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Species' response to rapid climate change can be measured through shifts in timing of recurring biological events, known as phenology. The Gulf of Maine is one of the most rapidly warming regions of the ocean, and thus an ideal system to study phenological and biological responses to climate change. A better understanding of climate-induced changes in phenology is needed to effectively and adaptively manage human-wildlife conflicts. Using data from a 20+ year marine mammal observation program, we tested the hypothesis that the phenology of large whale habitat use in Cape Cod Bay has changed and is related to regional-scale shifts in the thermal onset of spring. We used a multi-season occupancy model to measure phenological shifts and evaluate trends in the date of peak habitat use for North Atlantic right (Eubalaena glacialis), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), and fin (Balaenoptera physalus) whales. The date of peak habitat use shifted by +18.1 days (0.90 days/year) for right whales and +19.1 days (0.96 days/year) for humpback whales. We then evaluated interannual variability in peak habitat use relative to thermal spring transition dates (STD), and hypothesized that right whales, as planktivorous specialist feeders, would exhibit a stronger response to thermal phenology than fin and humpback whales, which are more generalist piscivorous feeders. There was a significant negative effect of western region STD on right whale habitat use, and a significant positive effect of eastern region STD on fin whale habitat use indicating differential responses to spatial seasonal conditions. Protections for threatened and endangered whales have been designed to align with expected phenology of habitat use. Our results show that whales are becoming mismatched with static seasonal management measures through shifts in their timing of habitat use, and they suggest that effective management strategies may need to alter protections as species adapt to climate change.

Soil provides multiple, diverse functions, with these underpinning both planetary and human health. For planetary health, soil contributes to multiple critical processes, including through biomass production, by regulating the carbon pool, providing a habitat for 25% of global biodiversity, cycling the nutrients upon which terrestrial systems depend, and cycling water. Soil also underpins human health; humans use soil to provide 98.8% of our food and sustain our nutrition, regulate pathogens, and supply medicines. However, humans have tended to focus on soil almost solely for producing biomass (food, fiber, and energy) through intensive agriculture, and this narrow focus now causes rapid soil degradation, including through loss of soil organic matter, erosion, and salinization. This degradation directly harms planetary health and reduces the ability of soil to support health of future human generations. We argue that a healthy soil is a soil that is multifunctional and is capable of underpinning human and planetary health. Using this definition, a broad conceptual framework is provided for quantifying soil health, with such an approach enabling a shift in the way that we think about, plan, and manage systems to ensure ongoing planetary and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, numbers approximately 336 individuals, and continues to decline. Current development and implementation of protection measures and monitoring of right whale presence relies on visual surveys from vessel and aerial platforms, and passive acoustic monitoring, which contribute to location data. Here we demonstrate that satellite imagery can be used to detect and confirm the North Atlantic right whales at a species level using newly available imaging methods, providing another tool to inform conservation efforts. Using optical satellite imagery with 15 cm resolution, 25 right whales were observed in Cape Cod Bay on April 24, 2021. Species confirmation was possible due to clearly visible callosity patterns indicative of their species within this range. Although the variations in callosity patterns commonly used to identify individuals were too small to be resolved at this image resolution, one whale with large distinctive markings visible on his body was identified at an individual level from satellite imagery alone. Although visual and acoustic survey methods can be combined for monitoring this species in critical habitats, satellite‐based monitoring can be especially helpful to understand whale presence outside the areas monitored with existing visual and acoustic detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration, chemical speciation, and spatial distribution of essential and toxic mineral elements in cereal seeds have important implications for human health. To identify genes responsible for element uptake, translocation, and storage, high-throughput phenotyping methods are needed to visualize element distribution and concentration in seeds. Here, we used X-ray fluorescence microscopy (μ-XRF) as a method for rapid and high-throughput phenotyping of seed libraries and developed an ImageJ-based pipeline to analyze the spatial distribution of elements. Using this method, we nondestructively scanned 4,190 ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized M1 rice (Oryza sativa) seeds and 533 diverse rice accessions in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) panel to simultaneously measure concentrations and spatial distribution of elements in the embryo, endosperm, and aleurone layer. A total of 692 putative mutants and 65 loci associated with the spatial distribution of elements in rice seed were identified. This powerful method provides a basis for investigating the genetics and molecular mechanisms controlling the accumulation and spatial variations of mineral elements in plant seeds., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement. None declared., (© American Society of Plant Biologists 2022. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)