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Diatoms are single‐celled organisms that contribute approximately 20% of the global primary production and play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles and trophic chains. Despite their ecological importance, our knowledge of microevolution is limited. We developed a model using the SLiM evolutionary framework to address this knowledge gap. As a reference, we used the diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia multistriata, which has been extensively studied in the Gulf of Naples. Our model recapitulates what we observe in natural populations, with microevolutionary processes that occur annually during a three‐stage bloom phase. Interestingly, we found that non‐bloom phases allow the population to maintain sex‐generated diversity produced during blooms. This finding suggests that non‐bloom phases are critical to counteract bloom‐related pressures and mitigate genetic divergence at the species level. Moreover, our model showed that despite the consistent genetic differentiation during bloom phases, the population tends to return to pre‐bloom states. While our model is limited to neutral dynamics, our study provides valuable insights into diatoms' microevolution, paving the way to explore the ecological implications of the life history dynamics of these organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular revolution in parasitology has led to extraordinary achievements, but also to an excessive focus on technology. Molecular tools are not perfect; to use them effectively, we need to understand their limitations and weaknesses. 'Classical' (non-molecular) parasitology should not be underestimated and neglected, as this could have negative consequences, for example, misidentification of parasites. The opportunity to use modern methods to better understand parasite life cycles remains untapped, and long-term and risky ecological research is not supported. The integrative approach, that is, a combination of 'classical' and modern methods, is the only way to better understand the complexity of parasites. Research should focus on the complexity of the interactions of parasites with their hosts and the environment (One Health concept) in today's rapidly changing world. We live in the age of molecular biology and '-omics', and molecular methods have opened up unimagined possibilities for biological research, including parasitology. However, too one-sided a focus on new approaches can lead to major gaps as less 'cool' topics are neglected. Selected areas of research are briefly discussed to highlight the gaps caused by the current excessive focus on molecular and '-omics' methods. It is crucial to combine both 'classical' and modern methods without neglecting the complexity of the interactions of parasites with their hosts and the environment (One Health concept), which is even more urgent in today's rapidly changing world. Parasitologists should be more involved in field studies and multidisciplinary assessment of parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, arthropod populations are declining at alarming rates, but the causes are rarely understood. Our research details and examines possible causes for fluctuations in the size of a Costa Rican population of golden silk orbweaver spiders (Trichonephila clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767)). Over a seven-year period from 2013–2019, we noted a sharp decline and then partial recovery of the study population during the wet season (June, July), but then failed to locate any spiders during a brief survey in June 2022 when they would otherwise be abundant. We monitored webs daily during 2013–2019 to test whether variation in prey capture, competitors, female size, male availability, predation, temperature, or rainfall related to population fluctuations. We were unable to explain T. clavipes population trends with the collected data. Future studies are needed to determine whether the extremely low population densities we witnessed in 2017 and 2022 can be interpreted as the lowest values of this species' normal population fluctuation cycle or whether these extremes are part of a long-term spider decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Diatoms are single‐celled organisms that contribute approximately 20% of the global primary production and play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles and trophic chains. Despite their ecological importance, our knowledge of microevolution is limited. We developed a model using the SLiM evolutionary framework to address this knowledge gap. As a reference, we used the diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia multistriata, which has been extensively studied in the Gulf of Naples. Our model recapitulates what we observe in natural populations, with microevolutionary processes that occur annually during a three‐stage bloom phase. Interestingly, we found that non‐bloom phases allow the population to maintain sex‐generated diversity produced during blooms. This finding suggests that non‐bloom phases are critical to counteract bloom‐related pressures and mitigate genetic divergence at the species level. Moreover, our model showed that despite the consistent genetic differentiation during bloom phases, the population tends to return to pre‐bloom states. While our model is limited to neutral dynamics, our study provides valuable insights into diatoms' microevolution, paving the way to explore the ecological implications of the life history dynamics of these organisms.

Copyright of Studia Histórica: Historia Moderna is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A study of taxonomic differentiation and transition bias of the cytb gene, focusing on the early stages of speciation, was carried out in 15 subfamilies/families of five orders of Palearctic mammals. It was confirmed that the genetic differentiation among taxa of small and large mammals is shifted by the same taxonomic level, in which connection the period of cryptic speciation of Micromammalia (semi- and allospecific levels) corresponds to the divergence of type species in their genus within Macromammalia. In all cases, both transition bias and its evolutionary compensation took place. The novelty of the study also lies in the proof that the alignment of the transitions and transversion rates in evolutionary lineages has the pattern of a phase transition, and the frequency of transversions in short-cycle species of the orders Insectivora and Rodentia is higher than in long-cycle orders Artiodactyla, Carnivora and Chiroptera while with relative equality of transitions. The latter circumstance might be associated with the traits of metabolism and determines the characteristics of the molecular evolution of mammalian groups with short and long life cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphing matter that change shapes and properties in response to external stimuli have gained significant interests in material science, robotics, biomedical engineering, wearables, architecture, and design. Along with functional advances, there is growing pressure and interest in considering the environmental impact of morphing matter during its life cycle. The unique manufacturing and usage of morphing matter means that existing sustainable design frameworks and principles for general physical products may not apply directly. For example, manufacturing morphing matter often requires designing and predicting materials' behaviors over time, and using devices fabricated with morphing matter often involves harnessing renewable energy and self‐reconfiguration, which pose unique sustainability opportunities and challenges. This study reflects and summarizes the field's practice in sustainable manufacturing, transport, use, and end‐of‐life handling of morphing matter. The term "sustainable morphing matter" (SMM) is coined, suggesting that sustainability‐conscious factors can become an integral component of morphing matter. In addition, ways to apply sustainability‐conscious factors to augment the existing design pipeline of morphing matter are presented, and more quantitative and algorithmic‐level developments are needed to apply these factors rigorously to the design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hungarian Medical Journal / Orvosi Hetilap is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Transmission of Echinococcus spp. in life cycles that involve mainly wildlife is well recognized for those species with small mammals as intermediate hosts (e. g. E. multilocularis), as well as for E. felidis and the ‘northern’ genotypes of E. canadensis (G8 and G10). In contrast, the remaining taxa of E. granulosus sensu lato are best known for their domestic life cycles, and the numerous wild mammal species (mainly ungulates) that have been recorded with cystic echinococcosis in the past were mainly considered a result of spill-over from the dog-livestock transmission system. This view was challenged with the advent of molecular characterization, allowing discrimination of the metacestodes, although the contribution of wild mammals to various Echinococcus life cycles has remained uncertain for scarcity of wildlife studies. Numerous records of cysts in wild ungulates date back to the 20th century, but cannot with certainty be allocated to the Echinococcus species and genotypes that are recognized today. This means that our current knowledge is largely restricted to studies of the past two decades that kept adding gradually to our concepts of transmission in various geographic regions. In particular, new insights were gathered in the past years on E. granulosus s.l. in wildlife of sub-Saharan Africa, but also on transmission patterns of E. multilocularis in previously neglected regions, e. g. North America. Here, an update is provided on the current state of knowledge on wild mammals as hosts for all Echinococcus species, listing >150 species of wild hosts with references, as well as estimates on their epidemiological impact and our current gaps of knowledge.

Seasonal variation of freshwater invertebrate communities is strongly influenced by abiotic factors including temperature and precipitation which, in turn, are predicted to be affected by climate change. It is important to study these effects, not least since they may affect higher trophic levels and ecosystem dynamics. Our aim with this study was to compare the seasonal variation of the community composition of Chironomidae (Diptera) in two streams in the Faroe Islands and to see how this related to abiotic factors. Additionally, we studied the life cycle of Tvetenia calvescens (Edwards 1929), the dominant species in the streams. For this purpose, Chironomidae larvae were collected from two adjacent streams of different sizes in the Faroe Islands at regular intervals over the course of 15 months. We found that Tvetenia calvescens was the most abundant species in the streams, followed by Eukiefferiella minor (Edwards 1929). The community composition varied in different months and between the two streams and was shaped by water temperature and flow velocity. Larval densities were generally higher in the smaller stream than in the larger stream, but densities were not correlated with water temperature, monthly temperature amplitude or flow velocity. We found that in both streams Tvetenia calvescens was bivoltine with adult emergence in May/June and September/October.

This article has been prepared based on the results of many years of the authors' original studies and analysis of the world literature. To determine the biological diversity of lung helminths various vertebrate hosts were studied, including 7 species from Armenia, 13 from Russia, 7 from Bulgaria and 10 from Poland, as well as many invertebrate potential hosts, mainly land mollusks. Three types of development cycles were found to be characteristic for lung helminthes: (1) Nematodes from family Dictyocaulidae developing in a direct way without using intermediate hosts, geohelminths or monoxenous type of development. (2) Those nematodes life cycles of which include intermediate hosts which are mainly land mollusks. These are species from family Protostrongylidae—biohelminths, dixenous type. (3) Life cycles also include intermediate hosts, but here they are vertebrate. This type includes cestodes Echinococcusgranulosus and Alveococcusmultilocularis (see our previous article on existing problems in their taxonomy)—biohelminths, dixenous type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present hypothesis tries to explain animal regeneration in relation to the life cycles and environment of different animals. Regeneration is a basic phenomenon present since the origin of life in the sea, as testimonial in lower or more complex extant marine animals. Aquatic animals that evolved an indirect development, forming larvae and transiting into the adult stage through metamorphosis, use gene networks present in their genome for these transformations. In case of injury or organ loss as adults, they can re-utilize most or part of the gene networks previously activated during larval growth and metamorphosis. In contrast, terrestrial animals that evolved life cycles with the elimination of larvae and metamorphosis for the adaptation to land conditions lost some of the genes implicated in these post-developmental processes and consequently also the ability to regenerate. Few arthropods and lizards are capable to form hydrated regenerative blastemas with a similar consistence of embryonic tissues. The present hypothesis submits that regeneration cannot be activated in the dry land environment and consequently was largely or completely abolished in terrestrial animals. After injury or organ loss, nematodes, most arthropods and terrestrial vertebrates can only form scars or a limited healing or regengrow in juveniles. This is a process where somatic growth is superimposed to wound healing so that the apparent regeneration derives from the combination from both processes. When full growth is terminated these terrestrial animals can only heal by scarring. • A new hypothesis on animal regeneration is here formulated. • Regeneration is related to the aquatic environment, larvae and metamorphosis. • It is the re-utilization of developmental-metamorphic processes in adults that allows animal regeneration. • Land colonization determined loss of the above developmental phases and of regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of taxonomic differentiation and transition bias of the cytb gene, focusing on the early stages of speciation, was carried out in 15 subfamilies/families of five orders of Palearctic mammals. It was confirmed that the genetic differentiation among taxa of small and large mammals is shifted by the same taxonomic level, in which connection the period of cryptic speciation of Micromammalia (semi- and allospecific levels) corresponds to the divergence of type species in their genus within Macromammalia. In all cases, both transition bias and its evolutionary compensation took place. The novelty of the study also lies in the proof that the alignment of the transitions and transversion rates in evolutionary lineages has the pattern of a phase transition, and the frequency of transversions in short-cycle species of the orders Insectivora and Rodentia is higher than in long-cycle orders Artiodactyla, Carnivora and Chiroptera while with relative equality of transitions. The latter circumstance might be associated with the traits of metabolism and determines the characteristics of the molecular evolution of mammalian groups with short and long life cycles.

A key step in the evolutionary transition to multicellularity is the origin of multicellular groups as biological individuals capable of adaptation. Comparative work, supported by theory, suggests clonal development should facilitate this transition, although this hypothesis has never been tested in a single model system. We evolved 20 replicate populations of otherwise isogenic clonally reproducing ‘snowflake’ yeast (Δace2/∆ace2) and aggregative ‘floc’ yeast (GAL1p::FLO1 /GAL1p::FLO1) with daily selection for rapid growth in liquid media, which favors faster cell division, followed by selection for rapid sedimentation, which favors larger multicellular groups. While both genotypes adapted to this regime, growing faster and having higher survival during the group-selection phase, there was a stark difference in evolutionary dynamics. Aggregative floc yeast obtained nearly all their increased fitness from faster growth, not improved group survival; indicating that selection acted primarily at the level of cells. In contrast, clonal snowflake yeast mainly benefited from higher group-dependent fitness, indicating a shift in the level of Darwinian individuality from cells to groups. Through genome sequencing and mathematical modeling, we show that the genetic bottlenecks in a clonal life cycle also drive much higher rates of genetic drift—a result with complex implications for this evolutionary transition. Our results highlight the central role that early multicellular life cycles play in the process of multicellular adaptation.

Plastics are embedded in every inch of the fabric of the society. Although they have played a tremendous role in the progress and development of mankind, they have done equal, if not more, harm to the environment, human health, and marine life. Omnipresence of plastics can be attributed to their low‐cost and scalable production that no other material has yet achieved. Once produced, they are used in almost every mundane as well as niche application. But the equation of its use to disposal is not sustainable and humungous quantities of plastic waste are generated each year. In this review article, the very problem of plastic recycling is explored and analyzed. The life cycle of plastics is explained to depict the vastness and peculiar problems associated with it. Various misconceptions are discussed on plastic use and recycling. False presumptions are challenged to show where efforts to solve this huge problem and need to be directed. Lastly, quantitative efficiency and economic analysis of the available recycling methods are shown to compare their feasibility and indicate potential development direction. Such analyses are very important for the societal transition to a sustainable economy that economically recycles most of its plastic at a commercial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat isolation and disturbance are important regulators of biodiversity, yet it remains unclear how these environmental features drive differences in parasite diversity between ecosystems. We test whether the biological communities in an isolated, frequently disturbed marine ecosystem (deep-sea hydrothermal vents) have reduced parasite richness and relatively fewer parasite species with indirect life cycles (ILCs) compared to ecosystems that are less isolated and less disturbed. We surveyed the parasite fauna of the biological community at the 9°50′N hydrothermal vent field on the East Pacific Rise and compared it to similar datasets from a well-connected and moderately disturbed ecosystem (kelp forest) and an isolated and undisturbed ecosystem (atoll sandflat). Parasite richness within host species did not differ significantly between ecosystems, yet total parasite richness in the vent community was much lower due to the low number of predatory fish species. Contrary to expectation, the proportion of ILC parasite species was not lower at vents due to a high richness of trematodes, while other ILC parasite taxa were scarce (nematodes) or absent (cestodes). These results demonstrate the success of diverse parasite taxa in an extreme environment and reinforce the importance of host diversity and food web complexity in governing parasite diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA sequences for adult and larval Allocreadium spp. from their natural fish and molluscan hosts were generated. Phylogenetic analyses based on two molecular markers (ITS2 and 28S rDNA) yielded unexpected results regarding the diversity and life cycles of European species. It was found that specimens morphologically consistent with the concept of Allocreadium isoporum (Looss 1894) form two different species-level genetic lineages. For now, the morphological differences between the specimens belonging to different genetic lineages are not discernible; they can infect the same fish species at the same or different localities. However, the species differ in their life-cycle patterns, specifically in terms of larval stages and first intermediate host specificity. Based on molecular markers, the tailed ophthalmoxiphidiocercaria developing in Pisidium spp. was associated with a sexual adult A. isoporum from Alburnus alburnus, Barbatula barbatula and Rutilus rutilus. Representatives of another genetic lineage, recovered from R. rutilus and Scardinius erythrophthalmus, turned out to be conspecific with the enigmatic European larval trematode Cercariaeum crassum Wesenberg-Lund, 1934, from the sphaeriid bivalve Pisidium amnicum. This finding requires the recognition of the cryptic species Allocreadium crassum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboos belong to the grass family (or Poaceae). There are 1698 bamboo species distributed around the world in tropical, subtropical and temperate jungles and forests. In our country, there are five native genera that comprise 23 species. The least known characteristic of the woody bamboos is their flowering phenology. Four main types of flowering pafferns have been described. However, the most interesting are those bamboo species that show a massive and cyclical flowering pattern, after a long period of vegetative growth. Such mass flowering events occur at roughly regular intervals and are followed by the death of the flowering individuals. The goal of this review is to provide an informative sample of the current knowledge of bamboo flowering, with an emphasis on the species native to Argentina. Currently, the approximate duration of the life cycle of most woody bamboo species in our country is known, based on a review of the collections of the most important national and international herbaria and an extensive bibliographic search. In most species, the average life cycles are multiples of 15-16 years, with a 30-year cycle being the most common. The main hypotheses about the evolutionary forces that led bamboos to flower, seed and die synchronously are described. Likewise, environmental, genetic factors and the combination of both proposed as possible 'causes' of this atypical flowering pattern of bamboos are discussed. Finally, environmental and social consequences of this phenomenon are listed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

That humans might undergo future evolutionary transitions in individuality (ETIs) seems fanciful. However, drawing upon recent thinking concerning the origins of properties that underpin ETIs, I argue that certain ETIs are imminently realizable. Central to my argument is recognition that heritable variance in fitness at higher levels of organization can be externally imposed (scaffolded) by specific ecological structures and cultural practices. While ETIs to eusociality seem highly improbable, ETIs involving symbioses between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) can be readily envisaged. A necessary requirement is that fitness-affecting interactions between humans and AI devices are inherited by offspring. The Mendelian nature of human reproduction ensures that offspring resemble parents. Reproduction of AI devices requires nothing more than transference of algorithms from parental AI devices to devices that are assigned to offspring. This simple copying, combined with societal structures that require humans to carry AI devices, ensures heritable variance in fitness at the level of both interacting partners. Selection at the collective level will drive alignment of replicative fates and increase co-dependency, thus alleviating need for continual imposition of externally imposed scaffolds. I conclude by drawing attention to the immediacy of such transitions and express concern over possibilities for malevolent manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the similarities and differences in the life-history styles of eight morphologically similar sparid species that occupy the nearshore coastal waters around South Africa. All eight species spawn at sea with two taxa, Acanthopagrus vagus and Rhabdosargus holubi, being dependent on estuaries as primary nursery areas. Two of the species, Rhabdosargus globiceps and Rhabdosargus sarba, have a high proportion of their juveniles in estuaries but are not completely dependent on these systems as nurseries. The remaining four species, Rhabdosargus thorpei, Diplodus capensis, Diplodus hottentotus and Sarpa salpa, have a major proportion of their juveniles on the coastal shelf, with only a small percentage in estuaries. Four of the species (D. capensis, D. hottentotus, R. holubi and S. salpa) occur in all four biogeographic regions, three (A. vagus, R. sarba and R. thorpei) are primarily found in the tropical and subtropical waters and one species (R. globiceps) primarily in temperate areas. All eight species have relatively fast growth rates and a small size at reproductive maturity when compared to other larger sparids, which occupy offshore reef systems and are not found in South African estuaries at any stage of their life cycle. By adopting different life-history styles, the fishes belonging to the family Sparidae have successfully colonised all South African estuaries and the adjacent coastal shelf waters in all four marine biogeographic provinces and are ranked as a dominant marine fish family in terms of both number and biomass in estuaries on the subcontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most elusive term in data science is 'data'. While often treated as objects to be computed upon, data is a theory-laden concept with a long history. Data exist within knowledge infrastructures that govern how they are created, managed, and interpreted. By comparing models of data life cycles, implicit assumptions about data become apparent. In linear models, data pass through stages from beginning to end of life, which suggest that data can be recreated as needed. Cyclical models, in which data flow in a virtuous circle of uses and reuses, are better suited for irreplaceable observational data that may retain value indefinitely. In astronomy, for example, observations from one generation of telescopes may become calibration and modeling data for the next generation, whether digital sky surveys or glass plates. The value and reusability of data can be enhanced through investments in knowledge infrastructures, especially digital curation and preservation. Determining what data to keep, why, how, and for how long, is the challenge of our day.

Planktonic foraminifera (PF) shells comprise a significant fraction of the global oceanic carbonate flux and serve as a primary archive of the history of the oceans. Yet, a limited understanding of their life cycles dynamics and biological rhythms, hampers their application as palaeoceanographic proxies. Here, we present the flux of ten PF species and their shell-size distributions at a daily timescale resolution in the Gulf of Aqaba (GOA), northern Red Sea. We report diameter measurements of ~13,500 shells, associated with ten PF species, retrieved using an automated time-series sediment trap deployed at a water depth of ~410 m (seafloor depth 610 m) throughout more than a full annual cycle between 2015 and 2016. Most of the PF species display a wide intraspecific shell-size distribution among adult PF, while six abundant species (G. ruber, G. rubescens + G. tenellus, G. glutinata, G. calida and G. siphonifera) display significantly smaller shell-sizes compared with corresponding specimens from sediment traps and seafloor sediments across other tropical, subtropical and upwelling regions. The results indicate that PF generation cycles can be classified according to three patterns: (1) Quiescent: minimal shell-size and extended life cycles due to unfavorable conditions and food scarcity when the water column is stratified and oligotrophic, (2) Transient: the gradual increase of Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations and food availability enhance shorter life-cycles, although PF do not necessarily reach maximal shell-sizes, (3) Successive: PF fluxes and Chl-a concentrations are maximal, the generation time is extended and individuals might display growth to maximal shell-sizes.

Operational methods for reliably quantifying habitat association of arthropod species are highly warranted in species conservation. A distance-based abundance measure called Integral Occurrence Probability (IOP) offers the possibility of quantifying the abundance of specific resources, essential for lifecycle completion in arthropods. We propose and test a new method integrating the measure of Relative Annulus Area (RAA), which is the fundamental measurement when calculating IOP, as a way of operationalizing habitat assessments and thus, better integrating arthropod habitats in species monitoring. We used abundance data for ground beetles (Carabidae) collected at 100 plots in a Danish coastal heathland and registered the RAA for important ground beetle resources. Using a model-based ordination technique that allows for the integration of species traits to aid in the analysis of species-environment association, we identified six important heathland structures significantly associated with the distribution of ground beetle species assemblages. The structures along with the overall directionality of the association (parentages) were bare sandy patches (+), water (−), dwarf shrubs (+), vegetation patches above 25 cm. (+), and refuges (+). These variables explained from 0.20 (Pterostichus. melanarius) to 0.99 (Carabus problematicus) and for the model including abundance weighted trait values, r2 ranged from 0.42 (Pterostichus niger) to 0.93 (Carabus melanocephalus). Distance based measures of important ecological resources for arthropods may be used as an addition to current national monitoring programs, and thus enabling implementation of specific life cycle needs of endangered arthropod groups.

The concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) has quickly established itself as a major focus within regional development research. A key conceptual framing commonly adopted by scholars theorizing about the growth and evolutionary dynamics of EEs is via anthropomorphized life-cycle models. In this article we offer a critique and argumentation as to why the validity of this approach is spurious and contestable. Arguably, life-cycle-based models overly simplify these complex spatial entrepreneurial phenomena and convey the temporal evolution of EEs as a simplistic, linear, deterministic and path-dependent process. Despite the seductively simplistic appeal of life-cycle models, places are not like people and the uncritical adoption of such crude anthropomorphic framings potentially weakens this research field, at the same time as running the risk of misinforming policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world's biodiversity is in peril. The major threats to biodiversity globally are habitat change, overexploitation, climate change, invasive species and pollution. Not only do these stressors impact free-living organisms, but they affect parasitic ones as well. Herein, this perspective examines the potential consequences of these anthropogenic perturbations on helminth populations and communities, with emphasis on significant developments over the past decade. Furthermore, several case studies are examined in more detail for each of these threats to biodiversity. While effects are widespread and diverse, for the most part all these environmental stressors have negative effects on parasite populations and communities. Those parasites with complex life cycles that are trophically transmitted are often more at risk, although larval parasites with a wide host spectrum, and directly transmitted ectoparasites, appear less threatened and may even benefit. However, differential effects on hosts and parasites, on parasite life cycle stages and on host–parasite interactions made specific predictions difficult and context-dependent. Experimental laboratory and mesocosm studies on specific parasites that test effects on the different life cycle stages, hosts and host–parasite interactions, permitting the determination of net effects of an environmental stressor, yield insightful and sometimes counterintuitive results, although they remain a simplification of real-world complexity. Recent advances in the use of parasites as bioindicators of effects also are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zoogonidae is the only digenean family where known cercariae lack the tail but actively search for the second intermediate host. However, the data on the zoogonid life cycles are scarce. In the present study, we elucidated and verified life cycles of the Zoogonidae from the White Sea. Using rDNA data, we showed that Pseudozoogonoides subaequiporus utilizes gastropods from the family Buccinidae as the first intermediate host and protobranch bivalves as the second one. This life cycle can be facultatively truncated: some cercariae of P. subaequiporus encyst within the daughter sporocysts. Molecular data also confirmed previous hypotheses on Zoogonoides viviapus life cycle with buccinid gastropods acting as the first intermediate hosts, and annelids and bivalves as the second intermediate hosts. We demonstrated the presence of short tail primordium in the developing cercariae of both species. Based on the reviewed and our own data, we hypothesize that the emergence of tailless cercariae in the evolution of the Zoogonidae is linked to the switch to non-arthropod second intermediate hosts, and that it possibly happened only in the subfamily Zoogoninae. Basally branching zoogonids have retained the ancestral second intermediate host and might have also retained the tail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this present work, a dumbbell-shaped ZnO nanostructure was successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method through optimized hydrothermal temperature (200°C). The XRD showed the formation of the hexagonal crystalline structure with high-phase purity. The FE-SEM images of ZnO prepared at a hydrothermal temperature of 200°C exhibits a well-defined, monodispersed dumbbell-shaped morphology. The chemical surface states were investigated using XPS. The prepared ZnO-based anode material was tested using a 1M Na2SO4 aqueous electrolyte with a three-electrode cell configuration. The ZnO 200°C electrode materials delivered a high specific capacitance of 316 F/g at 1 A/ and columbic efficiency of 96% and capacitance retention of 92% after 10,000 cycles at the current density of 10 A/g. Due to its inherent properties, the maximum degradation efficiency of 91% for 180 min was obtained from a dumbbell-shaped ZnO (200°C) sample. The ZnO nanostructured materials suggest potential applications for supercapacitors and textile wastewater treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most individuals of the rhizocephalan Peltogasterella gracilis (Boschma, 1927) produce only male (larger) or female (smaller) offspring, but some mixed-sex broods appear in autumn. Such variability may be an adaptation to the seasonally changing availability of hosts (for female larvae) and conspecific females (for male larvae), but details of the seasonal variation in the sex ratio and its ultimate causes have not been fully studied in P. gracilis. We studied the life cycle, host availability, and seasonal sex-ratio variation in P. gracilis by samplings from spring to autumn in 2017–2020 in Otaru, and additionally from winter to spring of 2007 in Oshoro Bay, Hokkaido, northern Japan. We measured its prevalence on the hermit crab Pagurus lanuginosus De Haan, 1849, the number of males per externa, the proportion of externae brooding different embryonic stages, and embryo size that are linked to sex. The prevalence was about 20% in most of the sampling period. The number of males per externa was 0.01–0.74 in June 2018–2020, but increased in later months to nearly 1.0. Eyed embryos and nauplii before hatching were common from June or July to September, but they were rare in other seasons. Female embryos were observed in all sampling periods, but male embryos were not found in July or August, by which time most females already have males implanted within their receptacles. It is suggested that P. gracilis releases both female and male larvae according to the availability of unparasitized hosts and of virgin externae, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of eukaryotic life cycles and associated genome dynamics stems largely from research on animals, plants, and a small number of "model" (i.e., easily cultivable) lineages. This skewed sampling results in an underappreciation of the variability among the many microeukaryotic lineages, which represent the bulk of eukaryotic biodiversity. The range of complex nuclear transformations that exists within lineages of microbial eukaryotes challenges the textbook understanding of genome and nuclear cycles. Here, we look in‐depth at Foraminifera, an ancient (∼600 million‐year‐old) lineage widely studied as proxies in paleoceanography and environmental biomonitoring. We demonstrate that Foraminifera challenge the "rules" of life cycles developed largely from studies of plants and animals. To this end, we synthesize data on foraminiferal life cycles, focusing on extensive endoreplication within individuals (i.e., single cells), the unusual nuclear process called Zerfall, and the separation of germline and somatic function into distinct nuclei (i.e., heterokaryosis). These processes highlight complexities within lineages and expand our understanding of the dynamics of eukaryotic genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Heteroatom doping in carbon displays exciting chemistry and plays an extremely important role in improving electrochemical performances. For instance, in energy storage devices, carbon allotropes showed excellent capacitive characteristics, however, their limiting ion storing capability cannot meet current requirements. Herein, the work discusses a simple technique for developing functionalized N‐doped carbon to provide an easy access to ion percolation with high specific surface area of 709.09 m2g−1. The optimized carbon material delivers high gravimetric capacitance 295Fg−1 with high volumetric capacitance of 270Fcm−3. Also, the high electrochemical performance of its symmetric device 268Fg−1 at 0.25 Ag−1 current density with noticeably high cyclic stability of 100 000 cycles with 90% capacitance retention reveals an excellent approach to the device applications. These results imply an optimized nitrogen content that strongly influences the electrochemical performance of carbon material and opens up opportunities for designing high‐performance energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An evolutionary hypothesis explaining failure of regeneration among vertebrates is presented. Regeneration derives from postembryonic processes present during the life cycles of fish and amphibians that include larval and metamorphic phases with broad organ reorganizations. Developmental programs imprinted in their genomes are re‐utilized with variations also in adults for regeneration. When vertebrates colonized land adopting the amniotic egg, some genes driving larval changes, and metamorphosis were lost and new genes evolved, further limiting regeneration. These included neural inhibitors for maintaining complex nervous systems, behavior and various levels of intelligence, and adaptive immune cells. The latter, that in anamniotes are executioners of metamorphic reorganization, became intolerant to embryonic‐oncofetal‐antigens impeding organ regeneration, a process that requires de‐differentiation of adult cells and/or expansion of stem cells where these early antigens are formed. The evolution of terrestrial lifecycles produced vertebrates with complex bodies but no longer capable to regenerate their organs, mainly repaired by regengrow. Efforts of regenerative medicine to improve healing in humans should determine the diverse developmental pathways evolved between anamniotes and amniotes before attempting genetic manipulations such as the introduction of "anamniote regenerative genes" in amniotes. This operation may determine alteration in amniote developmental programs leading to teratomes, cancer, or death. Key Findings: The brief MS summarize a new evolutionary hypothesis on regeneration in vertebrates.The adult status of vertebrates is different between anamniotes and amniotes conditioning regeneration.Anamniotes but not amniotes possess life cycles and genomes favoring adult regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]