Aims Studies integrating phylogenetic history and large-scale community assembly are few,and many questions remain unanswered.Here,we use a global coastal dune plant data set to uncover the important factors in commun...Aims Studies integrating phylogenetic history and large-scale community assembly are few,and many questions remain unanswered.Here,we use a global coastal dune plant data set to uncover the important factors in community assembly across scales from the local filtering processes to the global long-term diversification and dispersal dynamics.Coastal dune plant communities occur worldwide under a wide range of climatic and geologic conditions as well as in all biogeographic regions.However,global patterns in the phylogenetic composition of coastal dune plant communities have not previously been studied.Methods The data set comprised vegetation data from 18463 plots in New Zealand,South Africa,South America,North America and Europe.The phylogenetic tree comprised 2241 plant species from 149 families.We calculated phylogenetic clustering(Net Relatedness Index,NRI,and Nearest Taxon Index,NTI)of regional dune floras to estimate the amount of in situ diversification relative to the global dune species pool and evaluated the relative importance of land and climate barriers for these diversification patterns by geographic analyses of phylogenetic similarity.We then tested whether dune plant communities exhibit similar patterns of phylogenetic structure within regions.Finally,we calculated NRI for local communities relative to the regional species pool and tested for an association with functional traits(plant height and seed mass)thought to vary along sea–inland gradients.Important Findings Regional species pools were phylogenetically clustered relative to the global pool,indicating regional diversification.NTI showed stronger clustering than NRI pointing to the importance of especially recent diversifications within regions.The species pools grouped phylogenetically into two clusters on either side of the tropics suggesting greater dispersal rates within hemispheres than between hemispheres.Local NRI plot values confirmed that most communities were also phylogenetically clustered within regions.NRI values decreased with展开更多
While the ecological impacts of invasive species have been demonstrated for many taxonomic groups, the potential effects of behavioural variation among nonnative individuals （i.e. personality） on these impacts have ...While the ecological impacts of invasive species have been demonstrated for many taxonomic groups, the potential effects of behavioural variation among nonnative individuals （i.e. personality） on these impacts have been largely overlooked. This is despite the fact that recent studies have demonstrated that, by nature, the three first stages of biological invasions （i.e. transport, establishment and spread） can lead to personalitybiased populations. Freshwater ecosystems provide a unique oppor tunity to investigate this issue, notably because the ecological impacts of nonnative species have been extensively documented and because animal personality has been widely studied using freshwater model species. Here, we aim at developing some per spectives on the potential effects of animal personality on the ecological impacts of freshwater nonnative species across levels of biological organizations. At the individual level, personality types have been demonstrated to affect the physiolo gy, metabolism, life history traits and fitness of individuals. We used these effects to discuss how they could subsequently impact invaded popula tions and, in turn, recipient communities. We also discussed how these might translate into changes in the structure of food webs and the functioning of invaded ecosystems. Finally we discussed how these perspectives could interact with the management of invasive species .展开更多
Insect host-parasitoid interactions involve complex physiological, biochemical and genetic interactions. Against endoparasitoids, immune-competent hosts initiate a blood cell-mediated response that quickly destroys th...Insect host-parasitoid interactions involve complex physiological, biochemical and genetic interactions. Against endoparasitoids, immune-competent hosts initiate a blood cell-mediated response that quickly destroys the intruders and envelops them in a multilayered melanotic capsule. During the past decade, considerable progress has been made in identifying some of the critical components of the host response, mainly because of the use of efficient molecular tools. This review examines some of the components of the innate immune response of Drosophila, an insect that has served as an exceptionally good experimental model for studying non-self recognition processes and immune cell signaling mechanisms. Topics considered in this review include hematopoiesis, proliferation and adhesion of hemocytes, melanogenesis and associated cytotoxic molecules, and the genetic aspects of the host-parasitoid interaction.展开更多
The messenger RNA 3'-untranslated region(3'UTR)plays an important role in regulation of gene expres-sion on the posttranscriptional level. The 3'UTR con-trols gene expression via orchestrated interactionbe...The messenger RNA 3'-untranslated region(3'UTR)plays an important role in regulation of gene expres-sion on the posttranscriptional level. The 3'UTR con-trols gene expression via orchestrated interactionbetween the structural components of mRNAs(cis-ele-ment) and the specific trans-acting factors(RNA bind-ing proteins and non-coding RNAs). The crosstalk ofthese factors is based on the binding sequences and/or direct protein-protein interaction, or just functionalinteraction. Much new evidence that has accumulatedsupports the idea that several RNA binding factors canbind to common mRNA targets: to the non-overlappingbinding sites or to common sites in a competitive fash-ion. Various factors capable of binding to the sameRNA can cooperate or be antagonistic in their actions.The outcome of the collective function of all factorsbound to the same mRNA 3'UTR depends on manycircumstances, such as their expression levels, affinity to the binding sites, and localization in the cell, which can be controlled by various physiological conditions. Moreover, the functional and/or physical interactions of the factors binding to 3'UTR can change the character of their actions. These interactions vary during the cell cycle and in response to changing physiological condi-tions. Abnormal functioning of the factors can lead to disease. In this review we will discuss how alterations of these factors or their interaction can affect cancer development and promote or enhance the malignant phenotype of cancer cells. Understanding these altera-tions and their impact on 3'UTR-directed posttran-scriptional gene regulation will uncover promising new targets for therapeutic intervention and diagnostics. We will also discuss emerging new tools in cancer di-agnostics and therapy based on 3'UTR binding factors and approaches to improve them.展开更多
YIKI is an antimalarial phytomedicine used by a traditional healer to treat malaria in Bobo-Dioulasso. However, there is no scientific evidence to support its use by local populations. The aim of this study was to ide...YIKI is an antimalarial phytomedicine used by a traditional healer to treat malaria in Bobo-Dioulasso. However, there is no scientific evidence to support its use by local populations. The aim of this study was to identify the medicinal practices of the healer holder of YIKI and assess the clinical evidence of its phytomedicine in the uncomplicated malaria treatment. Ethnomedical survey based on a semi-structured and open questionnaire was conducted from October to December 2019 with the healer. Malaria knowledge and diagnosis methods, patient treatment and monitoring, and recipe formulation steps were surveyed. Moreover, thick and thin blood smears were taken, haemoglobin levels and temperature of consenting patients were measured before treatment, mid-treatment and at the end of treatment. The survey revealed that the healer has a good knowledge of malaria symptoms and his diagnosis is based on observation and physical examination of patients. The healer’s malaria diagnosis was rudimentary and had accuracy problems, with only 62.79% of malaria cases confirmed by microscopy. The formulation of YIKI and its use to treat malaria follow a standard process for plant harvesting, powder quantities and posology, but do not use any reproducible parameters for dose adjustment. Forty-three patients diagnosed and treated by the healer participated in the study. Laboratory results revealed 27 Plasmodium falciparum infection cases, including 2 with parasitaemia ≥ 200,000 p/µl blood. 25 patients were selected for therapeutic evidence assessment. There was a 48% elimination of parasites, a 28% parasitaemia decrease without complete cure, with gametocytogenesis in some patients, and a 24% parasitaemia increase. Haemoglobin and temperature results suggested that YIKI was not cytotoxic and reduced fever. Encouraging preliminary results have been obtained, but in view of the low number of patients, further YIKI efficacy and toxicity studies will be necessary for patient safety.展开更多
Unlike European species,the potential of Nearctic syrphids as biological control agents is still poorly studied.However,the American hoverfly,Eupeodes americanus(Wiedemann),has recently demonstrated promising traits a...Unlike European species,the potential of Nearctic syrphids as biological control agents is still poorly studied.However,the American hoverfly,Eupeodes americanus(Wiedemann),has recently demonstrated promising traits as a biocontrol agent,notably against the foxglove aphid,Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach,on pepper.The present study aims to extend our knowledge of the American hoverfly by evaluating its potential as a biocontrol agent in a banker plant system against the melon aphid,Aphis gossypi Glover,in a greenhouse cucumber crop.The preimaginal development and voracity of E.americanus were compared when preying upon the focal prey/pest(A.gossypi)or the banker prey(bird cherry-oat aphid,Rhopalosiphum padi L.)by daily observations of larvae from egg to adult.Preimaginal development time,survival rate,and occurrence of deformation were similar on both prey species.The weight of third instar and pupae,however,was higher for larvae that fed on the banker prey.The ad libitum voracity of the syrphid larvae was generally very high and did not significantly differ between prey species,except for the third-instar larvae which consumed more focal prey.Results suggest that a banker plant system involving the bird cherry-oat aphid may be a promising tactic for utilizing E.americanus for melon aphid biocontrol.展开更多
Over the past 2 to 3 decades,Chinese forests are estimated to act as a large carbon sink,yet the magnitude and spatial patterns of this sink differ considerably among studies.Using 3 microwave(L-and X-band vegetation ...Over the past 2 to 3 decades,Chinese forests are estimated to act as a large carbon sink,yet the magnitude and spatial patterns of this sink differ considerably among studies.Using 3 microwave(L-and X-band vegetation optical depth[VOD])and 3 optical(normalized difference vegetation index,leaf area index,and tree cover)remote-sensing vegetation products,this study compared the estimated live woody aboveground biomass carbon(AGC)dynamics over China between 2013 and 2019.Our results showed that tree cover has the highest spatial consistency with 3 published AGC maps(mean correlation value R=0.84),followed by L-VOD(R=0.83),which outperform the other VODs.An AGC estimation model was proposed to combine all indices to estimate the annual AGC dynamics in China during 2013 to 2019.The performance of the AGC estimation model was good(root mean square error=0.05 Pg C and R^(2)=0.90 with a mean relative uncertainty of 9.8% at pixel scale[0.25°]).Results of the AGC estimation model showed that carbon uptake by the forests in China was about+0.17 Pg C year^(-1) from 2013 to 2019.At the regional level,provinces in southwest China including Guizhou(+22.35 Tg C year^(-1)),Sichuan(+14.49 Tg C year^(-1)),and Hunan(+11.42 Tg C year^(-1))provinces had the highest carbon sink rates during 2013 to 2019.Most of the carbon-sink regions have been afforested recently,implying that afforestation and ecological engineering projects have been effective means for carbon sequestration in these regions.展开更多
Supercolonies of the red fire ant Solenopsis saevissima （Smith） develop in disturbed environments and likely alter the ant community in the native range of the species. For example, in French Guiana only 8 ant speci...Supercolonies of the red fire ant Solenopsis saevissima （Smith） develop in disturbed environments and likely alter the ant community in the native range of the species. For example, in French Guiana only 8 ant species were repeatedly noted as nesting in close vicinity to its mounds. Here, we verified if a shared set of biological, ecological, and behavioral traits might explain how these 8 species are able to nest in the presence of S. saevissima. We did not find this to be the case. We did find, however, that all of them are able to live in disturbed habitats. It is likely that over the course of evolution each of these species acquired the capacity to live syntopically with S. saevissima through its own set of traits, where colony size （4 species develop large colonies）, cuticular compounds which do not trigger aggressiveness （6 species） and submissive behaviors （4 species） complement each other.展开更多
Comparative studies of trait evolution require accounting for the shared evolutionary history. This is done by includ- ing phylogenetic hypotheses into statistical analyses of species＇ traits, for which birds often s...Comparative studies of trait evolution require accounting for the shared evolutionary history. This is done by includ- ing phylogenetic hypotheses into statistical analyses of species＇ traits, for which birds often serve as excellent models. The online publication of the most complete molecular phylogeny of extant bird species （www.birdtree.org, BirdTree hereafter） now allows evolutionary biologists to rapidly obtain sets of equally plausible phylogenetic trees for any set of species to be incorporated as a phylogenetic hypothesis in comparative analyses. We discuss methods to use BirdTree tree sets for comparative studies, either by building a consensus tree that can be incorporated into standard comparative analyses, or by using tree sets to account for the ef- fect of phylogenetie uncertainty. Methods accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty should be preferred whenever possible because they should provide more reliable parameter estimates and realistic confidence intervals around them. Based on a real compara- tive dataset, we ran simulations to investigate the effect of variation in the size of the random tree sets downloaded from BirdTree on the variability of parameter estimates from a bivariate relationship between mass-specific productivity and body mass. Irre- spective of the method of analysis, using at least 1,000 trees allows obtaining parameter estimates with very small （〈 0.15%） co- efficients of variation. We argue that BirdTree, due to the ease of use and the major advantages over previous ＇traditional＇ meth- ods to obtain phylogenetic hypotheses of bird species （e.g. supertrees or manual coding of published phylogenies）, will become the standard reference in avian comparative studies for years to come.展开更多
Generalist mammalian predators hunt for prey in different ways than raptors,often relying on ambush attack.Such differences in predator behavior can have profound effects on susceptibility of different species of prey...Generalist mammalian predators hunt for prey in different ways than raptors,often relying on ambush attack.Such differences in predator behavior can have profound effects on susceptibility of different species of prey to predation,but can also modify the behavior of prey.We investigated susceptibility of common birds to predation by domestic cats Felis catus,relying on an extensive data set on prey abundance and prey availability as determined by standardized bird counts.Susceptibility to cat predation for different species of birds was not significantly correlated with susceptibility to predation by sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus,but with susceptibility to goshawk Accipiter gentilis predation. Susceptibility to goshawk predation was independently predicted by susceptibility to cat and sparrowhawk predation.We cross-validated our estimate of susceptibilityto cat predation by showing that the frequency of birds with tail loss increased strongly with sus-ceptibility to cat predation.Male birds were disproportionately preyed upon,especially if havingsong posts low in the vegetation,and if having short flight distances when singing.Colonially breeding species were less susceptible to predation than solitary species.Bird species with high levels of innate immune defense against bacterial infections had high susceptibility to cat predation.These findings suggest that predation by cats has been an important selection pressure affecting anti-predation behavior,sexual display and immune function in common birds.展开更多
Extreme weather conditions occur at an increasing rate as evidenced by higher frequency of hurricanes and more extreme precipitation and temperature anomalies. Such extreme environmental conditions will have important...Extreme weather conditions occur at an increasing rate as evidenced by higher frequency of hurricanes and more extreme precipitation and temperature anomalies. Such extreme environmental conditions will have important implications for all living organisms through greater frequency of reproductive failure and reduced adult survival. We review examples of reproductive failure and reduced survival related to extreme weather conditions. Phenotypic plasticity may not be sufficient to allow adaptation to extreme weather for many animals. Theory predicts reduced reproductive effort as a response to increased stochasticity. We predict that patterns of natural selection will change towards truncation selection as environmental conditions become more extreme. Such changes in patterns of selection may facilitate adaptation to extreme events. However, effects of selection on reproductive effort are difficult to detect. We present a number of predictions for the effects of extreme weather conditions in need of empirical tests. Finally, we suggest a number of empirical reviews that could improve our ability to judge the effects of extreme environmental conditions on life history [Current Zoology 57 （3）： 375-389, 2011].展开更多
Two cornborer species, Ostrinia furnacalis （Lepidoptera： Crambidae） and O. nubilalis, are major corn pests in Asia and Europe, respectively. In both continents, the larval endoparasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum （Hym...Two cornborer species, Ostrinia furnacalis （Lepidoptera： Crambidae） and O. nubilalis, are major corn pests in Asia and Europe, respectively. In both continents, the larval endoparasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum （Hymenoptera： Braconidae） develops on another, closely related stemborer, O. scapulalis, which feeds on mugwort and other dicotyledons. M. cingulum also emerges from O. furnacalis in Asia and （9. nubilalis in North America, but not from O. nubilalis in Europe. We assessed the ability of three populations of each of the three Ostrinia species to encapsulate foreign bodies of a size similar to that of a M. cingulum egg. We conclude that variations in encapsulation ability alone cannot account for the differences observed in the field between parasite emergence rates in these different host species and geographic areas.展开更多
Background Deforestation is a widespread disturbance for neotropical freshwater ecosystems.While biodiversity declines have been associated with deforestation,its functional consequences for stream and river fish faun...Background Deforestation is a widespread disturbance for neotropical freshwater ecosystems.While biodiversity declines have been associated with deforestation,its functional consequences for stream and river fish faunas remain poorly understood.In this study,we explored how deforestation affects the different facets of the functional structure of fish communities inventoried using environmental DNA metabarcoding in 64 river and 35 stream sites of French Guiana.Specifically,we investigated how functional richness,divergence,evenness and identity of fish faunas are affected by deforestation.Results We showed that anthropogenic disturbances in French Guiana are modifying the functional diversity of freshwater fish communities.These disturbances not only affected the amount of functional traits held by the communities but also the identity of the traits and the internal structure of the functional space.Consequently,different facets of the functional diversity supported by fish assemblages were altered.In streams,deforestation did not affect the overall diversity of traits but reduced functional redundancy,underlined by a shift in functional identity towards assemblages dominated by pelagic detritivores.In contrast,river fish faunas experienced a decline in functional richness,paired with shifts in functional identity and a loss of fish species with extreme functions.Conclusions The response to deforestation differed between streams and rivers,but it supports the hypothesis that deforestation is linked to functional changes in fish assemblages.By diminishing the range of the functions in rivers or by jeopardizing the redundancy of functions in streams,deforestation could severely hamper the functioning and stability of neotropical freshwater ecosystems.展开更多
In Australia,the proportion of forest area that burns in a typical fire season is less than for other vegetation types.However,the 2019-2020 austral spring-summer was an exception,with over four times the previous max...In Australia,the proportion of forest area that burns in a typical fire season is less than for other vegetation types.However,the 2019-2020 austral spring-summer was an exception,with over four times the previous maximum area burnt in southeast Australian temperate forests.Temperate forest fires have extensive socio-economic,human health,greenhouse gas emissions,and biodiversity impacts due to high fire intensities.A robust model that identifies driving factors of forest fires and relates impact thresholds to fire activity at regional scales would help land managers and fire-fighting agencies prepare for potentially hazardous fire in Australia.Here,we developed a machine-learning diagnostic model to quantify nonlinear relationships between monthly burnt area and biophysical factors in southeast Australian forests for 2001-2020 on a 0.25°grid based on several biophysical parameters,notably fire weather and vegetation productivity.Our model explained over 80%of the variation in the burnt area.We identified that burnt area dynamics in southeast Australian forest were primarily controlled by extreme fire weather,which mainly linked to fluctuations in the Southern Annular Mode(SAM)and Indian Ocean Dipole(IOD),with a relatively smaller contribution from the central Pacific El Niño Southern Oscillation(ENSO).Our fire diagnostic model and the non-linear relationships between burnt area and environmental covariates can provide useful guidance to decision-makers who manage preparations for an upcoming fire season,and model developers working on improved early warning systems for forest fires.展开更多
Microbial interactions between filamentous fungi and yeast are still not fully understood.To evaluate a potential anti-fungal activity of a filamentous fungus while highlighting metabolomic changes,co-cultures between...Microbial interactions between filamentous fungi and yeast are still not fully understood.To evaluate a potential anti-fungal activity of a filamentous fungus while highlighting metabolomic changes,co-cultures between an endophytic strain of Cophinforma mamane(CM)and Candida albicans(CA)were performed.The liquid cultures were incubated under static conditions and metabolite alterations during the course were investigated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometry(UPLC-MS/MS).Results were analyzed using MS-DIAL,MS-FINDER,METLIN,Xcalibur,SciFinder,and MetaboAnalyst metabolomics platforms.The metabolites associated with catabolic processes,including the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids,carnitine,and phospholipids were upregulated both in the mono and co-cultures,indicating fungal adaptability to environmental stress.Several metab-olites,including C20 sphinganine 1-phosphate,myo-inositol,farnesol,gamma-undecalactone,folinic acid,palmitoleic acid,and MG(12:/0:0/0:0)were not produced by CA during co-culture with CM,demonstrating the antifungal mecha-nism of CM.Our results highlight the crucial roles of metabolomics studies to provide essential information regarding the antifungal mechanism of C.mamane against C.albicans,especially when the lost/undetected metabolites are involved in fungal survival and pathogenicity.展开更多
Background: African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is caused mainly by Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax, and T. brucei brucei and is the major constraint for livestock productivity in Sub-Saharan African countries. Info...Background: African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is caused mainly by Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax, and T. brucei brucei and is the major constraint for livestock productivity in Sub-Saharan African countries. Information about animal trypanosomiasis status in Ivory Coast is missing, especially regarding molecular epidemiology. Therefore, this study intended to apply molecular tools to identify and characterize trypanosomes in Ivory Coast for sustainable control. Methods: 363 cattle blood samples were collected from Ferkessedougou Region in northern Ivory Coast in 2012. Buffy coat technique (BCT) and species-specific PCR assays were used to detect trypanosome species. Results: Out of 363 cattle examined with BCT, 33 were found positive with all trypanosomes species accounting for an average of 9.09% prevalence whereas polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using species-specific primers showed that 81 out of 363 cattle were infected with trypanosomes with an overall prevalence of 22.31%. Trypanosoma congolense savanah type, T. Vivax and T. brucei sl. accounted for 28.39%, 49.38% and 23.45% of the infection rate respectively. No infection with T. congo forest?type was detected. T. vivax infection was the most prevalence in the area investigated compared to the two other trypanosome species. Mixed infections with different trypanosomes species were detected accounting for 7.32% of prevalence. Regarding sexrelated prevalence, male cattles were slightly more infected than female but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: Our results showed that there was a high prevalence of AAT in livestock in Ferkessedougou Area. There is therefore a need to strengthen control policies and institute measures that help prevent the spread of the parasites for sustainable control of animal trypanosome in this area.展开更多
In many sexually reproducing species, individuals can gather information about potential mates by observing their mating success. This behavioral pattern, that we call mate-copying, was reported in the fruit fly Droso...In many sexually reproducing species, individuals can gather information about potential mates by observing their mating success. This behavioral pattern, that we call mate-copying, was reported in the fruit fly Drosophila rnelanogaster where females choosing between 2 males of contrasting phenotypes can build a preference for males of the phenotype they previously saw being chosen by a demonstrator female. As sex ratio is known to affect mate choice, our goal was to test whether mate-copying is also affected by encountered sex ratios. Thus, we created a gradient of sex ratio during demonstrations of mate-copying experiments by changing the number of females observ- ing from a central arena 6 simultaneous demonstrations unfolding in 6 peripheral compartments of a hexagonal device. We also tested whether the sex ratio experienced by females during demon- strations affected their choosiness （male courtship duration and double courtship rate） in subse- quent mate-choice tests. Experimental male：female sex ratio during demonstrations did not affect mate-copying indices, but positively affected the proportion of both males courting the female during mate-choice tests, as well as male courtship duration, the latter potentially explaining the for- mer relationship. As expected, the sex ratio affected female choosiness positively, and Drosophila females seem to have evolved a mate-copying ability independently of sex ratio, and a capacity to adapt their choosiness to male availability. This suggests that, as in many animal species, individuals, especially females, can adapt their mate choice depending on the current sex ratio.展开更多
An increasing trend in use of tracking devices such as geolocators is based on the assumption that the information gathered from such devices provides reliable information about the migratory behavior of free-living b...An increasing trend in use of tracking devices such as geolocators is based on the assumption that the information gathered from such devices provides reliable information about the migratory behavior of free-living birds. This underlying as- sumption is rarely tested, as evidenced by the absence in many studies of controls, in particular treated controls, and so far never with a reasonable statistical power. Published studies have shown reduced survival prospects or delayed breeding in some species, suggesting that there may be reason to doubt that tracking devices provide unbiased information. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies applying geolocators to wild birds to determine whether geolocators affected fitness components. Ge- olocators had an overall negative effect on fitness components, in particular survival, and ecological variables. Effect size was larger for aerial foragers than for other species. Moreover the leg band attachment method was more detrimental for birds than the leg-loop backpack harness. A meta-regression model of effect size showed independent negative effects of geolocators on ae- rial foragers, smaller species, species with smaller migration distances and in studies where geolocators were attached with a ring. These results suggest that geolocator studies should be interpreted with caution, but also raise questions whether it is ethically defensible to use geolocators on aerial foragers or small species without carrying out robust pilot studies.展开更多
基金A.K.B.was supported by the Faculty of Science and Technology,Aarhus University(2008-218/5-24)Augustinus’Foundation(11-0677)+4 种基金Oticon(11-0565)Niels Bohr Foundation and Aarhus Universitets Forsknings Fond(AUFFF2011-FLS330)J.-C.S.was supported by the European Research Council(ERC-2012-StG-310886-HISTFUNC)Additionally,we also consider this article a contribution of Center for Informatics Research on Complexity in Ecology(CIRCE)funded by Aarhus University and Aarhus University Research Foundation under the AU IDEAS program.
文摘Aims Studies integrating phylogenetic history and large-scale community assembly are few,and many questions remain unanswered.Here,we use a global coastal dune plant data set to uncover the important factors in community assembly across scales from the local filtering processes to the global long-term diversification and dispersal dynamics.Coastal dune plant communities occur worldwide under a wide range of climatic and geologic conditions as well as in all biogeographic regions.However,global patterns in the phylogenetic composition of coastal dune plant communities have not previously been studied.Methods The data set comprised vegetation data from 18463 plots in New Zealand,South Africa,South America,North America and Europe.The phylogenetic tree comprised 2241 plant species from 149 families.We calculated phylogenetic clustering(Net Relatedness Index,NRI,and Nearest Taxon Index,NTI)of regional dune floras to estimate the amount of in situ diversification relative to the global dune species pool and evaluated the relative importance of land and climate barriers for these diversification patterns by geographic analyses of phylogenetic similarity.We then tested whether dune plant communities exhibit similar patterns of phylogenetic structure within regions.Finally,we calculated NRI for local communities relative to the regional species pool and tested for an association with functional traits(plant height and seed mass)thought to vary along sea–inland gradients.Important Findings Regional species pools were phylogenetically clustered relative to the global pool,indicating regional diversification.NTI showed stronger clustering than NRI pointing to the importance of especially recent diversifications within regions.The species pools grouped phylogenetically into two clusters on either side of the tropics suggesting greater dispersal rates within hemispheres than between hemispheres.Local NRI plot values confirmed that most communities were also phylogenetically clustered within regions.NRI values decreased with
文摘While the ecological impacts of invasive species have been demonstrated for many taxonomic groups, the potential effects of behavioural variation among nonnative individuals （i.e. personality） on these impacts have been largely overlooked. This is despite the fact that recent studies have demonstrated that, by nature, the three first stages of biological invasions （i.e. transport, establishment and spread） can lead to personalitybiased populations. Freshwater ecosystems provide a unique oppor tunity to investigate this issue, notably because the ecological impacts of nonnative species have been extensively documented and because animal personality has been widely studied using freshwater model species. Here, we aim at developing some per spectives on the potential effects of animal personality on the ecological impacts of freshwater nonnative species across levels of biological organizations. At the individual level, personality types have been demonstrated to affect the physiolo gy, metabolism, life history traits and fitness of individuals. We used these effects to discuss how they could subsequently impact invaded popula tions and, in turn, recipient communities. We also discussed how these might translate into changes in the structure of food webs and the functioning of invaded ecosystems. Finally we discussed how these perspectives could interact with the management of invasive species .
文摘Insect host-parasitoid interactions involve complex physiological, biochemical and genetic interactions. Against endoparasitoids, immune-competent hosts initiate a blood cell-mediated response that quickly destroys the intruders and envelops them in a multilayered melanotic capsule. During the past decade, considerable progress has been made in identifying some of the critical components of the host response, mainly because of the use of efficient molecular tools. This review examines some of the components of the innate immune response of Drosophila, an insect that has served as an exceptionally good experimental model for studying non-self recognition processes and immune cell signaling mechanisms. Topics considered in this review include hematopoiesis, proliferation and adhesion of hemocytes, melanogenesis and associated cytotoxic molecules, and the genetic aspects of the host-parasitoid interaction.
文摘The messenger RNA 3'-untranslated region(3'UTR)plays an important role in regulation of gene expres-sion on the posttranscriptional level. The 3'UTR con-trols gene expression via orchestrated interactionbetween the structural components of mRNAs(cis-ele-ment) and the specific trans-acting factors(RNA bind-ing proteins and non-coding RNAs). The crosstalk ofthese factors is based on the binding sequences and/or direct protein-protein interaction, or just functionalinteraction. Much new evidence that has accumulatedsupports the idea that several RNA binding factors canbind to common mRNA targets: to the non-overlappingbinding sites or to common sites in a competitive fash-ion. Various factors capable of binding to the sameRNA can cooperate or be antagonistic in their actions.The outcome of the collective function of all factorsbound to the same mRNA 3'UTR depends on manycircumstances, such as their expression levels, affinity to the binding sites, and localization in the cell, which can be controlled by various physiological conditions. Moreover, the functional and/or physical interactions of the factors binding to 3'UTR can change the character of their actions. These interactions vary during the cell cycle and in response to changing physiological condi-tions. Abnormal functioning of the factors can lead to disease. In this review we will discuss how alterations of these factors or their interaction can affect cancer development and promote or enhance the malignant phenotype of cancer cells. Understanding these altera-tions and their impact on 3'UTR-directed posttran-scriptional gene regulation will uncover promising new targets for therapeutic intervention and diagnostics. We will also discuss emerging new tools in cancer di-agnostics and therapy based on 3'UTR binding factors and approaches to improve them.
文摘YIKI is an antimalarial phytomedicine used by a traditional healer to treat malaria in Bobo-Dioulasso. However, there is no scientific evidence to support its use by local populations. The aim of this study was to identify the medicinal practices of the healer holder of YIKI and assess the clinical evidence of its phytomedicine in the uncomplicated malaria treatment. Ethnomedical survey based on a semi-structured and open questionnaire was conducted from October to December 2019 with the healer. Malaria knowledge and diagnosis methods, patient treatment and monitoring, and recipe formulation steps were surveyed. Moreover, thick and thin blood smears were taken, haemoglobin levels and temperature of consenting patients were measured before treatment, mid-treatment and at the end of treatment. The survey revealed that the healer has a good knowledge of malaria symptoms and his diagnosis is based on observation and physical examination of patients. The healer’s malaria diagnosis was rudimentary and had accuracy problems, with only 62.79% of malaria cases confirmed by microscopy. The formulation of YIKI and its use to treat malaria follow a standard process for plant harvesting, powder quantities and posology, but do not use any reproducible parameters for dose adjustment. Forty-three patients diagnosed and treated by the healer participated in the study. Laboratory results revealed 27 Plasmodium falciparum infection cases, including 2 with parasitaemia ≥ 200,000 p/µl blood. 25 patients were selected for therapeutic evidence assessment. There was a 48% elimination of parasites, a 28% parasitaemia decrease without complete cure, with gametocytogenesis in some patients, and a 24% parasitaemia increase. Haemoglobin and temperature results suggested that YIKI was not cytotoxic and reduced fever. Encouraging preliminary results have been obtained, but in view of the low number of patients, further YIKI efficacy and toxicity studies will be necessary for patient safety.
基金supported by the Ministere de I'Agriculture,des Pecheries et d'Alimentation du Quebec(MAPAQ),following the program Prime-Vert[grant number18-009-UQAM]by a CRSNG discovery grant to Eric Lucas.
文摘Unlike European species,the potential of Nearctic syrphids as biological control agents is still poorly studied.However,the American hoverfly,Eupeodes americanus(Wiedemann),has recently demonstrated promising traits as a biocontrol agent,notably against the foxglove aphid,Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach,on pepper.The present study aims to extend our knowledge of the American hoverfly by evaluating its potential as a biocontrol agent in a banker plant system against the melon aphid,Aphis gossypi Glover,in a greenhouse cucumber crop.The preimaginal development and voracity of E.americanus were compared when preying upon the focal prey/pest(A.gossypi)or the banker prey(bird cherry-oat aphid,Rhopalosiphum padi L.)by daily observations of larvae from egg to adult.Preimaginal development time,survival rate,and occurrence of deformation were similar on both prey species.The weight of third instar and pupae,however,was higher for larvae that fed on the banker prey.The ad libitum voracity of the syrphid larvae was generally very high and did not significantly differ between prey species,except for the third-instar larvae which consumed more focal prey.Results suggest that a banker plant system involving the bird cherry-oat aphid may be a promising tactic for utilizing E.americanus for melon aphid biocontrol.
基金supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(41825020)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42171339)+1 种基金the Postdoctoral Start-Up Project of Southwest University(SWU020016)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA05050200).
文摘Over the past 2 to 3 decades,Chinese forests are estimated to act as a large carbon sink,yet the magnitude and spatial patterns of this sink differ considerably among studies.Using 3 microwave(L-and X-band vegetation optical depth[VOD])and 3 optical(normalized difference vegetation index,leaf area index,and tree cover)remote-sensing vegetation products,this study compared the estimated live woody aboveground biomass carbon(AGC)dynamics over China between 2013 and 2019.Our results showed that tree cover has the highest spatial consistency with 3 published AGC maps(mean correlation value R=0.84),followed by L-VOD(R=0.83),which outperform the other VODs.An AGC estimation model was proposed to combine all indices to estimate the annual AGC dynamics in China during 2013 to 2019.The performance of the AGC estimation model was good(root mean square error=0.05 Pg C and R^(2)=0.90 with a mean relative uncertainty of 9.8% at pixel scale[0.25°]).Results of the AGC estimation model showed that carbon uptake by the forests in China was about+0.17 Pg C year^(-1) from 2013 to 2019.At the regional level,provinces in southwest China including Guizhou(+22.35 Tg C year^(-1)),Sichuan(+14.49 Tg C year^(-1)),and Hunan(+11.42 Tg C year^(-1))provinces had the highest carbon sink rates during 2013 to 2019.Most of the carbon-sink regions have been afforested recently,implying that afforestation and ecological engineering projects have been effective means for carbon sequestration in these regions.
文摘Supercolonies of the red fire ant Solenopsis saevissima （Smith） develop in disturbed environments and likely alter the ant community in the native range of the species. For example, in French Guiana only 8 ant species were repeatedly noted as nesting in close vicinity to its mounds. Here, we verified if a shared set of biological, ecological, and behavioral traits might explain how these 8 species are able to nest in the presence of S. saevissima. We did not find this to be the case. We did find, however, that all of them are able to live in disturbed habitats. It is likely that over the course of evolution each of these species acquired the capacity to live syntopically with S. saevissima through its own set of traits, where colony size （4 species develop large colonies）, cuticular compounds which do not trigger aggressiveness （6 species） and submissive behaviors （4 species） complement each other.
文摘Comparative studies of trait evolution require accounting for the shared evolutionary history. This is done by includ- ing phylogenetic hypotheses into statistical analyses of species＇ traits, for which birds often serve as excellent models. The online publication of the most complete molecular phylogeny of extant bird species （www.birdtree.org, BirdTree hereafter） now allows evolutionary biologists to rapidly obtain sets of equally plausible phylogenetic trees for any set of species to be incorporated as a phylogenetic hypothesis in comparative analyses. We discuss methods to use BirdTree tree sets for comparative studies, either by building a consensus tree that can be incorporated into standard comparative analyses, or by using tree sets to account for the ef- fect of phylogenetie uncertainty. Methods accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty should be preferred whenever possible because they should provide more reliable parameter estimates and realistic confidence intervals around them. Based on a real compara- tive dataset, we ran simulations to investigate the effect of variation in the size of the random tree sets downloaded from BirdTree on the variability of parameter estimates from a bivariate relationship between mass-specific productivity and body mass. Irre- spective of the method of analysis, using at least 1,000 trees allows obtaining parameter estimates with very small （〈 0.15%） co- efficients of variation. We argue that BirdTree, due to the ease of use and the major advantages over previous ＇traditional＇ meth- ods to obtain phylogenetic hypotheses of bird species （e.g. supertrees or manual coding of published phylogenies）, will become the standard reference in avian comparative studies for years to come.
文摘Generalist mammalian predators hunt for prey in different ways than raptors,often relying on ambush attack.Such differences in predator behavior can have profound effects on susceptibility of different species of prey to predation,but can also modify the behavior of prey.We investigated susceptibility of common birds to predation by domestic cats Felis catus,relying on an extensive data set on prey abundance and prey availability as determined by standardized bird counts.Susceptibility to cat predation for different species of birds was not significantly correlated with susceptibility to predation by sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus,but with susceptibility to goshawk Accipiter gentilis predation. Susceptibility to goshawk predation was independently predicted by susceptibility to cat and sparrowhawk predation.We cross-validated our estimate of susceptibilityto cat predation by showing that the frequency of birds with tail loss increased strongly with sus-ceptibility to cat predation.Male birds were disproportionately preyed upon,especially if havingsong posts low in the vegetation,and if having short flight distances when singing.Colonially breeding species were less susceptible to predation than solitary species.Bird species with high levels of innate immune defense against bacterial infections had high susceptibility to cat predation.These findings suggest that predation by cats has been an important selection pressure affecting anti-predation behavior,sexual display and immune function in common birds.
文摘Extreme weather conditions occur at an increasing rate as evidenced by higher frequency of hurricanes and more extreme precipitation and temperature anomalies. Such extreme environmental conditions will have important implications for all living organisms through greater frequency of reproductive failure and reduced adult survival. We review examples of reproductive failure and reduced survival related to extreme weather conditions. Phenotypic plasticity may not be sufficient to allow adaptation to extreme weather for many animals. Theory predicts reduced reproductive effort as a response to increased stochasticity. We predict that patterns of natural selection will change towards truncation selection as environmental conditions become more extreme. Such changes in patterns of selection may facilitate adaptation to extreme events. However, effects of selection on reproductive effort are difficult to detect. We present a number of predictions for the effects of extreme weather conditions in need of empirical tests. Finally, we suggest a number of empirical reviews that could improve our ability to judge the effects of extreme environmental conditions on life history [Current Zoology 57 （3）： 375-389, 2011].
文摘Two cornborer species, Ostrinia furnacalis （Lepidoptera： Crambidae） and O. nubilalis, are major corn pests in Asia and Europe, respectively. In both continents, the larval endoparasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum （Hymenoptera： Braconidae） develops on another, closely related stemborer, O. scapulalis, which feeds on mugwort and other dicotyledons. M. cingulum also emerges from O. furnacalis in Asia and （9. nubilalis in North America, but not from O. nubilalis in Europe. We assessed the ability of three populations of each of the three Ostrinia species to encapsulate foreign bodies of a size similar to that of a M. cingulum egg. We conclude that variations in encapsulation ability alone cannot account for the differences observed in the field between parasite emergence rates in these different host species and geographic areas.
文摘Background Deforestation is a widespread disturbance for neotropical freshwater ecosystems.While biodiversity declines have been associated with deforestation,its functional consequences for stream and river fish faunas remain poorly understood.In this study,we explored how deforestation affects the different facets of the functional structure of fish communities inventoried using environmental DNA metabarcoding in 64 river and 35 stream sites of French Guiana.Specifically,we investigated how functional richness,divergence,evenness and identity of fish faunas are affected by deforestation.Results We showed that anthropogenic disturbances in French Guiana are modifying the functional diversity of freshwater fish communities.These disturbances not only affected the amount of functional traits held by the communities but also the identity of the traits and the internal structure of the functional space.Consequently,different facets of the functional diversity supported by fish assemblages were altered.In streams,deforestation did not affect the overall diversity of traits but reduced functional redundancy,underlined by a shift in functional identity towards assemblages dominated by pelagic detritivores.In contrast,river fish faunas experienced a decline in functional richness,paired with shifts in functional identity and a loss of fish species with extreme functions.Conclusions The response to deforestation differed between streams and rivers,but it supports the hypothesis that deforestation is linked to functional changes in fish assemblages.By diminishing the range of the functions in rivers or by jeopardizing the redundancy of functions in streams,deforestation could severely hamper the functioning and stability of neotropical freshwater ecosystems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42088101 and 42030605)support from the research project:Towards an Operational Fire Early Warning System for Indonesia(TOFEWSI)+1 种基金The TOFEWSI project was funded from October 2017-October 2021 through the UK’s National Environment Research Council/Newton Fund on behalf of the UK Research&Innovation(NE/P014801/1)(UK Principal InvestigatorAllan Spessa)(https//tofewsi.github.io/)financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai(2021-HZ-811)。
文摘In Australia,the proportion of forest area that burns in a typical fire season is less than for other vegetation types.However,the 2019-2020 austral spring-summer was an exception,with over four times the previous maximum area burnt in southeast Australian temperate forests.Temperate forest fires have extensive socio-economic,human health,greenhouse gas emissions,and biodiversity impacts due to high fire intensities.A robust model that identifies driving factors of forest fires and relates impact thresholds to fire activity at regional scales would help land managers and fire-fighting agencies prepare for potentially hazardous fire in Australia.Here,we developed a machine-learning diagnostic model to quantify nonlinear relationships between monthly burnt area and biophysical factors in southeast Australian forests for 2001-2020 on a 0.25°grid based on several biophysical parameters,notably fire weather and vegetation productivity.Our model explained over 80%of the variation in the burnt area.We identified that burnt area dynamics in southeast Australian forest were primarily controlled by extreme fire weather,which mainly linked to fluctuations in the Southern Annular Mode(SAM)and Indian Ocean Dipole(IOD),with a relatively smaller contribution from the central Pacific El Niño Southern Oscillation(ENSO).Our fire diagnostic model and the non-linear relationships between burnt area and environmental covariates can provide useful guidance to decision-makers who manage preparations for an upcoming fire season,and model developers working on improved early warning systems for forest fires.
文摘Microbial interactions between filamentous fungi and yeast are still not fully understood.To evaluate a potential anti-fungal activity of a filamentous fungus while highlighting metabolomic changes,co-cultures between an endophytic strain of Cophinforma mamane(CM)and Candida albicans(CA)were performed.The liquid cultures were incubated under static conditions and metabolite alterations during the course were investigated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometry(UPLC-MS/MS).Results were analyzed using MS-DIAL,MS-FINDER,METLIN,Xcalibur,SciFinder,and MetaboAnalyst metabolomics platforms.The metabolites associated with catabolic processes,including the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids,carnitine,and phospholipids were upregulated both in the mono and co-cultures,indicating fungal adaptability to environmental stress.Several metab-olites,including C20 sphinganine 1-phosphate,myo-inositol,farnesol,gamma-undecalactone,folinic acid,palmitoleic acid,and MG(12:/0:0/0:0)were not produced by CA during co-culture with CM,demonstrating the antifungal mecha-nism of CM.Our results highlight the crucial roles of metabolomics studies to provide essential information regarding the antifungal mechanism of C.mamane against C.albicans,especially when the lost/undetected metabolites are involved in fungal survival and pathogenicity.
基金funded by the International Foundation for Science(IFS),Karlavagen 108,5th floor,SE-115 26 Stockholm,Sweden(Fellow ship No.AB/21683R).
文摘Background: African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is caused mainly by Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax, and T. brucei brucei and is the major constraint for livestock productivity in Sub-Saharan African countries. Information about animal trypanosomiasis status in Ivory Coast is missing, especially regarding molecular epidemiology. Therefore, this study intended to apply molecular tools to identify and characterize trypanosomes in Ivory Coast for sustainable control. Methods: 363 cattle blood samples were collected from Ferkessedougou Region in northern Ivory Coast in 2012. Buffy coat technique (BCT) and species-specific PCR assays were used to detect trypanosome species. Results: Out of 363 cattle examined with BCT, 33 were found positive with all trypanosomes species accounting for an average of 9.09% prevalence whereas polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using species-specific primers showed that 81 out of 363 cattle were infected with trypanosomes with an overall prevalence of 22.31%. Trypanosoma congolense savanah type, T. Vivax and T. brucei sl. accounted for 28.39%, 49.38% and 23.45% of the infection rate respectively. No infection with T. congo forest?type was detected. T. vivax infection was the most prevalence in the area investigated compared to the two other trypanosome species. Mixed infections with different trypanosomes species were detected accounting for 7.32% of prevalence. Regarding sexrelated prevalence, male cattles were slightly more infected than female but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: Our results showed that there was a high prevalence of AAT in livestock in Ferkessedougou Area. There is therefore a need to strengthen control policies and institute measures that help prevent the spread of the parasites for sustainable control of animal trypanosome in this area.
文摘In many sexually reproducing species, individuals can gather information about potential mates by observing their mating success. This behavioral pattern, that we call mate-copying, was reported in the fruit fly Drosophila rnelanogaster where females choosing between 2 males of contrasting phenotypes can build a preference for males of the phenotype they previously saw being chosen by a demonstrator female. As sex ratio is known to affect mate choice, our goal was to test whether mate-copying is also affected by encountered sex ratios. Thus, we created a gradient of sex ratio during demonstrations of mate-copying experiments by changing the number of females observ- ing from a central arena 6 simultaneous demonstrations unfolding in 6 peripheral compartments of a hexagonal device. We also tested whether the sex ratio experienced by females during demon- strations affected their choosiness （male courtship duration and double courtship rate） in subse- quent mate-choice tests. Experimental male：female sex ratio during demonstrations did not affect mate-copying indices, but positively affected the proportion of both males courting the female during mate-choice tests, as well as male courtship duration, the latter potentially explaining the for- mer relationship. As expected, the sex ratio affected female choosiness positively, and Drosophila females seem to have evolved a mate-copying ability independently of sex ratio, and a capacity to adapt their choosiness to male availability. This suggests that, as in many animal species, individuals, especially females, can adapt their mate choice depending on the current sex ratio.
文摘An increasing trend in use of tracking devices such as geolocators is based on the assumption that the information gathered from such devices provides reliable information about the migratory behavior of free-living birds. This underlying as- sumption is rarely tested, as evidenced by the absence in many studies of controls, in particular treated controls, and so far never with a reasonable statistical power. Published studies have shown reduced survival prospects or delayed breeding in some species, suggesting that there may be reason to doubt that tracking devices provide unbiased information. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies applying geolocators to wild birds to determine whether geolocators affected fitness components. Ge- olocators had an overall negative effect on fitness components, in particular survival, and ecological variables. Effect size was larger for aerial foragers than for other species. Moreover the leg band attachment method was more detrimental for birds than the leg-loop backpack harness. A meta-regression model of effect size showed independent negative effects of geolocators on ae- rial foragers, smaller species, species with smaller migration distances and in studies where geolocators were attached with a ring. These results suggest that geolocator studies should be interpreted with caution, but also raise questions whether it is ethically defensible to use geolocators on aerial foragers or small species without carrying out robust pilot studies.
