs. In addition, unwanted and undesired pets are also released. While information on the successful local establishment and subsequent dispersal into new habitats is required to designate an invasive and ecosystem-disturbing species, alien freshwater turtle nests have always been hard to find and identify in nature. Because one should identify nests by the eggs, which do not always guide properly, as adults abandon the sites quickly. We thought the recent advancement in DNA technology may help improve the situation. We studied Pseudemys peninsularis, one of the most traded freshwater turtle pet species, which has already been reported from a wide range of wild areas in South Korea. Yet, it is not designated as ecosystem-disturbing species due to a lack of adequate information on their local reproduction and establishment. We conducted surveys and found two nests in Jeonpyeongje Neighborhood Park, Maewol-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. We developed the methodology for extracting DNA from the eggshells and successfully identified the nests by phylogenetic analysis and verified through egg characteristics and morphological features of artificially hatched juveniles. This was the first successful initiative to extract DNA from freshwater turtle eggshells. We believe it will help future researchers identify the alien invasive turtle nests and develop their control and management policies. In addition, our study also included comparative descriptions and schematic diagrams of the eggs of eight freshwater turtles, including a native and three ecosystem-disturbing species, from South Korea. We urged an immediate designation of P. peninsularis as an ecosystem-disturbing species considering its local establishment, distribution range, and potential negative impact on native ecosystems.}, }
@article {pmid36795473, year = {2023}, author = {Madeira Antunes, P}, title = {Uncovering subtle mechanisms hindering the efficacy of biological control in plant invasions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {237}, number = {6}, pages = {1941-1942}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18721}, pmid = {36795473}, issn = {1469-8137}, }
@article {pmid36795266, year = {2023}, author = {Duarte, ME and Lewandowski, M and de Mendonça, RS and Simoni, S and Navia, D}, title = {Genetic analysis of the tomato russet mite provides evidence of oligophagy and a widespread pestiferous haplotype.}, journal = {Experimental &amp; applied acarology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36795266}, issn = {1572-9702}, abstract = {Worldwide, the tomato russet mite (TRM), Aculops lycopersici (Eriophyidae), is a key pest on cultivated tomato in addition to infesting other cultivated and wild Solanaceae; however, basic information on TRM supporting effective control strategies is still lacking, mainly regarding its taxonomic status and genetic diversity and structure. As A. lycopersici is reported on different species and genera of host plants, populations associated with different host plants may constitute specialized cryptic species, as shown for other eriophyids previously considered generalists. The main aims of this study were to (i) confirm the TRM taxonomic unity of populations from different host plants and localities as well as the species' oligophagy, and (ii) to advance the understanding of TRM host relationship and invasion history. For this purpose, we evaluated the genetic variability and structure of populations from different host plants along crucial areas of occurrence, including the area of potential origin, based on DNA sequences of mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer, D2 28S) genomic regions. Specimens from South America (Brazil) and Europe (France, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands) were collected from tomato and other solanaceous species from the genera Solanum and Physalis. Final TRM datasets were composed of 101, 82 and 50 sequences from the COI (672 bp), ITS (553 bp) and D2 (605 bp) regions, respectively. Distributions and frequencies of haplotypes (COI) and genotypes (D2 and ITS1) were inferred; pairwise genetic distance comparisons, and phylogenetic analysis were performed, including Bayesian Inference (BI) combined analysis. Our results showed that genetic divergences for mitochondrial and nuclear genomic regions from TRM associated with different host plants were lower than those observed in other eriophyid taxa, confirming conspecificity of TRM populations and oligophagy of this eriophyid mite. Four haplotypes (cH) were identified from the COI sequences with cH1 being the most frequent, representing 90% of all sequences occurring in all host plants studied (Brazil, France, The Netherlands); the other haplotypes were present exclusively in Brazilian populations. Six variants (I) were identified from the ITS sequences: I-1 was the most frequent (76.5% of all sequences), spread in all countries and associated with all host plants, except S. nigrum. Just one D2 sequence variant was found in all studied countries. The genetic homogeneity among populations highlights the occurrence of a highly invasive and oligophagous haplotype. These results failed to corroborate the hypothesis that differential symptomatology or damage intensity among tomato varieties and solanaceous host plants could be due to the genetic diversity of the associated mite populations. The genetic evidence, along with the history of spread of cultivated tomato, corroborates the hypothesis of a South American origin of TRM.}, }
@article {pmid36794841, year = {2023}, author = {Flechas, SV and Urbina, J and Crawford, AJ and Gutiérrez, K and Corrales, K and Castellanos, LA and González, MA and Cuervo, AM and Catenazzi, A}, title = {First evidence of ranavirus in native and invasive amphibians in Colombia.}, journal = {Diseases of aquatic organisms}, volume = {153}, number = {}, pages = {51-58}, doi = {10.3354/dao03717}, pmid = {36794841}, issn = {0177-5103}, abstract = {Ranaviruses can cause mass mortality events in amphibians, thereby becoming a threat to populations that are already facing dramatic declines. Ranaviruses affect all life stages and persist in multiple amphibian hosts. The detrimental effects of ranavirus infections to amphibian populations have already been observed in the UK and in North America. In Central and South America, the virus has been reported in several countries, but the presence of the genus Ranavirus (Rv) in Colombia is unknown. To help fill this knowledge gap, we surveyed for Rv in 60 species of frogs (including one invasive species) in Colombia. We also tested for co-infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in a subset of individuals. For Rv, we sampled 274 vouchered liver tissue samples collected between 2014 and 2019 from 41 localities covering lowlands to mountaintop páramo habitat across the country. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and end-point PCR, we detected Rv in 14 individuals from 8 localities, representing 6 species, including 5 native frogs of the genera Osornophryne, Pristimantis and Leptodactylus, and the invasive American bullfrog Rana catesbeiana. Bd was detected in 7 of 140 individuals, with 1 co-infection of Rv and Bd in an R. catesbeiana specimen collected in 2018. This constitutes the first report of ranavirus in Colombia and should set off alarms about this new emerging threat to amphibian populations in the country. Our findings provide some preliminary clues about how and when Rv may have spread and contribute to understanding how the pathogen is distributed globally.}, }
@article {pmid36793678, year = {2023}, author = {Touchard, F and Simon, A and Bierne, N and Viard, F}, title = {Urban rendezvous along the seashore: Ports as Darwinian field labs for studying marine evolution in the Anthropocene.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {560-579}, pmid = {36793678}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Humans have built ports on all the coasts of the world, allowing people to travel, exploit the sea, and develop trade. The proliferation of these artificial habitats and the associated maritime traffic is not predicted to fade in the coming decades. Ports share common characteristics: Species find themselves in novel singular environments, with particular abiotic properties-e.g., pollutants, shading, protection from wave action-within novel communities in a melting pot of invasive and native taxa. Here, we discuss how this drives evolution, including setting up of new connectivity hubs and gateways, adaptive responses to exposure to new chemicals or new biotic communities, and hybridization between lineages that would have never come into contact naturally. There are still important knowledge gaps, however, such as the lack of experimental tests to distinguish adaptation from acclimation processes, the lack of studies to understand the putative threats of port lineages to natural populations or to better understand the outcomes and fitness effects of anthropogenic hybridization. We thus call for further research examining "biological portuarization," defined as the repeated evolution of marine species in port ecosystems under human-altered selective pressures. Furthermore, we argue that ports act as giant mesocosms often isolated from the open sea by seawalls and locks and so provide replicated life-size evolutionary experiments essential to support predictive evolutionary sciences.}, }
@article {pmid36793187, year = {2023}, author = {Gu, D and Jia, T and Wei, H and Fang, M and Yu, F and Shu, L and Wang, X and Li, G and Cai, X and Mu, X and Xu, M and Wang, J and Hu, Y}, title = {Biotic resistance to fish invasions in southern China: Evidence from biomass, habitat, and fertility limitation.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2819}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2819}, pmid = {36793187}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Understanding the mechanisms underlying the invasion success or failure of alien species can help predict future invasions and cope with the invaders. The biotic resistance hypothesis posits that diverse communities are more resistant to invasion. While many studies have examined this hypothesis, the majority of them have focused on the relationship between alien and native species richness in plant communities, and results have been often inconsistent. In Southern China, many rivers have been invaded by alien fish species, providing an opportunity to test the resistance of native fish communities to alien fish invasions. Using survey data for 60,155 freshwater fish collected from five main rivers of Southern China for three years, we assessed the relationships between native fish richness and the richness and biomass of alien fishes at river and reach spatial scales, respectively. Based on two manipulative experiments, we further examined the impact of native fish richness on habitat selection and reproductive ability of an exotic model species Coptodon zillii. We found that there was no apparent relationship between alien and native fish richness while biomass of alien fish significantly decreased with increasing native fish richness. In experiments, C. zillii preferred to invade those habitats that have low native fish richness given evenly distributed food resources; reproduction of C. zillii was strongly depressed by a native carnivorous fish Channa maculata. Together, our results indicate that native fish diversity can continue to provide biotic resistance to alien fish species in terms of limiting their growth, habitat selection and reproduction while these aliens have successfully invaded in Southern China. We thus advocate for fish biodiversity conservation, especially for key species, to mitigate against the population development and ecological impact of alien fish species.}, }
@article {pmid36792531, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, BX and Hof, AR and Matson, KD and Langevelde, FV and Ma, CS}, title = {Climate change, host plant availability, and irrigation shape future region-specific distributions of the Sitobion grain aphid complex.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7409}, pmid = {36792531}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding where species occur using species distribution models has become fundamental to ecology. Although much attention has been paid to invasive species, questions about climate change related range shifts of widespread insect pests remain unanswered. Here, we incorporated bioclimatic factors and host plant availability into CLIMEX models to predict distributions under future climate scenarios of major cereal pests of the Sitobion grain aphid complex (Sitobion avenae, S. miscanthi, and S. akebiae). Additionally, we incorporated the application of irrigation in our models to explore the relevance of a frequently used management practice that may interact with effects of climate change of the pest distributions.<br><br>RESULTS: Our models predicted that the area potentially at high risk of outbreaks of the Sitobion grain aphid complex would increase from 41.3% to 53.3% of the global land mass. This expansion was underlined by regional shifts in both directions: expansion of risk areas in North America, Europe, most of Asia, and Oceania, and contraction of risk areas in South America, Africa, and Australia. In addition, we found that host plant availability limited the potential distribution of pests, while the application of irrigation expanded it.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our study provides insights into potential risk areas of insect pests and how climate, host plant availability, and irrigation affect the occurrence of the Sitobion grain aphid complex. Our results thereby support agricultural policy makers, farmers, and other stakeholders in their development and application of management practices aimed at maximizing crop yields and minimizing economic losses.}, }
@article {pmid36789581, year = {2023}, author = {Smith, ERC and Heal, R and Wood, LE}, title = {Understanding and improving biosecurity among recreational anglers in Great Britain.}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.15345}, pmid = {36789581}, issn = {1095-8649}, abstract = {Recreational fishing with the principal motivation of leisure is associated with important economic, social, and conservation values. However, it is also a primary pathway of invasive non-native species and aquatic animal disease introduction and spread. Several studies have explored the overall biosecurity risk posed by recreational anglers based on self-reported behaviours and awareness of biosecurity campaigns. However, there has been little in-depth exploration of the characteristics of key stakeholders that are implementing biosecurity best practice and the barriers that prevent anglers from undertaking biosecurity measures in the field. This study addresses this knowledge gap, using an online questionnaire to collect information on angler socio-demographic characteristics, voluntary biosecurity behaviour, and barriers affecting the implementation of biosecurity best practices in Great Britain in 2018. Results indicated that cleaning behaviours vary considerably amongst anglers, with angling frequency and the number of pieces of equipment affecting how likely anglers were to clean and dry these items. High levels of disinfectant use were reported among anglers; potentially attributed to the concurrent advocation of disinfectant to prevent the spread of aquatic animal disease. Barriers affecting the implementation of correct cleaning behaviours included a combination of factors such as practicality, disability, lack of available information and individual values. These findings illustrate the importance for fishery managers, water companies and policymakers to tailor prevention measures and facilities for anglers to maximise practicality and encourage long-term implementation of best practice.}, }
@article {pmid36786043, year = {2023}, author = {Botrel, M and Maranger, R}, title = {Global historical trends and drivers of submerged aquatic vegetation quantities in lakes.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.16619}, pmid = {36786043}, issn = {1365-2486}, abstract = {Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in lake littoral zones is an inland water wetland type that provides numerous essential ecosystem services, such as supplying food and habitat for fauna, regulating nutrient fluxes, stabilizing sediments, and maintaining a clear water state. However, little is known on how inland SAV quantities are changing globally in response to human activities, where loss threatens the provisioning of these ecosystem services. In this study, we generate a comprehensive global synthesis of trends in SAV quantities using time series (>10 years) in lakes and identify their main drivers. We compiled trends across methods and metrics, integrating both observational and paleolimnological approaches as well as diverse measures of SAV quantities, including areal extent, density, or abundance classes. The compilation revealed that knowledge on SAV is mostly derived from temperate regions, with major gaps in tropical, boreal, and mountainous lake-rich regions. Similar to other wetland types, we found that 41% of SAV times series are largely decreasing mostly due to land use change and resulting eutrophication. SAV is, however, increasing in 28% of cases, primarily since the 1980s. We show that trends and drivers of SAV quantities vary regionally, with increases in Europe explained mainly by management, decreases in Asia due to eutrophication and land use change, and variable trends in North America consistent with invasive species arrival. By providing a quantitative portrait of trends in SAV quantities worldwide, we identify knowledge gaps and future SAV research priorities. By considering the drivers of different trends, we also offer insight to future lake management related to climate, positive restoration actions, and change in community structure on SAV quantities.}, }
@article {pmid36640879, year = {2023}, author = {Soto, I and Ahmed, DA and Beidas, A and Oficialdegui, FJ and Tricarico, E and Angeler, DG and Amatulli, G and Briski, E and Datry, T and Dohet, A and Domisch, S and England, J and Feio, MJ and Forcellini, M and Johnson, RK and Jones, JI and Larrañaga, A and L'Hoste, L and Murphy, JF and Schäfer, RB and Shen, LQ and Kouba, A and Haubrock, PJ}, title = {Long-term trends in crayfish invasions across European rivers.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {867}, number = {}, pages = {161537}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161537}, pmid = {36640879}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Astacoidea ; *Ecosystem ; Introduced Species ; Biodiversity ; Rivers ; }, abstract = {Europe has experienced a substantial increase in non-indigenous crayfish species (NICS) since the mid-20th century due to their extensive use in fisheries, aquaculture and, more recently, pet trade. Despite relatively long invasion histories of some NICS and negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, large spatio-temporal analyses of their occurrences are lacking. Here, we used a large freshwater macroinvertebrate database to evaluate what information on NICS can be obtained from widely applied biomonitoring approaches and how usable such data is for descriptions of trends in identified NICS species. We found 160 time-series containing NICS between 1983 and 2019, to infer temporal patterns and environmental drivers of species and region-specific trends. Using a combination of meta-regression and generalized linear models, we found no significant temporal trend for the abundance of any species (Procambarus clarkii, Pacifastacus leniusculus or Faxonius limosus) at the European scale, but identified species-specific predictors of abundances. While analysis of the spatial range expansion of NICS was positive (i.e. increasing spread) in England and negative (significant retreat) in northern Spain, no trend was detected in Hungary and the Dutch-German-Luxembourg region. The average invasion velocity varied among countries, ranging from 30 km/year in England to 90 km/year in Hungary. The average invasion velocity gradually decreased over time in the long term, with declines being fastest in the Dutch-German-Luxembourg region, and much slower in England. Considering that NICS pose a substantial threat to aquatic biodiversity across Europe, our study highlights the utility and importance of collecting high resolution (i.e. annual) biomonitoring data using a sampling protocol that is able to estimate crayfish abundance, enabling a more profound understanding of NICS impacts on biodiversity.}, }
@article {pmid36400900, year = {2023}, author = {Bharti, M and Khurana, H and Sharma, M and Choksket, S and Nagar, S and Yadav, S and Modeel, S and Korpole, S and Negi, RK}, title = {Taxonomic and genomic characterization of Sporosarcina cyprini sp. nov., moderately tolerant of Cr[+6] and Cd[+2] isolated from the gut of invasive fish Cyprinus carpio var. communis (Linn., 1758).}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {116}, number = {3}, pages = {193-206}, pmid = {36400900}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Phospholipids/analysis ; *Sporosarcina/genetics ; *Carps ; Cadmium ; Introduced Species ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Genomics ; DNA ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; }, abstract = {A Gram-stain-positive, motile, and rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain MB25[T], was isolated from the gut of Cyprinus carpio from the highly polluted river Yamuna, India. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain MB25[T] belonged to the genus Sporosarcina, sharing the highest sequence similarity with S. luteola Y1[T] (98.98%) and S. koreensis S-K12[T] (98.91%). Digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values of strain MB25[T] with strain Y1[T] and S-K12[T] were 18.9, 77.69, and 18.2, 76.80 respectively. Genome analysis of strain MB25[T] revealed its biotechnological properties such as tolerance to potent heavy metals, genes for the production of carbohydrate-active enzymes, antimicrobial compounds, and also degradation of aromatic compounds. The G + C content of strain MB25[T] genome was 45%. Growth observed at 10-40 °C (optimum, 28-30 °C), pH 6.0-8.5 (optimum pH 7.5-8.0); NaCl concentrations up to 6.0% (w/v). The dominant respiratory quinone was MK-7, cell wall peptidoglycan is of the A-4 type containing amino acids Lys-Glu and the major fatty acids are anteiso-C11:0 and iso-C15: 0. The major polar lipids of strain MB25[T] are diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic, and phylogenomic data, strain MB25[T] represents a novel species of the genus Sporosarcina, for which the name Sporosarcina cyprini sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MB25[T] (= MCC 4366[ T] = JCM 34521[ T] = CCM 9113[ T]).}, }
@article {pmid36778144, year = {2023}, author = {Lin, TH and Chan, KW and Hsu, FC and Lin, CC and Tseng, HY}, title = {Putative source and niche shift pattern of a new alien ant species (Odontomachus troglodytes) in Taiwan.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14718}, pmid = {36778144}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Introduced Species ; *Ants ; Phylogeny ; Taiwan ; Commerce ; Internationality ; }, abstract = {Alien species may pose substantial impacts on biodiversity around the globe through international trade and travel. A niche shift hypothesis was proposed to explain the adaptive change of alien or invasive species in new habitats. However, whether niche shifts occur in alien species likely depends on both characteristics inherent to the species itself and its original distribution. Here we identified a newly exotic trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus troglodytes) in Taiwan by morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The possible distribution range and the niche shift pattern were evaluated using ecological niche modelling. The results indicated that exotic O. troglodytes in the newly distributed area displayed a significant niche shift with low niche overlap and high niche expansion. This study reveals a long-distance invasive event from central Africa to Southeast Asia (more than 10,000 km) and predicts the potential distribution range of this new alien species in Taiwan.}, }
@article {pmid36777104, year = {2023}, author = {Yarita, S and Morgan-Richards, M and Trewick, SA}, title = {Genotypic detection of barriers to rat dispersal: Rattus rattus behind a peninsula predator-proof fence.}, journal = {Biological invasions}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-16}, pmid = {36777104}, issn = {1387-3547}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Clear delimitation of management units is essential for effective management of invasive species. Analysis of population genetic structure of target species can improve identification and interpretation of natural and artificial barriers to dispersal. In Aotearoa New Zealand where the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) is a major threat to native biodiversity, effective suppression of pest numbers requires removal and limitation of reinvasion from outside the managed population. We contrasted population genetic structure in rat populations over a wide scale without known barriers, with structure over a fine scale with potential barriers to dispersal. MtDNA D-loop sequences and microsatellite genotypes resolved little genetic structure in southern North Island population samples of ship rat 100 km apart. In contrast, samples from major islands differed significantly for both mtDNA and nuclear markers. We also compared ship rats collected within a small peninsula reserve bounded by sea, suburbs and, more recently, a predator fence with rats in the surrounding forest. Here, mtDNA did not differ but genotypes from 14 nuclear loci were sufficient to distinguish the fenced population. This suggests that natural (sea) and artificial barriers (town, fence) are effectively limiting gene flow among ship rat populations over the short distance (~ 500 m) between the peninsula reserve and surrounding forest. The effectiveness of the fence alone is not clear given it is a recent feature and no historical samples exist; resampling population genetic diversity over time will improve understanding. Nonetheless, the current genetic isolation of the fenced rat population suggests that rat eradication is a sensible management option given that reinvasion appears to be limited and could probably be managed with a biosecurity programme.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10530-023-03004-8.}, }
@article {pmid36773576, year = {2023}, author = {De León, LF and Silva, B and Avilés-Rodríguez, KJ and Buitrago-Rosas, D}, title = {Harnessing the omics revolution to address the global biodiversity crisis.}, journal = {Current opinion in biotechnology}, volume = {80}, number = {}, pages = {102901}, doi = {10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102901}, pmid = {36773576}, issn = {1879-0429}, abstract = {Human disturbances are altering global biodiversity in unprecedented ways. We identify three fundamental challenges underpinning our understanding of global biodiversity (namely discovery, loss, and preservation), and discuss how the omics revolution (e.g. genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and meta-omics) can help address these challenges. We also discuss how omics tools can illuminate the major drivers of biodiversity loss, including invasive species, pollution, urbanization, overexploitation, and climate change, with a special focus on highly diverse tropical environments. Although omics tools are transforming the traditional toolkit of biodiversity research, their application to addressing the current biodiversity crisis remains limited and may not suffice to offset current rates of biodiversity loss. Despite technical and logistical challenges, omics tools need to be fully integrated into global biodiversity research, and better strategies are needed to improve their translation into biodiversity policy and practice. It is also important to recognize that although the omics revolution can be considered the biologist's dream, socioeconomic disparity limits their application in biodiversity research.}, }
@article {pmid36772970, year = {2023}, author = {Szydlowski, DK and Elgin, AK and Lodge, DM and Tiemann, JS and Larson, ER}, title = {Long-term macrophyte and snail community responses to population declines of invasive rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus).}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2818}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2818}, pmid = {36772970}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {A central focus of invasive species research has been on human efforts to eradicate invaders or reduce their abundance to mitigate the worst of their impacts. In some cases, however, populations of invasive species decline without human intervention, which may inform management responses to these invaders. Such is the case of the invasive rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) in northern Wisconsin, USA where systematic population monitoring since 1975 has revealed population declines in approximately half of the lakes surveyed. Population declines of invasive species without human intervention remain understudied, but there is even less research on how communities respond following such declines. Using ten lakes in Vilas County, Wisconsin, we investigated community recovery of habitat (macrophytes) and prey (freshwater snails) of F. rusticus following up to 33 years of declines of this invader in some lakes using a dataset with a rare, long-term span over which consistent data were collected (1987, 2002, 2011, and 2020). We compared community responses in lakes where F. rusticus populations reached a peak and subsequently declined (boom-bust lakes) and lakes where our dataset only captured the decline of F. rusticus (bust lakes) to reference lakes with consistently high or low crayfish abundance over time. We found partial recovery of macrophytes and snails in the bust and boom-bust lakes where F. rusticus has declined, with recovery of macrophyte abundance and richness in the boom-bust lakes achieving levels observed in the low-crayfish reference lakes. Snail abundance and richness increased after declines of F. rusticus, though not to the level of the low-crayfish reference lakes, suggesting that snail recovery may lag macrophyte recovery because snails are dependent on macrophytes and associated periphyton for habitat. The recovery we document potentially represents long-term ecosystem resilience of lakes to biological invasions. Our results suggest that lake communities may recover without active restoration interventions after invasive crayfish population declines, although identifying which lakes experience these natural declines remains a priority for future research and management. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36771745, year = {2023}, author = {Denóbile, C and Chiba de Castro, WA and Silva Matos, DMD}, title = {Public Health Implications of Invasive Plants: A Scientometric Study.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12030661}, pmid = {36771745}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Movements of organisms through distinct places can change the dynamics of ecological interactions and make the habitat conducive to the spread of diseases. Faced with a cyclical scenario of invasions and threats in a One Health context, we conducted a scientometric study to understand how disturbances in environments with invaded vegetation affect the incidence of parasites and disease prevalence rates. The search was carried out in Web of Science and Scopus databases, with keywords delimited by Boolean operators and based on the PRISMA protocol. Thirty-sixarticles were full-read to clarify the interaction between diseases and invaded areas. The analysis covered publications from 2005 to 2022, with a considerable increase in the last ten years and a significant participation of the USA on the world stage. Trends were found in scientific activities, and we explored how invasive species can indirectly damage health, as higher concentrations of pathogens, vectors, and hosts were related to structurally altered communities. This paper reveals invaded plants threats that enhance disease transmission risks. It is likely that, with frequent growth in the number of introduced species worldwide due to environmental disturbances and human interventions, the negative implications will be intensified in the coming years.}, }
@article {pmid36771666, year = {2023}, author = {Troia, A}, title = {Macrophytes in Inland Waters: From Knowledge to Management.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12030582}, pmid = {36771666}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The huge biodiversity of inland waters and the many different aquatic habitats or ecosystems occurring there are particularly threatened by human impacts. In this Special Issue, ten articles have been collected that show new data on the distribution and ecology of some rare aquatic macrophytes, including both vascular plants and charophytes, but also on the use of these organisms for the monitoring, management, and restoration of wetlands.}, }
@article {pmid36771607, year = {2023}, author = {Kato-Noguchi, H and Kato, M}, title = {Evolution of the Secondary Metabolites in Invasive Plant Species Chromolaena odorata for the Defense and Allelopathic Functions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12030521}, pmid = {36771607}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King &amp; H. Robinson is native to tropical America, and has naturalized in many other countries in tropical Asia, Austria, and West Africa. The species often forms dense thickets and reduces the native species diversity and population in the invasive ranges. The species is also considered as a noxious weed in agriculture fields, and listed in the 100 of the world's worst invasive alien species. The characteristics of its life-history such as the seed production rate, growth pattern, and adaptative ability to the environmental conditions may contribute to the invasiveness of the species. Possible evidence of the defense capacity against the natural enemy, and the allelopathic potential against the competitive plant species for C. odorata has been accumulated in the literature over three decades. The extracts, residues, and/or rhizosphere soil of C. odorata increased the mortality of various insects and parasitic nematodes, and decreased their population. The extracts, residues, and/or rhizosphere soil of C. odorata also inhibited the germination and growth of several plant species including the indigenous plant species in the invasive ranges of C. odorata. Toxic substances, pyrrolizidine alkaloids were found in the leaves and flowers of C. odorata. These pyrrolizidine alkaloids may work as the defense agents against the natural enemies. Several potential allelochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids were also found in the plant extracts of C. odorata. Some of these compounds may work as allelopathic agents of C. odorata and inhibit the germination and growth of the competitive plant species. These characteristics of C. odorata for the defense function against their natural enemies such as insects and parasitic nematodes, and allelopathic potential against the competitive native plant species may contribute to the invasiveness and naturalization of C. odorata in the new habitats as invasive plant species. However, it is necessary to determine the concentration of these allelochemicals in the neighboring environment of C. odorata such as the rhizosphere soil since allelochemicals are able to work only when they are released into the neighboring environment. It is the first review article focusing on the defense function and allelopathy of C. odorata.}, }
@article {pmid36766400, year = {2023}, author = {Stainton, K and McGreig, S and Conyers, C and Ponting, S and Butler, L and Brown, P and Jones, EP}, title = {Molecular Identification of Asian Hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax Prey from Larval Gut Contents: A Promising Method to Study the Diet of an Invasive Pest.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13030511}, pmid = {36766400}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The Asian hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), is an invasive hornet that was accidentally introduced into Europe in 2004. It mainly preys on other invertebrates and arthropod species, and often targets honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. The introduction of these hornets may damage indigenous fauna and apiculture. Knowledge of V. velutina prey preference and the species composition of their diet is relatively limited. In this study, we assessed methodologies for the molecular identification of prey using dissected larvae from destroyed nests. Ten larval samples were taken from five nests in areas where the hornets had not yet established: two from the Channel Islands and three in the mainland UK. DNA was extracted from the gut contents and sequenced and analysed by metabarcoding with Oxford Nanopore Technologies' Flongle and MinION devices. Numerous taxa were detected in each larval sample with the species composition varying by individual and by nest. Between 15 and 26 species were found per nest, with wasps (Vespula spp.), spiders, honey bees and blow flies being the most abundant taxa. These results demonstrate that metabarcoding larval gut contents can be used to study the Asian hornet diet and give a first snapshot of the prey items captured by V. v. nigrithorax in the UK. This method could be used for future large-scale testing of the gut contents of hornet nests, in order to provide a greater insight into the foraging behaviour of this predator across Europe and elsewhere.}, }
@article {pmid36766350, year = {2023}, author = {Rørbæk, RW and Andersen, TA and Pertoldi, C and Jørgensen, A and Pagh, S}, title = {Diet of Free Ranging American Mink (Neovison vison) in Denmark.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13030461}, pmid = {36766350}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Non-native American mink (Neovison vison) is a widely spread predator in Denmark. The feral population in mainland Denmark consists of captive-born mink that escaped from fur farms and wild mink born in nature, whereas the population on Bornholm is almost all wild-born mink. In this study, the diets of feral mink in mainland Denmark and on the island of Bornholm are analyzed. The aim of this study was to examine (1) whether the diet of the larger captive-born mink differs from that of the smaller wild-born mink, (2) assess the regional variations between the diets of mink in mainland Denmark and on Bornholm, and (3) investigate the seasonal variation in the diet composition of mink. The stomach contents of 364 mink (243 wild-born and 114 captive-born) culled in the years 2019-2022 were analyzed. Of these, 203 mink were from mainland Denmark, and 154 were from Bornholm. No significant differences were found between the diets of captive-born mink and wild-born mink or the mink found in mainland Denmark and on the island of Bornholm. Significantly more empty stomachs were found during spring than during the summer and autumn, suggesting a bottleneck in the diet during spring.}, }
@article {pmid36766326, year = {2023}, author = {Marks, CA and Trought, K and Brown, S and Arrow, J and Hopkins, B}, title = {Sensitivity of High Conservation Value Birds to Para-Aminopropiophenone (PAPP) Determined by Sub-Lethal Dose-Response Assay.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13030433}, pmid = {36766326}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) is a methaemoglobin (MetHb) forming compound used for the lethal control of invasive carnivores and mustelids. By measuring the dose-dependent inhibition of O2 transport arising from the oxidation of haemoglobin (HbFe[2+]) to MetHb (HbFe[3+]), we determined the sensitivity of nine bird species to PAPP. A methaemoglobinaemia absorbance index (MAI) was validated in five common bird species to determine thresholds associated with a 99% probability of survival (ST99) and a 50% probability of mortality (LT50). Dose-response trials in high conservation value birds sought MAI values below the ST99 threshold, projecting the LT50 value and avoiding the need for lethal outcomes. Black-backed gull (LT50 = 1784.7) and eastern rosella (LT50 = 1074 mg kg[-1]) were the most tolerant species, while brown kiwi (LT50 = 8.4 mg kg[-1]) and weka (LT50 = 9.3 mg kg[-1]) were the most sensitive. Takahē were of intermediate acute sensitivity (LT50 = 51 mg kg[-1]), although protracted impacts on haemoglobin were observed in takahē up to 72 h later and associated with PAPP doses as low as 25.6 mg kg[-1]. In pukeko (LT50 = 138.4 mg kg[-1]), protracted declines in haemoglobin 72 h later occurred at doses as low as 29.5 mg kg[-1], while at higher doses (253 and 112 mg kg[-1]), deaths resulted after 4-6 days. Based upon PAPP doses that caused acute and protracted responses, we provide estimates for the lowest observable adverse effect level (LOAEL) and no observable effects level (NOEL) for nine bird species.}, }
@article {pmid36766304, year = {2023}, author = {Abreu-Acosta, N and Pino-Vera, R and Izquierdo-Rodríguez, E and Afonso, O and Foronda, P}, title = {Zoonotic Bacteria in Anolis sp., an Invasive Species Introduced to the Canary Islands (Spain).}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13030414}, pmid = {36766304}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Lizards belonging to the genus Anolis are native to America and have been introduced in many parts of the world. In this work, a gastrointestinal microbiological analysis from Anolis sp. introduced to Tenerife, Canary Island, was carried out. A total of 74 individuals were analyzed by culture and molecular tools. Pseudomonas spp. was the most prevalent bacteria isolated (64.3%), followed by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli with at least one of the investigated virulent genes (stx1, stx2, and eae) (44.6%). The stx2 gene was more prevalent which differs to that reported in other reptiles, probably due to wastewater transmission. Campylobacter spp. was detected in 32.4% of the animals, highlighting the detection of C. jejuni and C. fetus by their relevance to public health. The zoonotic Staphylococcus lugdunensis, found in 14.9% of the animals, was firstly detected in reptiles. Vibrio sp. which is more associated with aquatic environments was found in 10.8% of the lizards in this study, with Vibrio cholerae being found in two of the animals. The prevalence of Salmonella sp. (5.4%) was low, compared with other studies carried out in reptiles. These results indicate that Anolis sp. in Tenerife could be playing a role in the maintenance and spread of the pathogens detected, being a possible risk factor for public health and biodiversity conservation.}, }
@article {pmid36766269, year = {2023}, author = {Casu, M and Azzena, I and Scarpa, F and Locci, C and Niffoi, A and Delmastro, GB and Lo Conte, P and Varcasia, A and Bovero, S and Candiotto, A and Sanna, D and Cossu, P}, title = {Appraising the Genetic Makeup of an Allochthonous Southern Pike Population: An Opportunity to Predict the Evolution of Introgressive Hybridization in Isolated Populations?.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13030380}, pmid = {36766269}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Biological invasions are a major threat to the conservation of biodiversity, as invasive species affect native biota through competition, predation, pathogen introduction, habitat alteration, and hybridisation. The present study focuses on a southern pike population, Esox cisalpinus (Teleostei: Esocidae), that has been introduced outside the species' native range. Using microsatellite markers, this study's objective was to gather baseline genetic information and assess the presence of hybrids between this species and E. lucius in the introduced population. The resulting estimates of genetic diversity and effective population size are comparable to those observed in the species' native range. Although different methods yield contrasting and uncertain evidence regarding introgressive hybridization, the presence of late-generation hybrids cannot be completely ruled out. Large numbers of breeders as well as multiple introductions of genetically divergent cohorts and introgressive hybridisation may explain the high genetic diversity of this recently introduced southern pike population. The present study issues a warning that the conservation of southern pike' introgressive hybridisation between northern and southern pike might be underestimated. The genetic information gathered herein may unravel the origin, number of introduction events, and evolutionary trajectory of the introduced population. This information may help us understand the evolution of introgressive hybridisation in the southern pike's native areas.}, }
@article {pmid36765405, year = {2023}, author = {Marrone, PG}, title = {Status of the biopesticide market and prospects for new bioherbicides.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7403}, pmid = {36765405}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {Biopesticides (commonly called Biocontrol or more recently bioprotection) have been experiencing double digit growth and now comprise about 10% of the global pesticide market driven by increased return on investment, restrictions on chemical pesticides, and pesticide resistance and residue management. However, despite the large need for new herbicides due to widespread and increasing resistance to herbicides with almost most of the chemical modes of action, bioherbicides are an insignificant percentage of the total. The technical difficulty in finding bioherbicides that can compete with the spectrum and price of chemical herbicides has left agriculture with a paucity of new bioherbicides. Billions of dollars of investment capital is being invested in new, innovative startups, but only a small number focus on bioherbicide discovery and development, due to the perceived higher risk than plant biotech, biostimulants, bionutrients and other categories of biopesticides. However, the exciting new technologies that these startups are developing such as RNAi, sterile pollen, and systemic metabolites have potential to impact the market in ten years or less. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36762237, year = {2022}, author = {Douglas, HB and Dumont, S and Savard, K and Thurston, GS and Light, MHS}, title = {Palaearctic seed beetle Bruchusaffinis (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) new to North America, arrival, distribution, and autecology.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1128}, number = {}, pages = {19-31}, pmid = {36762237}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {First North American records are presented for Bruchusaffinis Frölich, 1799 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae), as confirmed by morphology from multiple sites in Canada: British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec. Diagnostic information is presented for B.affinis in North America. This insect is expected to reduce plant reproductive output in infested Lathyruslatifolius L., Lathyrussylvestris L., and other potential Lathyrus (Fabaceae) hosts. Impacts on broad bean (Viciafaba L.) production are expected to be small. Potential reproductive impact on native North American Lathyrus species remains unknown. The United States of America and Canada are now known to be home to 69-79 species of adventive Chrysomelidae including 16-18 Bruchinae. We have found two dead, teneral B.affinis individuals inside Lathyrus seeds imported from Europe, and we hypothesise that this species was introduced to Canada from Europe via seeds for planting sometime before 2007. At our study sites, Lathyrus flowering began in mid June followed by oviposition in late June with first adults emerging in late August, requiring about 60 days from egg to adult stage. Dinarmusbasalis (Rodani, 1877) (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae) was newly recorded as parasitoid of Bruchusaffinis in Canada, and caused about 10% mortality in B.affinis at our sites.}, }
@article {pmid36761821, year = {2022}, author = {Sukhorukov, AP and Kushunina, M and Sennikov, AN}, title = {A new classification of C4- Atriplex species in Russia, with the first alien record of Atriplexflabellum (Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceae) from North Siberia.}, journal = {PhytoKeys}, volume = {202}, number = {}, pages = {59-72}, pmid = {36761821}, issn = {1314-2011}, abstract = {For a long time, the systematics of Atriplex was based solely on morphological characters and leaf anatomy. The latest worldwide phylogenetic study of Atriplex significantly improved our knowledge about the relationships within the genus, but a new classification has not been put forward thus far. Here we re-evaluate the taxonomy of C4-species of Atriplex that are native to Russia. Seven species are classified into two sections, A.sect.Obione (incl. A.sect.Sclerocalymma, syn. nov.) (A.altaica, A.centralasiatica, A.rosea, A.sibirica, and A.sphaeromorpha), and A.sect.Obionopsis (incl. A.sect.Psammophila, syn. nov.) (A.fominii and A.tatarica). Although the majority of Eurasian C4-species have similar morphology, leafy inflorescence is a typical character for A.sect.Obione. The members of A.sect.Obionopsis are characterised mostly by aphyllous inflorescences, but some species (A.laciniata, A.pratovii, and A.tornabenei) have leafy inflorescences. Geographically, almost all members of A.sect.Obione are confined to Central Asia, although A.rosea is a typical Mediterranean element and A.argentea occurs in North America. The representatives of A.sect.Obionopsis are distributed mostly in the Mediterranean and the Irano-Turanian floristic region. The alien status of A.rosea, A.sibirica and A.tatarica is discussed. Atriplexflabellum, a desert species from the Irano-Turanian region, is reported for the first time from Russia (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, North Siberia) as a casual alien. This species occupies a phylogenetic position distant from both aforementioned sections. An identification key to all C4-species of the genus growing in Russia is given, and a sectional checklist with updated nomenclature and revised synonymy is provided.}, }
@article {pmid36761646, year = {2022}, author = {Hrivnák, R and Jarčuška, B and Jarolímek, I and Kochjarová, J and Májeková, J and Hegedüšová Vantarová, K and Slezák, M}, title = {Comparative diversity of vascular plants in black alder floodplain and swamp forests of Central European biogeographical regions.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e90281}, pmid = {36761646}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {Plant species diversity of black alder-dominated forests was studied in three biogeographical regions (Alpine, Continental and Pannonian) of Central Europe. They were represented by regions of the Polish Plain (Continental), the High Western Carpathians and Matricum of the Western Carpathians (Alpine) and the Pannonian lowland (Pannonian). We analysed 35 plots per region in order to identify: i) local alpha (α) diversity defined as the counted number of plant taxa occurring in a single sampling plot, ii) amongst-site beta (β) diversity, iii) regional (γ) diversity defined as the total species richness of all sampling plots and iv) zeta diversity (ζ) as a generalisation of beta diversity. We recorded a total of 432 vascular plant taxa in all bioregions; more than 13% were alien plants. Statistically significant differences in species richness (α) of both native and alien plants were found between assemblages of the regions. The High Western Carpathians showed the highest native and the lowest alien plant species richness. Total β-diversity was high in all regions, but significantly differed amongst regions only for alien plant species. Cumulative native and alien species richness (γ) was the highest and lowest in the High Western Carpathians and Matricum of Western Carpathians, respectively. Our results identified the High Western Carpathians as a hotspot for diversity of native plants in Central European black alder-dominated forests.}, }
@article {pmid36761629, year = {2022}, author = {Di Muri, C and Alcorlo, P and Bardelli, R and Catalan, J and Gacia, E and Guerra, MT and Rosati, I and Soto, DX and Vizzini, S and Mancinelli, G}, title = {Individual and population-scale carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of Procambarusclarkii in invaded freshwater ecosystems.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e94411}, pmid = {36761629}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Freshwater ecosystems are amongst the most threatened habitats on Earth; nevertheless, they support about 9.5% of the known global biodiversity while covering less than 1% of the globe's surface. A number of anthropogenic pressures are impacting species diversity in inland waters and, amongst them, the spread of invasive alien species is considered one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss and homogenisation in freshwater habitats.Crayfish species are widely distributed freshwater invaders and, while alien species introductions occur mostly accidentally, alien crayfish are often released deliberately into new areas for commercial purposes. After their initial introduction, crayfish species can rapidly establish and reach high-density populations as a result of their adaptive functional traits, such as their generalist diet.The Louisiana crayfish Procambarusclarkii (Girard, 1852) is globally considered one of the worst invaders and its impact on recipient freshwater communities can vary from predation and competition with native species, to modification of food webs and habitat structure and introduction of pathogens. Native to the south United States and north Mexico, P.clarkii has been introduced in Europe, Asia and Africa, determining negative ecological and economic impacts in the majority of invaded habitats where it became dominant within the receiving benthic food webs. Due to its flexible feeding strategy, P.clarkii exerts adverse effects at different trophic levels, ultimately affecting the structure and dynamics of invaded food webs. It is, therefore, paramount to evaluate the ecological consequences of P.clarkii invasion and to quantify its impact in a spatially explicit context.<br><br>NEW INFORMATION: In the past decades, the analysis of stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen and other elements has become a popular methodology in food web ecology. Notably, stable isotope analysis has emerged as a primary tool for addressing applied issues in biodiversity conservation and management, such as the assessment of the trophic ecology of non-indigenous species in invaded habitats. Here, we built two geo-referenced datasets, resolved respectively at the population and individual scale, by collating information on &#x3b4;[13]C and &#x3b4;[15]N values of P.clarkii within invaded inland waters. The population-scale dataset consists of 160 carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of the Louisiana crayfish and its potential prey, including living and non-living primary producers and benthic invertebrates. The dataset resolved at individual scale consists of 1,168 isotopic records of P.clarkii. The isotopic values included within the two datasets were gathered from 10 countries located in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, for a total of 41 studies published between 2005 and 2021. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this effort represents the first attempt to collate in standardised datasets the sparse isotopic information of P.clarkii available in literature. The datasets lend themselves to being used for providing a spatially explicit resolution of the trophic ecology of P.clarkii and to address a variety of ecological questions concerning its ecological impact on recipient aquatic food webs.}, }
@article {pmid36761623, year = {2022}, author = {Luz, R and Cordeiro, R and Fonseca, A and Raposeiro, PM and Gonçalves, V}, title = {Distribution and diversity of cyanobacteria in the Azores Archipelago: An annotated checklist.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e87638}, pmid = {36761623}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Knowledge about cyanobacteria diversity in the Azores is spread over several publications, dating from 1874, with some of them not generally available to the scientific community due to their restricted access. The dispersion and sometimes inaccessibility of this information hinder a deeper analysis and a better understanding of the biodiversity of the Azores Islands and more general ecological processes in oceanic islands. Here we present the first checklist of cyanobacteria for the Azores Archipelago with updated taxonomy of all recorded taxa.<br><br>NEW INFORMATION: This work provides a compiled and annotated checklist of all known cyanobacteria from the Azores Archipelago with morphological identification from preserved samples and cultures, based on published literature. All records of taxa known to occur in the Azores were taxonomically updated. The present checklist comprises 225 taxa distributed by six orders (Chroococcales, Nostocales, Oscillatoriales, Pleurocapsales, Spirulinales and Synechococcales). Our literature review reveals that the Azores Archipelago hosts a high diversity of cyanobacteria, despite several overlooked habitats that may present great potential regarding cyanobacteria diversity. Increasing efforts to study these neglected habitats could contribute to the knowledge of cyanobacteria taxonomy. This checklist provides the basis for future works on the taxonomy and taxa richness of cyanobacteria in the Azores and the Atlantic Islands, as also for understanding and monitoring non-indigenous and invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid36761611, year = {2022}, author = {Itsukushima, R and Maruoka, K}, title = {Database of fish fauna in a highly urbanised river (Tsurumi River Basin, Kanagawa, Japan).}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e83527}, pmid = {36761611}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Urbanisation has facilitated changes in the hydrological cycle, sediment dynamics and habitat loss and it has had a tremendous impact on river ecosystems. Moreover, the invasion of non-native species reduces the number of native species with the progress of urbanisation, thereby resulting in the homogenisation of fish fauna and significant decrease in diversity. However, the effects of urbanisation on fish fauna vary depending on the region, degree of urbanisation and number of years since the construction of the city. Hence, it is necessary to collect information on how fish fauna changes due to urbanisation in different regions. The target site of the present study is the Tsurumi River, of which approximately 85% of the basin is urbanised and many of the river channels have been affected by straightening and concrete channelling. Monitoring of biota has been conducted mainly in downstream areas; however, data on fish fauna in upstream areas and tributaries of the river, which have been substantially affected by urbanisation, are lacking.<br><br>NEW INFORMATION: Surveys were conducted at 71 sites in the Tsurumi River Basin during summers and winters, focusing on river channels that have been straightened or converted to concrete channels due to urbanisation. As a result of this investigation, 10 families, 28 species and 9,335 individuals were collected. Some of the fish collected included rare species, such as Tanakialanceolata, Lefuaechigonia and Pseudobagrustokiensis, indicating that, even in rivers that have been severely impacted by human activities, there are still rare indigenous species living there, albeit in limited numbers. In addition, Misgurnus sp. (clade B2), Micropterussalmoides, Lepomismacrochirus and Poeciliareticulata were confirmed to be non-native species. Misgurnus sp. (clade B2) was widespread; however, populations of carnivorous non-native alien species were small. The data are all accessible from the document "database_fish_urban_tsurumi" (https://ipt.pensoft.net/manage/resource?r=database_fish_urban_tsurumi).}, }
@article {pmid36761597, year = {2022}, author = {Lieungh, E and Bjureke, K and Evju, M and Johaadien, RS and Olsen, SL and Skarpaas, O and Stabbetorp, OE and Wollan, AK}, title = {Presence-absence of plant habitat specialists in 15 patches of dry calcareous grassland.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e94057}, pmid = {36761597}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dry grasslands on calcareous bedrock in warm climates around the Oslo Fjord are naturally fragmented biodiversity hotspots. This habitat geographically coincides with the most densely populated area of Norway. Many habitat specialists, along with the habitat itself, are red-listed because of land-use change, forest encroachment, and invasive species that cause habitat loss and greater isolation of remaining patches. To ensure effective conservation, data on species presences and absences are necessary to quantify states, changes, and extinction risks in specific populations and habitat patches.<br><br>NEW INFORMATION: We present presence-absence data of 49 vascular plant species in 15 patches of dry calcareous grassland habitat, surveyed in 2009, 2019, and in 2020. The species are considered to be habitat specialists and, thus, unlikely to occur between the patches.}, }
@article {pmid36761596, year = {2022}, author = {Tsafack, N and Gabriel, R and Elias, RB and Boieiro, M and Ferreira, MT and Borges, PAV}, title = {Arthropods and other biota associated with the Azorean trees and shrubs: Laurusazorica (Seub) Franco (Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Laurales, Lauraceae).}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e80088}, pmid = {36761596}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {This study explores the composition and structure of species communities associated with the native Azorean tree species Laurusazorica (Seub) Franco (Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Laurales, Lauraceae). Communities were sampled in six Islands covering the occidental (Flores), central (Faial, Pico, Terceira) and eastern (São Miguel, Santa Maria) groups of Azores Archipelago during the BALA project, using standardised sampling protocols for surveying canopy arthropod fauna. In addition, the study characterises the distribution of species regarding their colonisation status and feeding modes and, finally, compares communities of different Islands. Ninety-four arthropod species totalling 10,313 specimens were collected on L.azorica. The Arthropod community was dominated by Hemiptera species, most of them being herbivores. Endemic and native species showed a very high abundance representing about 94% of the total species abundance. However, despite introduced species being represented by few individuals (6% of the total abundance), their diversity was remarkable (28 species and no significant difference with diversity found in endemic and native species communities). Analysis of rarity patterns revealed a stable community of endemic species (alpha gambin SAD model approaching a log-normal shape), intermediate stable community of native species (alpha SAD gambin model approaching a poisson log-normal) and a less stable community of introduced species (alpha SAD gambin model approaching a log-series shape). A dissimilarity analysis revealed high similarity between communities of Terceira and Pico and high dissimilarity between Flores and Faial communities. We observed a clear individualisation of the different islands when considering endemic species, whereas we observed high overlap when considering native and introduced species groups. Canopy community distribution confirms the results obtained in a previous study which suggest the stability of native and endemic arthropods species communities over introduced species community in native forests fragments. Arthropod species were richer than bryophytes, lichens and vascular plants species. We found that L.azorica serve as the substrate for very few vascular plants species (four epiphytes species), which were present in all Islands, except Elaphoglossumsemicylindricum, which does not occur in Santa Maria. L.azorica shelters a significant number of bryophytes and lichens species. Thirty-two lichens and 92 bryophyte species, including 57 liverworts and 35 mosses, are referred to this phorophyte. Five bryophyte species, all Azorean endemics, are considered Endangered by IUCN Criteria. L.azorica harbours a poor community of epiphyte vascular plant species and all of them were ferns, but the community of bryophytes and lichens are not negligible although very low compared to the community found on other previously studied Azorean trees, the Azorean cedar Juniperusbrevifolia. The present study shows that most islands present particular species distribution patterns without geographical correlation and that conservation programmes should be adapted to each Island. The study, therefore, calls for a specialisation of conservation programmes for each of the Islands.}, }
@article {pmid36761583, year = {2022}, author = {Kim, D and Lee, MJ and Lee, H and Ban, YG and Kim, DE}, title = {The current status of invasive alien insect species in South Korea.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e81941}, pmid = {36761583}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {We investigated the identity and distribution of the invasive alien insect species inhabiting Korean ecosystems, targeting 3,249 locations in nine regions between 2015 and 2018. In natural ecosystems, we identified 63 species in 43 families and nine orders of invasive alien insect species, respectively. We observed that the order Hemiptera exhibited the highest species diversity with 20 species. Gyeonggi-do was where the highest number of invasive alien insect species were identified (45 species). Species richness analysis revealed that Jeju-do showed the highest Dominance Index (0.8), whereas Gyeongsangnam-do had the highest Diversity Index (2.8). Corythuchamarmorata (Hemiptera: Tingidae), Lycormadelicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), Ophraellacommuna (Coleoptera: Chrysomeridae), Metcalfapruinosa (Say) (Hemiptera: Flatidae) and Pochaziashantungensis (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae) were distributed in more than 300 locations of the country. Invasive alien insect species inhabited the roadsides (31.3%), farmlands (18.3%) and parks (16.6%). In this study, we list the invasive alien insect species in Korean ecosystems and provide a basis for selecting primary management target species.}, }
@article {pmid36761554, year = {2022}, author = {Delabye, S and Gaona, FP and Potocký, P and Foxcroft, LC and Halamová, P and Hejda, M and MacFadyen, S and Pyšková, K and Sedláček, O and Staňková, M and Storch, D and Pyšek, P and Tropek, R}, title = {Thirteen moth species (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Noctuidae) newly recorded in South Africa, with comments on their distribution.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e89729}, pmid = {36761554}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Thanks to the high diversity of ecosystems and habitats, South Africa harbours tremendous diversity of insects. The Kruger National Park, due to its position close to the border between two biogeographic regions and high heterogeneity of environmental conditions, represents an insufficiently studied hotspot of lepidopteran diversity. During our ecological research in the Kruger National Park, we collected abundant moth material, including several interesting faunistic records reported in this study.<br><br>NEW INFORMATION: We reported 13 species of moths which had not yet been recorded in South Africa. In many cases, our records represented an important extension of the species' known distribution, including two species (Ozarbagaedei and O.persinua) whose distribution ranges extended into the Zambezian biogeographic region. Such findings confirmed the poor regional knowledge of lepidopteran diversity.}, }
@article {pmid36761538, year = {2022}, author = {Lhoumeau, S and Cardoso, P and Boieiro, M and Ros-Prieto, A and Costa, R and Lamelas-Lopez, L and Leite, A and Amorim do Rosário, I and Gabriel, R and Malumbres-Olarte, J and Rigal, F and Santos, AMC and Tsafack, N and Ferreira, MT and Borges, PAV}, title = {SLAM Project - Long Term Ecological Study of the Impacts of Climate Change in the natural forests of Azores: V - New records of terrestrial arthropods after ten years of SLAM sampling.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e97952}, pmid = {36761538}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A long-term study monitoring arthropods (Arthropoda) is being conducted since 2012 in the forests of Azorean Islands. Named "SLAM - Long Term Ecological Study of the Impacts of Climate Change in the natural forest of Azores", this project aims to understand the impact of biodiversity erosion drivers in the distribution, abundance and diversity of Azorean arthropods. The current dataset represents arthropods that have been recorded using a total of 42 passive SLAM traps (Sea, Land and Air Malaise) deployed in native, mixed and exotic forest fragments in seven Azorean Islands (Flores, Faial, Pico, Graciosa, Terceira, São Miguel and Santa Maria). This manuscript is the fifth data-paper contribution, based on data from this long-term monitoring project.<br><br>NEW INFORMATION: We targeted taxa for species identification belonging to Arachnida (excluding Acari), Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Hexapoda (excluding Collembola, Lepidoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera (but including only Formicidae)). Specimens were sampled over seven Azorean Islands during the 2012-2021 period. Spiders (Araneae) data from Pico and Terceira Islands are not included since they have been already published elsewhere (Costa and Borges 2021, Lhoumeau et al. 2022). We collected a total of 176007 specimens, of which 168565 (95.7%) were identified to the species or subspecies level. For Araneae and some Hemiptera species, juveniles are also included in this paper, since the low diversity in the Azores allows a relatively precise species-level identification of this life-stage. We recorded a total of 316 named species and subspecies, belonging to 25 orders, 106 families and 260 genera. The ten most abundant species were mostly endemic or native non-endemic (one Opiliones, one Archaeognatha and seven Hemiptera) and only one exotic species, the Julida Ommatoiulusmoreleti (Lucas, 1860). These ten species represent 107330 individuals (60%) of all sampled specimens and can be considered as the dominant species in the Azorean native forests for the target studied taxa. The Hemiptera were the most abundant taxa, with 90127 (50.4%) specimens. The Coleoptera were the most diverse with 30 (28.6%) families.We registered 72 new records for many of the islands (two for Flores, eight for Faial, 24 for Graciosa, 23 for Pico, eight for Terceira, three for S&#xe3;o Miguel and four for Santa Maria). These records represent 58 species. None of them is new to the Azores Archipelago. Most of the new records are introduced species, all still with low abundance on the studied islands. This publication contributes to increasing the baseline information for future long-term comparisons of the arthropods of the studied sites and the knowledge of the arthropod fauna of the native forests of the Azores, in terms of species abundance, distribution and diversity throughout seasons and years.}, }
@article {pmid36761513, year = {2022}, author = {Lhoumeau, S and Cardoso, P and Costa, R and Boieiro, M and Malumbres-Olarte, J and Amorim, IR and Rigal, F and Santos, AMC and Gabriel, R and Borges, PAV}, title = {SLAM Project - Long Term Ecological Study of the Impacts of Climate Change in the natural forest of Azores: IV - The spiders of Terceira and Pico Islands (2019-2021) and general diversity patterns after ten years of sampling.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e96442}, pmid = {36761513}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Long-term studies are key to understand the drivers of biodiversity erosion, such as land-use change and habitat degradation, climate change, invasive species or pollution. The long-term project SLAM (Long Term Ecological Study of the Impacts of Climate Change in the natural forest of Azores) started in 2012 and focuses on arthropod monitoring, using SLAM (Sea, Land and Air Malaise) traps, aiming to understand the impact of the drivers of biodiversity erosion on Azorean native forests (Azores, Portugal). This is the fourth contribution including SLAM project data and the second focused on the spider fauna (Arachnida, Araneae) of native forests on two islands (Pico and Terceira). In this contribution, we describe data collected between 2019 and 2021 and we analyse them together with a previously published database that covered the 2012-2019 period, in order to describe changes in species abundance patterns over the last ten years.<br><br>NEW INFORMATION: We present abundance data of Azorean spider species for the 2019-2021 period in two Azorean Islands (Terceira and Pico). We also present analyses of species distribution and abundance of the whole sampling period. In the period of 2019-2021, we collected a total of 5110 spider specimens, of which 2449 (48%) were adults. Most juveniles, with the exception of some exotic Erigoninae, were also included in the data presented in this paper, since the low diversity of spiders in the Azores allows a relatively precise species-level identification of this life-stage. We recorded a total of 45 species, belonging to 39 genera and 16 families. The ten most abundant species were composed mostly of endemic or native non-endemic species and only two exotic species (Tenuiphantestenuis (Blackwall, 1852) and Dysderacrocata C. L. Koch, 1838). They included 4308 individuals (84%) of all sampled specimens and were the dominant species in Azorean native forests. The family Linyphiidae was the richest and most abundant taxon, with 15 (33%) species and 2630 (51%) specimens. We report Cheiracanthiummildei L. Koch, 1864, a non-native species, from Pico Island for the first time. We found no new species records on Terceira Island. This publication contributes to increasing the baseline information for future long-term comparisons of the spiders on the studied sites and the knowledge of the arachnofauna of the native forests of Terceira and Pico, in terms of species abundance, distribution and diversity across seasons for a 10 years period.}, }
@article {pmid36761456, year = {2022}, author = {Manconi, R and Copeland, J and Kunigelis, S and Pronzato, R}, title = {Biodiversity of Nearctic inland water: discovery of the genus Heterorotula (Porifera, Spongillida, Spongillidae) in the Appalachian Mountains, with biogeographical implications and description of new species.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1110}, number = {}, pages = {103-120}, pmid = {36761456}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {This paper reports the discovery of a small population of sponges in the Pigeon River of eastern Tennessee, USA, which were morphologically distinct from Spongillida of North America. A morphological comparative analysis resulted in the first Nearctic record of the genus Heterorotula with the description of a new species Heterorotulalucasi sp. nov. diverging from all other known species by its unique combinations of diagnostic morphotraits of spicules and gemmules. The new record enlarges the geographic range of the genus which has been known until now only from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Japan (as an alien species), and from subequatorial Brazil (as subfossil remains). The discovery of a biogeographic enclave of Heterorotula in the southeastern United States contributes to the understanding of Porifera inland water biodiversity, biogeographic patterns, and adaptive morphotraits in the Nearctic and globally. Data confirm that the Appalachian region (Ordovician-Permian origin) of Tennessee and, in general, of North America have high levels of diversity and endemicity.}, }
@article {pmid36761101, year = {2023}, author = {Fast, KM and Rakestraw, AW and Sandel, MW}, title = {Complete mitochondrial genome of a livebearing freshwater fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae): Poecilia parae.}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {215-219}, pmid = {36761101}, issn = {2380-2359}, abstract = {Members of the fish family Poeciliidae (livebearing 'tooth-carps') have historically been used as models in medical research, behavior ecology, and biological control. This group of primarily freshwater fishes is highly tolerant to environmental factors such as salinity and warm temperatures and includes some invasive species. Here, we present the mitochondrial genome of Poecilia parae. A representative of this species was obtained from Suriname. The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced using Oxford Nanopore technology and is 16,559 bp long. The genome contains 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and one control region (D-loop). Phylogenetic analysis yielded topologies similar to those previously published. The data generated here will be useful in future studies of comparative biology and those utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA).}, }
@article {pmid36761074, year = {2022}, author = {Tsukamoto, S and Shimano, S and Eguchi, K}, title = {Two new species of the dwarf centipede genus Nannarrup Foddai, Bonato, Pereira &amp; Minelli, 2003 (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha, Mecistocephalidae) from Japan.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1115}, number = {}, pages = {117-150}, pmid = {36761074}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {The genus Nannarrup Foddai, Bonato, Pereira &amp; Minelli, 2003 is a monotypic genus established on the basis of the possibly introduced species N.hoffmani Foddai, Bonato, Pereira &amp; Minelli, 2003, from New York, USA. In the present study, in a field survey conducted throughout Japan, Nannarrup-like specimens were collected from Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. These specimens clearly showed the diagnostic characteristics of the genus but were morphologically distinct from N.hoffmani. Furthermore, morphological analysis and DNA barcoding revealed that these specimens could be assigned to two distinct undescribed species. On the basis of these results, N.innuptus Tsukamoto, sp. nov. and N.oyamensis Tsukamoto, sp. nov. are described. The three Nannarrup species can be distinguished from each other on the basis of the following combination of characteristics: presence or absence of a pair of smooth or weakly areolate areas along the posterior part of the paraclypeal sutures; the width-to-length ratio of the denticle on the trochanteroprefemur; the pigmentation of the denticle on the tarsungulum. Moreover, the field survey resulted in the collection of exclusively female specimens of N.innuptus Tsukamoto, sp. nov., which shows the possibility of parthenogenesis of this species.}, }
@article {pmid36760991, year = {2022}, author = {Aubriot, X and Knapp, S}, title = {A revision of the "spiny solanums" of Tropical Asia (Solanum, the Leptostemonum Clade, Solanaceae).}, journal = {PhytoKeys}, volume = {198}, number = {}, pages = {1-270}, pmid = {36760991}, issn = {1314-2011}, abstract = {The Leptostemonum Clade, or the "spiny solanums", is the most species-rich monophyletic clade of the large cosmopolitan genus Solanum (Solanaceae) and represents almost half the species diversity of the genus. Species diversity in the clade is highest in the Americas, but significant clusters of endemic taxa occur in the Eastern Hemisphere. We present here a taxonomic revision of the 51 species of spiny solanums occurring in tropical Asia (excluding the island of New Guinea, and the lowlands of Nepal and Bhutan). Three species are described as new: Solanumkachinense X.Aubriot &amp; S.Knapp, sp. nov. from northern Myanmar, S.peikuoense S.S.Ying, sp. nov. from Taiwan, and S.sulawesi X.Aubriot &amp; S.Knapp, sp. nov. from northern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Of the spiny solanums occurring in the region, 38 are native and 13 are introduced from the Americas or Africa, either as adventive weeds or as cultivated plants. Phylogenetic resolution amongst these taxa is still a work in progress, so we have chosen to treat these taxa in a geographical context to aid with identification and further taxon discovery. For the native species we provide complete nomenclatural details for all recognised species and their synonyms, complete descriptions, distributions including maps, common names and uses, and preliminary conservation assessments. For the introduced taxa that have been treated in detail elsewhere we provide details of types, synonyms based on tropical Asian material, general distributions, and common names for the region. We provide lecto- or neotypifications for 67 names; 63 for native and 4 for introduced taxa. All taxa are discussed and compared to similar species; keys are provided for all taxa. We illustrate all native species with herbarium and field photographs and introduced species with field photographs only. All specimens examined for this treatment are included in Suppl. materials 1-3 as searchable files.}, }
@article {pmid36760698, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, X and Wang, M and Zhang, E}, title = {Updated species checklist of fishes from Lake Dongting in Hunan Province, South China: Species diversity and conservation.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1108}, number = {}, pages = {51-88}, pmid = {36760698}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {A lack of an updated checklist of freshwater fish species from Lake Dongting is a great hindrance to further biodiversity analysis. A seasonal survey of fishes in the lake was conducted from October 2017 to January 2019. Based on the data obtained during the field survey and coupled with known literature and the latest taxonomic development of relevant taxa, the species checklist of fishes from Lake Dongting was updated. A total of 130 species from 12 orders, 30 families and 76 genera has been documented, containing 126 native species and four alien species. Its fish fauna is dominated by the Xenocyprididae that has the highest number of included species (30), followed by the Gobionidae (25) and Acheilognathidae (11). This checklist comprises 20 species undergoing nomenclatural changes and 11 new records, eight of which are native and three exotic. It excludes 20 species, which have been reported in error in historical works, due to synonyms, erroneous records, taxonomic changes and unconfirmed records. Unsampled in this survey were 34 species that are ecologically specialised: migratory, rheophilic, predatory, shellfish-dependent or pelagic-egg-spawning. While some of these species eluded capture likely due to the paucity of population, others may have been extirpated in Lake Dongting perhaps owing to human perturbations, such as river damming across affluents or the Chang-Jiang mainstem, sand dredging, overfishing or water pollution. The updated checklist lays a sound foundation for biodiversity conservation of fishes in Lake Dongting.}, }
@article {pmid36759955, year = {2023}, author = {Manenti, R and Kristensen, N and Cogliati, P and Barzaghi, B and Melotto, A and Ficetola, GF}, title = {Larval development and poor trophic resource availability: Local adaptations and plasticity in a widespread amphibian species.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.14155}, pmid = {36759955}, issn = {1420-9101}, abstract = {Theory predicts that, in organisms with complex life cycles, if the earlier-stage limiting factor induces weak later-stage phenotypes, the development of the later-stage trait should evolve to reduce carry-over effects. Local adaptations could thus favour decoupling of later stages. However, decoupling is not always possible. In this study, we used a widespread amphibian, the European fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), to assess the role of local adaptations to environmental stressful conditions experienced at the larval stage. We exposed 150 larvae from different altitudes to two conditions: rich food and poor food condition. Conditions in early life stages can affect an individual's traits, either as a direct effect or mediated through outcomes in successive life stages. To distinguish between effects of rearing conditions and local adaptation, we searched for a causal model. The causal model detected effects of both food treatment and population origin (altitude) on all life stages. Larvae reared under rich food condition metamorphosed earlier, had higher growth rates and reached smaller size at metamorphosis. Significant differences occurred between larvae of different origin: low-altitude individuals performed poorly under the poor food treatment. Moreover, larvae from higher altitudes were slower with rich food and faster with poor food compared to those from lower altitudes. Our results underline that environmental conditions and local adaptation can interplay in determining the plasticity of larval stages, still adaptations can maximize the growth efficiency of early stages in oligotrophic environments, leading to divergent pathways across populations and environmental conditions.}, }
@article {pmid36761996, year = {2021}, author = {Chatzinikolaou, E and Damianidis, P and Pavloudi, C and Vasileiadou, A and Faulwetter, S and Keklikoglou, K and Plaitis, W and Mavraki, D and Nikolopoulou, S and Arvanitidis, C}, title = {Benthic communities in three Mediterranean touristic ports: MAPMED project.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e66420}, pmid = {36761996}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mediterranean ports are sources of significant economic activity and at the same time they act as recipients of considerable anthropogenic disturbance and pollution. Polluted and low-in-oxygen sediments can negatively impact benthic biodiversity and favour recruitment of opportunistic or invasive species. Macrobenthic communities are an important component of the port biota and can be used as environmental quality indicators. However, a baseline database for benthic biodiversity in Mediterranean ports has not yet been widely established.<br><br>NEW INFORMATION: Macrobenthic assemblages were recorded in three Mediterranean touristic ports under the framework of the ENPI CBC MED project MAPMED (MAnagement of Port Areas in the MEDiterranean Sea Basin). Samples were collected from Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy), Heraklion (Crete, Greece) and El Kantaoui (Tunisia) ports during February, May and September 2012. The sampling stations were selected according to the different sectors within each port (i.e. leisure, fishing, passenger/cargo vessels and shipyard). A total of 277 taxa belonging to 12 phyla were found, of which the 96 taxa were present in all three ports. El Kantaoui port hosted the highest number of macrobenthic taxa. Mollusca were the most abundant group (34%) in all ports. The highest percentage of opportunistic taxa per station was found before the touristic period in the shipyard of Heraklion port (89.3%).}, }
@article {pmid36717715, year = {2023}, author = {Witze, A}, title = {Will an AI be the first to discover alien life?.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {614}, number = {7947}, pages = {208}, pmid = {36717715}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Biodiversity ; Artificial Intelligence ; Introduced Species ; }, }
@article {pmid36750415, year = {2022}, author = {Gioria, M and Hulme, PE and Richardson, DM and Pyšek, P}, title = {Why Are Invasive Plants Successful?.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-070522-071021}, pmid = {36750415}, issn = {1545-2123}, abstract = {Plant invasions, a byproduct of globalization, are increasing worldwide. Because of their ecological and economic impacts, considerable efforts have been made to understand and predict the success of non-native plants. Numerous frameworks, hypotheses, and theories have been advanced to conceptualize the interactions of multiple drivers and context dependence of invasion success with the aim of achieving robust explanations with predictive power. We review these efforts from a community-level perspective rather than a biogeographical one, focusing on terrestrial systems, and explore the roles of intrinsic plant properties in determining species invasiveness, as well as the effects of biotic and abiotic conditions in mediating ecosystem invasibility (or resistance) and ecological and evolutionary processes. We also consider the fundamental influences of human-induced changes at scales ranging from local to global in triggering, promoting, and sustaining plant invasions and discuss how these changes could alter future invasion trajectories. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Plant Biology, Volume 74 is May 2023. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.}, }
@article {pmid36642256, year = {2023}, author = {Giunti, G and Becker, N and Benelli, G}, title = {Invasive mosquito vectors in Europe: From bioecology to surveillance and management.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {239}, number = {}, pages = {106832}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106832}, pmid = {36642256}, issn = {1873-6254}, mesh = {Animals ; *Mosquito Vectors ; Europe/epidemiology ; *Aedes ; Climate ; Public Health ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Invasive mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) play a key role in the spread of a number of mosquito-borne diseases worldwide. Anthropogenic changes play a significant role in affecting their distribution. Invasive mosquitoes usually take advantage from biotic homogenization and biodiversity reduction, therefore expanding in their distribution range and abundance. In Europe, climate warming and increasing urbanization are boosting the spread of several mosquito species of high public health importance. The present article contains a literature review focused on the biology and ecology of Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. japonicus japonicus, Ae. koreicus, Ae. atropalpus and Ae. triseriatus, outlining their distribution and public health relevance in Europe. Bioecology insights were tightly connected with vector surveillance and control programs targeting these species. In the final section, a research agenda aiming for the effective and sustainable monitoring and control of invasive mosquitoes in the framework of Integrated Vector Management and One Health is presented. The WHO Vector Control Advisory Group recommends priority should be given to vector control tools with proven epidemiological impact.}, }
@article {pmid36747078, year = {2023}, author = {Echeverri, A and Furumo, PR and Moss, S and Figot Kuthy, AG and García Aguirre, D and Mandle, L and Valencia, ID and Ruckelshaus, M and Daily, GC and Lambin, EF}, title = {Colombian biodiversity is governed by a rich and diverse policy mix.}, journal = {Nature ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36747078}, issn = {2397-334X}, abstract = {We lack an understanding of how diverse policymakers interact to govern biodiversity. Taking Colombia as a focal case, we examined six decades of biodiversity governance (1959-2018). Here we analysed the composition of the policy mix, and how it has evolved over time, how policies differ among lead actors and ecosystems, and whether the policy mix addresses the primary threats to biodiversity. We identified 186 biodiversity-related policies that govern multiple ecosystems, use different instruments and address the main threats to biodiversity (that is, agriculture and aquaculture, and biological resource use). We found policy gaps in the governance of invasive species and wildlife trade. Biodiversity policy integration into some sectoral policies, such as climate change, poverty and pollution, has become more common in the past decade. Our results point to an increased need for effective coordination across sectors and actors, as new ones influence and implement the policy mix.}, }
@article {pmid36746224, year = {2023}, author = {Martel, SI and Zamora, CA and Behrens, CA and Rezende, EL and Bozinovic, F}, title = {Phenotypic specialization of the pea aphid in its southern limit of distribution.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular &amp; integrative physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {111388}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111388}, pmid = {36746224}, issn = {1531-4332}, abstract = {The success of biological invasions ultimately relies on phenotypic traits of the invasive species. Aphids, which include many important pests worldwide, may have been successful invading new environments partly because they can maximize reproductive output by becoming parthenogenetic and losing the sexual phase of their reproductive cycle. However, invasive populations of aphids invading wide ranges can face contrasting environmental conditions and requiring different phenotypic strategies. Besides transitions in their reproductive cycle, it is only partially known which phenotypic traits might be associated to the invasion success of aphid populations in extended novel ranges. Here, we used four genotypes of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum from two localities in Chile to test for phenotypic specialization that might explain their establishment and spread in habitats exhibiting contrasting environmental conditions. We show that lineages living at a higher latitude with low temperatures show, in addition to facultative sexual reproduction, smaller body sizes, lower metabolic rates and a higher tolerance to the cold than the obligate asexual lineages living in a mild weather, at the expense of fecundity. Conversely, at higher temperatures only asexual lineages were found, which exhibit larger body sizes, higher reproductive outputs and consequently enhanced demographic ability. As a result, in conjunction with the reproductive mode, lineage specialization in physiological and life-history traits could be taken into account as an important strategy for populations of pea aphid to effectively invade extended novel ranges comprising different climatic conditions.}, }
@article {pmid36745217, year = {2023}, author = {Florianová, A and Hanzelková, V and Drtinová, L and Pánková, H and Cajthaml, T and Münzbergová, Z}, title = {Plant-soil interactions in the native range of two congeneric species with contrasting invasive success.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36745217}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to compare plant-soil interactions in the native range of two congeneric European species differing in their invasive success in the world: a globally invasive Cirsium vulgare and non-invasive C. oleraceum. We assessed changes in soil nutrients and soil biota following soil conditioning by each species and compared performance of plants grown in self-conditioned and unconditioned soil, from which all, some or no biota was excluded. The invasive species depleted more nutrients than the non-invasive species and coped better with altered nutrient levels. The invasive species had higher seedling establishment which benefited from the presence of unconditioned biota transferred by soil filtrate. Biomass of both species increased in soil with self-conditioned soil filtrate and decreased in soil with self-conditioned whole-soil inoculum compared to unconditioned filtrate and inoculum. However, the increase was smaller and the decrease greater for the invasive species. The invasive species allocated less biomass to roots when associated with harmful biota, reducing negative effects of the biota on its performance. The results show that in the native range the invasive species is more limited by self-conditioned pathogens and benefits more from unconditioned mutualists and thus may benefit more from loss of effectively specialized soil biota in a secondary range. Our study highlights the utility of detailed plant-soil feedback research in species native range for understanding factors regulating species performance in their native range and pinpointing the types of biota involved in their regulation.}, }
@article {pmid36745034, year = {2023}, author = {Weitzman, CL and Kaestli, M and Rose, A and Hudson, CM and Gibb, K and Brown, GP and Shine, R and Christian, K}, title = {Geographic variation in bacterial assemblages on cane toad skin is influenced more by local environments than by evolved changes in host traits.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/bio.059641}, pmid = {36745034}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Bacterial assemblages on amphibian skin may play an important role in protecting hosts against infection. In hosts that occur over a range of environments, geographic variation in composition of bacterial assemblages might be due to direct effects of local factors and/or to evolved characteristics of the host. Invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) are an ideal candidate to evaluate environmental and genetic mechanisms, because toads have evolved major shifts in physiology, morphology, and behavior during their brief history in Australia. We used samples from free-ranging toads to quantify site-level differences in bacterial assemblages and a common-garden experiment to see if those differences disappeared when toads were raised under standardised conditions at one site. The large differences in bacterial communities on toads from different regions were not seen in offspring raised in a common environment. Relaxing bacterial clustering to operational taxonomic units in place of amplicon sequence variants likewise revealed high similarity among bacterial assemblages on toads in the common-garden study, and with free-ranging toads captured nearby. Thus, the marked geographic divergence in bacterial assemblages on wild-caught cane toads across their Australian invasion appears to result primarily from local environmental effects rather than evolved shifts in the host.}, }
@article {pmid36744697, year = {2023}, author = {Piazza, YG and Lozano, IE and Vegh, SL and Lo Nostro, FL and Fuentes, CM}, title = {Integrative study of the reproductive biology and growth of Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro Menezes, 1992 (Characiformes, Acestrorhynchidae).}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.15338}, pmid = {36744697}, issn = {1095-8649}, abstract = {In this contribution, we studied the reproductive strategy, sexual system and growth of dientudo paraguayo Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro. After two years of monitoring in shallow areas of a floodplain lake from the lower Paraná basin (Argentina), it was evidenced that water temperature modulated gonadal maturation, but it was river water level the synchronizing stimulus that triggered spawning. This species exhibited a single annual breeding period from October to January, with most spawning activity in November. According to the von Bertalanffy growth curve, fish would reach autumn to winter months with approximately 120 mm LS , already being mature males. The first mature females were found at 210 mm LS being sexually mature between the second and third breeding seasons. This is the first integrative study that includes the body-length frequency distribution, sex differential size at first maturity and growth; and reports the presence of intersex gonads questioning its status from gonochoristic to sequential hermaphrodite species. The sexual pattern, the multiple spawning behavior, and a medium to high absolute fecundity support the opportunistic description that goes along with the invasive behavior observed in previous contributions for this characiform species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36743958, year = {2023}, author = {Hsu, YF and Shen, ZY and Huang, HC and Huang, CW and Lu, CC}, title = {Alien species revises systematic status: integrative species delimitation of two similar taxa of Symbrenthia Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14644}, pmid = {36743958}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Introduction of organisms to new range may impose detrimental effects on local organisms, especially when closely related species are involved. Species delimitation employing an integrative taxonomy approach may provide a quick assessment for the species status between taxa of interest, and to infer ecological competition and/or introgression that may be associated with the introduction. A nymphalid butterfly, Symbrenthia lilaea lunica, was recently introduced to Taiwan, where a closely related local taxon, S. l. formosanus, can be found. We employed multiple species delimitation methods to study the species status between the two taxa, and the results revealed that they can be recognized as two distinct species, revised to S. l. lilaea (syn. nov.) and S. formosanus (stat. rev.) respectively. We further performed a niche modeling approach to investigate the ecological interaction between the two species. The taxonomic status of the two taxa, now elevated to species, has been revised and conservation facing rapid expansion of the introduced species discussed.}, }
@article {pmid36741683, year = {2023}, author = {Hoelmer, KA and Sforza, RFH and Cristofaro, M}, title = {Accessing biological control genetic resources: the United States perspective.}, journal = {BioControl (Dordrecht, Netherlands)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-12}, pmid = {36741683}, issn = {1386-6141}, abstract = {The USA has been actively involved in classical biological control projects against invasive insect pests and weeds since 1888. Classical (importation) biological control relies upon natural enemies associated through coevolution with their target species at their geographic origin to also provide long-term, self-sustaining management where the pest/weed has become invasive. Biological control agents are a form of genetic resources and fall under the purview of the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Nagoya Protocol (NP), which entered into force in 2014 to address equitable sharing of benefits arising from utilization of genetic resources. Safe and effective classical biological control agents have historically been shared among countries experiencing problems with invasive species. However, a feature of the Nagoya Protocol is that countries are expected to develop processes governing access to their genetic resources to ensure that the benefits are shared equitably-a concept referred to as "access and benefit sharing" (ABS). Although the USA is not party to the CBD nor the NP, US biological control programs are affected by these international agreements. Surveying, collecting, exporting and importing of natural enemies may be covered by new ABS regulatory processes. Challenges of ABS have arisen as various countries enact new regulations (or not) governing access to genetic resources, and the processes for gaining access and sharing the benefits from these resources have become increasingly complex. In the absence of an overarching national US policy, individual government agencies and institutions follow their own internal procedures. Biological control practitioners in the USA have been encouraged in recent years to observe best practices developed by the biological community for insect and weed biological control.}, }
@article {pmid36741432, year = {2022}, author = {Weir, JL and Vacura, K and Bagga, J and Berland, A and Hyder, K and Skov, C and Attby, J and Venturelli, PA}, title = {Big data from a popular app reveals that fishing creates superhighways for aquatic invaders.}, journal = {PNAS nexus}, volume = {1}, number = {3}, pages = {pgac075}, pmid = {36741432}, issn = {2752-6542}, abstract = {Human activities are the leading cause of biological invasions that cause ecologic and economic damage around the world. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are often spread by recreational anglers who visit two or more bodies of water within a short time frame. Movement data from anglers are, therefore, critical to predicting, preventing, and monitoring the spread of AIS. However, the lack of broad-scale movement data has restricted efforts to large and popular lakes or small geographic extents. Here, we show that recreational fishing apps are an abundant, convenient, and relatively comprehensive source of "big" movement data across the contiguous United States. Our analyses revealed a dense network of angler movements that was dramatically more interconnected and extensive than the network that is formed naturally by rivers and streams. Short-distanced movements by anglers combined to form invasion superhighways that spanned the contiguous United States. We also identified possible invasion fronts and invaded hub lakes that may be superspreaders for two relatively common aquatic invaders. Our results provide unique insight into the national network through which AIS may be spread, increase opportunities for interjurisdictional coordination that is essential to addressing the problem of AIS, and highlight the important role that anglers can play in providing accurate data and preventing invasions. The advantages of mobile devices as both sources of data and a means of engaging the public in their shared responsibility to prevent invasions are probably general to all forms of tourism and recreation that contribute to the spread of invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid36743230, year = {2022}, author = {Hernández-Brito, D and Tella, JL and Blanco, G and Carrete, M}, title = {Nesting innovations allow population growth in an invasive population of rose-ringed parakeets.}, journal = {Current zoology}, volume = {68}, number = {6}, pages = {617-626}, pmid = {36743230}, issn = {1674-5507}, abstract = {Certain traits of recipient environments, such as the availability of limiting resources, strongly determine the establishment success and spread of non-native species. These limitations may be overcome through behavioral plasticity, allowing them to exploit alternative resources. Here, we show how a secondary cavity nester bird, the rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri, innovates its nesting behavior as a response to the shortage of tree cavities for nesting in its invasive range in Tenerife (Canary Islands). We observed that some breeding pairs excavated their own nest cavities in palms, thus becoming primary cavity nester, whereas others occupied nests built with wood sticks by another invasive species, the monk parakeet Myiopsitta monachus. The use of these novel nesting strategies increased the number of breeding pairs by up to 52% over 6 years, contributing to a 128.8% increase of the whole population. Innovative nests were located at greater heights above ground and were more aggregated around conspecifics but did not result in greater breeding success than natural cavities. Occupation of monk parakeet colonies by rose-ringed parakeets also benefited the former species through a protective-nesting association against nest predators. Our results show how an invasive species innovate nesting behaviors and increase nest-site availability in the recipient environment, thus facilitating its population growth and invasion process. Potential behavioral innovations in other invasive rose-ringed parakeet populations may be overlooked, and should be considered for effective management plans.}, }
@article {pmid36736640, year = {2023}, author = {Estêvão, J and Osorio, H and Costas, B and Cruz, A and Fernández-Boo, S}, title = {Search for new biomarkers of tolerance to Perkinsus olseni parasite infection in Ruditapes decussatus clams.}, journal = {Fish &amp; shellfish immunology}, volume = {134}, number = {}, pages = {108566}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108566}, pmid = {36736640}, issn = {1095-9947}, abstract = {The grooved carpet shell (Ruditapes decussatus) is a clam species with high economic and social importance in several European and Mediterranean countries. Production of this species suffered a decline caused by biotic (parasite infection) and abiotic factors (environmental factors, stress, poor management methods and intensive culture of the introduced species Ruditapes philippinarum). The protozoan parasite Perkinsus olseni is also responsible for the decline of production, being nowadays one of the major issues for clam culture. Molecular biomarkers that might represent tolerance of R. decussatus to P. olseni have already been uncovered, shedding light in a possible production improvement by selecting those clams with a strongest immune response. In the present study, new tolerance biomarkers to P. olseni infection in R. decussatus were identified. The haemolymph proteomic profiles of naturally non/low-infected (tolerant) and highly-infected (susceptible) clams by the parasite across several heavy affected areas of Europe were characterized through a shotgun proteomics approach. Also, the mechanisms that might be involved in the responses against the disease in chronic infections were explored. Proteins related to energy restoration and balance, metabolic regulation, energy accumulation, ROS production, lysosomal activity, amino acid synthesis, proteolytic activity, iron regulation, iron withholding, and immune response modulation were significantly regulated in susceptible clams. In the tolerant group, proteins related to phagocytosis regulation, control of cell growth and proliferation, gonadal maturation, regulation of apoptosis, growth modulation, response to oxidative stress, iron regulation, shell development and metabolic regulation were significantly expressed. In summary, the protein expression profile of tolerant individuals suggests that an efficient pathogen elimination mechanism coupled to a better metabolic regulation leads to a tolerance to the parasite infection by limiting the spread through the tissues.}, }
@article {pmid36736255, year = {2023}, author = {Hoeksema, BW and Meijer Zu Schlochtern, MP and Samimi-Namin, K and McFadden, CS}, title = {In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma: Colonization of a 4-year-old shipwreck by native and non-native corals, including a new cryptogenic species for the Caribbean.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {188}, number = {}, pages = {114649}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114649}, pmid = {36736255}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {Little is known about early coral settlement on shipwrecks with regard to their species and size compositions. Hurricanes in the Caribbean have a long history of sinking ships but a link with new coral settlement is understudied. In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused the sinking of over 300 vessels in the coastal waters of Saint Martin, eastern Caribbean. In 2021, coral settlement was studied on one of them, which included two native, one non-native, and two cryptogenic species. The corals were smaller than 8 cm in diameter. The invasive Tubastraea coccinea was the most abundant scleractinian and was predominantly represented by juveniles. A cryptogenic species, Stragulum bicolor, new for the Caribbean, was the most common octocoral. Because they can be harmful to the environment, shipwrecks should be monitored frequently for the occurrence of non-native species, especially when they are only a few years old.}, }
@article {pmid36736086, year = {2023}, author = {Carrillo, CC and Charbonneau, BR and Altman, S and Keele, JA and Pucherelli, SF and Passamaneck, YJ and Murphy, AC and Swannack, TM}, title = {Patterns of dreissenid mussel invasions in western US lakes within an integrated gravity model framework.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {332}, number = {}, pages = {117383}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117383}, pmid = {36736086}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Freshwater invasive species, such as the quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis), are causing over $1 billion USD annually in damages to water infrastructure, recreation, and the environment. Once established, quagga and other dreissenid mussels are extremely difficult to eradicate. Preventing the spread of these invasives is critical and of high management concern. Invasive dreissenid establishment is predicated upon both successful dispersal from a source and suitable habitat in the uninfested waterbody to which they are transported. Recreational boaters have become predominant dispersal vectors making it possible to forecast the risk of invasion of waterbodies for more targeted management and prevention. We developed an integrated mussel dispersal model that couples a constrained gravity model and habitat suitability model to forecast future invasions. The model simulates boater movement between lakes, the likelihood of boats transporting mussels, and the likelihood that those mussels survive in the environmental conditions of the new lake. Model output was most sensitive to changes in boater threshold, then buffer zones, while not as sensitive to changes in habitat suitability. From an initial infested source pool of 11 among 402 Western inland US lakes, we forecast additional lakes infested in several possible simulation scenarios. Constraining movement reduced connectivity between waterbodies with amplifying effects at different distance levels. This model can be used to determine waterbodies most at risk for dreissenid mussel invasion and to highlight the importance of multifactor integrated models in environmental management.}, }
@article {pmid36733292, year = {2023}, author = {Bennett, JJR and Gomes, AS and Ferré, MA and Bera, BK and Borghetti, F and Callaway, RM and Meron, E}, title = {Evidence for scale-dependent root-antation feedback and its role in halting the spread of a pantropical shrub into an endemic sedge.}, journal = {PNAS nexus}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {pgac294}, pmid = {36733292}, issn = {2752-6542}, abstract = {Vegetation pattern formation is a widespread phenomenon in resource-limited environments, but the driving mechanisms are largely unconfirmed empirically. Combining results of field studies and mathematical modeling, empirical evidence for a generic pattern-formation mechanism is demonstrated with the clonal shrub Guilandina bonduc L. (hereafter Guilandina) on the Brazilian island of Trindade. The mechanism is associated with water conduction by laterally spread roots and root augmentation as the shoot grows-a crucial element in the positive feedback loop that drives spatial patterning. Assuming precipitation-dependent root-shoot relations, the model accounts for the major vegetation landscapes on Trindade Island, substantiating lateral root augmentation as the driving mechanism of Guilandina patterning. Guilandina expands into surrounding communities dominated by the Trindade endemic, Cyperus atlanticus Hemsl. (hereafter Cyperus). It appears to do so by decreasing the water potential in soils below Cyperus through its dense lateral roots, leaving behind a patchy Guilandina-only landscape. We use this system to highlight a novel form of invasion, likely to apply to many other systems where the invasive species is pattern-forming. Depending on the level of water stress, the invasion can take two distinct forms: (i) a complete invasion at low stress that culminates in a patchy Guilandina-only landscape through a spot-replication process, and (ii) an incomplete invasion at high stress that begins but does not spread, forming isolated Guilandina spots of fixed size, surrounded by bare-soil halos, in an otherwise uniform Cyperus grassland. Thus, drier climates may act selectively on pattern-forming invasive species, imposing incomplete invasion and reducing the negative effects on native species.}, }
@article {pmid36474092, year = {2023}, author = {Londe, DW and Joshi, O and York, BC and Davis, CA and Loss, SR and Robertson, EP and Hovick, TJ}, title = {Climate Change and Wetlands in the Southern Great Plains: How Are Managers Dealing with an Uncertain Future?.}, journal = {Environmental management}, volume = {71}, number = {2}, pages = {379-392}, doi = {10.1007/s00267-022-01758-w}, pmid = {36474092}, issn = {1432-1009}, mesh = {*Wetlands ; *Climate Change ; Uncertainty ; Water ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {Little guidance is available to assist wetland managers in developing climate adaptation plans. To facilitate development of recommendations for adaptation strategies, it is essential to first determine if or how wetland managers are addressing these challenges. We used an online survey to solicit feedback from wetland managers and biologists in the Southern Great Plains of North America to gain information on perceptions of wetland managers regarding climate change; assess how the effects of climate change are being addressed through management; and identify barriers to implementing climate change adaptation. The majority of wetland managers (63%) agreed they are currently experiencing effects of climate change in wetlands, and most respondents (76%) reported that changes in the timing of water availability throughout the year was the most likely impact. Managers reported using a diversity of approaches in managing for changing precipitation, with management of native and invasive plant species being the two most common practices. Lack of funding and personnel were the most commonly identified factors limiting manager's response to changing precipitation patterns. In addition, >50% of managers indicated uncertainty about the effects of climate change on wetlands as a barrier to management, which may relate to limited access to peer-reviewed science. While most of the management practices reported were short-term measures and may not reflect long-term adaptation for climate change, the fact that many managers are considering climate change in their management suggests that there is considerable opportunities to continue developing capacity for climate change adaptation in the region.}, }
@article {pmid36729322, year = {2023}, author = {Valles, SM and Zhao, C and Rivers, AR and Iwata, RL and Oi, DH and Cha, DH and Collignon, RM and Cox, NA and Morton, GJ and Calcaterra, LA}, title = {RNA virus discoveries in the electric ant, Wasmannia auropunctata.}, journal = {Virus genes}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1007/s11262-023-01969-1}, pmid = {36729322}, issn = {1572-994X}, abstract = {Despite being one of the most destructive invasive species of ants, only two natural enemies are known currently for Wasmannia auropunctata, commonly known as the electric ant or little fire ant. Because viruses can be effective biological control agents against many insect pests, including ants, a metagenomics/next-generation sequencing approach was used to facilitate discovery of virus sequences from the transcriptomes of W. auropunctata. Five new and complete positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus genomes, and one new negative sense, single-stranded RNA virus genome were identified, sequenced, and characterized from W. auropunctata collected in Argentina by this approach, including a dicistrovirus (Electric ant dicistrovirus), two polycipiviruses (Electric ant polycipivirus 1; Electric ant polycipivirus 2), a solinvivirus (Electric ant solinvivirus), a divergent genome with similarity to an unclassified group in the Picornavirales (Electric ant virus 1), and a rhabdovirus (Electric ant rhabdovirus). An additional virus genome was detected that is likely Solenopsis invicta virus 10 (MH727527). The virus genome sequences were absent from the transcriptomes of W. auropunctata collected in the USA (Hawaii and Florida). Additional limited field surveys corroborated the absence of these viruses in regions where the electric ant is invasive (the USA and Australia). The replicative genome strand of four of the viruses (Electric ant polycipivirus 2, Electric ant solinvivirus, Electric ant virus 1, and Solenopsis invicta virus 10 (in the electric ant) was detected in Argentinean-collected W. auropunctata indicating that the ant is a host for these viruses. These are the first virus discoveries to be made from W. auropunctata.}, }
@article {pmid36720334, year = {2023}, author = {Beleri, S and Balatsos, G and Tegos, N and Papachristos, D and Mouchtouri, V and Hadjichristodoulou, C and Michaelakis, A and Papadopoulos, NT and Patsoula, E}, title = {Winter survival of adults of two geographically distant populations of Aedes albopictus in a microclimatic environment of Athens, Greece.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {106847}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106847}, pmid = {36720334}, issn = {1873-6254}, abstract = {Overwintering capacity is a major step towards establishment of invasive mosquitoes from the tropics in temperate zone areas and one of the main elements determining next seasons' population size that regulates disease transmission of competent invasive vector species. The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culiciidae) is an aggressive invasive species that has greatly expanded its geographical boundaries over the last few decades. The species' ability to induce photoperiodic-based egg diapause allows its overwintering in temperate regions, which favors its establishment in higher latitudes. In warmer temperate areas winter survival can be accomplished in the adult stage as well especially in human-made shelters. Aedes albopictus is already showing signs of adaptation to colder climates which may result in disease transmission in new areas. Although the Asian tiger mosquito has invaded Greece since 2003-4, little is known regarding its overwintering capacity in the country, especially as far as adults are regarded. We studied the survival of Ae. albopictus adults during winter in a protected shelter in Athens, the capital city of Greece. The study involved two geographically isolated populations originating from Chania (Crete, most southern part of Greece), and Palaio Faliro (Athens, Central Greece). We exposed different cohorts of F3 adults of the above two populations that emerged from field collected eggs to "winter condition" from November 2018 to beginning of January 2019. in a protected microclimatic environment. Adult mortality was recorded systematically until the death of the last individual in the cohort. Results demonstrated evidence of winter survival of adults for both populations. Longevity of both females and males of the Palaio Faliro population was longer than that of the Chania population for almost all installation dates. Survival curves, regardless of the date of installation, were steeper for females of the Chania population compared to those from Palaio Faliro. In conclusion, overwinter survival of both populations in the adult stage highlights the need for future studies, considering local and microclimatic condition that vary significantly between regions. Winter climatic conditions play vital role in adult survival of this highly important public health species concerning distribution limits and knowledge on winter survival of Ae. albopictus transmitted viruses.}, }
@article {pmid36717606, year = {2023}, author = {Meiborg, AB and Faber, NR and Taylor, BA and Harpur, BA and Gorjanc, G}, title = {The suppressive potential of a gene drive in populations of invasive social wasps is currently limited.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {1640}, pmid = {36717606}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {BBS/E/D/30002275/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Social insects are very successful invasive species, and the continued increase of global trade and transportation has exacerbated this problem. The yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax (henceforth Asian hornet), is drastically expanding its range in Western Europe. As an apex insect predator, this hornet poses a serious threat to the honey bee industry and endemic pollinators. Current suppression methods have proven too inefficient and expensive to limit its spread. Gene drives might be an effective tool to control this species, but their use has not yet been thoroughly investigated in social insects. Here, we built a model that matches the hornet's life history and modelled the effect of different gene drive scenarios on an established invasive population. To test the broader applicability and sensitivity of the model, we also incorporated the invasive European paper wasp Polistes dominula. We find that, due to the haplodiploidy of social hymenopterans, only a gene drive targeting female fertility is promising for population control. Our results show that although a gene drive can suppress a social wasp population, it can only do so under fairly stringent gene drive-specific conditions. This is due to a combination of two factors: first, the large number of surviving offspring that social wasp colonies produce make it possible that, even with very limited formation of resistance alleles, such alleles can quickly spread and rescue the population. Second, due to social wasp life history, infertile individuals do not compete with fertile ones, allowing fertile individuals to maintain a large population size even when drive alleles are widespread. Nevertheless, continued improvements in gene drive technology may make it a promising method for the control of invasive social insects in the future.}, }
@article {pmid36716929, year = {2023}, author = {Paolo Barzanti, G and Enkerli, J and Benvenuti, C and Strangi, A and Mazza, G and Torrini, G and Simoncini, S and Paoli, F and Marianelli, L}, title = {Genetic variability of Metarhizium isolates from the Ticino Valley Natural Park (Northern Italy) as a possible microbiological resource for the management of Popillia japonica.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107891}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2023.107891}, pmid = {36716929}, issn = {1096-0805}, abstract = {The natural occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) was investigated along the Ticino River (Ticino River Natural Park, Novara Province, Piedmont, Italy), at the center of the area of the first settlement of the invasive alien pest Popillia japonica. Using Zimmermann's "Galleria bait method", EPF were successfully isolated from 83 out of 155 soil samples from different habitats (perennial, cultivated, or uncultivated meadows, woodlands, and riverbanks). Sequencing of the 5' end of the Translation Elongation Factor 1 alfa (5'-TEF) region allowed the assignment of 94% of the isolates to Metarhizium spp., while 8% and 7% were assigned to Beauveria spp. and Paecilomyces spp., respectively. Four Metarhizium species were identified: Metarhizium robertsii was the most common one (61.5% of the isolates), followed by M. brunneum (24.4%), M. lepidiotae (9%), and M. guizhouense (5.1%). Microsatellite marker analysis of the Metarhizium isolates revealed the presence of 27 different genotypes, i.e., 10 genotypes among M. robertsii, 8 among M. brunneum, 5 among M. lepidiotae, and 4 among M. guizhouense. Metarhizium brunneum appeared to be associated with woodlands and more acid soils, while the other species showed no clear association with a particular habitat. Laboratory virulence tests against P. japonica 3[rd] instar larvae allowed the identification of one M. robertsii isolate that showed efficacy as high as 80.3%. The importance of this kind of study in the frame of eco-friendly microbiological control is discussed.}, }
@article {pmid36715608, year = {2023}, author = {Lum, JY and Chiu, MC and Tseng, SP and Scotty Yang, CC and Lee, CY}, title = {Anthropogenic Influence on the Distribution of the Longlegged Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toad010}, pmid = {36715608}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {The longlegged ant Anoplolepis gracilipes (Smith) is a highly invasive tramp ant species known for its deleterious effects on native ecosystems. While tramp ants are associated with human activity, information on how different intensities of human activity affect their distribution is limited. This study investigated how anthropogenic activities affected the distribution of A. gracilipes in Penang, a tropical island in northern peninsular Malaysia. Three study sites (Youth Park, Sungai Ara, and Bukit Jambul/Relau) were selected, containing four sub-locations corresponding to different levels of human activity (low, moderate, high, and very high), determined by the average number of passersby observed over 30 min. Baited index cards were placed at each sub-location to evaluate ant abundance and distribution. The results demonstrated that A. gracilipes worker abundance was highest in areas of moderate human activity, as opposed to areas with low and higher human activity. The low abundance of A. gracilipes in comparatively undisturbed localities may be attributed to unsuitable microclimate, lack of propagule pressure, and diminished honeydew availability. In contrast, its exclusion from more urbanized localities could be explained by high interspecific competition with other tramp species and the absence of preferred nesting sites.}, }
@article {pmid36713485, year = {2023}, author = {Bonthond, G and Neu, AK and Bayer, T and Krueger-Hadfield, SA and Künzel, S and Weinberger, F}, title = {Non-native hosts of an invasive seaweed holobiont have more stable microbial communities compared to native hosts in response to thermal stress.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e9753}, pmid = {36713485}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Seaweeds are colonized by a microbial community, which can be directly linked to their performance. This community is shaped by an interplay of stochastic and deterministic processes, including mechanisms which the holobiont host deploys to manipulate its associated microbiota. The Anna Karenina principle predicts that when a holobiont is exposed to suboptimal or stressful conditions, these host mechanisms may be compromised. This leads to a relative increase of stochastic processes that may potentially result in the succession of a microbial community harmful to the host. Based on this principle, we used the variability in microbial communities (i.e., beta diversity) as a proxy for stability within the invasive holobiont Gracilaria vermiculophylla during a simulated invasion in a common garden experiment. Independent of host range, host performance declined at elevated temperature (22°C) and disease incidence and beta diversity increased. Under thermally stressful conditions, beta diversity increased more in epibiota from native populations, suggesting that epibiota from non-native holobionts are thermally more stable. This pattern reflects an increase in deterministic processes acting on epibiota associated with non-native hosts, which in the setting of a common garden can be assumed to originate from the host itself. Therefore, these experimental data suggest that the invasion process may have selected for hosts better able to maintain stable microbiota during stress. Future studies are needed to identify the underlying host mechanisms.}, }
@article {pmid36708137, year = {2023}, author = {Dong, R and Dong, BC and Fu, QY and Yang, Q and Dai, ZC and Luo, FL and Gao, JQ and Yu, FH and van Kleunen, M}, title = {Cultivated alien plants with high invasion potential are more likely to be traded online in China.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2811}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2811}, pmid = {36708137}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Biological invasions have become a worldwide problem, and measures to efficiently prevent and control invasions are still being developed. Like many other parts of the world, China is undergoing a dramatic increase in plant invasions. Most of the currently 933 established (i.e., naturalized) plant species, of which 214 are categorized as invasive, have been introduced into China for cultivation. It is likely that many of those species are still being traded, particularly online, by plant nurseries. However, studies assessing whether naturalized and invasive species are currently being traded more or less than non-naturalized aliens are rare. We extracted online-trade information for 13,718 cultivated alien plant taxa on 1688.com, the largest website for domestic B2B in China. We analyzed how the presence in online-nursery catalogues, the number of online nurseries that offer the species for sale, and the product type (i.e., seeds, live plants and vegetative organs) differed among non-naturalized, naturalized non-invasive and invasive species. Compared to non-naturalized taxa, naturalized non-invasive and invasive taxa were 3.7 to 5.2 times more likely available for sale. Naturalized non-invasive and invasive taxa were more frequently offered as seeds by online nurseries, whereas non-naturalized taxa were more frequently offered as live plants. Based on these findings, we propose that, to reduce the further spread of invasive and potentially invasive plants, implementation of plant-trade regulations and a monitoring system of the online horticultural supply chain will be essential.}, }
@article {pmid36708094, year = {2023}, author = {Ning, Z and Cui, B and Chen, C and Xie, T and Gao, W and Zhang, Y and Zhu, Z and Shao, D and Li, D and Bai, J}, title = {Tidal channel meanders serve as stepping-stones to facilitate cordgrass landward spread by creating invasion windows.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2813}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2813}, pmid = {36708094}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Understanding the mechanisms by which the geomorphic structures affect habitat invasibility by mediating various abiotic and biotic factors is essential for predicting whether these geomorphic structures may provide spatial windows of opportunity to facilitate range-expansion of invasive species in salt marshes. Many studies have linked geomorphic landscape features such as tidal channels to invasion by exotic plants, but the role of tidal channel meanders (i.e., convex and concave sides) in regulating the Spartina alterniflora invasion remains unclear. Here, we examined the combined effects of tidal channel meander-mediated hydrodynamic variables, soil abiotic stresses and propagule pressure on the colonization of Spartina in the Yellow River Delta, China, by conducting field observations and experiments. The results showed that lower hydrodynamic disturbance, bed shear stress, and higher propagule pressure triggered by eddies due to the convex structure of channel meanders facilitated Spartina seedling establishment and growth, whereas the concave side considerably inhibited the Spartina invasion. Lower soil abiotic stresses also significantly promoted the invasibility of the channel meanders by Spartina. Based on these findings, we propose a conceptual framework to illustrate the effects of the meandering geomorphology of tidal channels on the mechanisms that might allow the landward spread of Spartina and related processes. Our results demonstrate that the meandering geomorphic structures of tidal channels could act as stepping-stones to significantly facilitate the landward invasion of Spartina along tidal channels. This implies that geomorphic characteristics of tidal channels should be integrated into invasive species control and salt marsh management strategies.}, }
@article {pmid36708029, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, N and Song, M and Zhang, Y and Liu, X and Wu, P and Qi, L and Song, H and Du, N and Wang, H and Zheng, P and Wang, R}, title = {Physiological responses of Quercus acutissima and Quercus rubra seedlings to drought and defoliation treatments.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpad005}, pmid = {36708029}, issn = {1758-4469}, abstract = {Ongoing global climate change is increasing the risk of drought stress in some areas, which may compromise forest health. Such drought events also increase outbreaks of insect herbivores, resulting in plant defoliation. Interactions between drought and defoliation are poorly understood. In a greenhouse experiment, we selected a native species, Quercus acutissima, and an alien species, Quercus rubra, to explore their physiological responses to drought and defoliation treatments. After the treatments, we determined the seedlings' physiological responses on days 10 and 60. Our results showed that the defoliation treatment accelerated the carbon reserve consumption of plants under drought stress and inhibited the growth of both seedling types. Under the drought condition, Q. rubra maintained normal stem-specific hydraulic conductivity and normal growth parameters during the early stage of stress, while Q. acutissima used less water and grew more slowly during the experiment. Sixty days after defoliation treatment, the stem starch concentration of Q. acutissima was higher than that of the control group, but the stem biomass was lower. This indicates that Q. acutissima adopted a 'slow strategy' after stress, and more resources were used for storage rather than growth, which was conducive to the ability of these seedlings to resist recurrent biotic attack. Thus, Q. acutissima may be more tolerant to drought and defoliation than Q. rubra. The resource acquisition strategies of Quercus in this study suggest that the native Quercus species may be more successful at a long-term resource-poor site than the alien Quercus species.}, }
@article {pmid36706547, year = {2023}, author = {Brandler, KG and Carlton, JT}, title = {First report of marine debris as a species dispersal vector in the temperate Northwest Atlantic Ocean.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {188}, number = {}, pages = {114631}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114631}, pmid = {36706547}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {We provide the first report of the role of marine debris in transporting native and introduced species in the temperate Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Plastic was the most frequent biofouled material. Thirty-three attached species (five non-native) were found on rafted debris, 16 of which have not been previously reported as rafters. Forty-six percent of the attached invertebrate rafters (including three of the introduced species, the bryozoans Fenestrulina delicia and Tricellaria inopinata and the spirorbid Janua heterostropha) detected in this study reproduce by either direct development or produce larvae of short-term planktonic existence, suggesting that rafting on long-term, non-biodegradable debris may enhance their dispersal potential. We suggest that a prominent non-native species, the green alga Codium fragile fragile, may play a previously undetected role in the transport of marine debris and associated biofouling. Marine debris may further be a potentially significant source of biodiversity records; we detected two bryozoan species in our study region that were either previously unknown or had not been found for >75 years.}, }
@article {pmid36566728, year = {2023}, author = {Qu, X and Olden, JD and Xia, W and Liu, H and Xie, Z and Hughes, RM and Chen, Y}, title = {Hydrology and water quality shape macroinvertebrate patterns and facilitate non-native species dispersals in an inter-basin water transfer system.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {329}, number = {}, pages = {117111}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117111}, pmid = {36566728}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Animals ; *Water Quality ; *Ecosystem ; Invertebrates ; Introduced Species ; Environmental Monitoring ; Hydrology ; Rivers ; }, abstract = {Understanding biotic assemblage variations resulting from water diversions and other pressures is critical for aquatic ecosystem conservation, but hampered by limited research. Mechanisms driving macroinvertebrate assemblages were determined across five lakes along China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project, an over 900-km water transfer system connecting four river basins. We assessed macroinvertebrate patterns from 59 sites in relation to water quality, climatic, spatial, and hydrologic factors. Macroinvertebrate density, biomass, and species richness increased from upriver to downriver lakes, and were higher during the water transfer period than in the non-water transfer period. Non-native species including Nephtys sp., Paranthura japonica, Potamillacf acuminata, Capitekkidae spp. and Novaculina chinensis, were distributed along the entire study system, some become dominant in upriver lakes. High species turnover occurred in two upriver lakes. Hydrology and water quality are critical factors in shaping these macroinvertebrate patterns. Hydrological disturbance by water transfer boosted macroinvertebrate abundance during the water transfer period while facilitated non-native species dispersals and increased biotic homogenization. This study indicates the need for: 1) an effective ecosystem monitoring system; 2) unified system management standards; 3) external pollution controls; and 4) limiting the dispersal of non-native species.}, }
@article {pmid36703236, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, W and An, S and Cheng, P and Zhang, K and Gong, M and Zhang, Z and Zhang, R}, title = {Whole-transcriptome profiling across different developmental stages of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) provides insights into chitin-related non-coding RNA and competing endogenous RNA networks.}, journal = {Parasites &amp; vectors}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {33}, pmid = {36703236}, issn = {1756-3305}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is one of the most invasive species and a vector of numerous arboviruses. The deleterious effects of long-term and inappropriate use of chemical pesticides have stimulated the exploration of new, environmentally friendly control strategies. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been proven to participate in almost all biological processes of insects.<br><br>METHODS: In this study, circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) covering five developmental stages [egg, early larvae, late larvae, pupae, adult (female and male)] of A. albopictus were obtained using whole-transcriptome sequencing technology. Combined with long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) from previous research, circRNA/lncRNA&#x2012;miRNA&#x2012;mitochondrial RNA (mRNA) networks were constructed.<br><br>RESULTS: A total of 1434 circRNAs and 208 miRNAs were identified. More differentially expressed circRNAs (DE circRNAs) and miRNAs (DE miRNAs) were found in the egg versus early larvae comparison group. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that most of the circRNA/lncRNA&#x2012;miRNA&#x2012;mRNA networks were involved in chitin metabolism. Hub genes of each circRNA/lncRNA&#x2012;miRNA&#x2012;mRNA network were screened out, which can be used as novel targets to disturb the molting process of A. albopictus.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Regulatory relationships obtained from competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks provide more information to manipulate the metamorphosis process and are helpful for developing effective and sustainable methods to control mosquitoes.}, }
@article {pmid36702272, year = {2023}, author = {Oficialdegui, FJ and Zamora-Marín, JM and Guareschi, S and Anastácio, PM and García-Murillo, P and Ribeiro, F and Miranda, R and Cobo, F and Gallardo, B and García-Berthou, E and Boix, D and Arias, A and Cuesta, JA and Medina, L and Almeida, D and Banha, F and Barca, S and Biurrun, I and Cabezas, MP and Calero, S and Campos, JA and Capdevila-Argüelles, L and Capinha, C and Casals, F and Clavero, M and Encarnação, J and Fernández-Delgado, C and Franco, J and Guillén, A and Hermoso, V and Machordom, A and Martelo, J and Mellado-Díaz, A and Morcillo, F and Oscoz, J and Perdices, A and Pou-Rovira, Q and Rodríguez-Merino, A and Ros, M and Ruiz-Navarro, A and Sánchez, MI and Sánchez-Fernández, D and Sánchez-González, JR and Sánchez-Gullón, E and Teodósio, MA and Torralva, M and Vieira-Lanero, R and Oliva-Paterna, FJ}, title = {A horizon scan exercise for aquatic invasive alien species in Iberian inland waters.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {161798}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161798}, pmid = {36702272}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {As the number of introduced species keeps increasing unabatedly, identifying and prioritising current and potential Invasive Alien Species (IAS) has become essential to manage them. Horizon Scanning (HS), defined as an exploration of potential threats, is considered a fundamental component of IAS management. By combining scientific knowledge on taxa with expert opinion, we identified the most relevant aquatic IAS in the Iberian Peninsula, i.e., those with the greatest geographic extent (or probability of introduction), severe ecological, economic and human health impacts, greatest difficulty and acceptability of management. We highlighted the 126 most relevant IAS already present in Iberian inland waters (i.e., Concern list) and 89 with a high probability of being introduced in the near future (i.e., Alert list), of which 24 and 10 IAS, respectively, were considered as a management priority after receiving the highest scores in the expert assessment (i.e., top-ranked IAS). In both lists, aquatic IAS belonging to the four thematic groups (plants, freshwater invertebrates, estuarine invertebrates, and vertebrates) were identified as having been introduced through various pathways from different regions of the world and classified according to their main functional feeding groups. Also, the latest update of the list of IAS of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 includes only 12 top-ranked IAS identified for the Iberian Peninsula, while the national lists incorporate the vast majority of them. This fact underlines the great importance of taxa prioritisation exercises at biogeographical scales as a step prior to risk analyses and their inclusion in national lists. This HS provides a robust assessment and a cost-effective strategy for decision-makers and stakeholders to prioritise the use of limited resources for IAS prevention and management. Although applied at a transnational level in a European biodiversity hotspot, this approach is designed for potential application at any geographical or administrative scale, including the continental one.}, }
@article {pmid36699674, year = {2022}, author = {Siddiqui, JA and Fan, R and Naz, H and Bamisile, BS and Hafeez, M and Ghani, MI and Wei, Y and Xu, Y and Chen, X}, title = {Insights into insecticide-resistance mechanisms in invasive species: Challenges and control strategies.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1112278}, pmid = {36699674}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Threatening the global community is a wide variety of potential threats, most notably invasive pest species. Invasive pest species are non-native organisms that humans have either accidentally or intentionally spread to new regions. One of the most effective and first lines of control strategies for controlling pests is the application of insecticides. These toxic chemicals are employed to get rid of pests, but they pose great risks to people, animals, and plants. Pesticides are heavily used in managing invasive pests in the current era. Due to the overuse of synthetic chemicals, numerous invasive species have already developed resistance. The resistance development is the main reason for the failure to manage the invasive species. Developing pesticide resistance management techniques necessitates a thorough understanding of the mechanisms through which insects acquire insecticide resistance. Insects use a variety of behavioral, biochemical, physiological, genetic, and metabolic methods to deal with toxic chemicals, which can lead to resistance through continuous overexpression of detoxifying enzymes. An overabundance of enzymes causes metabolic resistance, detoxifying pesticides and rendering them ineffective against pests. A key factor in the development of metabolic resistance is the amplification of certain metabolic enzymes, specifically esterases, Glutathione S-transferase, Cytochromes p450 monooxygenase, and hydrolyses. Additionally, insect guts offer unique habitats for microbial colonization, and gut bacteria may serve their hosts a variety of useful services. Most importantly, the detoxification of insecticides leads to resistance development. The complete knowledge of invasive pest species and their mechanisms of resistance development could be very helpful in coping with the challenges and effectively developing effective strategies for the control of invasive species. Integrated Pest Management is particularly effective at lowering the risk of chemical and environmental contaminants and the resulting health issues, and it may also offer the most effective ways to control insect pests.}, }
@article {pmid36699573, year = {2023}, author = {Chiu, JH and Chong, KY and Lum, SKY and Wardle, DA}, title = {Trends in the direction of global plant invasion biology research over the past two decades.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e9690}, pmid = {36699573}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Invasive plants are a growing ecological problem worldwide, but biases and patterns within invasive plant research may affect our understanding of invasive plant ecology. In this study, we analyzed 458 invasive plant papers sampled from the two journals dedicated entirely to the field of invasion biology, i.e., Biological Invasions and Neobiota. From these papers, we collected information on geographic coverage, climate, habitat, taxonomic coverage, plant functional type, and research topic to examine trends across a 21-year time period from 1999 to 2020. Our analysis found that invasive plant research was consistently biased toward temperate grassland and forest ecosystems particularly within the Americas, Europe, and Australia, and toward smaller, herbaceous invasive plant species (i.e., forbs, grasses, and shrubs), with an increase in interest in invasive nitrogen-fixing legumes over time. Our analysis also identified "hot" research topics in invasive plant research at specific time periods, such as a peak in the use of genetic analysis methods in 2014-2015 and a more recent focus on plant physiological and functional traits. While current models, concepts, and understanding of plant invasion ecology are still driven by such biases, this has been partially offset by recent increased research in understudied systems, as well as increasing awareness that plant invasion is heavily affected by their growth types, physiological traits, and soil interactions. As the field of invasion biology becomes ever increasingly important over time, focusing invasive plant research on understudied ecosystems and plant groups will allow us to develop a more holistic understanding of the ecology of invasive plants. In particular, given the outsized importance of the tropics to global biodiversity, the threats they face, and the dearth of studies, it is of critical importance that more invasive plant research is conducted within the tropics to develop a more globally representative understanding of invasive plant ecology.}, }
@article {pmid36699132, year = {2023}, author = {Konopiński, MK and Fijarczyk, AM and Biedrzycka, A}, title = {Complex patterns shape immune genes diversity during invasion of common raccoon in Europe - Selection in action despite genetic drift.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {134-151}, pmid = {36699132}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Rapid adaptation is common in invasive populations and is crucial to their long-term success. The primary target of selection in the invasive species' new range is standing genetic variation. Therefore, genetic drift and natural selection acting on existing variation are key evolutionary processes through which invaders will evolve over a short timescale. In this study, we used the case of the raccoon Procyon lotor invasion in Europe to identify the forces shaping the diversity of immune genes during invasion. The genes involved in the defence against infection should be under intense selection pressure in the invasive range where novel pathogens are expected to occur. To disentangle the selective and demographic processes shaping the adaptive immune diversity of its invasive and expanding populations, we have developed species-specific single-nucleotide polymorphism markers located in the coding regions of targeted immune-related genes. We characterised the genetic diversity of 110 functionally important immune genes in two invasive and one native raccoon genetic clusters, each presenting a different demographic history. Despite the strong effect of demographic processes in the invasive clusters, we detected a subset of genes exhibiting the diversity pattern suggestive of selection. The most likely process shaping the variation in those genes was balancing selection. The selected genes belong to toll-like receptors and cytokine-related genes. Our results suggest that the prevalence of selection depends on the level of diversity, that is - less genetically diverse invasive population from the Czech Republic displayed fewer signs of selection. Our results highlight the role of standing genetic variation in adapting to new environment. Understanding the evolutionary mechanisms behind invasion success would enable predicting how populations may respond to environmental change.}, }
@article {pmid36699130, year = {2023}, author = {Deschepper, P and Vanbergen, S and Zhang, Y and Li, Z and Hassani, IM and Patel, NA and Rasolofoarivao, H and Singh, S and Wee, SL and De Meyer, M and Virgilio, M and Delatte, H}, title = {Bactrocera dorsalis in the Indian Ocean: A tale of two invasions.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {48-61}, pmid = {36699130}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {An increasing number of invasive fruit fly pests are colonizing new grounds. With this study, we aimed to uncover the invasion pathways of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis into the islands of the Indian Ocean. By using genome-wide SNP data and a multipronged approach consisting of PCA, ancestry analysis, phylogenetic inference, and kinship networks, we were able to resolve two independent invasion pathways. A western invasion pathway involved the stepping-stone migration of B. dorsalis from the east African coast into the Comoros, along Mayotte and into Madagascar with a decreasing genetic diversity. The Mascarene islands (Reunion and Mauritius), on the contrary, were colonized directly from Asia and formed a distinct cluster. The low nucleotide diversity suggests that only a few genotypes invaded the Mascarenes. The presence of many long runs of homozygosity (ROH) in the introduced populations is indicative of population bottlenecks, with evidence of a more severe bottleneck for populations along the western migration pathway than on the Mascarene islands. More strict phytosanitary regulations are recommended in order to prevent the further spread of B. dorsalis.}, }
@article {pmid36698490, year = {2023}, author = {,  and Bragard, C and Baptista, P and Chatzivassiliou, E and Di Serio, F and Gonthier, P and Jaques Miret, JA and Justesen, AF and Magnusson, CS and Milonas, P and Navas-Cortes, JA and Parnell, S and Potting, R and Reignault, PL and Stefani, E and Thulke, HH and Van der Werf, W and Vicent Civera, A and Yuen, J and Zappalà, L and Grégoire, JC and Malumphy, C and Kertesz, V and Maiorano, A and MacLeod, A}, title = {Pest categorisation of Nipaecoccus viridis.}, journal = {EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {e07770}, pmid = {36698490}, issn = {1831-4732}, abstract = {The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Nipaecoccus viridis (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Pseudococcidae), the spherical scale, for the EU. It is of Asian origin and occurs widely in southern Asia, Africa and tropical Australia. It has been introduced to a few countries in the Americas. In the Mediterranean basin it is found in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Syria and Turkey, where it is limited to the Marmara region. It has not been reported within the EU. It is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. It reproduces sexually, has three generations each year in citrus orchards in South Africa, and all stages can overwinter. First instar nymphs may move to neighbouring plants by crawling or be passively dispersed by wind or hitchhiking on clothing, equipment or animals. It is highly polyphagous, feeding on plants in 115 genera and 46 families. It is an important pest of citrus (Citrus spp.), cotton (Gossypium spp.), mango (Mangifera indica), avocado (Persea americana) and stored potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). It also feeds on a wide range of other fruit (apple Malus domestica, olive Olea europea, pear Pyrus communis and grape Vitis vinifera) and vegetable crops (tomato Solanum lycopersicum), and ornamental plants (roses, Rosa spp.) that are widely grown in the EU. Plants for planting, fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers are the main potential pathways for entry of N. viridis into the EU. Climatic conditions and availability of host plants in southern parts of the EU where there are few days of frost each year would likely allow this species to successfully establish and spread. Reductions in yield and quality of cultivated hosts including avocado, citrus, cotton and mango is anticipated if establishment occurs. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry and spread. N. viridis meets the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.}, }
@article {pmid36689420, year = {2023}, author = {Hu, SY and Gao, H and Li, J and Wang, YH and Gao, AG and Wen, JH and Balah, MA and Wu, AP}, title = {The latitudinal and longitudinal allelopathic patterns of an invasive alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) in China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {e0280866}, pmid = {36689420}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Plant Weeds ; Introduced Species ; *Alligators and Crocodiles ; Allelopathy ; *Amaranthaceae ; China ; Plant Extracts ; }, abstract = {Allelopathy has been considered a good explanation for the successful invasion of some invasive plants. However, the real latitudinal and longitudinal allelopathic effects on native species have rarely been documented since many exotics have spread widely. We conducted a Petri dish experiment to determine the latitudinal and longitudinal allelopathic patterns of an invasive alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) on a common crop (Lactuca sativa) in China, and find what determines the allelopathic intensity. The results showed that the allelopathic effects of A. philoxeroides increased with the latitude while decreased with the longitude. This indicated that A. philoxeroides used its allelopathy to gain competitive advantages more in its recent invaded communities than that in its early invaded ones as A. philoxeroides is expanding from southeast China to northwest China. Furthermore, we found that the allelopathic intensity of A. philoxeroide was negatively correlated to the leaf contents of soluble carbohydrate (SC), carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), but that was positively correlated to the leaf contents of soluble protein (SP), free amino acids (FAA), plant polyphenol (PP), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). These results suggested that the allelopathic intensity of A. philoxeroide was more determined by the limited P and K nutrients as well as the intermediate allelochemicals (SP, FAA, PP) rather than the unlimited C, N and SC. Thus, we can speculate that the negative or positive effects of plant aqueous extracts are a function of not only the extract concentrations but also the trade-offs between inhibition and promotion of all components in the extracts. Then we could reduce the allelopathic effects of A. philoxeroide by controlling the component contents in the plant tissues, by fertilization or other managements, especially in the plant recent invaded communities.}, }
@article {pmid36198403, year = {2023}, author = {Nahrung, HF and Liebhold, AM and Brockerhoff, EG and Rassati, D}, title = {Forest Insect Biosecurity: Processes, Patterns, Predictions, Pitfalls.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {211-229}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-120220-010854}, pmid = {36198403}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biosecurity ; *Introduced Species ; Forests ; Internationality ; Insecta ; }, abstract = {The economic and environmental threats posed by non-native forest insects are ever increasing with the continuing globalization of trade and travel; thus, the need for mitigation through effective biosecurity is greater than ever. However, despite decades of research and implementation of preborder, border, and postborder preventative measures, insect invasions continue to occur, with no evidence of saturation, and are even predicted to accelerate. In this article, we review biosecurity measures used to mitigate the arrival, establishment, spread, and impacts of non-native forest insects and possible impediments to the successful implementation of these measures. Biosecurity successes are likely under-recognized because they are difficult to detect and quantify, whereas failures are more evident in the continued establishment of additional non-native species. There are limitations in existing biosecurity systems at global and country scales (for example, inspecting all imports is impossible, no phytosanitary measures are perfect, knownunknowns cannot be regulated against, and noncompliance is an ongoing problem). Biosecurity should be a shared responsibility across countries, governments, stakeholders, and individuals.}, }
@article {pmid36693815, year = {2023}, author = {Hoffmann, BD and Tessmann, A and Quinn, G and Lawton, F}, title = {Quantification of flight times of aerial treatments targeting invasive species: The interplay of helicopter or drone with bait delivery systems, flight speed and bait form.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7379}, pmid = {36693815}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aerial treatments for invasive species management are now common, but we are unaware of any work published in the scientific literature quantifying how the interplay of numerous factors affects flight times and therefore operational costs. Here we analyse aerial treatment data collected from two ant eradication programs, quantifying how the relationships between flight time and area are influenced by numerous aircraft/delivery system/bait/flight speed combinations.<br><br>RESULTS: For bait dispersal by helicopters, and when swath widths are equivalent, using side-mounted Isolair was significantly more efficient than simultaneous use of two underslung buckets, and using two buckets was slightly but not significantly more efficient than using just one bucket. In this scenario delivery by Isolair was, on average, 39.8% and 31.5% more efficient than the use of either one or two buckets respectively. But when the swath width used with the Isolair was halved to 10&#x2009;m and the flight speed increased slightly, the flight time was significantly greater compared to both other configurations. For bait dispersed by drone, flights conducted using an upgraded flight management system (FMS) and higher flight speed but smaller swath width were significantly more efficient than those using the older FMS and lower flight speed. Over 10&#x2009;ha and 50&#x2009;ha the helicopter was 2.87 and 4.82 times more time efficient than the drone.<br><br>CONCLUSION: We highly encourage practitioners to publish data of their aerial treatments, as well as to try new methods, to enable an acceleration of improving efficiencies and reducing costs of aerial treatments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36693571, year = {2023}, author = {Stock, A and Murray, CC and Gregr, E and Steenbeek, J and Woodburn, E and Micheli, F and Christensen, V and Chan, KMA}, title = {Exploring multiple stressor effects with Ecopath, Ecosim, and Ecospace: Research designs, modeling techniques, and future directions.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {161719}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161719}, pmid = {36693571}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Understanding the cumulative effects of multiple stressors is a research priority in environmental science. Ecological models are a key component of tackling this challenge because they can simulate interactions between the components of an ecosystem. Here, we ask, how has the popular modeling platform Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) been used to model human impacts related to climate change, land and sea use, pollution, and invasive species? We conducted a literature review encompassing 166 studies covering stressors other than fishing mostly in aquatic ecosystems. The most modeled stressors were physical climate change (60 studies), species introductions (22), habitat loss (21), and eutrophication (20), using a range of modeling techniques. Despite this comprehensive coverage, we identified four gaps that must be filled to harness the potential of EwE for studying multiple stressor effects. First, only 12% of studies investigated three or more stressors, with most studies focusing on single stressors. Furthermore, many studies modeled only one of many pathways through which each stressor is known to affect ecosystems. Second, various methods have been applied to define environmental response functions representing the effects of single stressors on species groups. These functions can have a large effect on the simulated ecological changes, but best practices for deriving them are yet to emerge. Third, human dimensions of environmental change - except for fisheries - were rarely considered. Fourth, only 3% of studies used statistical research designs that allow attribution of simulated ecosystem changes to stressors' direct effects and interactions, such as factorial (computational) experiments. None made full use of the statistical possibilities that arise when simulations can be repeated many times with controlled changes to the inputs. We argue that all four gaps are feasibly filled by integrating ecological modeling with advances in other subfields of environmental science and in computational statistics.}, }
@article {pmid36693350, year = {2023}, author = {Wolf, S and Collatz, J and Enkerli, J and Widmer, F and Romeis, J}, title = {Assessing potential hybridization between a hypothetical gene drive-modified Drosophila suzukii and nontarget Drosophila species.}, journal = {Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/risa.14096}, pmid = {36693350}, issn = {1539-6924}, abstract = {Genetically engineered gene drives (geGD) are potentially powerful tools for suppressing or even eradicating populations of pest insects. Before living geGD insects can be released into the environment, they must pass an environmental risk assessment to ensure that their release will not cause unacceptable harm to non-targeted entities of the environment. A key research question concerns the likelihood that nontarget species will acquire the functional GD elements; such acquisition could lead to reduced abundance or loss of those species and to a disruption of the ecosystem services they provide. The main route for gene flow is through hybridization between the geGD insect strain and closely related species that co-occur in the area of release and its expected dispersal. Using the invasive spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, as a case study, we provide a generally applicable strategy on how a combination of interspecific hybridization experiments, behavioral observations, and molecular genetic analyses can be used to assess the potential for hybridization.}, }
@article {pmid36692691, year = {2023}, author = {Zaninotto, V and Thebault, E and Dajoz, I}, title = {Native and exotic plants play different roles in urban pollination networks across seasons.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36692691}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Urban areas often host exotic plant species, whether managed or spontaneous. These plants are suspected of affecting pollinator diversity and the structure of pollination networks. However, in dense cityscapes, exotic plants also provide additional flower resources during periods of scarcity, and the consequences for the seasonal dynamics of networks still need to be investigated. For two consecutive years, we monitored monthly plant-pollinator networks in 12 green spaces in Paris, France. We focused on seasonal variations in the availability and attractiveness of flower resources, comparing native and exotic plants at both the species and community levels. We also considered their respective contributions to network properties over time (specialization and nestedness). Exotic plants provided more abundant and diverse flower resources than native plants, especially from late summer on. However, native plants received more visits and attracted more pollinator species at the community level; and during certain times of the year at the species level as well. Exotic plants were involved in more generalist interactions, increasingly so over the seasons. In addition, they contributed more to network nestedness than native plants. These results show that exotic plants are major components of plant-pollinator interactions in a dense urban landscape, even though they are less attractive than natives. They constitute a core of generalist interactions that increase nestedness and can participate in the overall stability of the network. However, most exotic species were seldom visited by insects. Pollinator communities may benefit from including more native species when managing urban green spaces.}, }
@article {pmid36691856, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Xu, X}, title = {No evidence that modification of soil microbiota by woody invader facilitates subsequent invasion by herbaceous species.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2807}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2807}, pmid = {36691856}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Many terrestrial ecosystems are co-invaded by multiple exotic species. The "invasional meltdown" hypothesis predicts that an initial invasive species will facilitate secondary invasions. In the plant kingdom, the potential underlying mechanisms of this hypothesis may be that modification of the soil properties by the initial invaders benefits for the subsequent exotic species invasion. In this study, we analyzed the composition of soil microbial communities and soil chemical properties from sites invaded by woody Rhus typhina, as well as uninvaded sites, to assess the impact of R. typhina invasion. Furthermore, we conducted a greenhouse experiment with multiple native-invasive pairs of herbaceous species to test whether R. typhina invasion facilitates subsequent exotic herb invasion. Our results showed that R. typthian invasion significantly altered the composition of soil fungal communities, especially pathogenic, endophytic, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. However, this change in microbial composition led to neither direction nor magnitude changes in negative plant-soil feedback effects on both native and invasive species. This indicates that initial R. typhina invasion does not facilitate subsequent herb invasion, which does not support the "invasional meltdown" hypothesis. Additionally, R. typthian invasion significantly decreased soil total nitrogen and organic carbon contents, which may explain the significantly lower biomass of herbaceous roots grown in invaded soils than uninvaded soils. Alternately, although invasive herb growth was significantly more inhibited by soil microbiota than native herb growth, such inhibition cannot completely eliminate the risk of exotic herb invasion because of their innate growth advantages. Therefore, microbial biocontrol agents for plant invasion management should be combined with another approach to suppress the innate growth advantages of exotic species.}, }
@article {pmid36690109, year = {2023}, author = {Deshpande, P and Sharma, R and Lehikoinen, A and Thorogood, R}, title = {Native fauna interact differently with native and alien trees in a tropical megacity.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {161683}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161683}, pmid = {36690109}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The negative effects of invasive alien plant species on natural ecosystems are well known. However, in rapidly growing cities, alien plants can provide native fauna with resources otherwise lost due to the biotic homogenization, which is common to urban ecosystems. Interactions of native fauna with alien flora have thus far focused largely on invertebrate pollinators in temperate cities in the northern hemisphere. Cities in tropical areas, however, are larger and are growing more rapidly, and host a variety of vertebrate pollinators. Understanding how birds and mammals interact with native and alien flora in these megacities could improve management of urban ecosystems in highly biodiverse regions while limiting invasion potential. Therefore, here we investigate whether native diurnal birds and mammals interact differently with native versus alien trees in Bengaluru, India where historical planting has led to an abundance of alien tree species. We find that tree origin alone was not an important predictor for bird species richness and abundance, but taller native trees with large floral display sizes were more species rich than alien trees of similar floral displays. As expected from their shared evolutionary history, nectarivorous birds fed from native trees more often in a manner that could facilitate pollination, but engaged in nectar theft more often with alien trees. Squirrels (the mammal observed most frequently to interact with flowers) were more likely, however, to depredate flowers of native trees. Our results suggest alien trees can be an important resource for fauna in expanding urban areas, and that nectar theft by birds could reduce the seed set of alien trees.}, }
@article {pmid36689844, year = {2023}, author = {Bae, S and Kim, P and Yi, CH}, title = {Biodiversity and spatial distribution of ascidian using environmental DNA metabarcoding.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {185}, number = {}, pages = {105893}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105893}, pmid = {36689844}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Monitoring studies are necessary to understand the biodiversity of marine ecosystems and are useful for identifying and managing rare or invasive species. Because monitoring has traditionally relied only on visual surveys (e.g., trapping, netting, electrofishing, and SCUBA diving) with limited time and physical resources, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is being applied as an efficient monitoring method. This study compared whether the eDNA metabarcoding technique can replace the traditional visual survey in an ascidian fauna study. We designed ascidian-specific primers and identified a clear gap (3.75%) by barcoding gap analysis. Then, we collected seawater samples for eDNA analysis during the summer (August-September) of 2021 at three sites (Mokpo, Yeosu, and Uljin) in South Korea. In the survey sites of this study, 25 species were observed through literature and visual survey, among which 9 species were detected by metabarcoding and 16 species were not detected. On the other hand, 10 species were detected only by metabarcoding, and one of them was identified as Pyura mirabilis, an unrecorded species in South Korea. This study succeeded in detecting cryptic or rare species with one seawater collection, which can be used to determine their unexplored habitat. Therefore, we conclude that monitoring using eDNA is more efficient than visual surveys for detecting rare or cryptic ascidian species. We also suggest that, when combined with traditional monitoring methods, it could be a tool to complement ascidian fauna studies.}, }
@article {pmid36688078, year = {2023}, author = {Peter, N and Dörge, DD and Cunze, S and Schantz, AV and Skaljic, A and Rueckert, S and Klimpel, S}, title = {Raccoons contraband - The metazoan parasite fauna of free-ranging raccoons in central Europe.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {79-88}, pmid = {36688078}, issn = {2213-2244}, abstract = {The invasive raccoon (Procyon lotor) is an abundant carnivore and considered as an important potential vector of infectious diseases and parasites in Europe. Raccoons show a broad, opportunistic, omnivorous food spectrum. Food supply and habitat quality in urban areas are very attractive for the generalist raccoon. This inevitably leads to increased interaction with humans, domestic animals and livestock, making the raccoon a potentially suitable zoonosis vector. In its autochthonous range, especially in the Eastern and Midwestern United States, the raccoon has been studied very intensively since the beginning of the 20th century. Whereas, basic field biology and parasitology studies in Germany and Europe are lacking and have only been conducted sporadically, regionally and on small sample sizes. In the presented study 234 raccoons from central Germany were comprehensively examined for their metazoan parasite fauna. The present study shows for the first time an extremely diverse parasite fauna in raccoons outside their native range and proves their essential role as intermediate hosts and hosts for ecto- and endoparasites. A total of 23 different parasite species were identified, five of which are human pathogens, 14 of which are new for the parasite fauna of raccoons in Europe. The human pathogenic raccoon roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis is the most common parasite species in this study, with a prevalence of up to 95%. The digenetic trematode Plagiorchis muris, another human pathogenic parasite species, was detected for the first time in raccoons. The ongoing spread of invasive carnivores and the associated spread and transmission of their parasites and other pathogens increases the potential health risk of wild and farmed animals as well as humans. An increase in parasitic diseases in humans (e.g. raccoon roundworm) is to be expected, especially in urban areas, where raccoons are becoming more and more abundant.}, }
@article {pmid36685646, year = {2023}, author = {Seok, S and Jacobsen, CM and Romero-Weaver, AL and Wang, X and Nguyen, VT and Collier, TC and Riles, MT and Akbari, OS and Lee, Y}, title = {Complete mitogenome sequence of Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) japonicus japonicus from Hawai'i Island.}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {64-68}, pmid = {36685646}, issn = {2380-2359}, abstract = {We report the first complete mitogenome (Mt) sequence of Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae). The sequence was extracted from one adult from the Big Island of Hawai'i Island. The length of the Ae. japonicus japonicus Mt was 16,528bp with 78.1% AT content. Its sequence is most similar to the Mt sequence of Aedes koreicus with 90.81% sequence identity. This is the first full Mt sequence available for this species and provides important genetic resource for studying population genetics and dynamics of this important invasive mosquito species.}, }
@article {pmid36685188, year = {2022}, author = {Garcia-Rueda, AL and Mascaro, M and Rodriguez-Fuentes, G and Caamal-Monsreal, CP and Diaz, F and Paschke, K and Rosas, C}, title = {Moderate hypoxia mitigates the physiological effects of high temperature on the tropical blue crab Callinectes sapidus.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1089164}, pmid = {36685188}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Dissolved oxygen (DO) and water temperature vary in coastal environments. In tropical regions, the ability of aquatic ectotherms to cope with hypoxia and high-temperature interactive effects is fundamental for their survival. The mechanisms underlying both hypoxia and thermal tolerance are known to be interconnected, therefore, the idea of cross-tolerance between both environmental stressors has been put forward. We investigated the combined role of hypoxia and temperature changes on the physiological responses of blue crab Callinectes sapidus living in the southern Gulf of Mexico. We measured oxygen consumption, plasmatic biochemical indicators, total hemocyte count (THC), and antioxidant activity biomarkers in muscle and gill tissues of blue crab acclimated to moderate hypoxia or normoxia and exposed to a thermal fluctuation or a constant temperature, the former including a temperature beyond the optimum range. Animals recovered their routine metabolic rate (RMR) after experiencing thermal stress in normoxia, reflecting physiological plasticity to temperature changes. In hypoxia, the effect of increasing temperature was modulated as reflected in the RMR and plasmatic biochemical indicators concentration, and the THC did not suggest significant alterations in the health status. In both DO, the antioxidant defense system was active against oxidative (OX) damage to lipids and proteins. However, hypoxia was associated with an increase in the amelioration of OX damage. These results show that C. sapidus can modulate its thermal response in a stringent dependency with DO, supporting the idea of local acclimatization to tropical conditions, and providing insights into its potential as invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid36684796, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, YY and Yang, QF and Li, Z and Zhou, ZX and Shi, XP and Wang, YJ}, title = {Parallel genetic and phenotypic differentiation of Erigeron annuus invasion in China.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {994367}, pmid = {36684796}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The factors that determine the growth and spread advantages of an alien plant during the invasion process remain open to debate. The genetic diversity and differentiation of an invasive plant population might be closely related to its growth adaptation and spread in the introduced range. However, little is known about whether phenotypic and genetic variation in invasive plant populations covary during the invasion process along invaded geographic distances.<br><br>METHODS: In a wild experiment, we examined the genetic variation in populations of the aggressively invasive species Erigeron annuus at different geographical distances from the first recorded point of introduction (FRPI) in China. We also measured growth traits in the wild and common garden experiments, and the coefficient of variation (CV) of populations in the common garden experiments.<br><br>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We found that E. annuus populations had better growth performance (i.e., height and biomass) and genetic diversity, and less trait variation, in the long-term introduced region (east) than in the short-term introduced region (west). Furthermore, population growth performance was significantly positively or negatively correlated with genetic diversity or genetic variation. Our results indicate that there was parallel genetic and phenotypic differentiation along the invaded geographic distance in response to adaptation and spread, and populations that entered introduced regions earlier had consistently high genetic diversity and high growth dominance. Growth and reproduction traits can be used as reliable predictors of the adaptation and genetic variation of invasive plants.}, }
@article {pmid36683956, year = {2022}, author = {Huisamen, EJ and Karsten, M and Terblanche, JS}, title = {Are Signals of Local Environmental Adaptation Diluted by Laboratory Culture?.}, journal = {Current research in insect science}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {100048}, pmid = {36683956}, issn = {2666-5158}, abstract = {Insects have the ability to readily adapt to changes in environmental conditions, however the strength of local environmental adaptation signals under divergent conditions and the occurrence of trait inertia after relaxation of selection, remains poorly understood, especially for traits of climate stress resistance (CSR) and their phenotypic plasticity. The strength of environmental adaptation signals depend on several selection pressures present in the local environment, while trait inertia often occurs when there is a weakening or removal of a source of selection. Here, using Drosophila melanogaster, we asked whether signals of adaptation in CSR traits (critical thermal limits, heat and chill survival and, desiccation and starvation resistance) persist after exposure to laboratory culture for different durations (two vs. ten generations) across four climatically distinct populations. We show that culture duration has large effects on CSR traits and can both amplify or dilute signals of local adaptation. Effects were however dependent upon interactions between the source population, acclimation (adult acclimation at either 18 °C, 23 °C or 28 °C) conditions and the sex of the flies. Trait plasticity is markedly affected by the interaction between the source population, the specific acclimation conditions employed, and the duration in the laboratory. Therefore, a complex matrix of dynamic CSR trait responses is shown in space and time. Given these strong interaction effects, 'snapshot' estimates of environmental adaptation can result in misleading conclusions about the fitness consequences of climate variability.}, }
@article {pmid36683955, year = {2022}, author = {Beet, CR and Hogg, ID and Cary, SC and McDonald, IR and Sinclair, BJ}, title = {The Resilience of Polar Collembola (Springtails) in a Changing Climate.}, journal = {Current research in insect science}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {100046}, pmid = {36683955}, issn = {2666-5158}, abstract = {Assessing the resilience of polar biota to climate change is essential for predicting the effects of changing environmental conditions for ecosystems. Collembola are abundant in terrestrial polar ecosystems and are integral to food-webs and soil nutrient cycling. Using available literature, we consider resistance (genetic diversity; behavioural avoidance and physiological tolerances; biotic interactions) and recovery potential for polar Collembola. Polar Collembola have high levels of genetic diversity, considerable capacity for behavioural avoidance, wide thermal tolerance ranges, physiological plasticity, generalist-opportunistic feeding habits and broad ecological niches. The biggest threats to the ongoing resistance of polar Collembola are increasing levels of dispersal (gene flow), increased mean and extreme temperatures, drought, changing biotic interactions, and the arrival and spread of invasive species. If resistance capacities are insufficient, numerous studies have highlighted that while some species can recover from disturbances quickly, complete community-level recovery is exceedingly slow. Species dwelling deeper in the soil profile may be less able to resist climate change and may not recover in ecologically realistic timescales given the current rate of climate change. Ultimately, diverse communities are more likely to have species or populations that are able to resist or recover from disturbances. While much of the Arctic has comparatively high levels of diversity and phenotypic plasticity; areas of Antarctica have extremely low levels of diversity and are potentially much more vulnerable to climate change.}, }
@article {pmid36683876, year = {2023}, author = {Guiaşu, RC and Tindale, CW}, title = {Logical fallacies persist in invasion biology and blaming the messengers will not improve accountability in this field: a response to Frank et al.}, journal = {Biology &amp; philosophy}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {3}, pmid = {36683876}, issn = {0169-3867}, abstract = {We analyze the "Logical fallacies and reasonable debates in invasion biology: a response to Guiaşu and Tindale" article by Frank et al., and also discuss this work in the context of recent intense debates in invasion biology, and reactions by leading invasion biologists to critics of aspects of their field. While we acknowledge the attempt by Frank et al., at least in the second half of their paper, to take into account more diverse points of view about non-native species and their complex roles in ecosystems, we also find the accusations of misrepresenting invasion biology, for instance by "cherry-picking" and "constructing 'straw people'", directed at the Guiaşu and Tindale study to be unwarranted. Despite the sometimes harsh responses by leading invasion biologists to critics of their field, we believe that persistent and fundamental problems remain in invasion biology, and we discuss some of these problems in this article. Failing to recognize these problems, and simply dismissing or minimizing legitimate criticisms, will not advance the cause, or enhance the general appeal, of invasion biology and will prevent meaningful progress in understanding the multiple contributions non-native species can bring to various ecosystems worldwide. We recommend taking a more open-minded and pragmatic approach towards non-native species and the novel ecosystems they are an integral part of.}, }
@article {pmid36682197, year = {2023}, author = {Rochlin, I and Egizi, A and Narvaez, Z and Bonilla, DL and Gallagher, M and Williams, GM and Rainey, T and Price, DC and Fonseca, DM}, title = {Microhabitat modeling of the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in New Jersey, USA.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {102126}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102126}, pmid = {36682197}, issn = {1877-9603}, abstract = {The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is a vector of multiple arboviral and bacterial pathogens in its native East Asia and expanded distribution in Australasia. This species has both bisexual and parthenogenetic populations that can reach high population densities under favorable conditions. Established populations of parthenogenetic H. longicornis were detected in the eastern United States in 2017 and the possible range of this species at the continental level (North America) based on climatic conditions has been modeled. However, little is known about factors influencing the distribution of H. longicornis at geographic scales relevant to local surveillance and control. To examine the importance of local physiogeographic conditions such as geology, soil characteristics, and land cover on the distribution of H. longicornis we employed ecological niche modeling using three machine learning algorithms - Maxent, Random Forest (RF), and Generalized Boosting Method (GBM) to estimate probability of finding H. longicornis in a particular location in New Jersey (USA), based on environmental predictors. The presence of H. longicornis in New Jersey was positively associated with Piedmont physiogeographic province and two soil types - Alfisols and Inceptisols. Soil hydraulic conductivity was the most important predictor explaining H. longicornis habitat suitability, with more permeable sandy soils with higher hydraulic conductivity being less suitable than clay or loam soils. The models were projected over the state of New Jersey creating a probabilistic map of H. longicornis habitat suitability at a high spatial resolution of 90×90 meters. The model's sensitivity was 87% for locations sampled in 2017-2019 adding to the growing evidence of the importance of soil characteristics to the survival of ticks. For the 2020-2022 dataset the model fit was 57%, suggestive of spillover to less optimal habitats or, alternatively, heterogeneity in soil characteristics at the edges of broad physiographic zones. Further modeling should incorporate abundance and life-stage information as well as detailed characterization of the soil at collection sites. Once critical parameters that drive the survival and abundance of H. longicornis are identified they can be used to guide surveillance and control strategies for this invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid36681694, year = {2023}, author = {Diller, JGP and Hüftlein, F and Lücker, D and Feldhaar, H and Laforsch, C}, title = {Allelochemical run-off from the invasive terrestrial plant Impatiens glandulifera decreases defensibility in Daphnia.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {1207}, pmid = {36681694}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Invasive species are a major threat for native ecosystems and organisms living within. They are reducing the biodiversity in invaded ecosystems, by outcompeting native species with e. g. novel substances. Invasive terrestrial plants can release allelochemicals, thereby reducing biodiversity due to the suppression of growth of native plants in invaded habitats. Aside from negative effects on plants, allelochemicals can affect other organisms such as mycorrhiza fungi and invertebrates in terrestrial ecosystems. When invasive plants grow in riparian zones, it is very likely that terrestrial borne allelochemicals can leach into the aquatic ecosystem. There, the often highly reactive compounds may not only elicit toxic effects to aquatic organisms, but they may also interfere with biotic interactions. Here we show that the allelochemical 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (2-MNQ), produced by the ubiquitously occurring invasive terrestrial plant Impatiens glandulifera, interferes with the ability of Daphnia to defend itself against predators with morphological defences. Daphnia magna and Daphnia longicephala responded with morphological defences induced by chemical cues released by their corresponding predators, Triops cancriformis or Notonecta sp. However, predator cues in combination with 2-MNQ led to a reduction in the morphological defensive traits, body- and tail-spine length, in D. magna. In D. longicephala all tested inducible defensive traits were not significantly affected by 2-MNQ but indicate similar patterns, highlighting the importance to study different species to assess the risks for aquatic ecosystems. Since it is essential for Daphnia to adapt defences to the current predation risk, a maladaptation in defensive traits when simultaneously exposed to allelochemicals released by I. glandulifera, may therefore have knock-on effects on population dynamics across multiple trophic levels, as Daphnia is a key species in lentic ecosystems.}, }
@article {pmid36680811, year = {2022}, author = {Gauff, RPM and Joubert, E and Curd, A and Carlier, A and Chavanon, F and Ravel, C and Bouchoucha, M}, title = {The elephant in the room: Introduced species also profit from refuge creation by artificial fish habitats.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {185}, number = {}, pages = {105859}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105859}, pmid = {36680811}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Increasingly, ecological rehabilitation is envisioned to mitigate and revert impacts of ocean sprawl on coastal marine biodiversity. While in the past studies have demonstrated the positive effects of artificial fish habitats in port areas on fish abundance and diversity, benthic colonization of these structures has not yet been taken into consideration. This could be problematic as they may provide suitable habitat for Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) and hence facilitate their spreading. The present study aimed to examine communities developing on artificial fish habitats and to observe if the number of NIS was higher than in surrounding equivalent habitats. The structures were colonized by communities that were significantly different compared to those surrounding the control habitat, and they were home to a greater number of NIS. As NIS can cause severe ecological and economical damages, our results imply that in conjunction with the ecosystem services provided by artificial fish habitats, an ecosystem disservice in the form of facilitated NIS colonization may be present. These effects have not been shown before and need to be considered to effectively decide in which situations artificial structures may be used for fish rehabilitation.}, }
@article {pmid36680327, year = {2023}, author = {Nicolosi, G and Mammola, S and Verbrugge, L and Isaia, M}, title = {Aliens in caves: the global dimension of biological invasions in subterranean ecosystems.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12933}, pmid = {36680327}, issn = {1469-185X}, abstract = {Alien species are a significant threat to natural ecosystems and human economies. Despite global efforts to address this challenge, the documented number of alien species is rapidly increasing worldwide. However, the magnitude of the impact of alien species may vary significantly across habitats. For example, some habitats are naturally less prone to biological invasions due to stringent abiotic and biotic characteristics, selecting for a limited number of introduced species possessing traits closely related to the native organisms. Subterranean ecosystems are quintessential examples of habitats with strong environmental filters (e.g. lack of light and scarcity of food), driving convergent adaptations in species that have successfully adapted to life in darkness. Despite these stringent environmental constraints, the number of records of alien species in subterranean ecosystems has increased in recent decades, but the relevant literature remains largely fragmented and mostly anecdotal. Therefore, even though caves are generally considered very fragile ecosystems, their susceptibility to impacts by alien species remains untested other than for some very specific cases. We provide the first systematic literature survey to synthesise available knowledge on alien species in subterranean ecosystems globally. This review is supported by a database summarising the available literature, aiming to identify gaps in the distribution and spread of alien invertebrate species in subterranean habitats, and laying the foundations for future management practices and interventions. First, we quantitatively assessed the current knowledge of alien species in subterranean ecosystems to shed light on broader questions about taxonomic biases, geographical patterns, modes of dispersal, pathways for introductions and potential impacts. Secondly, we collected species-specific traits for each recorded alien species and tested whether subterranean habitats act as ecological filters for their establishment, favouring organisms with pre-adaptive traits suitable for subterranean life. We found information on the presence of 246 subterranean alien species belonging to 18 different classes. The dominant alien species were invertebrates, especially insects and arachnids. Most species were reported in terrestrial subterranean habitats from all continents except Antarctica. Palaearctic and Nearctic biogeographic regions represented the main source of alien species. The main routes of introductions into the recipient country are linked to commercial activities (84.3% of cases for which there was information available). Negative impacts have been documented for a small number of case studies (22.7%), mostly related to increased competition with native species. For a limited number of case studies (6.1%), management strategies were reported but the effectiveness of these interventions has rarely been quantified. Accordingly, information on costs is very limited. Approximately half of the species in our database can be considered established in subterranean habitats. According to our results, the presence of suitable traits grants access to the stringent environmental filter posed by subterranean environments, facilitating establishment in the new habitat. We recommend that future studies deepen the understanding of invasiveness into subterranean habitats, raising public and scientific community awareness of preserving these fragile ecosystems.}, }
@article {pmid36680062, year = {2022}, author = {Pacioni, C and Hall, RN and Strive, T and Ramsey, DSL and Gill, MS and Vaughan, TG}, title = {Comparative Epidemiology of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Strains from Viral Sequence Data.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/v15010021}, pmid = {36680062}, issn = {1999-4915}, abstract = {Since their introduction in 1859, European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have had a devastating impact on agricultural production and biodiversity in Australia, with competition and land degradation by rabbits being one of the key threats to agricultural and biodiversity values in Australia. Biocontrol agents, with the most important being the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 1 (RHDV1), constitute the most important landscape-scale control strategies for rabbits in Australia. Monitoring field strain dynamics is complex and labour-intensive. Here, using phylodynamic models to analyse the available RHDV molecular data, we aimed to: investigate the epidemiology of various strains, use molecular data to date the emergence of new variants and evaluate whether different strains are outcompeting one another. We determined that the two main pathogenic lagoviruses variants in Australia (RHDV1 and RHDV2) have had similar dynamics since their release, although over different timeframes (substantially shorter for RHDV2). We also found a strong geographic difference in their activities and evidence of overall competition between the two viruses.}, }
@article {pmid36678974, year = {2023}, author = {Cordero, S and Gálvez, F and Fontúrbel, FE}, title = {Ecological Impacts of Exotic Species on Native Seed Dispersal Systems: A Systematic Review.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12020261}, pmid = {36678974}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Exotic species are one of the main threats to biodiversity, leading to alterations in the structure and functioning of natural ecosystems. However, they can sometimes also provide ecological services, such as seed dispersal. Therefore, we assessed the ecological impacts of exotic species on native dispersal systems and the mechanisms underlying the disruption of mutualistic plant-disperser interactions. Exotic species negatively affect dispersal mutualisms by (i) altering dispersal behavior and visitation rates of native dispersers, (ii) predating native dispersers, (iii) transmitting forest pathogens, and (iv) predating seeds. Conversely, positive impacts include the dispersal of native plants, forest regeneration, and native habitat restoration via (i) increasing the visitation rates of frugivorous birds, (ii) facilitating the colonization and establishment of native forest trees, (iii) enhancing forest species seedling survival, and (iv) facilitating seed rain and seedling recruitment of early and late successional native plants. The reviewed studies provide similar results in some cases and opposite results in others, even within the same taxa. In almost all cases, exotic species cause negative impacts, although sometimes they are necessary to ensure native species' persistence. Therefore, exotic species management requires a comprehensive understanding of their ecological roles, since the resulting effects rely on the complexity of native-exotic species interactions.}, }
@article {pmid36677342, year = {2022}, author = {Prado-Tarango, DE and Mata-Gonzalez, R and Hovland, M}, title = {Drought and Competition Mediate Mycorrhizal Colonization, Growth Rate, and Nutrient Uptake in Three Artemisia Species.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11010050}, pmid = {36677342}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The genus Artemisia includes several keystone shrub species that dominate the North American sagebrush steppe. Their growth, survival, and establishment are negatively affected by exotic invasive grasses such as Taeniatherum caput-medusae. While the outcomes of symbiotic relationships between Artemisia spp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ambiguous, the benefits of ameliorated nutrient and drought stress may be cryptic and better revealed under competition. We evaluated the effects of a commercial AMF inoculum on ameliorating biotic (competition with T. caput-medusae) and abiotic (drought) stress of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Artemisia arbuscula, and Artemisia nova when grown in sterile and microbially active field soil. Stress amelioration was measured as an increase in biomass production and nutrient acquisition. Mycorrhizal colonization of roots was lower in Artemisia plants grown in competition, while T. caput-medusae colonization was higher in plants with greater moisture. Both types of stress negatively affected plant biomass. Commercial AMF inoculation did not increase biomass. Colonization from field soil increased average phosphorous concentration under drought for A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis by 36% and A. nova by 125%. While commercial inoculum and live soil led to AMF colonization of T. caput-medusae, only the commercial inoculum increased average phosphorus uptake by 71%.}, }
@article {pmid36676105, year = {2023}, author = {King, C}, title = {Abundance and Dynamics of Small Mammals in New Zealand: Sequential Invasions into an Island Ecosystem Like No Other.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/life13010156}, pmid = {36676105}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {New Zealand had no people or four-footed mammals of any size until it was colonised by Polynesian voyagers and Pacific rats in c. 1280 AD. Between 1769 and 1920 AD, Europeans brought three more species of commensal rats and mice, and three predatory mustelids, plus rabbits, house cats hedgehogs and Australian brushtail possums. All have in turn invaded the whole country and many offshore islands in huge abundance, at least initially. Three species are now reduced to remnant populations, but the other eight remain widely distributed. They comprise an artificial but interacting and fully functional bottom-up predator-prey system, responding at all levels to interspecific competition, habitat quality and periodic resource pulsing.}, }
@article {pmid36676066, year = {2022}, author = {Alekseev, V and Sukhikh, N}, title = {Ust-Luga Seaport of Russia: Biological Invasions and Resting Stages Accumulation.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/life13010117}, pmid = {36676066}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {This article describes the results of a three-year study of invasive species of aquatic ecosystems in the vicinity of Ust-Luga, the largest Russian seaport in the Baltic. Taking into account the great importance of the participation of marine vessels in the dispersal of invasive species, an experimental study of the seasonality of accumulation of resting stages of aquatic invertebrates in the ballast compartments of a vessel located in the Baltic Sea of the Gulf of Finland was carried out. Experiments show that the time of filling the ballast compartments in late summer and autumn poses the greatest risk for the spread of aquatic invertebrates with ship ballast water. In the Baltic Russian port, 11 invasive species of zooplankton and zoobenthos were found, which comprises 15% of the biodiversity in the samples. Copepoda demonstrated the highest presence of invasive species in class among zooplankton groups (14%) and Malacostraca among benthos groups (80%). Alien species findings correspond to the main vectors of invasive species dispersal for the Baltic Sea: North America, Indochina, and the Ponto-Caspian region.}, }
@article {pmid36672903, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, G and Lai, S and Liao, S and Cao, Y and Li, W and Long, C and Tarno, H and Wang, J}, title = {Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Scolytoplatypodini Species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and Phylogenetic Implications.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/genes14010162}, pmid = {36672903}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of beetles in the tribe Scolytoplatypodini (genus Scolytoplatypus) were sequenced and annotated. These included Scolytoplatypus raja (15,324 bp), Scolytoplatypus sinensis (15,394 bp), Scolytoplatypus skyliuae (15,167 bp), and Scolytoplatypus wugongshanensis (15,267 bp). The four mitogenomes contained 37 typical genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The gene orientation and arrangement of the four mitogenomes were similar to other Coleoptera mitogenomes. PCGs mostly started with ATN and terminated with TAA. The Ka/Ks ratio of 13 PCGs in the four species revealed that cox1 had the slowest evolutionary rate and atp8 and nad6 had a higher evolutionary rate. All tRNAs had typical cloverleaf secondary structures, but trnS1 lacked dihydrouridine arm. Partial tRNAs lost the discriminator nucleotide. The trnY did not possess the discriminator nucleotide and also lost three bases, showing a special amino-acyl arm. Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods were conducted for phylogenetic analyses using 13 PCGs. Scolytoplatypodini was clustered with Hylurgini and Hylastini, and the monophyly of Scolytoplatypodini was supported. The four newly sequenced mitogenomes increase understanding of the evolutionary relationships of Scolytoplatypodini and other Scolytinae species.}, }
@article {pmid36671789, year = {2023}, author = {Shan, B and Yu, G and Wang, L and Liu, Y and Yang, C and Liu, M and Sun, D}, title = {Genetic Signature of Pinctada fucata Inferred from Population Genomics: Source Tracking of the Invasion in Mischief Reef of Nansha Islands.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12010097}, pmid = {36671789}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Among the anthropogenic stresses that marine ecosystems face, biological invasions are one of the major threats. Recently, as a result of increasingly intense anthropogenic disturbance, numerous marine species have been introduced to their non-native ranges. However, many introduced species have uncertain original sources. This prevents the design and establishment of methods for controlling or preventing these introduced species. In the present study, genomic sequencing and population genetic analysis were performed to detect the geographic origin of the introduced Pinctada fucata population in the Mischief Reef of the South China Sea. The results of population genetic structure analysis showed a close relationship between the Mischief Reef introduced population and the Lingshui population, indicating that Lingshui may be the potential geographical origin. Furthermore, lower heterozygosity and nucleotide diversity were observed in the introduced population in Mischief Reef, indicating lower genetic diversity than in other native populations. We also identified some selected genomic regions and genes of the introduced population, including genes related to temperature and salinity tolerance. These genes may play important roles in the adaptation of the introduced population. Our study will improve our understanding of the invasion history of the P. fucata population. Furthermore, the results of the present study will also facilitate further control and prevention of invasion in Mischief Reef, South China Sea.}, }
@article {pmid36671776, year = {2023}, author = {Adhikari, P and Lee, YH and Poudel, A and Lee, G and Hong, SH and Park, YS}, title = {Predicting the Impact of Climate Change on the Habitat Distribution of Parthenium&amp;nbsp;hysterophorus around the World and in South Korea.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12010084}, pmid = {36671776}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The global climate change, including increases in temperature and precipitation, may exacerbate the invasion by P. hysterophorus. Here, MaxEnt modeling was performed to predict P. hysterophorus distribution worldwide and in South Korea under the current and future climate global climate changes, including increases in temperature and precipitation. Under the current climate, P. hysterophorus was estimated to occupy 91.26%, 83.26%, and 62.75% of the total land area of Australia, South America, and Oceania, respectively. However, under future climate scenarios, the habitat distribution of P. hysterophorus would show the greatest change in Europe (56.65%) and would extend up to 65°N by 2081-2100 in South Korea, P. hysterophorus currently potentially colonizing 2.24% of the land area, particularly in six administrative divisions. In the future, P. hysterophorus would spread rapidly, colonizing all administrative divisions, except Incheon, by 2081-2100. Additionally, the southern and central regions of South Korea showed greater habitat suitability than the northern region. These findings suggest that future climate change will increase P. hysterophorus distribution both globally and locally. Therefore, effective control and management strategies should be employed around the world and in South Korea to restrict the habitat expansion of P. hysterophorus.}, }
@article {pmid36671728, year = {2022}, author = {Schubart, CD and Deli, T and Mancinelli, G and Cilenti, L and Gil Fernández, A and Falco, S and Berger, S}, title = {Phylogeography of the Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the Americas versus the Mediterranean Sea: Determining Origins and Genetic Connectivity of a Large-Scale Invasion.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12010035}, pmid = {36671728}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The American blue crab Callinectes sapidus is a particularly successful invader in estuarine ecosystems worldwide. Despite increasing awareness of its potential harm, the invasion history and underlying genetic diversity of this species within the Mediterranean Sea remain unknown. This study constitutes the first large-scale approach to study phylogeographic patterns of C. sapidus in Europe, facilitated by the first comparison of all currently available COI sequence data. For this investigation, 71 individuals of C. sapidus were newly analyzed and the entire COI gene was sequenced and used for a comparative phylogeographic analyses. For the first time, two separately used adjacent regions of this gene were combined in a single dataset. This allowed emphasizing the prevalence of three geographically defined lineages within the native range: (1) eastern North America, including the Gulf of Mexico, (2) the Caribbean, and (3) Brazil. New data from the Mediterranean reveal that non-native populations of C. sapidus are characterized by a conspicuously low genetic diversity (except for Turkey, where stocking took place), and that there is surprisingly low connectivity among established populations. The occurrence of strong genetic bottlenecks suggests few founder individuals. This confirms that, even under a scenario of restricted large-scale gene flow, a very limited number of invasive individuals is sufficient for a massive impact.}, }
@article {pmid36671720, year = {2022}, author = {Awad, M and Ben Gharsa, H and ElKraly, OA and Leclerque, A and Elnagdy, SM}, title = {COI Haplotyping and Comparative Microbiomics of the Peach Fruit Fly, an Emerging Pest of Egyptian Olive Orchards.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12010027}, pmid = {36671720}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Tephritidae), is economically relevant as a highly polyphagous pest infesting over 50 host plants including commercial fruit and horticultural crops. As an invasive species, B. zonata was firmly established in Egypt and holds potential to spread further across the Mediterranean basin. The present study demonstrated that the peach fruit fly was found multiplying in olive orchards at two distant locations in Egypt. This is the first report of B. zonata developing in olives. COI barcoding has revealed evidence for high diversity across these peach fruit fly populations. These data are consistent with multiple rather than a single event leading to both peach fruit fly invasion to Egypt and its adaptation to olive. Comparative microbiomics data for B. zonata developing on different host plants were indicative for microbiome dynamics being involved in the adaptation to olive as a new niche with a potential adaptive role for Erwinia or Providencia bacteria. The possibility of symbiont transfer from the olive fruit fly to the peach fruit fly is discussed. Potentially host switch relevant bacterial symbionts might be preferred targets of symbiosis disruption strategies for integrated pest management or biological control of B. zonata.}, }
@article {pmid36670814, year = {2023}, author = {Stope, MB}, title = {The Raccoon (Procyon lotor) as a Neozoon in Europe.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13020273}, pmid = {36670814}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a North American half-bear that is present in much of Europe and Asia as a result of both accidental and planned releases. In Europe, raccoons were introduced primarily as a source of fur for the fur industry. In the 1930s, raccoons were released into the wild in Central Europe. At the same time, animals from fur farms and private holdings continued to enter the wild. In the following decades, the raccoon spread over large parts of Europe. In addition to the invasive spread of the Central European initial population, individual releases of raccoons occurred frequently, mainly in Southern Europe. The high adaptability of the raccoon favors its expansion into new habitats. It has a high reproductive rate, is very mobile, and encounters few predators in Europe. Raccoons have recently become a topic of interest when large raccoon populations have colonized suburban and urban areas. Despite the proximity of raccoons and humans, however, there have been hardly any conflicts to date, unlike in North America. A significant negative impact on the native fauna has been suspected but not proven. Raccoons have been identified as vectors of zoonotic diseases. Nevertheless, monitoring of the increasing numbers of raccoons in Europe seems advisable.}, }
@article {pmid36668972, year = {2023}, author = {Ivanescu, LM and Bodale, I and Grigore-Hristodorescu, S and Martinescu, G and Andronic, B and Matiut, S and Azoicai, D and Miron, L}, title = {The Risk of Emerging of Dengue Fever in Romania, in the Context of Global Warming.}, journal = {Tropical medicine and infectious disease}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/tropicalmed8010065}, pmid = {36668972}, issn = {2414-6366}, abstract = {(1) Background: Few studies to date have assessed the influences induced by climate change on the spatial distribution and population abundance of Aedes albopictus using the latest climate scenarios. In this study, we updated the current distribution of Ae. albopictus mosquitoes and evaluated the changes in their distribution under future climate conditions, as well as the risk of dengue virus emergence in Romania. (2) Methods: Under the two scenarios: High scenario (HS) when no drastic measures to reduce the effects of global warming will be taken, or they are not effective and low scenario (LS) when very stringent greenhouse control measures will be implemented. (3) Results: The results estimate an increase in temperatures in Romania of up to 2.6 °C in HS and up to 0.4 °C in LS, with an increase in the period of virus replication within the vector from June to October in HS and from May to September in LS. Moreover, in 2022, Ae. albopictus was reported in a new county, where it was not identified at the last monitoring in 2020. (4) Conclusions: The rapid spread of this invasive species and the need to implement monitoring and control programs for the Aedes population in Romania are emphasized.}, }
@article {pmid36668963, year = {2023}, author = {Ng, YL and Lee, WC and Lau, YL and Fong, MY}, title = {The Impact of Geographical Variation in Plasmodium knowlesi Apical Membrane Protein 1 (PkAMA-1) on Invasion Dynamics of P. knowlesi.}, journal = {Tropical medicine and infectious disease}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/tropicalmed8010056}, pmid = {36668963}, issn = {2414-6366}, abstract = {Plasmodium knowlesi has emerged as an important zoonotic parasite that causes persistent symptomatic malaria in humans. The signs and symptoms of malaria are attributed to the blood stages of the parasites, which start from the invasion of erythrocytes by the blood stage merozoites. The apical membrane protein 1 (AMA-1) plays an important role in the invasion. In this study, we constructed and expressed recombinant PkAMA-1 domain II (PkAMA-1-DII) representing the predominant haplotypes from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo and raised specific antibodies against the recombinant proteins in rabbits. Despite the minor amino acid sequence variation, antibodies raised against haplotypes from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo demonstrated different invasion inhibition (46.81% and 39.45%, respectively) to P. knowlesi A1-H.1, a reference strain derived from Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we demonstrated how a minor variation in a conserved parasite protein could cast a significant impact on parasite invasion biology, suggesting a complex host-switching of P. knowlesi from different locations. This may challenge the implementation of a standardized One Health approach against the transmission of knowlesi malaria.}, }
@article {pmid36662213, year = {2023}, author = {Barcellos, L and Pham, CK and Menezes, G and Bettencourt, R and Rocha, N and Carvalho, M and Felgueiras, HP}, title = {A Concise Review on the Potential Applications of Rugulopteryx okamurae Macroalgae.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/md21010040}, pmid = {36662213}, issn = {1660-3397}, abstract = {The brown macroalgae of the species Rugulopteryx okamurae has reached European waters and the Strait of Gibraltar as an invasive species. The proliferation and colonization of the species in subtidal and intertidal zones of these regions imposes significant threats to local ecosystems and additionally represents a significant socioeconomic burden related to the large amounts of biomass accumulated as waste. As a way to minimize the effects caused by the accumulation of algae biomass, investigations have been made to employ this biomass as a raw material in value-added products or technologies. The present review explores the potential uses of R. okamurae, focusing on its impact for biogas production, composting, bioplastic and pharmaceutical purposes, with potential anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and α-glucosity inhibitory activities being highlighted. Overall, this species appears to present many attributes, with remarkable potential for uses in several fields of research and in various industries.}, }
@article {pmid36662178, year = {2022}, author = {Vega, J and Catalá, TS and García-Márquez, J and Speidel, LG and Arijo, S and Cornelius Kunz, N and Geisler, C and Figueroa, FL}, title = {Molecular Diversity and Biochemical Content in Two Invasive Alien Species: Looking for Chemical Similarities and Bioactivities.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/md21010005}, pmid = {36662178}, issn = {1660-3397}, abstract = {The biochemical composition, molecular diversity, and two different bioactivities of Asparagopsis armata and Rugulopteryx okamurae (two alien species with different invasive patterns in the southern Iberian Peninsula) were analyzed through spectrophotometric methods and Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectroscopy (FT-ICR-MS). A total of 3042 molecular formulas were identified from the different extracts. The dH2O extracts were the most molecularly different. A. armata presented the highest content of nitrogenous compounds (proteins, CHON) and sulphur content, whereas R. okamurae was rich in carbonated compounds (total carbon, lipids, CHO, and CHOP). Antioxidant capacity and phenolic content were higher in R. okamurae than in A. armata. Antimicrobial activity was detected from both species. A. armata showed capacity to inhibit human and fish pathogens (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus or Vibrio anguillarum), whereas R. okamurae only showed inhibition against human bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Cutibacterium acnes). In R. okamurae, molecules with a great number of pharmaceutical activities (e.g., anti-inflammatory or antitumoral), antibacterial, biomaterial, and other utilities were found. The main molecules of A. armata had also pharmaceutical applications (e.g., antimalarian, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, or antiarthritis). The valorization of these species can help to counteract the environmental effects of the bioinvasions.}, }
@article {pmid36661987, year = {2023}, author = {de la Hera, O and Alonso, ML and Alonso, RM}, title = {Behaviour of Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) under Controlled Environmental Conditions.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14010059}, pmid = {36661987}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {From its introduction in Europe, Vespa velutina nigrithorax has become an invasive species, since it is a predator of native fruits and insects, most of the latter being honeybees. Despite the knowledge on the life cycle of this hornet, Asian hornet behaviour is not well understood, since in vivo studies on this species are quite difficult to perform. In this work, an observational study of the behaviour of this invasive species in captivity has been carried out. Two secondary and one embryo nests were caught and kept under controlled environmental conditions, up to 13 weeks for the secondary nest and 6 weeks for the embryo nest. Captivity adaptation, defence against perturbations, evolution of the colony and overwintering were the different behaviours studied. The study has shown the importance of avoiding disturbances to the nest from the beginning of the experiments, since they tend to destroy the colony. The aggressive behaviour observed in the embryo nest was lower than in the secondary nests. Results of this research will allow obtaining additional information on this species, which is crucial to develop effective control methods.}, }
@article {pmid36661974, year = {2023}, author = {Di Sora, N and Mannu, R and Rossini, L and Contarini, M and Gallego, D and Speranza, S}, title = {Using Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to Estimate the Suitability of European Mediterranean Non-Native Area for the Establishment of Toumeyella Parvicornis (Hemiptera: Coccidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14010046}, pmid = {36661974}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The pine tortoise scale, Toumeyella parvicornis, is an insect native to the Nearctic region that is able to infest several Pinus species. It can cause weakening, defoliation and, at high infestation levels, tree death. After its first report in Italy in 2015, the pest spread rapidly over the surrounding areas and was reported in France in 2021. Due to the threat that this pest poses to pine trees, the suitability of European Mediterranean basin areas for T. parvicornis at different spatial scales was estimated by constructing species distribution models (SDMs) using bioclimatic variables. Our results showed that several coastal areas of the Mediterranean basin area could be suitable for T. parvicornis. Based on performance assessment, all the SDMs tested provided a good representation of the suitability of European Mediterranean non-native area for T. parvicornis at different spatial scales. In particular, most of the areas with a medium or high level of suitability corresponded to the geographical range of distribution of different Pinus spp. in Europe. Predicting the suitability of European Mediterranean areas for T. parvicornis provides a fundamental tool for early detection and management of the spread of this pest in Europe.}, }
@article {pmid36661971, year = {2022}, author = {Mastore, M and Quadroni, S and Rezzonico, A and Brivio, MF}, title = {The Influence of Daily Temperature Fluctuation on the Efficacy of Bioinsecticides on Spotted Wing Drosophila Larvae.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14010043}, pmid = {36661971}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Global climate change is allowing the invasion of insect pests into new areas without natural competitors and/or predators. The dipteran Drosophila suzukii has invaded both the Americas and Europe, becoming a serious problem for fruit crops. Control methods for this pest are still based on the use of pesticides, but less invasive and more sustainable methods, such as biocontrol, are needed. Variations in environmental conditions can affect the efficacy of bioinsecticides influencing their behavior and physiology besides that of the target insects. In this work, we developed a system that simulates the daily temperature fluctuations (DTFs) detected in the environment, with the aim of studying the influence of temperature on biocontrol processes. We investigated the effects of DTFs on the efficacy of four bioinsecticides. Results showed that DTFs modify the efficacy of some entomopathogens while they are ineffective on others. Specifically, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is the most effective bioinsecticide under all conditions tested, i.e., low DTF (11-22 °C) and high DTF (17-33 °C) compared to constant temperature (25 °C). In contrast, nematodes are more sensitive to changes in temperature: Steinernema carpocapsae loses efficacy at low DTF, while Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis&amp;nbsp;bacteriophora are not effective in controlling the target dipteran. This work provides a basis for reviewing biological control methods against invasive species in the current context of climate change.}, }
@article {pmid36661939, year = {2022}, author = {Wright, C and Helms, AM and Bernal, JS and Grunseich, JM and Medina, RF}, title = {Aphelinus nigritus Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) Preference for Sorghum Aphid, Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald, 1904) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Honeydew Is Stronger in Johnson Grass, Sorghum halepense, Than in Grain Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14010010}, pmid = {36661939}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {How aphid parasitoids of recent invasive species interact with their hosts can affect the feasibility of biological control. In this study, we focus on a recent invasive pest of US grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor, the sorghum aphid (SA), Melanaphis sorghi. Understanding this pest's ecology in the grain sorghum agroecosystem is critical to develop effective control strategies. As parasitoids often use aphid honeydew as a sugar resource, and honeydew is known to mediate parasitoid-aphid interactions, we investigated the ability of SA honeydew to retain the parasitoid Aphelinus nigritus. Since SAs in the US have multiple plant hosts, and host-plant diet can modulate parasitoid retention (a major component in host foraging), we measured SA honeydew sugar, organic acid, and amino acid profiles, then assessed via retention time A. nigritus preference for honeydew produced on grain sorghum or Johnson grass, Sorghum halepense. Compared to a water control, A. nigritus spent more time on SA honeydew produced on either host plant. Despite similar honeydew profiles from both plant species, A. nigritus preferred honeydew produced on Johnson grass. Our results suggest the potential for SA honeydew to facilitate augmentation strategies aimed at maintaining A. nigritus on Johnson grass to suppress SAs before grain sorghum is planted.}, }
@article {pmid36661935, year = {2022}, author = {Rodríguez-Flores, MS and Mazzei, M and Felicioli, A and Diéguez-Antón, A and Seijo, MC}, title = {Emerging Risk of Cross-Species Transmission of Honey Bee Viruses in the Presence of Invasive Vespid Species.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14010006}, pmid = {36661935}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The increase in invasive alien species is a concern for the environment. The establishment of some of these species may be changing the balance between pathogenicity and host factors, which could alter the defense strategies of native host species. Vespid species are among the most successful invasive animals, such as the genera Vespa, Vespula and Polistes. Bee viruses have been extensively studied as an important cause of honey bee population losses. However, knowledge about the transmission of honey bee viruses in Vespids is a relevant and under-researched aspect. The role of some mites such as Varroa in the transmission of honey bee viruses is clearer than in the case of Vespidae. This type of transmission by vectors has not yet been clarified in Vespidae, with interspecific relationships being the main hypotheses accepted for the transmission of bee viruses. A majority of studies describe the presence of viruses or their replicability, but aspects such as the symptomatology in Vespids or the ability to infect other hosts from Vespids are scarcely discussed. Highlighting the case of Vespa velutina as an invader, which is causing huge losses in European beekeeping, is of special interest. The pressure caused by V. velutina leads to weakened hives that become susceptible to pathogens. Gathering this information is necessary to promote further research on the spread of bee viruses in ecosystems invaded by invasive species of Vespids, as well as to prevent the decline of bee populations due to bee viruses.}, }
@article {pmid36661930, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, CH and Qiao, FJ and Lu, Z and Li, CY and Liu, TX and Gao, YL and Zhang, B}, title = {Interspecific Competitions between Frankliniella intonsa and Frankliniella occidentalis on Fresh Lentil Bean Pods and Pepper Plants.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14010001}, pmid = {36661930}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa, IFT) and west flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis, WFT) are often found together on the host plant in China. WFT is an important invasive species that seems to outcompete the native IFT. In order to clarify the interspecific competitions between the two thrips, this study measured the population development of IFT and WFT under sexual and parthenogenetic reproductive modes on two hosts (fresh lentil bean pods with/without honey and pepper plants at seedling/flowering stages) in the laboratory.<br><br>RESULTS: When reared on fresh lentil bean pods (with/without honey), WFT population size was lower in mixed species populations compared to single species populations but the presence of WFT had nor negative effect on IFT population size. These results were dependent of the reproductive mode. When honey was supplied, the ratio of female-to-male in the progeny of WFT produced under sexual reproductive mode increased significantly in the presence of IFT. On pepper seedlings, mixed populations were more favorable to the population development of IFT at the seedling stage, but more favorable to WFT at the flowering stage.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In the early stage of WFT invasion and colonization, the emergence of flowering and honey (nectar) sources may have a positive effect on the population development of WFT.}, }
@article {pmid36661083, year = {2023}, author = {Philippe-Lesaffre, M and Thibault, M and Caut, S and Bourgeois, K and Berr, T and Ravache, A and Vidal, E and Courchamp, F and Bonnaud, E}, title = {Recovery of insular seabird populations years after rodent eradication.}, journal = {Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/cobi.14042}, pmid = {36661083}, issn = {1523-1739}, abstract = {Seabirds have been particularly affected by invasive alien species (IAS), which has led to the implementation of numerous eradication campaigns for the conservation of these keystone and highly vulnerable species. Although the benefits of IAS eradications for seabird conservation have been demonstrated, the recovery kinetics of different seabird populations on islands after eradication remains poorly evaluated. Here we present the results of an original long-term monitoring of the number of breeding pairs of seven seabird species on a small atoll, Surprise Island, New Caledonia (southwestern tropical Pacific). This long-term monitoring consists in a yearly core survey of the marine avifauna of the island conducted from 4 years before to 4 years after rodent eradication (conducted in 2005) combined with multiple one-time surveys from ∼10 years before and ∼15 years after eradication. This study was designed to evaluate how different seabird species responded to the eradication of invasive rodents in an insular environment. We found that three species responded positively to eradication with differences in lag-timing and sensitivity. The number of breeding pairs increased for two species in the four year post eradication due to immigration while one species showed a longer response time with an increase in pairs more than 10 years after eradication. Furthermore, we showed that long-term sampling is necessary to observe the responses of the seabird populations on the island. Our study confirms the positive effects of IAS eradication on seabirds and emphasizes both the importance of mid/long-term pre- and post-eradication surveys to decipher the mechanisms of seabird recovery and confirm the benefits of eradication for conservation purposes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36660794, year = {2023}, author = {Pretorius, I and Schou, WC and Richardson, B and Ross, SD and Withers, TM and Schmale, DG and Strand, TM}, title = {In the wind: Invasive species travel along predictable atmospheric pathways.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2806}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2806}, pmid = {36660794}, issn = {1051-0761}, abstract = {Invasive species such as insects, pathogens and weeds reaching new environments by travelling with the wind, represents unquantified and difficult-to-manage biosecurity threats to human, animal, and plant health in managed and natural ecosystems. Despite the importance of these invasion events, their complexity is reflected by the lack of tools to predict them. Here, we provide the first known evidence showing that the long-distance aerial dispersal of invasive insects and wildfire smoke, a potential carrier of invasive species, is driven by atmospheric pathways known as Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS). An aerobiological modelling system combining LCS modelling with species biology and atmospheric survival has the potential to transform the understanding and prediction of atmospheric invasions. The proposed modelling system run in forecast or hindcast modes can inform high-risk invasion events and invasion source locations, making it possible to locate them early, improving the chances of eradication success. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, }
@article {pmid36658159, year = {2023}, author = {Ladin, ZS and Eggen, DA and Trammell, TLE and D'Amico, V}, title = {Human-mediated dispersal drives the spread of the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {1098}, pmid = {36658159}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a novel invasive insect from Asia now established and spreading throughout the United States. This species is of particular concern given its ability to decimate important crops such as grapes, fruit trees, as well as native hardwood trees. Since its initial detection in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014, spotted lanternfly infestations have been detected in 130 counties (87 under quarantine) within Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Compounding this invasion is the associated proliferation and widespread distribution of the spotted lanternfly's preferred host plant, the tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). While alternate host plant species have been observed, the tree-of-heaven which thrives in disturbed and human-dominated areas (e.g., along roads and railways) is likely facilitating the population growth rates of spotted lanternfly. We simulated the population and spread dynamics of the spotted lanternfly throughout the mid-Atlantic USA to help determine areas of risk and inform continued monitoring and control efforts. We tested the prediction that spotted lanternfly spread is driven by human-mediated dispersal using agent-based models that incorporated information on its life-history traits, habitat suitability, and movement and natural dispersal behavior. Overwhelmingly, our results suggest that human-mediated dispersal (e.g., cars, trucks, and trains) is driving the observed spread dynamics and distribution of the spotted lanternfly throughout the eastern USA. Our findings should encourage future surveys to focus on human-mediated dispersal of egg masses and adult spotted lanternflies (e.g., attachment to car or transported substrates) to better monitor and control this economically and ecologically important invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid36657068, year = {2023}, author = {Fazekas, S and Livoti, D and Reeves, L}, title = {FIRST RECORDS OF AEDEOMYIA SQUAMIPENNIS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, USA.}, journal = {Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2987/22-7097}, pmid = {36657068}, issn = {1943-6270}, abstract = {Continuous surveillance, trained personnel, and coordination with other agencies are critical elements of effective nuisance and vector mosquito control. Palm Beach County Mosquito Control, FL, has used routine surveillance to make control decisions and note changes in mosquito populations since the 1940s. In the fall and winter of 2021-2022, Palm Beach County Mosquito Control's surveillance program detected the presence of Aedeomyia squamipennis. This represented the first collection of specimens of Ad. squamipennis in Palm Beach County and the second finding of this species beyond the initial site of detection in Miami-Dade County, FL. Identity was confirmed by morphology and DNA sequencing. Sequenced Ad. squamipennis specimens collected in Palm Beach County were identical (100% sequence similarity) to specimens collected and sequenced from Homestead, Miami-Dade County in 2016. It is suspected that Ad. squamipennis has expanded its range northward from Miami-Dade County into Palm Beach County, a distance of approximately 140 km.}, }
@article {pmid36654525, year = {2023}, author = {Gugliuzzo, A and Giuliano, G and Rizzo, R and Tropea Garzia, G and Biondi, A}, title = {Lethal and sublethal effects of synthetic and bioinsecticides toward the invasive ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7365}, pmid = {36654525}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Exotic ambrosia beetles are emerging widespread pests of several wild and managed trees and shrubs. Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) is one of the most invasive species causing damage to a broad range of host plants. Little information is available on its control including the impact of insecticides. Bioassays were conducted for evaluating the potential of four bioinsecticides and seven synthetic insecticides in controlling X. compactus. The beetle mortality and the sublethal effects on tunneling, cultivation of the mutualist fungus and reproduction were assessed.<br><br>RESULTS: Concentration-mortality curves were determined for all tested insecticides. Lambda-cyhalothrin was the most toxic insecticide showing the lowest estimated lethal concentrations (LC90 and LC50), followed by deltamethrin and thiamethoxam. Acetamiprid caused the highest levels of mortality and brood size reduction under extended laboratory conditions. Moreover, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam and lambda-cyhalothrin caused the highest mortalities and, together with deltamethrin, strongly affected the progeny occurrence inside infested galleries and the beetle brood size. Among bioinsecticides, pyrethrins significantly affected the beetle survival under laboratory conditions, but not the brood size in extended laboratory bioassays. Some of the tested insecticides caused significant lethal and sublethal effects only when beetles were exposed to fresher residues, highlighting differences in the toxicity persistence.<br><br>CONCLUSION: This study provides first baseline toxicity data of synthetic insecticides and bioinsecticides with different Modes of Action and origin toward X. compactus and the first evidence that several insecticides can cause multiple sublethal effects to this pest. These findings can help building suitable Integrated Pest Management packages against this pest.}, }
@article {pmid36653974, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, X and Xiao, X and Zhang, X and Wu, J and Li, B}, title = {Rapid and large changes in coastal wetland structure in China's four major river deltas.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.16583}, pmid = {36653974}, issn = {1365-2486}, abstract = {Coastal wetlands provide essential ecosystem goods and services but are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise, extreme climate, and human activities, especially the coastal wetlands in large river deltas, which are regarded as "natural recorders" of changes in estuarine environments. In addition to the area (loss or gain) and quality (degradation or improvement) of coastal wetlands, the information on coastal wetland structure (e.g., patch size and number) are also major metrics for coastal restoration and biodiversity protection, but remain very limited in China's four major river deltas. In this study, we quantified the spatial-temporal dynamics of total area (TA) and patch number (PN) of coastal wetlands with different sizes in the four deltas and the protected areas (PAs) and assessed the effects of major driving factors during 1984-2020. We also investigated the effectiveness of PAs through the comparison of TA and PN of coastal wetlands before and after the years in which PAs were listed as Ramsar Sites. We found both TA and PN experienced substantial losses in the Liaohe River Delta and Yellow River Delta but recent recoveries in the Yangtze River Delta. The coastal wetlands had a relatively stable and variable trend in TA but had a continually increasing trend in PN in the Pearl River Delta. Furthermore, reduced coastal reclamation, ecological restoration projects, and rapid expansion of invasive plants had great impacts on the coastal wetland structure in various ways. We also found that PAs were effective in halting the decreasing trends in coastal wetland areas and slowing the expansion of reclamation, but the success of PAs is being counteracted by soaring exotic plant invasions. Our findings provide vital information for the government and the public to address increasing challenges of coastal restoration, management, and sustainability in large river deltas.}, }
@article {pmid36526186, year = {2023}, author = {Nie, S and Mo, S and Gao, T and Yan, B and Shen, P and Kashif, M and Zhang, Z and Li, J and Jiang, C}, title = {Coupling effects of nitrate reduction and sulfur oxidation in a subtropical marine mangrove ecosystem with Spartina alterniflora invasion.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {862}, number = {}, pages = {160930}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160930}, pmid = {36526186}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Wetlands ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Introduced Species ; Poaceae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Sulfur/metabolism ; China ; }, abstract = {The mangrove ecosystem has a high nitrate reduction capacity, which significantly alleviates severe nitrogen pollution. However, current research on nitrate reduction mechanisms in the mangrove ecosystem is limited. Furthermore, Spartina alterniflora invasion has disrupted the balance of the mangrove ecosystem and the effect of S. alterniflora on nitrate reduction has not yet been fully elucidated. Nitrate reduction was comprehensively investigated in a subtropical mangrove ecosystem in this study, which has been invaded by S. alterniflora for 40 years. Results showed that S. alterniflora significantly increased the relative and absolute abundance of nitrate reduction genes, especially nirS (nitrite reductase), in the mangrove ecosystem. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium was the main pathway of nitrate reduction in the mangrove ecosystem. Nitrate reduction was mainly performed by Desulfobacterales and occurred in the shallow layers (0-10 cm) of mangrove sediments. A strong positive correlation was found between nitrate reduction and sulfur oxidation (especially sulfide oxidation), and the sulfide content was significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance of nitrate reduction genes. Moreover, 207 metagenomic assembled genomes (MAGs) were constructed, including 50 MAGs with high numbers (≥ 10) of nitrate reduction genes. This finding indicates that the dominant microbes had strong nitrate reduction potential in mangrove sediments. Our findings highlight the impact of S. alterniflora invasion on nitrate reduction in a subtropical marine mangrove ecosystem. This study provides new insights into our understanding of nitrogen pollution control and contributes to the exploration of new nitrogen-degrading microbes in mangrove ecosystems.}, }
@article {pmid36502977, year = {2023}, author = {Haoxiang, Z and Xiaoqing, X and Nianwan, Y and Yongjun, Z and Hui, L and Fanghao, W and Jianyang, G and Wanxue, L}, title = {Insights from the biogeographic approach for biocontrol of invasive alien pests: Estimating the ecological niche overlap of three egg parasitoids against Spodoptera frugiperda in China.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {862}, number = {}, pages = {160785}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160785}, pmid = {36502977}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Spodoptera ; Introduced Species ; *Moths ; *Hymenoptera ; Ecosystem ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {Spodoptera frugiperda, the fall armyworm, causes major damage to maize and >80 other crops worldwide. Since S. frugiperda successfully invaded China in 2018 via long-distance migration from Myanmar, it has caused major maize yield losses and posed a severe threat to maize production and food security. The biocontrol approach for S. frugiperda using natural enemies is environmentally safe and effective. Estimating the potential suitable area (PSA) for S. frugiperda and its natural enemies can provide insights for its biocontrol and management. Therefore, based on the global distribution records and bioclimatic variables, we modeled the PSA of S. frugiperda and three egg parasitoids in China using an ensemble model (EM). We found that the prediction results of the EM were more reliable than those of a single model. The PSAs of S. frugiperda and its three egg parasitoids were mainly attributed to temperature variables. The PSA of S. frugiperda was divided into migratory and overwintering areas using the mean January 10 °C isotherm from 2018 to 2022. In the overwintering area, Trichogramma chilonis had the largest PSA overlap with S. frugiperda (94.57 %), followed by Telenomus remus (68.64 %) and Trichogramma dendrolimi (67.53 %). Telenomus remus and Tr. chilonis were the most effective egg parasitoids against S. frugiperda in the overwintering area. In the migratory area, Tr. chilonis had the largest PSA overlap with S. frugiperda (91.36 %), followed by Tr. dendrolimi (81.70 %) and Te. remus (15.23 %). Trichogramma dendrolimi would be the most effective egg parasitoid against S. frugiperda in the Yangtze River Basin and northeastern China. Trichogramma chilonis was the most effective egg parasitoid against S. frugiperda in central China. Our findings indicate that the three native egg parasitoids would be "good regulators" of S. frugiperda outbreaks in China.}, }
@article {pmid36651032, year = {2023}, author = {Godfrey, EJ and Cameron, EZ and Hickling, GJ}, title = {Social learning in a nocturnal marsupial: is it a possum-ability?.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {20220460}, doi = {10.1098/rsbl.2022.0460}, pmid = {36651032}, issn = {1744-957X}, abstract = {Social learning can reduce the costs associated with trial-and-error learning. There is speculation that social learning could contribute to trap and bait avoidance in invasive species like the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)-a marsupial for which social learning has not previously been investigated. In large outdoor pens, we presented wild-caught 'demonstrator' possums with puzzle devices containing an attractive food reward; 2 of 8 demonstrators accessed the reward the first night the puzzle was presented and another three succeeded on later nights. Meanwhile, 'observer' possums in adjacent pens watched the demonstrators for five nights and then were given the opportunity to solve the puzzle themselves; 15 of 15 succeeded on their first night (a highly significant improvement). This experiment thus provides strong evidence of social learning by common brushtail possums. Future research should investigate whether information about aversive stimuli (such as traps and toxic baits) can similarly be transmitted between possums by social learning; if so, this could have important implications for possum pest control.}, }
@article {pmid36651030, year = {2023}, author = {Dobelmann, J and Felden, A and Lester, PJ}, title = {An invasive ant increases deformed wing virus loads in honey bees.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {20220416}, doi = {10.1098/rsbl.2022.0416}, pmid = {36651030}, issn = {1744-957X}, abstract = {The majority of invasive species are best known for their effects as predators. However, many introduced predators may also be substantial reservoirs for pathogens. Honey bee-associated viruses are found in various arthropod species including invasive ants. We examined how the globally invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), which can reach high densities and infest beehives, is associated with pathogen dynamics in honey bees. Viral loads of deformed wing virus (DWV), which has been linked to millions of beehive deaths around the globe, and black queen cell virus significantly increased in bees when invasive ants were present. Microsporidian and trypanosomatid infections, which are more bee-specific, were not affected by ant invasion. The bee virome in autumn revealed that DWV was the predominant virus with the highest infection levels and that no ant-associated viruses were infecting bees. Viral spillback from ants could increase infections in bees. In addition, ant attacks could pose a significant stressor to bee colonies that may affect virus susceptibility. These viral dynamics are a hidden effect of ant pests, which could have a significant impact on disease emergence in this economically important pollinator. Our study highlights a perhaps overlooked effect of species invasions: changes in pathogen dynamics.}, }
@article {pmid36650141, year = {2023}, author = {Street, SE and Gutiérrez, JS and Allen, WL and Capellini, I}, title = {Human activities favour prolific life histories in both traded and introduced vertebrates.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {262}, pmid = {36650141}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Species' life histories determine population demographics and thus the probability that introduced populations establish and spread. Life histories also influence which species are most likely to be introduced, but how such 'introduction biases' arise remains unclear. Here, we investigate how life histories affect the probability of trade and introduction in phylogenetic comparative analyses across three vertebrate classes: mammals, reptiles and amphibians. We find that traded species have relatively high reproductive rates and long reproductive lifespans. Within traded species, introduced species have a more extreme version of this same life history profile. Species in the pet trade also have long reproductive lifespans but lack 'fast' traits, likely reflecting demand for rare species which tend to have slow life histories. We identify multiple species not yet traded or introduced but with life histories indicative of high risk of future trade, introduction and potentially invasion. Our findings suggest that species with high invasion potential are favoured in the wildlife trade and therefore that trade regulation is crucial for preventing future invasions.}, }
@article {pmid36649804, year = {2023}, author = {Cêtre-Sossah, C and Lebon, C and Rabarison, P and Cardinale, E and Mavingui, P and Atyame, C}, title = {Evidence of Eretmapodites subsimplicipes and Aedes albopictus as competent vectors for Rift Valley fever virus transmission in Mayotte.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {106835}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106835}, pmid = {36649804}, issn = {1873-6254}, abstract = {Rift Valley fever (RVF) recently re-emerged in Mayotte. We described, for the first time, that the mosquito species Eretmapodites subsimplicipes, a highly abundant species in Mayotte, is a competent vector for the transmission of RVF virus using three distinct populations native to Mayotte. We also showed that Aedes albopictus specimens are able to transmit RVF virus (RVFV) as previously observed in mosquito populations of other countries emphasizing the need of the increase vigilance for this highly invasive species of global distribution. Altogether, these results underline the epidemiological importance of both species for RVFV transmission in Mayotte and contribute to better understand the RVF epidemiological cycle and help to implement efficient prevention measures.}, }
@article {pmid36635481, year = {2023}, author = {Rane, R and Walsh, TK and Lenancker, P and Gock, A and Dao, TH and Nguyen, VL and Khin, TN and Amalin, D and Chittarath, K and Faheem, M and Annamalai, S and Thanarajoo, SS and Trisyono, YA and Khay, S and Kim, J and Kuniata, L and Powell, K and Kalyebi, A and Otim, MH and Nam, K and d'Alençon, E and Gordon, KHJ and Tay, WT}, title = {Complex multiple introductions drive fall armyworm invasions into Asia and Australia.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {660}, pmid = {36635481}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Asia ; Australia ; *Commerce ; Genetic Markers ; *Spodoptera/genetics ; Genetics, Population ; Gene Flow ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Introduced Species ; }, abstract = {The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda is thought to have undergone a rapid 'west-to-east' spread since 2016 when it was first identified in western Africa. Between 2018 and 2020, it was recorded from South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA), East Asia (EA), and Pacific/Australia (PA). Population genomic analyses enabled the understanding of pathways, population sources, and gene flow in this notorious agricultural pest species. Using neutral single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) DNA markers, we detected genome introgression that suggested most populations in this study were overwhelmingly C- and R-strain hybrids (n = 252/262). SNP and mitochondrial DNA markers identified multiple introductions that were most parsimoniously explained by anthropogenic-assisted spread, i.e., associated with international trade of live/fresh plants and plant products, and involved 'bridgehead populations' in countries to enable successful pest establishment in neighbouring countries. Distinct population genomic signatures between Myanmar and China do not support the 'African origin spread' nor the 'Myanmar source population to China' hypotheses. Significant genetic differentiation between populations from different Australian states supported multiple pathways involving distinct SEA populations. Our study identified Asia as a biosecurity hotspot and a FAW genetic melting pot, and demonstrated the use of genome analysis to disentangle preventable human-assisted pest introductions from unpreventable natural pest spread.}, }
@article {pmid36645469, year = {2023}, author = {Schneider, I and Rannow, B and Gupta, A and Russell, M and Windmuller-Campione, M}, title = {What Really Works? Testing Augmented and Virtual Reality Messaging in Terrestrial Invasive Species Management Communications to Impact Visitor Preferences and Deter Visitor Displacement.}, journal = {Environmental management}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36645469}, issn = {1432-1009}, abstract = {Natural resource management is rapidly shifting to incorporate a deeper understanding of ecological processes and functioning, including attention to invasive species. The shift to understand public perceptions of resource management and invasives is much slower. Information influences both landscape preference and behaviors. Theory suggests that increasingly engaging information should have concurrently greater impacts. This research tested the effect of increasingly engaging information on visitor preferences and intentions to return to landscapes treated in response to emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis). Park visitors in a midwestern-U.S. state randomly received one of four messages about forest management in response to EAB (control, photo, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)). Messaging impacted preferences for three of the four management approaches, but significant changes in displacement intentions emerged in only one of the four. Specifically, VR and AR increased preferences for complete harvest compared to photos/text, but not differently from those who received no information. VR significantly lowered preferences for select harvest with natural regeneration. The photo/text treatment increased preference for select harvest with planted trees over no information. Any information reduced displacement in response to a photo depicting "select harvest, planted trees." Subsequently judicious use of advanced communications like VR can optimize increasing scarce resources and maintain or optimize ecological services. Future research directions across geographic and content areas are recommended.}, }
@article {pmid36643651, year = {2023}, author = {Collado, GA and Salvador, RB and Vidal, M and Parra Aravena, F and Delgado, V and Torres-Díaz, C}, title = {Distribution, conservation status and proposed measures for preservation of Radiodiscus microgastropods in Chile.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14027}, pmid = {36643651}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The genus Radiodiscus includes minute terrestrial snails occurring throughout the American continent. We assessed the conservation status of eight poorly known Chilean Radiodiscus species using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and NatureServe categories and criteria. Under the IUCN guidelines the species were assessed using the Criterion B of geographic range, which considers the extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) as subcriteria. For NatureServe we used these two parameters plus the number of occurrences, ecological viability, and threats. Considering species rarity and possible sampling bias, we also used ecological niche modeling to determine climate and environmental tolerances and predict potential species distributions analyzing bioclimatic and geographical layers. Radiodiscus australis, R. coarctatus and R. quillajicola were listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN and NatureServe standards; R. coppingeri, R. flammulatus, R. magellanicus and R. villarricensis as Endangered by both methods; while R. riochicoensis as Endangered by IUCN standards and Vulnerable by NatureServe standards. Niche modeling results indicated that Radiodiscus species respond to different environmental conditions and that the predicted distribution areas contain suitable habitats beyond the current ranges, which may be helpful for future management plans. Nature-based sport tourism, forestry activities, urbanization, roads, pollution, mining, forest fires, livestock, volcanism, tsunamis, soil erosion and introduced species are among the major threats affecting these snails. Based on the low number of occurrences and the threats identified, the most at-risk species are R. coarctatus and R. quillajicola (one record), R. australis (two records) and R. villarricensis (three records); the latter two lacking occurrences within protected areas. Compiling our findings, we propose a list of actions to preserve Chilean Radiodiscus species.}, }
@article {pmid35919404, year = {2022}, author = {Kraaij, T and Msweli, ST and Potts, AJ}, title = {Fuel trait effects on flammability of native and invasive alien shrubs in coastal fynbos and thicket (Cape Floristic Region).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13765}, pmid = {35919404}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Fires ; Plants ; Biomass ; Temperature ; Introduced Species ; *Burns ; }, abstract = {In June 2017, extreme fires along the southern Cape coast of South Africa burnt native fynbos and thicket vegetation and caused extensive damage to plantations and residential properties. Invasive alien plants (IAPs) occur commonly in the area and were thought to have changed the behaviour of these fires through their modification of fuel properties relative to that of native vegetation. This study experimentally compared various measures of flammability across groups of native and alien invasive shrub species in relation to their fuel traits. Live plant shoots of 30 species (10 species each of native fynbos, native thicket, and IAPs) were sampled to measure live fuel moisture, dry biomass, fuel bed porosity and the proportions of fine-, coarse- and dead fuels. These shoots were burnt experimentally, and flammability measured in terms of maximum temperature (combustibility), completeness of burn (consumability), and time-to-ignition (ignitability). Multiple regression models were used to assess the relationships between flammability responses and fuel traits, while the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to establish if differences existed in flammability measures and fuel traits among the vegetation groups. Dry biomass significantly enhanced, while live fuel moisture significantly reduced, maximum temperature, whereas the proportion of fine fuels significantly increased completeness of burn. Unlike other similar studies, the proportion of dead fuels and fuel bed porosity were not retained by any of the models to account for variation in flammability. Species of fynbos and IAPs generally exhibited greater flammability in the form of higher completeness of burn and more rapid ignition than species of thicket. Little distinction in flammability and fuel traits could be made between species of fynbos and IAPs, except that fynbos species had a greater proportion of fine fuels. Thicket species had higher proportions of coarse fuels and greater dry biomass (~fuel loading) than species of fynbos and IAPs. Live fuel moisture did not differ among the vegetation groups, contrary to the literature often ascribing variation in flammability to fuel moisture differences. The fuel traits investigated only explained 21-53% of the variation in flammability and large variation was evident among species within vegetation groups suggesting that species-specific and in situ community-level investigations are warranted, particularly in regard fuel moisture and chemical contents.}, }
@article {pmid36641462, year = {2023}, author = {Filip, T and Michal, &#x160; and Radoslava, J and Ivan, B and Michal, A and Lucia, Z and Gyözö, H}, title = {The impact of the striped field mouse's range expansion on communities of native small mammals.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {753}, pmid = {36641462}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Understanding species expansion as an element of the dispersal process is crucial to gaining a better comprehension of the functioning of the populations and the communities. Populations of the same species that are native in one area could be considered nonindigenous, naturalised or invasive somewhere else. The striped field mouse has been expanding its range in south-western Slovakia since 2010, although the origin of the spread has still not been clarified. In light of the striped field mouse's life history, the recent range expansion is considered to be the expansion of a native species. This study analyses the impact of the striped field mouse's expansion on the native population and small mammal communities and confronts the documented stages of striped field mouse expansion with the stages of invasion biology. Our research replicates the design and compares results from past research of small mammals prior to this expansion at the same three study areas with the same 20 study sites and control sites. Several years after expansion, the striped field mouse has a 100% frequency of occurrence in all study sites and has become the dominant species in two of the study areas. The native community is significantly affected by the striped field mouse's increasing dominance, specifically: (i) we found a re-ordering of the species rank, mainly in areas with higher dominance, and (ii) an initial positive impact on diversity and evenness during low dominance of the striped field mouse turned markedly negative after crossing the 25% dominance threshold. Results suggested that the variation in the striped field mouse's dominance is affected by the northern direction of its spread. Our findings show that establishment in a new area, spread and impact on the native community are stages possibly shared by both invasive and native species during their range expansion.}, }
@article {pmid36635782, year = {2023}, author = {Holcomb, KM and Mathis, S and Staples, JE and Fischer, M and Barker, CM and Beard, CB and Nett, RJ and Keyel, AC and Marcantonio, M and Childs, ML and Gorris, ME and Rochlin, I and Hamins-Puértolas, M and Ray, EL and Uelmen, JA and DeFelice, N and Freedman, AS and Hollingsworth, BD and Das, P and Osthus, D and Humphreys, JM and Nova, N and Mordecai, EA and Cohnstaedt, LW and Kirk, D and Kramer, LD and Harris, MJ and Kain, MP and Reed, EMX and Johansson, MA}, title = {Evaluation of an open forecasting challenge to assess skill of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease prediction.}, journal = {Parasites &amp; vectors}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {11}, pmid = {36635782}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {Cooperative Agreement 1U01CK000516/CC/CDC HHS/United States ; Cooperative Agreement 1U01CK000509-01/CC/CDC HHS/United States ; R35GM133439/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; DEB-2011147/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the continental USA. WNV occurrence has high spatiotemporal variation, and current approaches to targeted control of the virus are limited, making forecasting a public health priority. However, little research has been done to compare strengths and weaknesses of WNV disease forecasting approaches on the national scale. We used forecasts submitted to the 2020 WNV Forecasting Challenge, an open challenge organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to assess the status of WNV neuroinvasive disease (WNND) prediction and identify avenues for improvement.<br><br>METHODS: We performed a multi-model comparative assessment of probabilistic forecasts submitted by 15 teams for annual WNND cases in US counties for 2020 and assessed forecast accuracy, calibration, and discriminatory power. In the evaluation, we included forecasts produced by comparison models of varying complexity as benchmarks of forecast performance. We also used regression analysis to identify modeling approaches and contextual factors that were associated with forecast skill.<br><br>RESULTS: Simple models based on historical WNND cases generally scored better than more complex models and combined higher discriminatory power with better calibration of uncertainty. Forecast skill improved across updated forecast submissions submitted during the 2020 season. Among models using additional data, inclusion of climate or human demographic data was associated with higher skill, while inclusion of mosquito or land use data was associated with lower skill. We also identified population size, extreme minimum winter temperature, and interannual variation in WNND cases as county-level characteristics associated with variation in forecast skill.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Historical WNND cases were strong predictors of future cases with minimal increase in skill achieved by models that included other factors. Although opportunities might exist to specifically improve predictions for areas with large populations and low or high winter temperatures, areas with high case-count variability are intrinsically more difficult to predict. Also, the prediction of outbreaks, which are outliers relative to typical case numbers, remains difficult. Further improvements to prediction could be obtained with improved calibration of forecast uncertainty and access to real-time data streams (e.g. current weather and preliminary human cases).}, }
@article {pmid36635483, year = {2023}, author = {Taszakowski, A and Masłowski, A and Daane, KM and Brożek, J}, title = {Closer view of antennal sensory organs of two Leptoglossus species (Insecta, Hemiptera, Coreidae).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {617}, pmid = {36635483}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Detailed description of antennal sensory organs of Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae) and a comparison with L. zonatus (Dallas, 1852) are presented. A novel approach that combines the advantages of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to detail micromorphological structures. A simplified classification system for sensilla that eliminates the subjective aspects of morphology, such as their shape, is proposed. Fourteen sensory organs have been classified into three main groups: (a) aporous sensilla with a flexible socket, (b) porous sensilla with a flexible socket and (c) porous sensilla with an inflexible socket. A large variety of sensory organs (nine types) with olfactory functions are described. The antennal sensory organs have been recognized as one of the factors responsible for the evolutionary success of Leptoglossus spp. and their status as important pests and invasive species.}, }
@article {pmid36635341, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Li, JT and Xu, X and Chen, HY and Zhu, T and Xu, JJ and Xu, XN and Li, JQ and Liang, C and Li, B and Fang, CM and Nie, M}, title = {Temperature fluctuation promotes the thermal adaptation of soil microbial respiration.}, journal = {Nature ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36635341}, issn = {2397-334X}, abstract = {The magnitude of the feedback between soil microbial respiration and increased mean temperature may decrease (a process called thermal adaptation) or increase over time, and accurately representing this feedback in models improves predictions of soil carbon loss rates. However, climate change entails changes not only in mean temperature but also in temperature fluctuation, and how this fluctuation regulates the thermal response of microbial respiration has never been systematically evaluated. By analysing subtropical forest soils from a 2,000 km transect across China, we showed that although a positive relationship between soil microbial biomass-specific respiration and temperature was observed under increased constant incubation temperature, an increasing temperature fluctuation had a stronger negative effect. Our results further indicated that changes in bacterial community composition and reduced activities of carbon degradation enzymes promoted the effect of temperature fluctuation. This adaptive response of soil microbial respiration suggests that climate warming may have a lesser exacerbating effect on atmospheric CO2 concentrations than predicted.}, }
@article {pmid36634536, year = {2023}, author = {Ben-Haddad, M and Abelouah, MR and Hajji, S and Rangel-Buitrago, N and Alla, AA}, title = {The halophyte Cakile maritima Scop. 1772 as a trap of plastic litter on the Moroccan coast.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {187}, number = {}, pages = {114574}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114574}, pmid = {36634536}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {Some plant communities of coastal dunes may affect the magnitude and distribution of litter on the ecosystem. In this study, the aim is to assess the aptitude of the halophyte Cakile maritima Scop. 1772 to be a trap and sink of plastic litter on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. Overall, a significant difference was noted between plastic litter trapped in C. maritima patches (1173 items) and control plots (502 items). Food containers and ropes were the most common trapped items. Shoreline and recreational activities, followed by dumping and ocean/waterway activities are the main sources of the trapped plastic items. The findings suggest the expansion of the cleaning operations to include coastal dunes, the need to change behavior among beachgoers in regard to food plastics disposal, as well the control of C. maritima distribution in the study area, and similar plant species in other regions.}, }
@article {pmid36629665, year = {2023}, author = {Carrera-Játiva, PD and Torres, C and Figueroa-Sandoval, F and Beltrami, E and Verdugo, C and Landaeta-Aqueveque, C and Acosta-Jamett, G}, title = {Gastrointestinal parasites in wild rodents in Chiloé Island-Chile.}, journal = {Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {e017022}, doi = {10.1590/S1984-29612023002}, pmid = {36629665}, issn = {1984-2961}, abstract = {Gastrointestinal parasites are well-documented in small mammals from north-central Chile, but little is known about endoparasites of rodents in southern Chile. A survey was conducted between January and February 2018 to evaluate gastrointestinal parasites and risk factors of wild rodents that live in rural areas in Northern Chiloé Island, Chile. A total of 174 fecal samples from rodents of six native and one introduced species were collected and examined using the Mini-FLOTAC method. Also, 41 individuals of four native wild rodent species were examined furtherly to determinate adult parasites from gastrointestinal tracts. The overall prevalence of endoparasites was 89.65% (156). Helminth egg types included: Rodentolepis spp., Capillariidae, Trichuris sp., Syphacia sp., oxyurid-type eggs, Strongyloides sp., Spirurid-type eggs, Strongilid-type eggs, Moniliformis sp., and an unidentified nematode egg and larvae. Protozoa comprised coccidia, amoeba, and unidentified cysts. From necropsies, adult parasites involved Syphacia sp. Trichuris sp., Protospirura sp. and Physaloptera sp. In Abrothrix olivacea, individuals with low-body-mass index exhibited reduced infection probability for Spirurid-type and Strongilid-type eggs. Some parasites in this study may affect human health. In rural settings where environmental conditions are changing, more research should be undertaken to understand parasitic infections in wildlife and implications for public health and conservation.}, }
@article {pmid36629100, year = {2023}, author = {Santana-Garcon, J and Bennett, S and Marbà, N and Vergés, A and Arthur, R and Alcoverro, T}, title = {Tropicalization shifts herbivore pressure from seagrass to rocky reef communities.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {1990}, pages = {20221744}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2022.1744}, pmid = {36629100}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {Climate-driven species redistributions are reshuffling the composition of marine ecosystems. How these changes alter ecosystem functions, however, remains poorly understood. Here we examine how impacts of herbivory change across a gradient of tropicalization in the Mediterranean Sea, which includes a steep climatic gradient and marked changes in plant nutritional quality and fish herbivore composition. We quantified individual feeding rates and behaviour of 755 fishes of the native Sarpa salpa, and non-native Siganus rivulatus and Siganus luridus. We measured herbivore and benthic assemblage composition across 20 sites along the gradient, spanning 30° of longitude and 8° of latitude. We coupled patterns in behaviour and composition with temperature measurements and nutrient concentrations to assess changes in herbivory under tropicalization. We found a transition in ecological impacts by fish herbivory across the Mediterranean from a predominance of seagrass herbivory in the west to a dominance of macroalgal herbivory in the east. Underlying this shift were changes in both individual feeding behaviour (i.e. food choice) and fish assemblage composition. The shift in feeding selectivity was consistent among temperate and warm-affiliated herbivores. Our findings suggest herbivory can contribute to the increased vulnerability of seaweed communities and reduced vulnerability of seagrass meadows in tropicalized ecosystems.}, }
@article {pmid36626996, year = {2023}, author = {Pandey, HP and Aryal, K and Aryal, S and Maraseni, TN}, title = {Understanding local ecosystem dynamics in three provinces of the lowlands of Nepal.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {161501}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161501}, pmid = {36626996}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Incidences of failure of sustainable ecosystem management policies, especially in the developing world are partly attributable due to a lack of political will and inadequate understanding of ecosystem dynamics (ED) at the local levels. In this study, we endeavor to comprehend the dynamics of two ecosystems - forest and agriculture - by employing a resource-friendly participatory approach based on stake-taking the experiences of indigenous and forest-dependent local stakeholders in three lowland provinces of Nepal and is guided by the theory of socio-ecological concept. An in-depth survey (n = 136) was conducted using semi-structured questionnaires, key informant interviews (n = 9), and focus group discussions (n = 4) for data generation, and generalized linear models were used to test whether understanding of ED is uniform across the socio-ecological landscape. We identified that various attributes of forests and agricultural ecosystems have altered substantially earlier than 30 years (hereafter, earlier decade) relative to the present (hereafter, later decade). Apart from the natural processes including anthropogenic and climatic factors, technological innovations played a significant role in altering ecosystems in the later decade. Understanding of ED among forest-dependent stakeholders significantly varied with respect to gender, occupation, age group, gender-based water fetching responsibility, and water-fetching duration, however, no significant correlation was observed with their level of education across the landscape. The studied ecosystem attributes significantly correlate with water regime changes, signifying that water-centric ecosystem management is crucial. The attributes that observed significant dynamics in the forest ecosystem include changes in forest cover, structure and species composition, the severity of invasive species, wildfires, water regimes, and abundance and behavioral changes in mammals and avifauna. The alteration of crop cultivation and harvesting season which results in a decrease in yield, increased use of chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) an increase in fallow land, and the proliferation of hybrid variety cultivation in the later decade are significant disparities in the dynamics of the agriculture ecosystem. To withstand the accelerated ED, stakeholders adopt various strategies, however, these strategies are either obtained from unsustainable sources entail high costs and technology, or are detrimental to the ecosystems. In relation, we present specific examples of ecosystem attributes that significantly experience changes in the later decade compared to the earlier decade along with plausible future pathways for policy decisions sustaining and stewardship of dynamic ecosystems across the socio-ecological landscape.}, }
@article {pmid36626991, year = {2023}, author = {Le Hen, G and Balzani, P and Haase, P and Kouba, A and Liu, C and Nagelkerke, LAJ and Theissen, N and Renault, D and Soto, I and Haubrock, PJ}, title = {Alien species and climate change drive shifts in a riverine fish community and trait compositions over 35 years.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {161486}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161486}, pmid = {36626991}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Alien fish substantially impact aquatic communities. However, their effects on trait composition remain poorly understood, especially at large spatiotemporal scales. Here, we used long-term biomonitoring data (1984-2018) from 31 fish communities of the Rhine river in Germany to investigate compositional and functional changes over time. Average total community richness increased by 49 %: it was stable until 2004, then declined until 2010, before increasing until 2018. Average abundance decreased by 9 %. Starting from 198 individuals/m[2] in 1984 abundance largely declined to 23 individuals/m[2] in 2010 (-88 %), and then consequently increased by 678 % up to 180 individuals/m[2] until 2018. Increases in abundance and richness starting around 2010 were mainly driven by the establishment of alien species: while alien species represented 5 % of all species and 0.1 % of total individuals in 1993, it increased to 30 % (7 species) and 32 % of individuals in 2018. Concomitant to the increase in alien species, average native species richness and abundance declined by 26 % and 50 % respectively. We identified increases in temperature, precipitation, abundance and richness of alien fish driving compositional changes after 2010. To get more insights on the impacts of alien species on fish communities, we used 12 biological and 13 ecological traits to compute four trait metrics each. Ecological trait dispersion increased before 2010, probably due to diminishing ecologically similar native species. No changes in trait metrics were measured after 2010, albeit relative shares of expressed trait modalities significantly changing. The observed shift in trait modalities suggested the introduction of new species carrying similar and novel trait modalities. Our results revealed significant changes in taxonomic and trait compositions following alien fish introductions and climatic change. To conclude, our analyses show taxonomic and functional changes in the Rhine river over 35 years, likely indicative of future changes in ecosystem services.}, }
@article {pmid36625679, year = {2022}, author = {Baeckens, S and Losos, JB and Irschick, DJ and Kolbe, JJ and Bock, DG}, title = {Introduction history and hybridization determine the hydric balance of an invasive lizard facing a recent climate niche shift.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/evolut/qpac017}, pmid = {36625679}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {As anthropogenic activities are increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, understanding whether and how fast populations can adapt to sudden changes in their hydric environment is critically important. Here, we capitalize on the introduction of the Cuban brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei) in North America to assess the contemporary evolution of a widespread terrestrial vertebrate to an abrupt climatic niche shift. We characterized hydric balance in 30 populations along a large climatic gradient. We found that while evaporative and cutaneous water loss varied widely, there was no climatic cline, as would be expected under adaptation. Furthermore, the skin of lizards from more arid environments was covered with smaller scales, a condition thought to limit water conservation and thus be maladaptive. In contrast to environmental conditions, genome-averaged ancestry was a significant predictor of water loss. This was reinforced by our genome-wide association analyses, which indicated a significant ancestry-specific effect for water loss at one locus. Thus, our study indicates that the water balance of invasive brown anoles is dictated by an environment-independent introduction and hybridization history and highlights genetic interactions or genetic correlations as factors that might forestall adaptation. Alternative water conservation strategies, including behavioral mitigation, may influence the brown anole invasion success and require future examination.}, }
@article {pmid35251785, year = {2022}, author = {Li, YX and Dong, XF and Yang, AL and Zhang, HB}, title = {Diversity and pathogenicity of Alternaria species associated with the invasive plant Ageratina adenophora and local plants.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13012}, pmid = {35251785}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Ageratina ; Alternaria/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Introduced Species ; Virulence/genetics ; China ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Pathogen accumulation after introduction is unavoidable for exotic plants over a long period of time. Therefore, it is important to understand whether plant invasion promotes novel pathogen emergence and increases the risk of pathogen movement among agricultural, horticultural, and wild native plants. In this s