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Currently, reviews focusing on the distribution of macrophytes focus primarily on large water bodies, regardless of the fact that small water bodies (SWBs), such as ponds, ditches and streams, often support higher levels of gamma macrophyte richness. This review investigates the direction and strength of the relationship between 13 abiotic factors and macrophyte distribution in SWBs. Results demonstrate that there are distinct differences between the effects of abiotic factors on bryophytes and those on vascular macrophytes of different morphological forms. Whilst shading and velocity have a significant (p < 0.05) negative relationship with vascular macrophyte richness and a positive relationship with bryophyte richness, the reverse is true for the size of a water body, depth and concentration of nitrogen. Vascular macrophyte richness has a significant (p < 0.05) negative relationship with distance to a stream source, isolation, the proportion of surrounding land that is woodland, total phosphorus concentrations and pH. The strength of the influence of substrate size and water body size differs between vascular macrophyte morphologies. Key knowledge gaps include bryophyte distribution and the effect of hydroperiod and surrounding land use on macrophyte communities. In order to conserve all macrophyte morphologies and taxa, it is important to protect SWBs with a diverse set of conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) are becoming increasingly recognized as key members of local scavenger guilds in Australia. Yet, our understanding of the spatiotemporal scavenging dynamics of this mainly herbivorous marsupial species remains limited. We investigated abiotic and biotic factors influencing possum carcass use across an alpine and temperate bioregion in Australia. Using camera traps set on experimentally placed kangaroo carcasses, we first examined the influence of both open and closed canopy habitats and warm and cool seasons on possum scavenging behaviour across both bioregions. While scavenging was minimal in open habitats across both bioregions—likely a reflection of possums being an arboreal species—seasonality did significantly influence possum activity. Possums scavenged on carcasses in temperate regions entirely during cooler months. Scavenging was recorded year‐round in the alpine region, but with total possum feeding time on carcasses 5.9 times higher in cooler months. A more detailed 12‐month study in the alpine region confirmed this strong seasonal influence on possum scavenging, with possums up to 5.4 times more likely to discover carcasses in winter and spend up to 6.7 times longer feeding on carcasses during this season. The variability in possum scavenging behaviour between bioregions and seasons highlights the spatiotemporal complexity of possum scavenging behaviour and the importance of considering abiotic and biotic factors to understand the behaviours of scavengers more broadly. Recognizing primarily herbivorous animals as important yet often overlooked members of local scavenger guilds can help advance our understanding of complex scavenging networks and the intricate pathways through which energy flows in ecosystems, both in Australia and in other systems. Improving our understanding of the spatiotemporal scavenging dynamics of typically herbivorous species may also help to inform more nuanced and effective wildlife management strategies, where supplementary foraging on atypical food resources poses conservation concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: At fine scales (<10 km in spatial resolution), only a few studies have evaluated the relationships between abiotic factors and the horizontal occurrence of vascular epiphytes. At fine scales, variation in abiotic variables can be attributed to topographic heterogeneity. For example, air humidity and wind speed are likely to vary along ridge–valley gradients, and differences in slope aspect cause variation in light intensity as well as temperature gradient along an elevation. We tested the hypothesis that the horizontal epiphyte occurrence at fine scales is influenced more by topographic gradients related to abiotic factors than by host tree size and species. We also assessed air humidity variation along the ridge–valley gradient at our study site as a way to explore its possible correlation with the epiphyte occurrence. Location: A coniferous/broadleaf evergreen mixed forest in a humid temperate zone of Kochi, southwest Japan. Methods: We surveyed epiphyte occurrence on 310 trees and recorded host tree size and species within a 52‐ha watershed with an elevational range of 378–777 m a.s.l. Epiphyte occurrence was modeled using three topographic variables (ridge–valley gradient, slope aspect differences and elevational gradient), host tree size and species. The effect sizes of each variable were then compared. Air humidity was measured on the valley bottom, slope and ridge throughout the year. Results: Epiphyte occurrence probability increased toward the valley bottom and on larger host trees; it also varied among host tree species. Slope aspect differences and elevational gradient were less effective. The ridge–valley gradient had a greater effect than host tree size on epiphyte occurrence. Air humidity was highest at the valley bottom and lowest on the ridge. Conclusions: Horizontal epiphyte occurrence was driven more by topographic gradient than by host tree size and species in a small watershed covered by a warm‐temperate broadleaf forest. This finding suggests the importance of forests at valley bottoms to support epiphyte occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field observations of soil respiration (SR) in different types of terrestrial ecosystems are very relevant because of high temporal and spatial variations of SR rate. The intra-annual dynamics of SR is mainly determined by the changes in hydrothermal conditions during the year and is often described with temperature sensitivity coefficient (Q10), which usually has a fixed value in many of the used models. This study is focused on the assessment of seasonal and interannual dynamics of SR temperature sensitivity in two grasslands in the southern Moscow oblast (temperate continental climate) based on continuous 25-year-long all-year-round measurements of CO2 emission from soils. The grasslands have been formed on two different soil types: sandy soddy-podbur (Entic Podzol (Arenic)) and gray loamy soil (Haplic Luvisol (Loamic)). The SR rate has been continuously measured from December 1997 to November 2022 with an interval of 7–10 days using the technique of closed static chambers. The temperature sensitivity of SR, estimated from the entire set of data, is higher in Haplic Luvisol as compared with Entic Podzol (3.47 vs. 2.59). The Q10 values for SR in both soils are 1.2–1.4-fold lower in dry years as compared with wet years. The interannual variation of Q10 values in grassland ecosystems amounts to 21–36% depending on the considered temperature range. A statistically significant positive correlation between the Q10 values in the temperature range ≥1°С and wetness indices is observable in both grasslands. A differentiated approach integrating different values of temperature coefficients for SR into the used models is necessary to improve the predictions of C budget in ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) plays a pivotal role in long-term carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. However, there is relatively limited knowledge regarding differences in PhytOC stability among various crops and cultivars, as well as the impact of environmental conditions (climate factors and soil properties) on its stability. While agricultural practices have traditionally prioritized yield optimization, less attention has been paid to enhancing carbon stability and accumulation alongside high productivity. To address these gaps, we collected samples from 28 wheat cultivars and 23 rice cultivars of 51 representative field sites across China. We conducted a comparative analysis of PhytOC stability by measuring silicon and leached carbon concentrations through a 5-week rapid dissolution experiment at 25 °C. A novel method for assessing PhytOC stability based on principal component analysis was developed, yielding a composite index of stability. Subsequently, we explored the correlation between PhytOC stability and environmental conditions, unveiling both direct and indirect relationships with biotic and abiotic factors. The results indicate that PhytOC in rice exhibited greater stability than in wheat, revealing significant inter-varietal differences and a degree of spatial heterogeneity within both crops. Furthermore, PhytOC stability in wheat was more responsive to environmental conditions than in rice, influenced by spatial distribution and climate factors, such as sunshine duration, temperature, ground surface temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration. In contrast, PhytOC stability in rice was primarily driven by varietal differences. In conclusion, this study provides an insight for promoting long-term carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation through proper crop production and environmental modifications. [Display omitted] • Composite stability index is a rapid method for assessing PhytOC stability. • PhytOC was more stable in rice than in wheat. • PhytOC stability in rice was primarily affected by varieties. • PhytOC stability in wheat was more responsive to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the feeding behaviour of termite Odontotermes obesus (Ramber) under field conditions under abiotic and biotic factors. Eight wood species include Mangifera indica (mangoes), Albizia lebbeck (albizia), Populus euramericana (popular), Melia azedarach (bead tree), Vachellia nilotica (kiker,thorny acacia), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (eucalyptus), Dalbergia sissoo (shesham) and Eugenia jambolana (Jamun) was offered to termites to feed under field trials. Results found that P. euramericana and M. indica were the most palatable woods to termite. In choice bioassay E. camaldulensis was more consumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonality often influences multiple aspects of vector‐borne plant diseases. With respect to the management of plant disease vectors, an understanding of the factors driving seasonal changes in vector flight activity may improve management outcomes by facilitating more proactive application of control measures. One of the most challenging issues for citrus Huanglongbing management is to forecast when disease primary spread by bacteriliferous Diaphorina citri will occur. We monitored the temporal patterns of immigrating psyllids, using upwards of 1,200 traps spread among 9 citrus farms and checked on a weekly basis over 4 years. This dataset was analysed with a set of hierarchical models to estimate the effect of climatic variables on citrus foliage production (i.e. flush), and effects of climatic variables and citrus foliage dynamics on D. citri catches over the season. The results showed substantial seasonal variability in immigrating D. citri abundance, with the critical dispersal/migration period occurring between end of winter and spring. During this period, 65% of the total psyllids were collected on sticky traps. Seasonality of immigrating D. citri coincided with changes in certain climate variables, with negative effects of humidity and daily maximum temperatures, and a positive effect of rainfall amount in prior weeks. Maximum temperature and both daily minimum temperature and rainfall during prior weeks were also associated with new citrus flush production, which itself was positively related to immigrating D. citri abundance. Based on these results, citrus growers should be aware and intensify the frequency of psyllid control tactics (i.e. insecticide and/or kaolin sprays) during this period in order to prevent Ca. L. asiaticus transmission. These results are an important step towards developing the predictive framework needed to refine D. citri and huanglongbing management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is shifting the distribution of species, and may have a profound impact on the ecology and evolution of species interactions. However, we know little about the impact of increasing temperature and changing rainfall patterns on the interactions between plants and their beneficial and antagonistic root symbionts.Here, we used a reciprocal multifactorial growth chamber experiment with seeds and soil microbial communities from three origins to investigate the impact of temperature and soil moisture on the growth, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization and root‐associated fungal community of a perennial herb. Moreover, we tested whether plants and AM fungi performed better or worse when plants were grown with their local soil biota, for example, due to plant adaptation or changes in the genetic or species composition of the soil microbial community.Temperature and soil moisture generally increased plant growth, whereas temperature but not soil moisture increased AM fungal colonization. The strength and direction of the plants' response to temperature were dependent on soil moisture and differed among plant populations, and AM fungal colonization was further affected by the origin of the soil microbial community. The root‐associated fungal community structure was impacted by temperature, soil moisture and the soil microbial origin, with interactive effects between the microbial origin and the abiotic environment. Plant biomass was lower when plants were grown with their local soil microbes, potentially due to intraspecific negative plant–soil feedbacks.Synthesis. Our findings indicate that, beyond a relatively uniform increase of plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization with increasing temperature, plants and root‐associated fungi of different origins will vary in their response to climate change (i.e. elevated temperature and shifts in rainfall). This may create pronounced, but difficult to predict, spatial and temporal variation in the ecology and evolution of plant–microbe interactions with a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the ecological mechanisms driving the dynamics of field rotifer populations remains a challenge in ecology. Brachionus angularis (Rotifera) is preferred in such studies because of their planktonic behavior, high fecundity, and absence of cryptic species. In this study, one-year zooplankton samples were collected twice a month from a subtropical lake and the roles of abiotic and biotic factors regulating the population dynamics of B. angularis were analyzed. The sampled B. angularis were composed of two discontinuous populations: 'summer and autumn' and 'spring and winter', segmented by high mixis rates. The 'summer and autumn' population had high egg ratios, but low egg volumes. Water temperature was the main factor driving temporal dynamics in density, thereby counteracting the negative effect of top-down force. Based on the synchronous dynamics of two fractions of chlorophyll-a, the densities of B. angularis, its potential competitors and predators, together with the reverse correlations between the egg ratio and population density, and Secchi-disk depth, we found that bottom-up and top-down forces were plausible factors regulating variations in population density in spring (March and April). However, the density peak of B. angularis in winter might be primarily ascribed to recruitment from the sediment. We further addressed the necessity for diverse evidence from the speciation of cryptic species, abundance, reproduction, and morphology, in understanding the population dynamics of a field rotifer population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing knowledge on the role of evolutionary history during forest succession and its relationship with ecosystem function is particularly relevant in the context of forest landscape restoration for climate change mitigation and adaptation.We used fine resolution vegetation and environmental data (soil, elevation and slope) from two large‐scale surveys (320 × 1000 m2 plots in two 10 km × 10 km blocks) in the Upper Mekong to quantify (1) the role of abiotic and biotic (species interactions) factors in community assembly processes and (2) the effect of biodiversity, environmental factors and forest succession on above‐ground biomass (AGB).We found strong correlation between soil fertility and community structure in the early successional seres, while species interactions played an increasingly important role in older seres, presumably due to species complementary.We detected a significant relationship between AGB and phylogenetic diversity, elevation and soil fertility across successional gradients. Within successional stages, soil fertility was not significantly associated with AGB, while elevation was significantly associated with AGB only in forest <100 years old. Phylogenetic diversity was positively correlated with AGB in the young secondary forest (< 15 years old) but not significantly associated with AGB in older seres.Synthesis. Our results support the hypothesis that abiotic filtering influences species assembly in the initial stages of forest succession, while biotic interactions dominate community assembly processes in older seres. We found that phylogenetic diversity, soil fertility and elevation gradients were strongly predictive of AGB in a secondary tropical montane forest in Southeast Asia. However, elevation may reflect other underlying abiotic gradients, such as water availability. Phylogenetic diversity was significantly associated with AGB only in youngest seres (<15 years old). Considering phylogenetic diversity in restoration plantings and the management of forests younger than 15 years old could enhance forest biomass and the climate mitigation function forest landscape restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries, museums and archives located in old and improper buildings are affected in time by malfunctions of the sanitary installations, of the heating systems, etc., in the presence of excessive moisture from the infiltration and dampness. The article presents the causes that generate mistakes of design, construction, endowment and exploitation of the library (museum, archive) buildings, the factors that increase the risk to be classified as having the sick building syndrome (BCS) and sick building (CB), the incidence of abiotic and biotic degradation factors with the presentation of the external and internal analytical elements of the library site, and how the quality of the internal environment of the buildings of cultural interest (libraries, museums and archives) is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article summarizes our own research and the publications on the importance of hygiene sanitary and technological factors to ensure disease prevention, to increase the resistance and productivity of pigs. The emphasis has been done not on the treatment but on the prevention of swine diseases due to the optimization of the standards of hygienic parameters, tolerated permissible concentrations of substances in the environment, their influence not only on the processes of thermoregulation in the body and body adaptation but also to the increase in the resistance of the body to infectious agents. Due to non-observance of the rules of hygiene and sanitation, feeding and drinking regimes in the pig-breeding enterprises, the annual death of animals exceeds 25%, the diseases of the digestive tract are registered in 40-50%, respiratory diseases - in 25-30% of cases. Growth retardation is registered in the young animals, the durability does not exceed 83.2-85.6%. High indoor air humidity should be considered as a factor of importance in the etiopathogenesis of respiratory diseases and temperature changes - as a factor to prevent hyperthermia and hypoglycemia. The increase in the efficiency of the work in pig-breeding complexes can be achieved: - firstly, due to the decrease in the influence of environmental factors having the negative impact on the development of swine immunity; secondly, due to the elimination of negatively acting agents from the external environment and the strengthening of factors that increase the resistance of the body; thirdly, due to the development of nonspecific immunostimulants and their rational use in the pig - breeding practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten economically important species belonging to the Tephritidae have been recorded in Union of the Comoros (an island nation off the coast of East Africa). Little is known about the distribution of these species and how they are affected by climatic factors in the Comoros archipelago. The main objectives of this study were to characterize: (i) the population dynamics of tephritid fruit flies in relation to season and host fruit availability and (ii) the geographic distribution of tephritids in relation to temperature and rainfall. The study was conducted during 2 years at 11 sites on three islands (Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli) in the archipelago. The site elevations ranged from 55 to 885 m a.s.l. At each site, flies were collected weekly in eight traps (four different lures, each replicated twice). Fruit phenology was also recorded weekly. The dominant tephritid species detected was the invasive Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel followed by Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann. Tephritid species were generally more abundant during the hot and rainy seasons than during the cold and dry seasons. Bactrocera dorsalis numbers were higher on Grande Comore than on the two other islands. On Anjouan and Mohéli, B. dorsalis numbers were very low in 2014 but sharply increased in 2015, suggesting a recent invasion of these islands. Abundances were significantly related to the fruiting of mango, strawberry guava, and guava for B. dorsalis and to the fruiting of mango, guava, and mandarin for C. capitata. Bactrocera dorsalis was more abundant in hot and humid low-altitude areas, while C. capitata was more abundant in dry medium-altitude areas, suggesting the occurrence of climatic niche partitioning between the two species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Modeling species' habitat requirements are crucial to assess impacts of global change, for conservation efforts and to test mechanisms driving species presence. While the influence of abiotic factors has been widely examined, the importance of biotic factors and biotic interactions, and the potential implications of local processes are not well understood. Testing their importance requires additional knowledge and analyses at local habitat scale. Here, we recorded the locations of species presence at the microhabitat scale and measured abiotic and biotic parameters in three different common lizard ( Zootoca vivipara) populations using a standardized sampling protocol. Thereafter, space use models and cross-evaluations among populations were run to infer local processes and estimate the importance of biotic parameters, biotic interactions, sex, and age. Biotic parameters explained more variation than abiotic parameters, and intraspecific interactions significantly predicted the spatial distribution. Significant differences among populations in the relationship between abiotic parameters and lizard distribution, and the greater model transferability within populations than between populations are in line with effects predicted by local adaptation and/or phenotypic plasticity. These results underline the importance of including biotic parameters and biotic interactions in space use models at the population level. There were significant differences in space use between sexes, and between adults and yearlings, the latter showing no association with the measured parameters. Consequently, predictive habitat models at the population level taking into account different sexes and age classes are required to understand a specie's ecological requirements and to allow for precise conservation strategies. Our study therefore stresses that future predictive habitat models at the population level and their transferability should take these parameters into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Independent methods of geological and molecular-biological chronologies have made it possible to define generally corresponding stages in the geological and biological evolution of the environments and communities of Lake Baikal since the Late Cretaceous, i.e., during the last 70 myr. All the abiotic elements drastically changed during geological evolution, with destruction of existing and formation of new natural complexes. Nevertheless, some specific zones retained relicts of former settings. The resulting present-day natural complex includes elements of different ages and geneses. Similar to different natural zones of the present-day Earth, which are populated by different biocoenoses, stages in the development of abiotic elements are also characterized by different faunal and floral assemblages. Some taxa were replaced by others, and the resulting aqueous biota of Lake Baikal includes different-age and ecologically different elements. The oldest groups of Baikal organisms appeared approximately 70 Ma ago, although the largest proportion of the lake biota started forming 4-3 Ma ago in response to the most drastic changes in the abiotic elements of the environment. The youngest taxa appeared 1.8 to 0.15 Ma ago, i.e., during the period when superdeep lake environments and mountainous glaciations were developing. The chronological coincidence of main stages in development of abiotic and biotic elements of the nature indicates their relationships. Particular transformations of abiotic elements and the probable mechanism of their influence on the evolution of living communities are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary succession is impacted by both biotic and abiotic forces, but their relative importance varies due to environmental drivers. Across estuarine salinity gradients, physical stress increases with salinity, and biotic stresses are greater at lower salinities. In southern New England tidal marshes spanning a landscape-scale salinity gradient, we experimentally examined the effects of physical stress and consumer pressure by mammalian herbivores on secondary succession in artificially created bare patches. Recovery was slower in marshes exposed to full-strength seawater, where physical stress is high. Compared to full-strength salt marshes, recovery in low-salinity marshes was much faster and was influenced by small-mammal consumers. At lower salinities, small mammals selectively ate and prevented the establishment of several native and two invasive, nuisance species (Typha angustifolia and Phragmites australis) but were unable to control the expansion of established P. australis stands. By controlling the establishment of competitively dominant species and the trajectory of secondary succession in low-salinity marshes, small mammals may play a cryptic keystone role in estuarine plant communities and are a critical, overlooked consideration in the conservation and management of estuarine marshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Abiotic and biotic host-plant stress, such as desiccation and herbivory, may strongly affect sap-sucking insects such as aphids via changes in plant chemicals of insect nutritional or plant defensive value. Here, we examined (i) water deprivation and (ii) defoliation by the beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata as stresses indirectly affecting the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae via its host plant Solanum tuberosum. For plant-induced stress, aphids were reared on healthy vs. continuously stressed potato for 14 days (no watering; defoliation maintained at ∼40%). Aphid performance under stress was correlated with metabolic responses monitored by profiling of the aphid proteome. M. euphorbiae was strongly affected by water stress, as adult survival, total aphid number and biomass were reduced by 67%, 64%, and 79%, respectively. Aphids performed normally on defoliated potato, indicating that they were unaffected or able to compensate any stress induced by plant defoliation. Stressed aphid proteomes revealed 419–453 protein spots, including 27 that were modulated specifically or jointly under each kind of host-plant stress. Reduced aphid fitness on water-stressed plants mostly correlated with modulation of proteins involved in energy metabolism, apparently to conserve energy in order to prioritize survival. Despite normal performance, several aphid proteins that are known to be implicated in cell communication were modulated on defoliated plants, possibly suggesting modified aphid behaviour. The GroEL protein (or symbionin) of the endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola was predominant under all conditions in M. euphorbiae. Its expression level was not significantly affected by aphid host-plant stresses, which is consistent with the high priority of symbiosis in stressed aphids. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Entomopathogenic nematodes within the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae (Order: Rhabditida) are potential biological control agents for many soil-dwelling vegetable pests. However, their low persistence and efficacy after field releases have resulted in limited use in pest management programs. Understanding the factors regulating natural populations of entomopathogenic nematodes may provide insight into practices to conserve populations within production systems. A series of investigations were conducted within a vegetable production area in Willard, Ohio during 2000–2003 to gain insight into the population ecology of endemic populations of entomopathogenic nematodes. A total of 440 sites across four habitats associated with the production landscape were sampled to ascertain the natural occurrence of these beneficial nematodes. Habitats included cultivated areas, grassy banks adjacent to cultivated areas, undisturbed shrub lands and forests. Twelve sites along grassy banks were monitored over a growing season to estimate associations between abiotic and biotic factors and endemic populations. Entomopathogenic nematodes were only detected along grassy banks adjacent to the cultivated areas; nematodes were recovered from 15 to 30% of sites sampled in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Two species of nematodes were isolated, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar and Steinernema feltiae Filipjev. H. bacteriophora was the most prevalent nematode species and was recovered from 60% of positive samples. Nematode populations varied temporally and spatially along grassy banks; mean population density over the growing period was 1313 infective juveniles/m2. Neither macro- nor microarthropod communities nor soil temperature differed between sites at which nematodes were detected and those at which nematodes were not detected. Soil moisture, however, was associated with the occurrence and persistence of nematodes along grassy banks; mean soil moisture at sites at which nematodes were detected and those sites at which nematodes were not detected was 37.3 and 26.8%, respectively. Water management is an important component of vegetable production and our results suggest that soil moisture manipulation would be important in the establishment and sustained presence of entomopathogenic nematode populations within cultivated areas over the growing season. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Abiotic/biotic factors affect cuticle composition & maintain plant health. • Biosynthesis & export of cutin and wax monomers correlates. • Cuticle components are critical to control transpiration, organ fusion & UV filtration. • Cuticle components generate plant immune response against pathogens. • Beneficial plant-microbe interactions are influenced by cuticle monomers. Having evolutionary significance in establishing colonization of terrestrial plants, cuticle occurs to act as a continuous shield over the plant epidermal cells, facilitating multifunctional communication passage between the plant and outer environment. Cuticle is a hydrophobic layer acting as a fencing between the aerial plant parts viz. primary stem, leaves, trichomes, flowers and fruits, and their external environment. The chemical nature and structure of cuticle may vary during various developmental and growth stages, as well as between various organs, genotypes, and species, depending on the environmental conditions. It is majorly composed of cutin and epicuticular wax depositions. In-depth understanding of the mechanism behind the cuticle biosynthesis remains to be unveiled. This review systematically discusses and sheds light on the structure and composition of cuticle, various genes, transcription factors and molecular pathways involved in the biosynthesis of cuticle, and how their regulation affect the plant health. Moreover, various functions of cuticle in terms of plant protection have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine parasite communities can exhibit temporal and spatial changes in response to seasonal and local variations in several biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Limited attention has been given to the influence of abiotic factors, so their effects on parasite community structure remain unclear. A total of 496 specimens of Euthynnus lineatus were collected over a 7‐year period (2012–2018) from Acapulco Bay, Mexico. Their parasite communities were analyzed to determine if they experience interannual variations due to local biotic and abiotic factors. Thirty‐three metazoan parasite species were recovered and identified: four species of Monogenea (adults); 16 of Digenea (one larvae and 15 adults); two of Acanthocephala (adults); two of Cestoda (larvae); three of Nematoda (two larvae and one adult); and six of Crustacea (three Copepoda, and three Isopoda). Species richness was greatest among the digeneans, which represented 48% of the total species recovered, followed by the crustaceans (19% of total species). Species richness at the component community level (14–24 species) was similar to reported richness in other small tuna species. The component communities and infracommunities of E. lineatus exhibited a similar pattern: high species richness and diversity, and numerical dominance by a single species, mainly by one of the didymozoids Allopseudocolocyntotrema claviforme or Pseudocolocyntotrema yaito. Parasite community structure and species composition varied among sampling years. Variations were possibly caused by a combination of abiotic and biotic factors which generated notable changes in the infection levels of several component species during the study period. These communities may therefore be unpredictable in terms of structure and species composition, as has been suggested for other communities of marine parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]