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Highlights • Two Lepisorus species exhibit different epiphytic lifestyles in primary and degraded forests. • Trait plasticity and trait syndromes are linked with the distribution of epiphytic ferns. • There are resource use trade-offs for epiphytic ferns during forest degradation. • Epiphytic ferns are apt to seek out new optimal habitats in degraded forests. Abstract Epiphytic ferns are an important group of plants strongly affected by sudden changes in forest community composition and structure. However, a key gap persists in our understanding of their responses to forest degradation, specifically concerning the changes in species distributions and functional traits and their underlying mechanisms. Here, we investigated the vertical distribution of two Lepisorus species of a subtropical primary forest and its two-stage degraded forests in Southwest China, and measured 18 plant functional traits of individuals growing in terrestrial (i.e., on the ground) and 0.5–2.5 m epiphytic forest habitats. We found that the relative abundance of both species peaked at heights of approximately 8–16 m in the canopy of primary forest but at heights of 0–4 m on tree trunks in two degraded forests. Terrestrial individuals occurred only in secondary forests, and the relative abundance of these two species on lower tree trunk and forest ground increased with canopy openness within degraded forests. Principal component analysis of the epiphytes' functional traits and plasticity provided evidence for two suites of traits related to light acclimation and nutrient strategies. Furthermore, variation in both species' morphological and physiological traits revealed resource use trade-offs in response to forest degradation. Epiphytic individuals in primary forest had higher capacity for light capture while those in secondary forests had a higher photosynthetic capacity and resource-use efficiency. Within the same secondary forest, terrestrial individuals tended to acclimate to a low-light understory and were more efficient in their nutrient use than epiphytic conspecifics. Together, these results showed a shift of two obligate epiphytic ferns to be facultative in secondary forests, and underwent a downward shift in their microhabitat occupancy to lower tree trunks and understory soils in response to forest degradation. They could achieve this shift by adjusting their functional traits at an intraspecific level, which promoted rhizome extensions to find optimal habitats for persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract It is challenging to capture N-glycopeptides with high recovery and high specificity from complicated biosystems. Herein, we present a facile and economical procedure to generate a novel self-assembling 4-Mercaptobenzene boronic acid functionalized and Au-doped Straticulate C 3 N 4 (MASC), with enhanced affinity capability towards glycopeptides. The materials possess low pH value adaptation, high hydrophilicity and stability, good repeatability and recyclability, and provided high selectivity (1:100), low limit of detection (0.33 fmol/μL), high enrichment efficiency (~ 80%) and high recovery rate (~ 90%) towards glycopeptides. The materials can capture glycopeptides unbiasedly, as demonstrated by the identification of 37 glycopeptides from IgG and 21 glycopeptides from horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The performance of MASC on human urine and serum glycoproteome analysis was also tested. An average of 1465 glycopeptides from 839 glycoproteins and 1553 glycopeptides from 884 glycoproteins were identified from female and male urine samples in a single mass spectrometry analysis. O -glycopeptides from human urine were also significantly enriched. Additionally, 463 glycopeptides assigned to 209 glycoproteins were identified from 5 μL of human serum. All of these results indicate that MASC presents a good performance and applicability in the field of glycoproteomic research. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • A facile and economical procedure to generate phenylboronic acid functionalized C3N4 facultative hydrophilic materials was developed. • The new materials possess the properties of low pH value adaptation, high hydrophilicity and stability. • In the enrichment of glycopeptides, the materials show high selectivity (1:100), low limit of detection (0.33 fmol/μL), high enrichment efficiency (~ 80%) and high recovery rate (~ 90%). • Compared to previous studies, the materials captured more glycopeptides from human urine and serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • pMMO-related features provide the groundwork for methane-based biomanufacturing. • Multi-carbon utilization reprograms the substrate spectrum of methanotrophs. • Harnessing methanotrophs as robust microbial chassis is now being developed. • Inherent advantages can be exploited to enhance the production of various products. The development of biorefineries for a sustainable bioeconomy has been driven by the concept of utilizing environmentally friendly and cost-effective renewable energy sources. Methanotrophic bacteria with a unique capacity to utilize methane as a carbon and energy source can serve as outstanding biocatalysts to develop C1 bioconversion technology. By establishing the utilization of diverse multi-carbon sources, integrated biorefinery platforms can be created for the concept of the circular bioeconomy. An understanding of physiology and metabolism could help to overcome challenges for biomanufacturing. This review summaries fundamental gaps for methane oxidation and the capability to utilize multi-carbon sources in methanotrophic bacteria. Subsequently, breakthroughs in harnessing methanotrophs as robust microbial chassis for industrial biotechnology were compiled and overviewed. Finally, challenges and capabilities to exploit the inherent advantages of methanotrophs to synthesize various target products in higher titers are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the removal of parasites, dead skin and mucus from the bodies of visiting reef fish (clients), cleaner fish have a significant ecosystem function in the ecology of coral reefs. Cleaners gain nutrition from these interactions and through offering a ‘service’ are afforded protection from predators. Given these benefits, it is unclear why more fish do not engage in cleaning, and why part-time cleaning strategies exist. On coral reefs, dedicated species clean throughout their life, whereas some species are facultative, employing opportunistic and/or temporary cleaning strategies. Here, we investigate the cleaning behaviour of a facultative species to assess the relative importance of this interaction to the cleaner. Using a combination of focal and event sampling from a coral reef in Tobago, we show that cleaning is not an essential food source for facultative juvenile blue-headed wrasse ( Thalassoma bifasciatum ), as cleaning rate was unrelated to their foraging rate on the substrate. These wrasse displayed two cleaning strategies: stationary versus wandering cleaning, with cleaning frequency being highest for stationary cleaners. A specific cleaning location facilitated increased cleaning frequency, and wrasse cleaning rate decreased as cleaner or client abundance increased. We also compared juvenile blue-headed wrasse cleaning behaviour to a resident dedicated cleaner, the sharknose goby ( Elacatinus evelynae ), and showed that, in comparison, juvenile wrasse clean a narrower client range, predominately cleaning three species of gregarious free-ranging surgeonfish ( Acanthurus spp.). The wrasse, however, frequently approached these clients without cleaning, which suggests that their selective cleaning strategy may be driven by the acquisition of a particular parasitic food source. Juvenile blue-headed wrasse are generalist foragers, and may thus be limited in their cleaning behaviour by their nutritional requirements, the availability of a suitable cleaning site, and fish density, which ultimately means that they do not adopt more dedicated cleaning roles within the reef community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We review research on plants that hyperaccumulate metals but also occur on low-metal soils. [•] Facultative hyperaccumulators are rare but include several well-known research models. [•] Research on facultative hyperaccumulators has focused disproportionately on a few species. [•] Future studies need to focus on plants from other phylogenetic and geographic groups. [•] We propose new hypotheses regarding the evolution of facultative hyperaccumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and environment friendly method for cleaning metal(loid)s from contaminated soils. Species with exceptionally higher shoot metal concentrations (hyperaccumulators) seem ideal for phytoremediation, though some metal tolerant species with 'above normal' values with higher translocation factor (TF) may also serve the purpose. Halophytes not only remove salts and metalloids from soils but may also be cultivated as non-conventional crops. Nurturing halophytes requires precise understanding of their nature and efficient management for sustainable use. Species with low metal concentrations in their edible parts (especially leaves) may be grown as forage and fodder, but those with metal hyperaccumulation could prove fatal due to their serious health hazards. Like other metallophytes, redundant use of the term 'metal hyperaccumulation' among halophytes needs to be revisited for its ambiguity and potential pitfalls. Similarly, understanding of metal tolerance and shoot accumulation nature of halophytes is needed prior to their use. This review is an attempt to compare halophytes with potential of metal bioindication, phytostabilization and hyperaccumulation (as per definition) as well as their 'obligate' and 'facultative' nature for appropriate uses. [Display omitted] • This review outlined opacity regarding the terms bioindication, phytostabilization and metal hyperaccumulation among halophytes. • Obligate and facultative metal hyperaccumulating halophytes have been enlisted for the first time. • Based on shoot metal concentrations, multipurpose use of halophytes has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Caulobacteria are presumed to be responsible for considerable mineralization of organic material in aquatic environments. In this study, a facultative, mesophilic and cellulolytic bacterium Caulobacter sp. FMC1 was isolated from sediments which were taken from a shallow freshwater lake and then enriched with amendment of submerged macrophyte for three months. This strain seemed to evolve a capacity to adapt redox-fluctuating environments, and could degrade cellulose both aerobically and anaerobically. Cellulose degradation percentages under aerobic and anaerobic conditions were approximately 27% and 10% after a 240-h incubation in liquid mediums containing 0.5% cellulose, respectively. Either cellulose or cellobiose alone was able to induce activities of endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and β-1,4-glucosidase. Interestingly, ethanol was produced as the main fermentative product under anaerobic incubation on cellulose. These results could improve our understanding about cellulose-degrading process in aquatic environments, and were also useful in optimizing cellulose bioconversion process for bioethanol production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Occasional use of arboreal habitats is common in many otherwise-terrestrial species, but the functions of facultative arboreality remain unclear. Red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) are small nonvenomous terrestrial snakes, recorded to climb only rarely. During springtime fieldwork near a large communal overwintering den in Manitoba, we observed occasional episodes when hundreds of snakes climbed into low trees and remained in the branches for periods ranging from minutes to hours. Our data suggest a thermoregulatory basis for this behaviour. During daylight hours when the snakes were active, ambient temperatures generally were higher on the ground than in trees; but this thermal cline reversed occasionally, especially after the ground was cooled by light rain. Arboreality was most common during those thermal reversals. Experimentally simulating rain in the field (sprinkling with water) induced climbing behaviour; and in laboratory enclosures, snakes climbed to avoid a cold substrate. Thus, red-sided garter snakes ascend trees to access higher temperatures than are available on the ground. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although inquilinism in the goby–alpheid shrimp association is well known, behavior inside the burrow remains unclear because it is difficult to observe. In this tank study, alpheid shrimp burrow morphology was investigated because it may reflect the behavior of the burrow inhabitants. The objective was to elucidate the effects of Acentrogobius sp. 2 (sensu Akihito et al., 2013) on the burrow morphology of Alpheus brevicristatus. Through mesocosm experiments, 12 burrows made by shrimp without goby (solitary treatment), and 14 burrows made by shrimp with goby (symbiotic treatment), were recovered. Differences between solitary and symbiotic treatments were identified using a univariate test of each burrow parameters (total depth, total length, horizontal extension, diameter, number of openings, and number of side branches) and multivariate methods (nMDS and ANOSIM). Results indicate that the effect of the symbiotic goby on the shrimp burrow is small or smaller than the effect of shrimp size. However, the treatments varied significantly in terms of the correlation between shrimp size and each burrow parameter. In the solitary treatment, almost all the burrow parameters showed a high correlation with shrimp carapace length, suggesting that the burrow size was optimal for the shrimps. In contrast, no significant correlation was observed between most of the burrow parameters and shrimp size in the symbiotic treatment. Smaller burrows may not be suitable for the shrimp, and larger burrows require more energy to construct and maintain, suggesting that this relationship is costly to the shrimps. This study was carried out using the facultatively symbiotic goby–shrimp interaction, because the obligate shrimp is known to stop burrowing activity without the symbiotic goby. Future investigation using obligately symbiotic goby might lead to different results from those of this study, because the more specialized mutualist gobies will provide greater services to the shrimps. Studying the ecology of both obligate and facultative associations would provide further insight into the evolution of goby–alpheid shrimp symbiosis. • Shrimps were kept with or without gobies in tanks. • In solitary treatment most burrow parameters positively correlated with shrimp size. • In symbiotic treatment burrow parameters did not correlate with shrimp size. • The results indicate that the shrimps incur a cost of the relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In eukaryotic genomes, heterochromatin is targeted by RNAi machinery and/or by pathways requiring RNA elimination and transcription termination factors. However, a direct connection between termination machinery and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcriptional activity at heterochromatic loci has remained elusive. Here, we show that, in fission yeast, the conserved cleavage and polyadenylation factor (CPF) is a key component involved in RNAi-independent assembly of constitutive and facultative heterochromatin domains and that CPF is broadly required to silence genes regulated by Clr4SUV39H. Remarkably, CPF is recruited to non-canonical termination sites within the body of genes by the YTH family RNA-binding protein Mmi1 and is required for RNAPII transcription termination and facultative heterochromatin assembly. CPF loading by Mmi1 also promotes the selective termination of long non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression in cis. These analyses delineate a mechanism in which CPF loaded onto non-canonical termination sites specifies targets of heterochromatin assembly and gene silencing. • CPF is required for RNAi-independent assembly of heterochromatin domains • YTH family protein Mmi1 loads CPF at non-canonical termination sites in gene bodies • Mmi1 and CPF promote Dhp1XRN2 and RNAPII pileup to trigger heterochromatin assembly • CPF is globally required for silencing of genes regulated by Clr4SUV39H Vo et al. report that the YTH family RNA-binding protein Mmi1 recruits the cleavage and polyadenylation factor (CPF) to non-canonical transcription termination sites within gene bodies to promote RNA polymerase II termination and RNAi-independent heterochromatin assembly. They show that CPF is required to silence genes that are regulated by the histone methyltransferase Clr4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]