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Aquaporins are widely present in the plant kingdom and play important roles in plant response to abiotic adversity stresses such as water and temperature extremes. In this study, we investigated the regulatory role of NTPIP2;4 on drought tolerance in tobacco at physiological and transcriptional levels. In this experiment, we constructed an NtPIP2;4 overexpression vector and genetically transformed tobacco variety 'K326' to investigate the mechanism of NtPIP2;4 gene in regulating drought tolerance in tobacco at physiological and transcriptomic levels. Physiological analyses showed that overexpression plants showed low wilting under drought conditions compared to wild-type (WT), and NtPIP2;4 overexpression tobacco plants showed enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, lower levels of superoxide anion (O2-), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) than the control, and significantly higher proline (Pro) content than the control. The leaves of NtPIP2;4 overexpressing plants and wild-type controls after drought were subjected to transcriptome sequencing, and RNA-seq analysis showed that a total of 1752 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained under drought conditions, with 1005 DEGs of up-regulated and 747 DEGs of down-regulated differentially expressed genes. The DEGs were enriched mainly in the plant MAPK signaling pathway, the plant hormone signal transduction pathway, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. We also investigated the drought pathway of MAPK pathway and the auxin pathway mechanism of plant hormone signal transduction pathway, and found that the transcript levels of the genes of the relevant pathways changed, and hypothesized that NtPIP2;4 might regulate the drought resistance of plants through the expression of the relevant genes induced by auxin. This study demonstrates that overexpression of NtPIP2;4 gene can enhance the drought resistance of tobacco plants, which will provide a basis for the research on the function of tobacco NtPIP2;4 gene and the creation of new germplasm resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased market for specialty coffee and climate volatility in traditional coffee‐growing regions of the world has prompted interest in cultivating coffee outside of the tropics, including in California. While several small coffee farms have established in California over the past couple decade, no studies have identified and quantified climatically suitable regions for growing coffee. We developed a model of Coffea arabica suitability based on agronomic studies of thermal constraints to coffee cultivation, combining heat and cold intolerance with energy requirements for maturation. This model was applied to agricultural lands across California using high‐resolution climate datasets for both modern (1991–2020) and projected near‐term (2021–2050) conditions. We explored the potential for farm thermal management approaches—such as using agroforestry shade trees—to buffer temperature extremes and augment thermal suitability. Results indicate that, in the absence of thermal management approaches, nearly all agricultural lands in the state experience temperature extremes detrimental to coffee cultivation in modern climate. By contrast, we found that over 230 km2 of agricultural land in coastal southern and central California is thermally suitable for coffee with management efforts. These suitable areas include most of the state's avocado cultivation—which may serve as a thermal buffer for coffee and favour the environmental and economic agricultural sustainability of this coupled crop system. We additionally show that projected near‐term climate coupled with management efforts leads to moderate increases in thermally suitable agricultural lands for coffee cultivation. Despite numerous economic and logistical challenges, that impede the growth of a burgeoning coffee region in coastal, southern and central California, we demonstrate that climate conditions in both today and in the future, combined with agronomic management efforts such as shading, provide an opportunity for a viable coffee production in California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic changes in the occurrence time of temperature extremes is one of the important reasons for some natural disasters. In this study, a set of evaluation indices was defined to quantify the dynamic changes in occurrence time of temperature extremes, including 5 cold indices, 4 warm indices, 2 extreme indices, and 4 phenological indices. The dynamic changes of temperature extremes occurrence time in China were examined through the analysis of daily temperature data obtained from 596 meteorological stations spanning the period from 1960 to 2019. Additionally, an exploration of the correlation between the dynamic changes in temperature extremes occurrence time and atmospheric circulation was conducted. The findings indicate that in China: (1) All cold indices, such as the frost start date (SD0), cold day start date (SD3), very cold day start date (DTN90) and extreme low temperature start date (DTN95), showed a significantly delayed trend (P < 0.05). All warm indices, such as summer day start date (SD25), very hot day start date (DTX90) and extreme high temperature start date (DTX95), displayed a significantly advanced trend (P < 0.01). Phenological start indices, encompassing the growing season start date (SD10) and the warm season start date (SD5), showed a significantly advanced trend (P < 0.001), while the phenological end indices, including the growing season end date (ED10) and the warm season end date (ED5), displayed a delayed trend. However, the extreme indices, including the annual lowest temperature occurrence date (DTNn) and the annual highest temperature occurrence date (DTXx), showed an insignificantly advanced trend; (2) Dynamic changes in the occurrence time of temperature extremes correlated with topography and geographical location. The start date of all cold temperature events, extreme temperature events (DTNn and DTXx), and the end date of phenological events (ED10 and ED5) exhibited a more significantly delayed trend at higher elevations (P < 0.05). DTN90, DTN95, SD10, and SD5 exhibited a more significantly advanced trend at higher latitudes (P < 0.01). DTX90, DTX95, ED10, and ED5 displayed a more significantly delayed trend in higher latitudes (P < 0.001); (3) A correlation was found between dynamic changes in the occurrence time of temperature extremes and atmospheric circulation. The Asian Polar Vortex Intensity Index (APVII) exhibited a significant negative correlation (P < 0.01) with cold indices (SD0, SD3, DTN90 and DTN95). The Arctic Oscillation Index (AOI) demonstrated a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) with cold indices (SD0, DTN90, DTN95 and DTN99). Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation (P < 0.01) between the Northern Hemisphere Subtropical High Area Index (NHSHAI) and warm indices (SD25 and DTX90). These findings contribute relevant reference information for climate change risk assessment and disaster warning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the trend dynamics of some extreme air temperature bounds estimated via quantile models. In practice, we investigate the dynamics of the 5% lower, the median and the 95% upper quantile measures of the minimum and maximum temperature in various regions of Greece. For this purpose, we propose some semi-parametric quantile trend models. Our estimation is based on a Bayesian early-rejection Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. The climatic data used, are the mean monthly homogenized minimum and maximum air temperatures observed at several meteorological stations of the Hellenic Meteorological Service located in Greece for the 1960-2010 period. Results based on several margins of datas’ distribution, reveal the strongest and the weakest inter-annual quantile trends for both temperature extremes. The results are very significant since they show the existence of time-trend heterogeneities in temperature extremes under alternative types of quantiles, time periods, geographical zones and seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rainfed semi-arid tropics increasing variability in rainfall, temperature extremes, land degradation and declining soil fertility, runoff, etc., are major threats for crop production which leads to low productivity and ultimately food security. The anthropogenic activities and agricultural practices like intense tillage, mono cropping, residue burning are the major causes affecting agricultural productivity. Conservation agriculture (CA) practices with three principles: no tillage, permanent soil cover, and appropriate crop rotation known as a set of adaptive agricultural systems is a panacea for this regions. CA was adopted in 36 countries in 2008/09. The area spread was 53, 77, 102 countries in 2013/2014, 2015/2016 2018/2019, respectively, which indicates rapid adoption/ expansion of CA in many countries of the world, namely, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Canada, China. Astonishingly, the global area under CA has increased @ 10 million ha per year since 2009. The CA spread in rainfed area was higher in many countries but the adoption rate in rainfed regions was lower in south Asia. CA is considered as a sustainable practice with the potential to maintain or increase crop productivity, profitability, environmental quality and ecosystem services. It typically improves soil quality. Moreover, CA practices increase water infiltration, moisture conservation, reduces soil loss and runoff. This reduction in runoff reduces the surface transport of nutrients like nitrate and phosphorus from agricultural fields and the eutrophication of water bodies, otherwise in conventional tillage leaching of nitrate to groundwater can potentially increase. Hence CA play a crucial role for land degradation neutrality, achieve sustainable development goals and ecosystem services. CA has been proposed as one of the components in climate-smart agriculture, owing to its reduced period to seed/plant next crop, reduced soil disturbance and lower fossil fuels consumption. Therefore, compared to the conventional tillage (CT), CA has a greater potential for soil C sequestration, favors higher soil biodiversity, lowers greenhouse gasses emissions, which helps it to be climate resilient technology. However, effect of CA on crop productivity, soil quality is highly variable and is dependent on several factors like soil, climate, duration of the study, and management practices. Crop residues plays a key role in CA to improve overall soil health, and ultimately improves crop productivity and sustainability. However, weed control, herbicide resistance, and weed shift under residue retained fields is a major challenge. In spite of numerous benefits, few vital constraints in the form of huge weed pressure in the initial years and rapid shift to perennial and difficult-to-control weeds, unavailability of scale appropriate seeder machines, lower availability of crop residues either due to low production or competing demands, termite infestation, etc., hinder adoption of CA among the farmers. Hence, profound technical/ scientific institutional support and encouraging government policy are of utmost requirement for wider adoption of CA. In this review, various aspects of CA relating to crop productivity, soil, and environment have been highlighted and discussed with a scientific background. This systematic review of agronomic, economic, soil fertility, ecosystem services with medium- and long-term adoption of CA in different systems and the bottlenecks of adoption in semi-arid tropics (SAT) conditions helps in better understanding by the extensionists, scientists and policy makers which is needed for wider adoption of CA in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, trends in temperature extremes in Burkina Faso are evaluated using the statistical theory of extreme values, in particular the Peaks-Over-Thresholds in a non-stationary context. The first issue addressed in this study is the temporal evolution of extremes handled pointwise by the approach of threshold exceedances. The trend in parameters of the distribution of excesses and the intensity of the occurrences of extreme events for temperature variables are described as linear or quadratic functions of time. Then the spatial dimension is integrated using a geostatistical approach. From the extrapolation of the identified trends, non-stationary return levels and their confidence intervals are also calculated and non-stationary return level maps are produced. Finally, our approach is applied to temperature data in Burkina Faso. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Warm deserts are characterised by water shortages and high temperature extremes. A commonly reported adaptive strategy in such environments is maximisation of photosynthetic capacity, which allows plants to achieve positive carbon budgets by taking advantage of short periods of water availability and non‐inhibitory temperatures. Considering the well‐supported interspecific covariation between photosynthetic capacity and leaf N concentration, we tested the hypothesis that environmental aridity is related to an elevated leaf nitrogen content. Location: 53 locations in the transitional zone spanning the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert in Morocco. The mean maximal temperature (Tmax) within the area varied between 35.7°C and 43.5°C, and the mean annual precipitation (MAP) was between 12 and 246 mm. Taxon: 225 vascular species representative of local vegetation. Methods: Leaf samples were collected along a regional aridity gradient and preserved in herbarium presses. The leaf mass per area (LMA) and N concentrations expressed on leaf mass (Nmass) and area (Narea) basis were determined. We also obtained LMA and Nmass values for 6711 species from a worldwide database for comparative analysis. Results: Significant increases in mean LMA, Nmass and Narea accompanied the increase in Tmax and the decrease in MAP in woody species and in non‐graminoid herbs, but not in graminoids. Considering the overall aridity of our sampling area, we compared the Nmass values of Moroccan plants with those from a worldwide database. We found that at a common LMA, the Moroccan plants showed on average elevated Nmass relative to global values. Main Conclusions: These two lines of evidence: regional gradient and global comparison confirm that hot deserts select for high leaf N content. This result suggests the direction of natural selection that will accompany future climate warming and habitat aridification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional climate studies are essential for pinpointing climate hotspots and developing effective resilience strategies. This study examined trends in eight precipitation and ten temperature extremes in Odisha, India, using RClimDex in R studio with data from the India Meteorological Department, Pune, covering 1980 to 2010 for Khordha, Keonjhar, and Sambalpur. Statistical significance was tested through linear regression and Mann-Kendall tests. Results show a significant shift in climate, particularly in Sambalpur and Khordha, where nine and seven out of ten temperature indices, respectively, exhibited significant changes. The mean maximum temperature increased significantly in Khordha (0.03 °C/year) and Sambalpur (0.026 °C/year), while the mean minimum temperature rose significantly in Khordha (0.03 °C/year) but decreased in Keonjhar (-0.029 °C/year) and Sambalpur (-0.061 °C/year). Cool nights significantly decreased in Khordha (-0.229 days/year) and increased in Sambalpur (0.557 days/year). Warm nights rose significantly in Khordha (0.484 days/year) but declined in Sambalpur (-0.421 days/year). The warm spell duration indicator showed significant increases across all regions, with increments of 0.308, 0.438, and 0.689 days/year in Khordha, Keonjhar, and Sambalpur, respectively. Warm days also rose significantly in Khordha (0.301 days/year) and Sambalpur (0.379 days/year). Regarding precipitation, Khordha showed positive trends in all eight indices, with a significant change in heavy rainfall days. In Keonjhar, no significant changes were observed, while Sambalpur experienced a significant decrease in total annual rainfall (-9.621 mm/year). These findings highlight a significant shift in climate patterns within Odisha, with Sambalpur and Khordha more vulnerable to extreme events compared to Keonjhar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to rising temperature extremes, workplaces are seeking new solutions, such as using personal cooling garments (PCG) to mitigate and manage workplace heat exposure. This systematic review sought to assess the physiological and perceptual effects of PCGs on workers in standard work clothing performing moderate‐to‐heavy intensity tasks in hot environments. Methods: A peer‐reviewed search strategy was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Global Health, and Business Source Complete with no language or time limits. A meta‐analysis using a realist evaluation framework was then performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the PCGs. Results: Thirty‐three studies with 764 participants (98% male; average 21 ± 34 participants per study), conducted primarily in a laboratory setting (76%) were included. The studies were 193 ± 190 min in duration and consisted of a moderate‐to‐heavy work effort of 3.3 ± 1.0 METs in hot ambient conditions (temperature: 35.9 ± 3.3°C, 51.4 ± 12.1% relative humidity, wet bulb globe temperature [WBGT] 31.2 ± 2.6°C). The PCGs (n = 67) facilitated heat exchange through conduction (n = 39), evaporation (n = 4), convection (n = 2), radiation (n = 2), or hybrid combinations (n = 20). Conductive and hybrid PCGs offered the greatest thermoregulatory benefit, whereby core temperature (Tc) and heart rate (HR) reductions were consistently observed (Conductive: Tc: −0.3°C, HR: −12 bpm; Hybrid: Tc:−0.2°C, HR: −10 bpm), while PCGs directed at enhancing evaporative and radiative heat exchange had no or minimal effect on the physiological outcomes assessed (i.e., TC < 0.1°C, HR: < 0.7 bpm). Conclusion: While the PCGs had a positive overall effect, conductive options offered the most consistent benefit to workers. WBGT, clothing insulation, and duration of wear significantly affected some physiological and perceptual outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid morphological change is emerging as a consequence of climate change in many systems. It is intuitive to hypothesize that temporal morphological trends are driven by the same selective pressures that have established well-known ecogeographic patterns over spatial environmental gradients (e.g., Bergman's and Allen's rules). However, mechanistic understanding of contemporary morphological shifts is lacking., Results: We combine morphological data and whole genome sequencing from a four-decade dataset in the migratory bird hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) to test whether morphological shifts over time are accompanied by genetic change. Using genome-wide association, we identify alleles associated with body size, bill length, and wing length. Shifts in morphology and concordant shifts in morphology-associated alleles over time would support a genetic basis for the observed changes in morphology over recent decades, potentially an adaptive response to climate change. In our data, bill size decreases were paralleled by genetic shifts in bill size-associated alleles. On the other hand, alleles associated with body size showed no shift in frequency over time., Conclusions: Together, our results show mixed support for evolutionary explanations of morphological response to climate change. Temporal shifts in alleles associated with bill size support the hypothesis that selection is driving temporal morphological trends. The lack of evidence for genetic shifts in body size alleles could be explained by a large role of plasticity or technical limitations associated with the likely polygenic architecture of body size, or both. Disentangling the mechanisms responsible for observed morphological response to changing environments will be vital for predicting future organismal and population responses to climate change., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All individuals sequenced newly for this study were from specimens found dead from building collisions and curated by the Field Museum. No new specimens were collected for this study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Not all corals are attached to the substrate; some taxa are solitary and free-living, allowing them to migrate into preferred habitats. However, the lifestyle of these mobile corals, including how they move and navigate for migration, remains largely obscure. This study investigates the specific biomechanics of Cycloseris cyclolites, a free-living coral species, during phototactic behaviour in response to blue and white light stimuli. Our results indicate a strong positive phototactic response to blue light with 86.7% (n = 15) of samples moving towards the light source, while only 20% (n = 15) samples responded similarly to white light (400–700 nm). Locomotion, characterised by periodic pulses lasting 1–2 hours, involved distances up to 220 mm in blue light trials, whereas significantly shorter distances were observed in white light trials (2, 5 and 8 mm). Trails with two light sources reinforced the preference for blue light over white, with all samples consistently moving towards the blue light and away from the white (11, 15 and 3mm). High-resolution time-laps captured the biomechanics of forward motion that appeared driven by three key factors: tissue inflation, which increased contact surface area for lift and friction; the ventral foot/pads, adjusting substrate interaction/friction; and the contraction and twisting of lateral peripheral tissues, which propelled the coral forward in a coordinated manner resembling the pulsed swimming motion of jellyfish. Our findings provide new insights into coral mobility mechanisms, emphasising the role of tissue inflation in active locomotion, with potential implications for coral neural systems, vision and habitat selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Weibull distribution is an important continuous distribution that is cardinal in reliability analysis and lifetime modeling. On the other hand, it has several limitations for practical applications, such as modeling lifetime scenarios with non-monotonic failure rates. However, accurate modeling of non-monotonic failure rates is essential for achieving more accurate predictions, better risk management, and informed decision-making in various domains where reliability and longevity are critical factors. For this reason, we introduce a new three parameter lifetime distribution—the Modified Kies Weibull distribution (MKWD)—that is able to model lifetime scenarios with non-monotonic failure rates. We analyze the statistical features of the MKWD, such as the quantile function, median, moments, mean, variance, skewness, kurtosis, coefficient of variation, index of dispersion, moment generating function, incomplete moments, conditional moments, Bonferroni, Lorenz, and Zenga curves, and order statistics. Various measures of uncertainty for the MKWD such as Rényi entropy, exponential entropy, Havrda and Charvat entropy, Arimoto entropy, Tsallis entropy, extropy, weighted extropy and residual extropy are computed. We discuss eight different parameter estimation methods and conduct a Monte Carlo simulation study to evaluate the performance of these different estimators. The simulation results show that the maximum likelihood method leads to the best results. The effectiveness of the newly suggested model is demonstrated through the examination of two different sets of real data. Regression analysis utilizing survival times data demonstrates that the MKWD model offers a superior match compared to other current distributions and regression models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food crop globally, with origins in wild progenitors within the AA genome group of Oryza species. Oryza rufipogon and Oryza meridionalis are native to tropical Asia and Northern Australia and offer unique genetic reservoirs. Here we explored the relationships of the genomes of these wild rice species with the domesticated rice genome. We utilized long read sequencing (PacBio HiFi) and chromatin mapping (Hi-C) to produce de novo chromosomal level genomes of Oryza meridionalis, the most divergent AA gnome species, and the unique Australian Oryza rufipogon like taxon that is a sister to the clade of domesticated and wild AA genome rice species of Asia and Africa. Comparative genomic analyses were conducted to identify structural variations and syntenic relationships between these wild taxa and the domesticated rice variety Nipponbare. The genome assemblies of the wild rice species achieved high completeness and contiguity, revealing the shared and unique genes in each species. Both wild species uniquely shared some genes with domesticated rice many of which were associated with disease resistance and stress tolerance. Structural differences included the large 6 Mb inversion on chromosome 6 specific to Japonica rice. Functional annotation highlighted conserved biological functions and novel genes unique to the wild taxa. These findings provide a deeper understanding of rice domestication and highlight the genetic contributions of wild species to enhancing the genetic diversity and ecological adaptability of modern rice varieties. Our study emphasizes the importance of conserving wild rice populations as genetic resources for breeding and adaptation in changing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain LCG007, isolated from Lu Chao Harbor's intertidal water, phylogenetically represents a novel genus within the family Rhodobacteraceae. Metabolically, it possesses a wide array of amino acid metabolic genes that enable it to thrive on both amino acids or peptides. Also, it could hydrolyze peptides containing D-amino acids, highlighting its potential role in the cycling of refractory organic matter. Moreover, strain LCG007 could utilize various carbohydrates, including mannopine and D-apiose—compounds primarily derived from terrestrial plants—demonstrating its capacity to degrade terrestrial organic matter. It could assimilate ammonia, nitrate and nitrite, and utilizes organic nitrogen sources such as polyamines, along with diverse organic and inorganic phosphorus and sulfur sources. Importantly, unlike very limited Sulfitobacter species that possess photosynthetic genes, the genomes of strain LCG007-affiliated genus and all Roseobacter species harbor photosynthetic gene clusters. This conservation was further supported by the significant impact of light on the growth and cell aggregation of strain LCG007, suggesting that acquirement of photosynthetic genes could play a crucial role in the speciation of their common ancestor. In terms of environmental adaptability, the genes that encode for DNA photolyase, heat and cold shock proteins, and enzymes responsible for scavenging reactive oxygen species, along with those involved in the uptake and biosynthesis of osmoprotectants such as betaine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and trehalose collectively enable strain LCG007 to survive in the dynamic and complex intertidal zone environment. Besides, the capacity in biofilm formation is crucial for its survival under conditions of oligotrophy or high salinity. This study enhances our comprehension of the microbial taxonomy within the Roseobacter clade affiliated cluster, their survival strategies in intertidal ecosystems, and underscores the significance of their role in nutrient cycling. It also highlights the crucial importance of photosynthetic metabolism for the speciation of marine bacteria and their ecological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest climate models project widely varying magnitudes of future extreme precipitation changes, thus impeding effective adaptation planning. Many observational constraints have been proposed to reduce the uncertainty of these projections at global to sub-continental scales, but adaptation generally requires detailed, local scale information. Here, we present a temperature-based adaptative emergent constraint strategy combined with data aggregation that reduces the error variance of projected end-of-century changes in annual extremes of daily precipitation under a high emissions scenario by >20% across most areas of the world. These improved projections could benefit nearly 90% of the world's population by permitting better impact assessment and adaptation planning at local levels. Our physically motivated strategy, which considers the thermodynamic and dynamic components of projected extreme precipitation change, exploits the link between global warming and the thermodynamic component of extreme precipitation. Rigorous cross-validation provides strong evidence of its reliability in constraining local extreme precipitation projections. This study presents more accurate future extreme precipitation projections at local scales constrained by past warming observations using an adaptative emergent constraint approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses significant global challenges, especially in the West African sub-region, with high temperature and precipitation patterns variability, threatening socio-economic stability and ecosystem health. While global factors such as greenhouse gases and oceanic circulations shape regional climates, this study focuses on the understudied role of local climatic variables in influencing near-surface air temperature (NST) in Ghana from 1981 to 2020. Based on ground observations, our findings reveal significant correlations between land surface temperature (LST) and NST before and after the identified breakpoint year of 2001. Additionally, we observe a reduction in precipitation post-2001. We also identify LST as the primary driver of NST and precipitation changes based on cause-effect analysis of multiple factors. Specifically, higher LST leads to decreased precipitation and increased NST, contributing to the increasing trend of NST over the last two decades. The insights are vital for developing targeted adaptation strategies, including integrated land and water management, sustainable agriculture, and effective interventions, directly supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Moreover, the study provides evidence for promoting climate-smart agriculture to ensure food security (SDG 2). By integrating these findings into climate adaptation frameworks, policymakers and stakeholders can better address the unique challenges posed by climate variability in Ghana, ensuring more resilient and sustainable environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the last centuries, European climate changed substantially, which affected the potential to plant and grow crops. These changes happened not just over time but also had a spatial dimension. Yet, despite large climatic fluctuations, quantitative historical studies typically rely on static measures for agricultural suitability due to the non-availability of time-varying indices. Relying on recent advances in paleoclimatology, we bridge this gap by constructing a spatio-temporal measure for agricultural suitability across Europe for a period of 500 years. Our gridded index has a 0.5° resolution and is available at a yearly level. It relies on a simple surface energy and water balance model, focusing only on so-called exogenous geographic and climatic features. Our index captures not just long-term trends, such as the Little Ice Age, but also short-term climatic shocks. It will empower researchers to explore the interplay between climatic fluctuations and Europe's agricultural landscape, analyze human responses at a local and regional scale, and foster a deeper understanding of the region's historical dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic climate change has led to rapid and widespread changes in the atmosphere, land, ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere, leading to more pronounced weather and climate extremes globally. Recent IPCC reports have highlighted that the probability of compound extreme events, which can amplify risk, has risen in multiple regions. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the drivers and mechanisms behind these events. This concept paper discusses compound events in the Asian region in the context of its unique and diverse geographical settings, and regional climatic features including the seasonal monsoons. Notably, Asia is the world's most disaster-affected region due to weather, climate, and water-related hazards. Therefore, an integrated understanding of how climate change will impact compound events in this region is essential for effective forewarning and risk mitigation. This paper analyzes three typologies of compound events in the Asian region, illustrating their regional complexity and potential linkages to climate change. The first typology pertains to compound floods, for example, the devastating floods in the Indus River Basin and adjoining Western Himalayas during 2022 caused by the combined effects of heavy monsoon rainfall, intense pre-monsoon heatwaves, glacier melt, and modes of climate variability. The second typology relates to compound heatwave-drought events that have prominently manifested in East and South Asia, and are linked to large-scale drivers of the land-atmosphere–ocean coupled system and local feedbacks. The third typology relates to marine extremes involving the compounding effects of ocean warming, sea-level rise, marine heatwaves, and intensifying tropical cyclones. We identify key knowledge gaps in understanding and predicting compound events over the Asian region and discuss advances required in science and technology to address these gaps. We also provide recommendations for the effective utilization of climate information towards improving early warning systems and disaster risk reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines several methods and new ideas for climate analysis, including expanded ensembles, that combine model projections from different greenhouse gas emissions pathways and different time periods. These methods are tested on Australian projections data previously made available based on outputs from the Energy Sector for Climate Information (ESCI) project that included all available dynamical downscaling approaches with bias correction designed with attention to detail on extremes. The expanded ensemble method provides larger sample sizes to help enhance confidence, with results showing that the projected changes per degree of global warming have relatively small differences when calculated using two different emission pathways and different time periods, with smaller differences than variations between individual models in the ensemble. Results include maps of mean values and extremes for temperature and rainfall metrics, as well as for compound events associated with dangerous bushfire weather conditions, providing new insights on climate change in Australia. The results also show that extremely dangerous fire conditions such as those of the Black Summer 2019/2020 and of Black Saturday in February 2009 are currently still very rare, but that climate change has already increased the chance of their occurrence, as well as larger increases projected in the future for higher amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. New analysis is also presented for changes in rainfall-based metrics associated with agriculture and biogeography such as Goyder's Line, discussed in relation to the use of climate analogues for adaptation decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most disastrous heatwaves are very extreme events with return periods of hundreds of years, but traditionally, climate research has focussed on moderate extreme events occurring every couple of years or even several times within a year. Here, we use three Earth System Model large ensembles to assess whether very extreme heat events respond differently to global warming than moderate extreme events. We find that the warming signal of very extreme heat can be amplified or dampened substantially compared to moderate extremes. This modulation is detectable already in mid-century projections. In the mid-latitudes, it can be explained by changes in event soil moisture-temperature coupling during the hottest day of the year. The changes depend on the interplay of present soil moisture and coupling during heat events as well as projected precipitation changes. This mechanism is robust across models, albeit with large spatial uncertainties. Our findings are highly relevant for climate risk assessments and adaptation planning. Climatic changes in extreme events are well studied, but research has so far focused on moderate extremes. The authors show that changes in very extreme heat events can be, depending on the region, much stronger or weaker than changes in moderate extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salinity stress impairs cotton growth and fiber quality. Protoplasts enable elucidation of early salt-responsive signaling. Elucidating crop tolerance mechanisms that ameliorate these diverse salinity-induced stresses is key for improving agricultural productivity under saline conditions. Results: Herein, we performed transcriptome profiling of Gossypium arboreum root tips and root tips-derived protoplasts to uncover salt tolerance genes and mechanisms. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in the plant hormone signal transduction and MAPK signaling pathways. Transcriptome based weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) clustered 885 commonly differentially expressed genes into four distinct modules. Black and yellow modules were highly upregulated under salt treatment, containing hub genes integral to signaling and transport, highlighting their importance. Differential expression analysis revealed more dynamic changes in protoplasts, identifying key genes including the Ga-α-expansin 4 (GaEXPA4). Silencing of the GaEXPA4 gene through virus-induced gene silencing heightened cotton's sensitivity to salt stress, leading to increased wilting, elevated lipid peroxidation, and impaired antioxidant activity under salt conditions compared to controls. Conclusion: These findings underscore the functional significance of GaEXPA4 in the salt stress response. Future research should focus on elucidating the precise mechanisms of putative salt tolerance genes like GaEXPA4 and evaluating the potential of signaling pathways, such as MAPK, for engineering enhanced salt resilience in cotton. Integrating multi-omics approaches could further expand the genetic resources available for improving cotton cultivation in saline environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a climate-sensitive zoonotic disease that poses a significant public health burden worldwide. While previous studies have established associations between meteorological factors and HFRS incidence, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding the heterogeneity of these effects across diverse epidemic regions. Addressing this gap is essential for developing region-specific prevention and control strategies. This study conducted a national investigation to examine the associations between meteorological factors and HFRS in three distinct epidemic regions. Methods: We collected daily meteorological data (temperature and relative humidity) and HFRS incidence cases of 285 cities in China from the Resource and Environment Science and Data Center and the Chinese National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting Information System from 2005–2022. Study locations were stratified into three distinct epidemic categories (Rattus-dominant, Apodemus-dominant, and mixed) based on the seasonality of peak incidence. The associations between meteorological variables and HFRS incidence were investigated using a time-stratified case-crossover design combined with distributed lag nonlinear modeling for each epidemic category. Results: The exposure-response relationships between meteorological factors and HFRS incidence revealed significant heterogeneity across epidemic regions, as evidenced by Cochran's Q test for temperature (Q = 324.40, P < 0.01) and relative humidity (Q = 30.57, P < 0.01). The optimal daily average temperature for HFRS transmission in Rattus-dominant epidemic regions (− 6.6 °C), characterized by spring epidemics, was lower than that observed in Apodemus-dominant epidemic regions (13.7 °C), where primary cases occurred during autumn and winter months. Furthermore, the association between relative humidity and HFRS incidence exhibited as a monotonic negative correlation in Rattus-dominant regions, while Apodemus-dominant regions showed a nonlinear, inverted U-shaped association. Conclusions: This study highlights the heterogeneous effects of meteorological factors on HFRS incidence across different epidemic regions. Targeted preventive measures should be taken during cold and dry spring days in Rattus-dominant regions, and during warm and moderately humid winter days in Apodemus-dominant regions. In mixed epidemic regions, both scenarios require attention. These findings provide novel scientific evidence for the formulation and implementation of region-specific HFRS prevention policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variability of daytime–nighttime compound heat waves (CHWs) is a highly concerning issue due to severe impacts on human and natural systems. Although several studies surveyed physical processes for the CHW occurrence, its interannual variability and associated mechanisms have not been well understood. Focusing on CHWs in the Yangtze River valley (YRV, a hotspot across China), this paper indicates an emergence of enlarged interannual variability after entering into the twenty-first century, before which the interannual variability was quite small. The possible mechanism underlying the high interannual variability is further explored in terms of atmospheric and oceanic backgrounds. The results show that the atmospheric background associated with higher-than-normal CHWs over the YRV features anticyclonic circulation anomalies tilting southeastward from the north of the YRV in the upper troposphere to the western Pacific in the lower troposphere. Accordingly, the upper-tropospheric easterly and lower-tropospheric southwesterly anomalies dominate the YRV, causing anomalous subsidence and increased humidity in situ, respectively, which benefit the increase in CHWs. The tripole (positive–negative–positive) sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the North Atlantic (NA) and the positive SST anomalies in the Maritime Continent (MC) also play roles in increasing the YRV CHWs by influencing the above atmospheric circulations. The NA tripole SST anomalies tend to affect the upper- and midtropospheric anticyclonic anomalies through the eastward-propagating wave train across Eurasia. The warming of the MC SSTs can impact the lower-tropospheric anticyclonic anomaly over the western Pacific via local meridional circulation. The opposite situations are applicable for decreased CHWs over the YRV. Significance Statement: Daytime–nighttime compound heat waves (CHWs) refer to persistent processes with abnormally high temperatures occurring both in daytime and nighttime. Compared with heat waves (HWs) occurring only at daytime or nighttime, the CHWs exert more severe damage to natural ecosystems and human society. Thus, understanding the physical mechanisms of CHWs is urgently needed. This study examines the interannual variability of Yangtze River valley (YRV) CHWs and finds that it exhibits a pronounced enlargement after 2000. During this period, an anomalous anticyclone tilting southeastward from the north of the YRV in the upper level to the western Pacific in the lower level is a favorable atmospheric circulation background for the increase in CHWs over the YRV, and vice versa. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the North Atlantic (NA) and the Maritime Continent (MC) also play important roles. The positive–negative–positive SST anomalies in the NA and the warming SSTs in the MC tend to increase the YRV CHWs, through their influences on CHW-related atmospheric circulations in the upper troposphere and lower troposphere, respectively. These findings are expected to deepen our understanding of CHW variability, which are of great importance for disaster prevention and mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horticulture crops are extremely vulnerable to climate change all over the world. The changes in seasonality, temperature extremity, and unpredictable rainfall conditions directly influence the phenological stages of horticulture crops. The present study focuses on horticultural fruit crops, changes in the trend of climate indices, and the various impacts faced by the farmers. This study has taken into consideration the research work of worldwide scholars, published between the periods of 2000 and 2023 that is indexed in the Scopus database. This study draws attention to the year-wise publication numbers, highly cited papers, country-wise distribution of documents, and frequently used keywords in the Scopus dataset. A total of 443 articles from 220 journals are found to be most relevant based on the present topic. The result shows that, among the publications from 57 countries, the highest number of publications came from India with 293 publications, followed by Germany with 156 publications, and China with 152 publications. The highest number of citations is received by the publications from Germany, followed by the USA and Australia. Climate change, phenology, temperature, horticulture, and dormancy are some of the frequently used keywords in the present database. The Scopus database is analysed using VOSviewer software and RStudio. Based on this bibliometric analysis, it appears to be a new research topic that has gained attention in the last decade. India holds a significant global position in this field, although developed countries continue to lead in conducting more relevant and impactful research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unexpected record-breaking cold event struck eastern China in December 2023, causing widespread transportation shutdowns, power supply shortages, and agricultural crop damage. The manner in which such an extraordinary cold event was formed under global warming is unclear, as is the way in which anthropogenic climate change may affect the present and future frequency and intensity of similar cold events. Here, we show that the large-scale atmospheric circulation associated with the warm Arctic was the main event driver, explaining 83 ± 2% of the intensity of the 2023 cold event, whereas the thermodynamic effect of climate change suppressed the event intensity by −6 ± 3% in ERA5 and −22 ± 2% in HadGEM3-A-N216. An attribution analysis based on coupled model simulations shows that, due to anthropogenic climate change, the frequency and intensity of 2023-like events decrease by 92.5 ± 2.5% and 1.9 ± 0.2 °C, respectively, under the 2023 climate state. The thermodynamic effect of anthropogenic climate change outweighs its dynamic effect. Future projections indicate that the frequency and intensity of these 2023-like events will further decrease by 95 ± 3% and 2.05 ± 0.25 °C by the end of this century under an intermediate-emissions scenario compared with estimates made under the present climate. In contrast, 2023-like events will be similar to present events when the 1.5 °C target of the Paris Agreement is achieved. These findings highlight the dampening effect of anthropogenic climate change on cold events, but adaptation measures for future risks of 2023-like cold events will be needed by the end of the century if carbon neutrality is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under climate change, China faces intensifying compound extreme events with serious socio-economic ramifications, yet their future variations remain poorly understood. Here, we estimate historical hotspots and future changes of two typical compound events, i.e., sequential heatwave and precipitation (SHP) and concurrent drought and heatwave (CDH) across China, leveraging a bivariate bias correction method to adjust projections from global climate models. Results show substantial future increases in frequency, duration, and magnitude for both events, with the durations projected to double nationwide. The increases are more evident under higher emission scenarios, and could be largely underestimated if neglecting variable dependence during bias correction process. The projected changes will escalate socio-economic exposure across China's major urban clusters, among which Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao will face the highest risk. Our findings underscore the necessity of carbon emission controls, and call for adaptive measures to mitigate the threats induced by rising compound hazards in a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The boreal summer circumglobal teleconnection (CGT) provides a primary predictability source for mid-latitude Northern Hemisphere climate anomalies and extreme events. Here, we show that the CGT's circulation structure has been displaced westward by half a wavelength since the late 1970s, more severely impacting heatwaves and droughts over East Europe, East Asia, and southwestern North America. We present empirical and modelling evidence of the essential role of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in shaping this change. Before the late 1970s, ENSO indirectly promoted CGT by modulating the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR). Since 1980s, the ENSO–ISMR link has weakened, but the westward-displaced ENSO forcing has been able to directly trigger a Rossby wave response at the exit of the East Asian westerly jet, resulting in a shift of the previous CGT's North Pacific and downstream centers westward along the westerly jet waveguide. State-of-the-art climate models with prescribed anthropogenic forcing cannot simulate these changes, suggesting that they are driven by natural variability. This work highlights the importance of studying the impacts of changing ENSO to improve seasonal prediction of mid-latitude extreme events. This study shows that ENSO has caused a westward shift of the circumglobal teleconnection by half a wavelength since the late 1970s in boreal summer, leading to more severe heatwaves and droughts in East Europe, East Asia, and southwestern North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report in this work the overall design of a software application for calculating the indoor temperature in a room of a building constructed from local materials in Cameroon based on heat transfer modes. This software is intended to be simplified and at a lower cost for the user. We dubbed it LOBATIN/HTSLM 1.0 for the first release. We describe the physical modeling background based on the stationary aspect of the transfer of heat flow via conduction, convection and radiation from the outside to the inside of the supposedly uninhabited building. We present how we manage Cameroon's meteorological data to implement them in LOBATIN/HTSLM 1.0 and we compare our results with pre-existing software such as EnergyPlus. The curves obtained for hourly indoor temperatures for the chosen days in the five climatic zones defined for the software, all show a realistic bell-shaped evolution, thus prefiguring a digital decision support tool for such admitted infrastructures to be made of materials from the Local Materials Promotion Authority of Cameroon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heatwaves are commonly simplified as binary variables in epidemiological studies, limiting the understanding of heatwave-mortality associations. Here we conduct a multi-country study across 28 East Asian cities that employed the Cumulative Excess Heatwave Index (CEHWI), which represents excess heat accumulation during heatwaves, to explore the potentially nonlinear associations of daytime-only, nighttime-only, and day-night compound heatwaves with mortality from 1981 to 2010. Populations exhibited high adaptability to daytime-only and nighttime-only heatwaves, with non-accidental mortality risks increasing only at higher CEHWI levels (75th–90th percentiles). In contrast, compound heatwaves posed a super-linear increase in mortality risks after the 25th percentile of CEHWI. Associations of heatwaves with cardiovascular mortality mirrored those with non-accidental mortality but were more pronounced at higher CEHWI levels, while significant associations with respiratory mortality emerged at low-to-moderate CEHWI levels. These results highlight the necessity of considering the nonlinear health responses to heatwaves of different types in disease burden assessments and heatwave-health warning systems amid climate change. The authors use data from 28 East Asian cities to explore the shape of curves for associations between heatwaves and mortality. Compound heatwaves showed nearly linear mortality risks, while daytime and nighttime heatwaves displayed nonlinear risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural disasters and extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity, in part due to climate change. These events can have severe impacts, including on maternal health. We review the existing research on natural disasters, environmental hazards, and maternal health outcomes – focusing specifically on relevant conceptual frameworks and termination of pregnancy as an outcome of these events – published between January 2004 and May 2024. We retrieved eight frameworks and 26 additional research articles. None of the frameworks identified pregnancy termination as an outcome of natural disasters, though there is ample evidence to suggest that pregnancy termination and related outcomes must be included in these frameworks. We propose a new, comprehensive framework in which all reproductive outcomes with the potential to affect maternal morbidity or mortality, including pregnancy termination (i.e., induced abortion), are considered. We hope that the Natural disasters, Environmental hazards, and Maternal Outcomes (NEMO) framework will inform emergency response planning to improve service delivery that empowers individuals to make informed reproductive health choices in the wake of these crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in military settings has introduced the notion of "Internet of Battle Things" (IoBT), transforming modern warfare by interconnecting various equipment and systems essential for battlefield operations. This connectivity facilitates real-time communication, data sharing, and collaboration among military assets, enhancing situational awareness, decision-making processes, and overall operational effectiveness. The domain for IoBT encompasses a broad range of military assets, from drones and ground vehicles to soldier-worn wearables, sensors, and munitions. These assets are capable of collecting and transmitting critical information from the battlefield, including location data, status updates, environmental conditions, and the movements of adversaries. IoBT networks depend on robust communication networks, secure data transmission protocols, advanced data analytics for processing vast datasets, and seamless integration with command-and-control infrastructures. However, IoBT devices and systems function in dynamic and challenging battlefield conditions which present unique communication challenges. This study aims to review research efforts that provide current state-of-the-art solutions, their limitations, and emerging technologies. We classify these challenges into interoperability, power and energy management, security, and network resilience, while also discussing future research directions to improve communication in IoBT networks. Article Highlights: IoBT enhances military operations through real-time data sharing and decision-making. Communication challenges arise from interoperability, power, and security constraints. Emerging solutions focus on improving network resilience, energy efficiency, and secure data exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposure to extreme heat at workplaces poses substantial threat to human effort and manual labour. This becomes more prominent due to the global dispersion of labour-intensive production activities via trade. We combine a climate model with an input–output model to quantify the risks associated with trade-related occupational extreme heat exposure. Here we show an 89% surge in trade-related labour exposure to extreme heat, escalating from 221.5 to 419.0 billion person-hours between 1995 and 2020. Lower-middle-income and low-income economies constituted 53.7% and 18.3% of global exposure but only 5.7% and 1.0% of global labour compensation. In countries highly susceptible to extreme heat conditions, workers perform tasks in heated conditions for up to about 50% of their working hours. The disproportionate trade effects in redistributing global benefits and costs leads to the inequality in heat exposure between developed and developing economies. In striving for equitable and safe work conditions, workers vulnerable to heat extremes in developing economies should be protected by climate adaptation infrastructure, given their critical roles in the global production system. As climate change drives more frequent extreme heat, this study reveals how global trade has intensified heat exposure for workers. Between 1995 and 2020, labour exposure to extreme heat rose by 89%, with many workers now spending nearly half their work hours in dangerous temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine biodiversity loss is a pressing global issue, intensified by human activities and climate change. Complementary to marine protected areas (MPAs), Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) have emerged as a key tool to mitigate this loss by providing long-term biodiversity protection. However, while OECMs primarily target specific taxa, they can also offer indirect biodiversity conservation benefits (BCBs) to a wider range of taxa. In this study, we assess the indirect BCBs of eleven OECMs in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, focusing on their role in supporting the life-history processes of commercially important species such as Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut, and redfish. We apply an integrated assessment that combines knowledge and data previously unconnected to provide information to support OECM management. Our analysis reveals that eight of the eleven OECMs overlap with potential spawning habitats for these species, suggesting important life-history benefits. However, projected climate-driven changes in bottom temperature, oxygen concentration, and pH levels pose a threat to these habitats, potentially undermining the long-term effectiveness of OECMs. These findings underscore the need for adaptive management strategies that incorporate climate-informed ecosystem indicators and broaden the conservation focus beyond economically important species. Such approaches are crucial to ensuring that OECMs continue to provide both direct and indirect BCBs in the face of accelerating climate change, thereby contributing to global marine biodiversity conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Extreme climate events have increasingly threatened global terrestrial ecosystems in recent decades. In spring 2023, Southwest China (SWC) experienced unprecedented heatwaves and droughts. Using multiple satellite-based datasets, we found that these events led to the most significant declines in gross primary productivity (GPP) and the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) for the past two decades, with lagged effects persisting until August in the drought-affected area. Unlike the widespread and persistent drought of 2010, the record-breaking heatwaves in April and May 2023 sustained and intensified the drought stress. Elevated temperatures and suppressed precipitation, driven by anomalous atmospheric circulations, exacerbated the soil moisture (SM) shortages and increased the atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD), restricting water availability and carbon uptake for vegetation photosynthesis. Our findings reveal that, during the 2023 extreme event in SWC, the decreases in forest productivity were primarily driven by low SM anomalies, while the decreases in the grassland and cropland productivity mainly resulted from abnormally high VPDs. This study highlights the combined effects of low SM and high VPD anomalies caused by a compound heatwave–drought event on vegetation growth in SWC and provides valuable insights for future assessments of regional extreme climate events on vegetation growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biomass allocation reflects functional tradeoffs among plant organs and thus represents life history strategies. However, little is known about the patterns and drivers of biomass allocation between reproductive and vegetative organs along large environmental gradients. Here, we examined how environmental gradients affect biomass and the allocation between reproductive and vegetative organs. We also tested whether the allocation patterns conform optimal or allometric partitioning theory. Methods: We collected 22 Artemisia species along a large environmental gradient in China and measured reproductive (infructescences including seeds) and vegetative (leaves, stems and roots) mass for each plant. We then used standardized major axes regressions to quantify the relationships between reproductive and vegetative organs and linear mixed-effect models to examine the effect of environmental gradients (climate and soil) on biomass allocation patterns. Results: We found significant negative correlations between total biomass of Artemisia and the first principal component of climate, an axis that was negatively correlated with temperature and precipitation. Overall, there were significant isometric relationships between reproductive and vegetative mass. In addition, the ratio of reproductive to vegetative mass increased with the second principal component of climate (representing climate variability), but decreased with the second principal component of soil (representing bulk density and available water capacity). These patterns were consistent at the individual and interspecific levels, but were mixed at the intraspecific level. Conclusions: Our findings of the plastic responses of biomass allocation to environmental gradients support the optimal partitioning theory (OPT). The isometric relationships between reproductive and vegetative organs indicate that plant growth and reproduction are intricately linked. Furthermore, the plasticity of biomass ratios of reproductive to vegetative organs to climate variability and soil physical properties suggests that the flexible allocation between growth and reproduction is crucial for successful adaptation to diverse habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenically driven environmental change has imposed substantial threats on biodiversity, including the emergence of infectious diseases that have resulted in declines of wildlife globally. In response to pathogen invasion, maintaining diversity within host populations across heterogenous environments is essential to facilitating species persistence. White-nose syndrome is an emerging fungal pathogen that has caused mass mortalities of hibernating bats across North America. However, in the northeast, peripheral island populations of the endangered northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) appear to be persisting despite infection while mainland populations in the core of the species range have experienced sharp declines. Thus, this study investigated host and environmental factors that may contribute to divergent population responses. We compared patterns of pathogen exposure and infection intensity between populations and documented the environmental conditions and host activity patterns that may promote survival despite disease invasion. For island populations, we found lower prevalence and less severe infections, possibly due to a shorter hibernation duration compared to the mainland, which may reduce the time for disease progression. The coastal region of the northern myotis range may serve as habitat refugia that enables this species to persist despite pathogen exposure; however, conservation efforts could be critical to supporting species survival in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) is an important enzyme in the sucrose synthesis of plants, governing the accumulation and distribution of photosynthetic assimilates, which is essential for plant growth and stress tolerance. Results: This study successfully identified eight NtSPS genes within the genome of cultivated tobacco. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these genes are categorized into three subfamilies, a classification supported by the examination of their gene structures and conserved domains. The promoters of the NtSPSs contained a variety of cis-elements associated with plant development, responses to phytohormones, and stress resistance. Expression profiling demonstrated that NtSPS genes exhibit distinct expression patterns across different tissues and under various stress conditions. Notably, the majority of NtSPS genes, especially NtSPS5 and NtSPS6, showed high expression in leaves and increased expression in both roots and leaves following drought treatment. Furthermore, overexpression of NtSPS5 and NtSPS6 in tobacco plants significantly improved the germination rate under mannitol treatment and enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes along with chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under drought stress. These results suggest that NtSPS5 and NtSPS6 have a positive impact on drought stress tolerance in tobacco plants. Conclusions: Therefore, this study provides the significant target in drought resistance breeding and lays the foundation for further investigation into the function and regulatory mechanisms of SPS genes. Highlights: Total eight gene members were identified in the tobacco genome and divided into three subgroups based on the phylogenetic relationships. The cis-elements and expression patterns analysis revealed that the majority of NtSPS genes are predominantly expressed in leaves and are primarily involved in responses to cold and drought stress. NtSPS5 and NtSPS6 were beneficial to the enhancement of drought stress tolerance in tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]