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Human UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are responsible for the glycosylation of a wide variety of endogenous substrates and commonly prescribed drugs. Different genetic polymorphisms in UGT genes are implicated in interindividual differences in drug response and cancer risk. However, the genetic complexity beyond these variants has not been comprehensively assessed. We here leveraged whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing data from 141,456 unrelated individuals across 7 major human populations to provide a comprehensive profile of genetic variability across the human UGT gene family. Overall, 9666 exonic variants were observed, of which 98.9% were rare. To interpret the functional impact of UGT missense variants, we developed a gene family-specific variant effect predictor. This algorithm identified a total of 1208 deleterious variants, most of which were found in African and South Asian populations. Structural analysis corroborated the predicted effects for multiple variations in substrate binding sites. Combined, our analyses provide a systematic overview of UGT variability, which can yield insights into interindividual differences in phase 2 metabolism and facilitate the translation of sequencing data into personalized predictions of UGT substrate disposition., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest VML is the co-founder, CEO, and shareholder of HepaPredict AB. YZ and VML are co-founders and shareholders of Shanghai Hepo Biotechnology Ltd. The other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

As biodiversity loss continues, targeted conservation interventions are increasingly necessary. Stemming species loss requires mechanistic understanding of the processes governing population dynamics. However, this information is unavailable for most animals because it requires data that are difficult to collect using traditional methods. Advances in animal tracking technology have generated an avalanche of high-resolution observations for a growing list of species around the globe. To date, most research using these data has focused on questions about animal behavior, with less emphasis on population processes. Here, we argue that tracking data are uniquely poised to bring powerful new insights to the urgent, global problem of halting species extinctions by revealing when, where, how, and why populations are changing., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests None declared by authors., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cadmium (Cd) is a typical heavy metal contaminant along China coasts. Clams Ruditapes philippinarum are widely distributed in multiple climatic zones. However, few research has been conducted on the different responses to Cd in clams from different climatic zones. In this study, the temperate zone Bohai Sea (BS) and tropical zone South China Sea (SCS) clams exhibited distinct background metabolome profiles, characterized by different strategies of osmotic regulation, energy metabolism, and anaerobiosis tendencies, suggesting different tolerance and enrichment capacities to Cd. After Cd treatments, the BS clams demonstrated quicker and higher accumulations of Cd than the SCS clams. Despite differences in their background metabolomes, both BS and SCS clams displayed similar metabolomic responses to Cd, such as anaerobiosis inhibition and increased energy demands. Overall, these findings suggested that the inconsistency of biological responses induced by geographic conditions should be considered in ecotoxicological studies. CAPSULE ABSTRACT: This study elucidated the biological differences in clams Ruditapes philippinarum from the Bohai Sea and South China Sea, and the metabolomic responses in these two clam populations after Cd (200 μg/L) treatments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The diversity of geographically distributed human populations shows considerable variation in external and internal traits of individuals. Such differences are largely attributed to genetic adaptation to various environmental influences, which include changes in climatic conditions, variations in sleep and wakefulness, dietary variations, and others. Whole-genome data from individuals of different populations make it possible to determine the specific genetic sites responsible for adaptations and to further understand the genetic structure underlying human adaptive characteristics. In this article, we searched for signals of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) under selection pressure in people of different populations. To identify selection signals in different population groups, the PER1, PER2 and PER3 genes that are involved in the coordination of thermogenic functions and regulation of circadian rhythms, which is directly reflected in the adaptive abilities of the organism, were investigated. Data were analyzed using publicly available data from the 1000 Genomes Project for 23 populations. The Extended Haplotype Homozygosity Score statistical method was chosen to search for traces of selection. The comparative analysis performed identified points subject to selection pressure. The SNPs were annotated through the GWAS catalog and manually by analyzing Internet resources. This study suggests that living conditions, climate, and other external factors directly influence the genetic structure of populations and vary across races and geographic locations. In addition, many of the selection variants in the PER1, PER2, PER3 genes appear to regulate biological processes that are associated with major modern diseases, including obesity, cancer, metabolic syndrome, bipolar personality disorder, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, lupus erythematosus, stroke and Alzheimer's disease, making them extremely interesting targets for further research aimed at identifying the genetic causes of human disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © AUTHORS.)

Zymoseptoria tritici is the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch, the most important disease affecting wheat crops and responsible for up to 50% loss in yield. Azoles and SDHIs are the main groups of fungicides used to control the disease. The efficacy of these fungicides has decreased in recent years due to resistance development. Fungicide resistance can be a result of mutations in the target genes, mutations in upstream regulatory elements that result in over-expression of target proteins and the overexpression of transporters that remove toxic compounds from cells. In the current study nanopore sequencing was used to analyse isolates, mock communities and field samples to determine the pathogen population composition related to azole resistance. Despite the presence of sequencing errors, the method was able to effectively differentiate the sequences of different haplotypes present in both mock and field populations for haplotypes that were relatively common in the overall population. However, haplotypes present at a frequency lower than 5% of the total population, could not be accurately distinguished from haplotypes generated through background sequencing errors. The nanopore protocols are rapid and inexpensive, enabling the routine profiling of haplotypes within pathogen populations at the start of the season or between sprays, facilitating the selection of the most appropriate fungicide to control them, yet limit further selection for azole resistance.

Oligodendrocytes (OL) have been for decades considered a passive, homogenous population of cells that provide support to neurons, and show a limited response to pathological stimuli. This view has been dramatically changed by the introduction of powerful transcriptomic methods that have uncovered a broad spectrum of OL populations that co-exist within the healthy central nervous system (CNS) and also across a variety of diseases. Specifically, single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq, snRNA-seq) have been used to reveal OL variations in maturation, myelination and immune status. The newly discovered immunomodulatory role suggests that OL may serve as targets for future therapies. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of OL heterogeneity in mammalian CNS as revealed by scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq. We provide a list of key studies that identify consensus marker genes defining the currently known OL populations. This resource can be used to standardize analysis of OL related datasets and improve their interpretation, ultimately leading to a better understanding of OL functions in health and disease.

It remains unclear to what extent yearly weather variation and spatial variation in microclimate influences the outcome of interacting plant-animal species and whether responses differ between life stages. We collected data over several years on 46 ha on File Hajdar, Gotland, Sweden, and executed a complete mapping of larva nests (n = 776) and imago (n = 5,952) of the marsh fritillary butterfly Euphydryas aurinia and its host plant Succisa pratensis. The phenology of the butterflies and the major nectar plants visited varied among years. The duration of the adult flight period decreased with increasing ambient air temperatures. The density of butterflies, host plants, and host plant leaf size increased between years with increasing precipitation in the preceding year, and decreased with increasing average ambient air temperature in the preceding year. In 2021–2022 we deployed a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a high-resolution thermal sensor to measure spatial variation in surface temperatures in the study area. We found that survival from the egg to the larva stage increased with increasing surface temperature and host plant density. Host plants and larva nests generally occupied warmer microhabitats compared to imago butterflies. The results further suggested that the relationships linking surface temperature to the densities of imago, larva, host plants, and leaf size differed qualitatively between years. In 2017, larva nests and host plant density increased with increasing surface temperatures, and butterflies showed a non-linear response with a density peak at intermediate temperatures. As a result of the extreme drought in 2018 there was a reduction in maximum leaf size, and in the densities of plants, larvae, and butterflies. Moreover, the slopes of the relationships linking the density of larvae, butterflies, and plants to temperature shifted from linear positive to negative or curvilinear. Our findings demonstrate how yearly weather variation and heterogeneous surface temperatures can drive the spatiotemporal distribution and dynamics of butterflies and their host plants. The context specificity of the responses indicated by our results makes it challenging to project how climate change will affect the dynamics of ecological communities.

Commiphora gileadensis (L.) C. Chr is a perennial plant existing mainly in the southern and western mountains of the Arabian Peninsula. In the Makkah province, the remaining populations are threatened by many factors such as overcutting, overgrazing, and urban developments. These dangers are expected to be aggravated by the progression of aridification factors arising from climate change. To overcome the decline in remaining populations of this valuable species, a timely evaluation of the population’s genetic variables and genetic structure is vital for the conservation of existing C. gileadensis populations. In this study, we used 61 SSR primers to achieve this objective. Only 50 loci showed polymorphisms, which led to further analysis of the population genetics for 600 genotypes that were collected from 50 populations of C. gileadensis found in 10 different sites in the Makkah region: Gebel Al Muliesaa, Wadi Albathna, Wadi Houra, Wadi Albaidaa, Wadi Elebiedia, Gebel Kniethl, Wadi Sayaa, Wadi Elbarasa, Wadi Alfawara, and Wadi Alkharar. The results showed an obvious decrease in genetic diversity variables in all studied populations. The range of PPL was between 8 and 40; additionally, the low HT value of 0.804 and the high value of inbreeding, Fis = 0.238, reflected a severe lack of heterozygotes. High levels of FST and GST and low gene flow indicate considerable segregation among the C. gileadensis populations, which creates a barrier to gene migration. Our data suggest the need for conservation planning for C. gileadensis in order to avoid the species’ forthcoming extinction. Efforts should be largely oriented around managing water consumption, prohibiting overcutting and overgrazing, and establishing appropriate seed banks.

Indigenous goats form the majority of populations in smallholder, low input, low output production systems and are considered an important genetic resource due to their adaptability to different production environments and support of communal farming. Effective population size (Ne), inbreeding levels, and the runs of homozygosity (ROHs) are effective tools for exploring the genetic diversity and understanding the demographic history in efforts to support breeding strategies to use and conserve genetic resources. Across populations, the current Ne of Gauteng was the lowest at 371 animals, while the historical Ne across populations suggests that the ancestor Ne has decreased by 53.86%, 44.58%, 42.16%, and 41.16% in Free State (FS), North West (NW), Limpopo (LP), and Gauteng (GP), respectively, over the last 971 generations. Genomic inbreeding levels related to ancient kinship (FROH > 5 Mb) were highest in FS (0.08 ± 0.09) and lowest in the Eastern Cape (EC) (0.02 ± 0.02). A total of 871 ROH island regions which include important environmental adaptation and hermo-tolerance genes such as IL10RB, IL23A, FGF9, IGF1, EGR1, MTOR, and MAPK3 were identified (occurring in over 20% of the samples) in FS (n = 37), GP (n = 42), and NW (n = 2) populations only. The mean length of ROH across populations was 7.76 Mb and ranged from 1.61 Mb in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to 98.05 Mb (GP and NW). The distribution of ROH according to their size showed that the majority (n = 1949) of the detected ROH were > 5 Mb in length compared to the other categories. Assuming two hypothetical ancestral populations, the populations from KZN and LP are revealed, supporting PC 1. The genomes of KZN and LP share a common origin but have substantial admixture from the EC and NW populations. The findings revealed that the occurrence of high Ne and autozygosity varied largely across breeds in communal indigenous goat populations at recent and ancient events when a genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker was used. The use of Illumina goat SNP50K BeadChip shows that there was a migration route of communal indigenous goat populations from the northern part (LP) of South Africa to the eastern areas of the KZN that confirmed their historical relatedness and coincides with the migration periods of the Bantu nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a study of the population structure of biochemical features (a large number of volatile needle terpenoids) on large samples of Scots pine trees are presented. Data were analyzed using correlation, cluster, and principal component analysis. Significant conjugation of the content of all isolated needle compounds was shown. Features of the correlation structure of terpenoids indicate that the processes of their group synthesis can be simultaneously triggered in plants. It is concluded that it is possible to use static data obtained on large samples of trees for a preliminary study of the processes of interconversions of terpenoid compounds in coniferous plants, which are characterized by high reactivity and the complexity of their study by chemical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is one of the most serious environmental factors affecting crop productivity around the world. We used a morpho-physiological approach to investigate the salt responses of four Tunisian natural populations of Medicago ciliaris. Forty-six lines of M. ciliaris were grown under a control treatment and 100 mM NaCl. We measured 11 quantitative traits of shoot and root growth during harvest. An analysis of variance showed that the variations in salt response can be explained by the effects of the population, line, treatment, and interactions between the population and treatment and the line and treatment. Most of the measured traits showed significant differences between the studied populations under the control treatment and salt stress. High to moderate broad-sense heritabilities (H2) were noted for most of the parameters under the control treatment and salt stress, implying that salt tolerance is highly heritable. Most correlations between the measured traits under the two treatments were positive, of which the strongest correlations were recorded between characteristics related to development. The 46 studied lines formed three groups in both conditions, while their genetic structure was dependent on the treatment factor. The results from this study can provide a basis for identifying and breeding salt-tolerant lines of M. ciliaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different bacterial isolates attach to the cuticle of plant-parasitic nematodes, affecting their interactions with the host plant. Nematode populations differ in their genetic and cuticle structures, causing variable interactions with host plants and natural enemies. In the current study, attachment assays were carried out to compare the attachment of soil bacteria in general and the bacterial isolate of Rothia sp. in particular among geographically diverse populations of Pratylenchus neglectus. Biological and molecular assays were further conducted to examine the effect of Rothia attachment on nematode penetration into barley roots and to sequence the fatty acid- and retinol-binding gene (Pn-far-1). The results showed that nematode populations of P. neglectus differed in their bacterial attachment. Soil bacteria and Rothia sp. attached specifically to the cuticle of P. neglectus and did so differently among the nematode populations. Rothia attachment caused a reduction in the infectivity of three nematode populations in barley roots. The sequencing of the far-1 gene revealed genetic variability within and among P. neglectus populations. In conclusion, the interaction between P. neglectus and their bacterial attachers occurs in a population-specific manner, elucidating an essential aspect of using biological agents to manage plant-parasitic nematodes. Key Message: 1. Geographically diverse populations of the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus neglectus differed in the soil bacterial communities attached to their cuticles. 2. The bacterial isolate of Rothia sp. attached to the cuticle of P. neglectus and reduced its penetration into the host plant in a population-specific manner. 3. The fatty acid- and retinol-binding gene (far-1) varied within and among P. neglectus populations with their different bacterial attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is dramatically altering our planet, yet our understanding of mechanisms of thermal tolerance is limited in wild birds. We characterized natural variation in heat shock protein (HSP) gene expression among tissues and populations of free-living Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). We focused on HSPs because they prevent cellular damage and promote recovery from heat stress. We used quantitative PCR to measure gene expression of 3 HSPs, including those in the HSP70 and HSP90 families that have robust experimental connections to heat in past literature. First, to evaluate how tissues and, by extension, the functions that they mediate, may vary in their thermal protection, we compared HSP gene expression among neural and peripheral tissues. We hypothesized that tissues with particularly vital functions would be more protected from heat as indicated by higher HSP gene expression. We found that brain tissues had consistently higher HSP gene expression compared to the pectoral muscle. Next, we compared HSP gene expression across 4 distinct populations that span over 20° of latitude (>2,300 km). We hypothesized that the more southern populations would have higher HSP gene expression, suggesting greater tolerance of, or experience with, warmer local conditions. We observed largely higher HSP gene expression in more southern populations than northern populations, although this pattern was more striking at the extremes (southern Indiana vs. Alaska), and it was stronger in some brain areas than others (ventromedial telencephalon vs. hypothalamus). These results shed light on the potential mechanisms that may underlie thermal tolerance differences among populations or among tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2010-2022, in the field crop rotations of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine with the use of the latest chemical means, the peculiarities of biology, ecology and distribution of soil and other harmful species of arthropods were clarified. In particular, according to the technologies of high-quality grain production through the use of tank mixtures of plant protection agents and relatively high rates of fats, which influenced the formation of the structure of the entomocomplex with the predominance of certain species of weevils, gnats, gnawing scoops and lamellae. According to the phenophases of cultivated plants, this feature was accompanied both by the state of biological resources and by the technologies of crop production in general, with the optimization of phytosanitary, nature protection and economically justified resourcesaving methods of controlling the number of phytophages. It has been established that in cultural ecosystems under intensive technologies in the composition of modern bioresources, the number of organisms, both flora and fauna, in particular, harmful phytophagous insects at the first stages of the formation and development of grain crops, probably changes. In the years of observation, it was noted that the biodiversity of agrocenoses is quite numerous in terms of species and quantity, mainly against the background of organo-mineral systems and under conditions of relatively low rates of application of fats. This makes it possible to model such processes by entomological and zoological objects as sensors, in particular from the standpoint of systematic monitoring and forecasting, as well as sustainable management on a resource-saving basis. At the same time, the long-term dynamics of the factors of the formation of entomocomplexes are taken into account, with the clarification of the influence of the systems of basic and minor nutrition, tillage and measures to protect grain and other crops, with an assessment of the selfmanagement mechanisms of the arthropod complex, and the dominant species are determined in the theological aspect. Based on the results of research, separate biocenotic relationships of cultivated plants and their harmful organisms under different nutrition systems of wheat, corn, soybean, chickpea, sunflower in periods of drought and relatively optimal weather conditions were clarified, with clarification of the levels of trophic chains of primary and secondary coenoses. The structure of arthropods of the newest systems of application of liquid forms of fertilizers, as well as with an assessment of the influence of tank mixtures of agrochemicals on the level of migration and survival of phytophagous insects in short-rotational crop rotations. The new parameters of grain crop protection systems with biologically oriented complexes based on entomological and zoological test objects of the factors of crop production intensification are substantiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determine seasonal, annual, and decadal patterns of abundance in reptile species and assemblages occupying central Bold Park (~338 ha), an isolated urban bushland remnant in Perth, Southwestern Australia. Fenced pitfall trapping in four sampling sites, representing different habitats and fire history, over the primary reptile activity period for 35 consecutive years with over 17,000 individuals captured during 3300 days of sampling; the trapping regime was modified for the last 28 years. Sampling occurred in one of 35 global biodiversity hotspots that has a Mediterranean climate experiencing a 15% decline from the century average rainfall over the last 50 years. Twenty‐nine species were recorded, with 16 captured in 32 or more years and accounting for nearly 97% of all captures; the six most common for 81%. Three taxa became locally extinct. Activity predominates in warmer and dryer months (October to April), peaking in November–December. Species richness remained relatively constant between years with around 73% of known taxa captured annually. Assemblages did not change when analyzing the presence/absence data but moved through five statistically significant assemblages analyzing relative abundance data. Over the last 28 years, relative abundance was significantly and positively correlated with annual rainfall residuals, uniquely for the 4 years preceding annual sampling, resulting in significant changes in total assemblages and significantly similar patterns in four sample sites; the presence/absence data indicated only minor assemblage changes across sites. The number of species recorded annually remained relatively constant, but relative abundance illustrated significant temporal changes in assemblages over decades. The modeled relationship between relative abundance and annual rainfall residuals for 4 years preceding annual sampling is supported by known ecological responses and reptile demographics within this Mediterranean climate. Maintenance of urban biodiversity should consider impacts of a significantly drying climate exacerbating the extinction debt already inherent in isolated bushland populations experiencing limited immigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Chatham Islands has some of the most prized black-footed abalone (Haliotis iris) beds in New Zealand. This well-managed fishery includes restrictions on catch and size limits, selective fishing methods, and shellfish management. However, recent declines in biomass and growth parameters have prompted omics research to characterise the biological responses of abalone, potentially contributing towards animal management strategies. Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterise the metabolite profiles of slow and fast growing, juvenile and adult abalone, relating to metabolites supporting energy metabolism. Methods: A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolite profiling, applying methyl chloroformate alkylation, was performed on juvenile and adult abalone samples collected from Point Durham and Wharekauri sites, Chatham Islands, New Zealand. Results: The results obtained from haemolymph and muscle samples indicated that abalone from the fast-growing area, Wharekauri, fuelled metabolic functions via carbohydrate sources, providing energy for fatty acid and amino acid synthesis. Conversely, higher amino acid levels were largely utilised to promote growth in this population. The metabolism of juvenile abalone favoured anabolism, where metabolites were diverted from glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and used for the production of nucleotides, amino acids and fatty acids. Conclusions: This research provides unique physiological insights towards abalone populations supporting the use of metabolomics as a tool to investigate metabolic processes related to growth. This work sets the stage for future work aimed at developing biomarkers for growth and health monitoring to support a growing and more sustainably abalone fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The body size and reproductive characteristics in populations of the same species is influenced by environmental and ecological factors. In this study, we analysed the relationship of environmental factors, morphological characters (body size and mass) and reproductive traits (clutch size) of females from 13 populations of Sceloporus variabilis. Results showed variation in snout‒vent length (SVL), body mass and clutch size among populations. An ANCOVA between SVL and clutch size showed an increase of the latter in females from Alvarado and Valle Nacional; ANCOVA between body mass and SVL revealed an increase in body mass in most populations. A canonical correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between SVL, body mass, and clutch size with elevation and precipitation, but not with temperature. Future studies should assess the effect of seasonality and food resource availability on reproductive investment among populations of S. variabilis to determine whether these characteristics are a function of differences in key ecological factors (e.g. availability of resources and seasonality) associated with each population, and determine the causes of geographic variation in morphological and life history characteristics among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heart of change in emotionally focused couple therapy (EFCT) involves accessing key emotions and using them to redefine the self and create new relational responses. Two EFCT change events, withdrawer re‐engagement and blamer softening, represent the emotion and relationship restructuring process with couples who are stuck in blame‐withdraw interactions. These change events involve facilitating greater accessibility, responsiveness, and emotional engagement between more avoidant and anxious partners. This study tracked in‐session emotional states and sequences in each of these change events. Findings highlight the importance of primary and softer emotional expressions. Specific emotional states characterize the two EFCT change events with adaptive grief/hurt being unique to withdrawer re‐engagement and rejecting anger distinguishing blamer softening. Sequential patterns of emotional states were identified particularly for withdrawer re‐engagement where grief/hurt was followed by acceptance and agency. Clinical implications consider the role of emotional transformation and emotional expansion in the EFCT change process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotion‐focused family therapy (EFFT) is a therapy model which includes a two‐chair intervention aimed at facilitating awareness and an interruption of problematic patterns of parenting as well as a reconnection to healthy caregiving instincts. The present study employed a task analysis to examine the process of this intervention with parents in a therapeutic setting and report on preliminary outcomes. Four trained EFFT therapists conducted chair work interventions with four parents (total of 16) and parents completed questionnaires directly following the intervention. Results indicated that most parents experienced significant emotional resolution of their love‐based fears and an increase in confidence in supporting their children struggling with mental health issues. Use of the intervention in clinical settings is an effective and efficient way to support parents in responding to their children's mental health challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 4,846 (84.5±87.15, 3–429: mean±SD, range) subadult or adult Dirofilaria ursi were recovered from 56 American black bears (Ursus americanus) in Ontario, 1975–77. Yearling bears had fewer worms than older bears; age classes greater than 2.5 yr had similar numbers of worms. Dead worms comprised 3.7% of all worms. There was one dead worm in total in 10 yearling bears and consistently more dead worms in older bears. The occurrence of worms within local sites in bears differed over time. Increasing numbers of worms appeared first in peritracheal sites (Site 1) following 1–3 seasons of transmission, in abundance in perirenal sites (Site 2) following the second season of transmission, and in lateral and ventral trunk and abdomen plus medio-proximal legs (Site 3) following three and four seasons of transmission. Few worms occupied other sites (Site 4). The proportion of worms recovered from the four sites was 46, 30, 19.8, and 3.9%, respectively. Dead worms comprised only 3.2% of worms in the first three definitive sites but 14% of worms in other sites. These data are consistent with primary, secondary, and tertiary site preferences for mature D. ursi in this species. Circulating microfilaremia in peripheral blood was periodic in 7/10 experiments and revealed a pattern of variable numbers during the day, highest in the evening and lowest during the night. The time of high density of microfilariae in peripheral blood was synchronous with the feeding cycle of Simulium venustum, the vector of D. ursi. Immediately postmortem, microfilariae were at highest densities in blood of lungs regardless of their relative density in peripheral blood. These data can direct diagnostic efforts to maximize detection of adult D. ursi in tissues and larvae in blood samples of naturally infected bears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of the different types of molecular markers in assessing the genetic diversity of seven Serbian broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) populations, such as ISSR and SSR. The discriminatory potential of SSR markers was on average lower (Rp=2.46) than for ISSR (Rp=13.85), indicating a large interpopulation genetic variability. According to the indices of genetic diversity, a higher intrapopulation molecular variability in the case of SSR markers (PIC=0.58; H=0.63) compared to ISSR (PIC=0.33) was revealed. AMOVA analysis also showed a high genetic diversity within populations with SSR markers (within pops 53% and among pops 47%) and the most genetic diversity among populations with ISSR (34% and 66%, respectively). These results showed a high degree of genetic variations among and within broomrape genotypes from Serbia which favor the evolution of more virulent physiological races of O. cumana. This study can serve as scientific support for future researches in monitoring and developing strategies to improve sunflower crops resistant to this pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhanterium epapposum Oliv. is a perennial medicinal shrub growing mainly in desert habitats in the Arabian Peninsula. In western Saudi Arabia, the remaining few populations of this species are exposed to many threats, including overcutting, overgrazing, and recently, increasing human activities. These threats are predicted to be exacerbated by the advancement of aridification caused by climate change. The conservation and recovering of the diminished populations of R. epapposum necessitate measurement of their genetic diversity and genetic differentiation. To accomplish this objective, we tested 150 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs, with which 40 polymorphic loci were identified. These polymorphic loci were used to determine the population genetics of 540 plant accessions sampled from a total of 45 populations of R. epapposum located in 8 sites in western Saudi Arabia: Wadi Khurieba, Wadi Al Khamas, Gebel Al Twaal, Al Asaafer, Wadi ALHamda, Wadi Al Nassayeif, Wadi Qaraba, Wadi Kuliayah, and Wadi Dahban. Low levels of genetic diversity were found in all populations (the values of the PPL ranged between 52.5 and 15) along with a declined value of HT (0.123) and a considerable inbreeding value (F = 0.942), which confirmed a noticeable shortage of heterozygotes. High genetic differentiation among the populations and a low value of gene flow are indicative of high isolation among the R. epapposum populations, which has caused a severe deficiency in gene migration. The data obtained herein inspire several recommendations for conservation and retrieval of the existing populations, including seed banks, restoration of diminished populations, and monitoring and prevention of cutting and grazing activities at threatened sites. All of these measures are urgently required to avoid imminent extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Philosophers who study the problem of biological function often begin their deliberations by reflecting on the functions of parts of animals, or the behavior of animals. Applying theories of biological function to unconventional or borderline cases can help us to better evaluate and refine those theories. This is the case when we consider whether parts of transposable elements (TEs)—bits of “selfish” DNA that move about within a host genome—have functions of their own, that is, whether the parts of TEs have the function of helping the TE move about within the genome. Here I argue that whether or not the parts of TEs have functions depends crucially on whether collections of TEs form “populations,” by which I mean, here, a group of individuals of the same type that impact one another’s chances of persistence or multiplication, by impacting one another’s access to a shared resource. I think there is suggestive, but not conclusive, evidence that some TEs have functions of their own. Considering the problem of TE functionality, then, has value both for philosophy and for biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat fragmentation is widely recognized as a contributor to the decline of biodiversity, with amphibians one of the key groups impacted. To understand the effects of habitat fragmentation on amphibian populations requires long-term data sets showing population trends. In this paper, road mortalities were employed as proxies to describe long-term numbers of four populations of the spiny toad Bufo spinosus in western France during a 17-year period. Road mortalities were found during all months in all populations but were most frequent during October, November and December, the main migratory period. Large females were found significantly more frequently during these migration months, forming 45% of the total sample, compared with their presence from January to September (34.4%). The long-term trends were evaluated using regression analysis of the logarithmic (loge) transforms of annual counts as dependent variables against year as the independent variables. All coefficients showed no significant departure from the 0 hypothetical coefficients, indicative of population stability. This was supported by jackknife analysis, which showed good agreement of the pseudo-regression coefficients with the true equations. Stepwise regression of potential climate impacts on toad numbers suggested rainfall levels in October adjusted to 2- and 3-year lags were involved in driving population change. Road mortality counts were also made during 2020 and 2021 when human movement restrictions were in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To estimate the potential impact on this disturbance in the methodology, the Poisson distribution was used to estimate potential differences between what would have been expected counts and the observed counts. The results indicate that the observed mortalities were significantly lower than expected in all four populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations at the border of ranges are considered more vulnerable than those in the center. However, some recent reviews contradict this hypothesis. We have studied the reproductive and demographic characteristics of Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) Soó at the northern border of its range (Subpolar Urals) and compared the results with data from the more southern parts of the species range. Despite the deterioration of some parameters, the species at the border of the range forms quite large, well-regenerated populations. The reproductive success of D. maculata is more dependent on specific environmental conditions than on its geographic location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mythimna separata (Walker) is a destructive grain crop pest in China and other Asian countries. However, the effects of fluctuating environmental conditions on M. separata populations remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated how fluctuating temperatures affect the development, reproduction, flight capacity and energy reserves of both migrant and resident populations of M. separata. Our experiments demonstrated that fluctuating temperatures (20–30°C) significantly accelerated development but inhibited adult reproduction and reduced triglyceride reserves in both migrant and resident populations compared with a constant temperature of 25°C, because the larval period, pupal period, lifetime fecundity, mating frequency, ovarian development and triglyceride content significantly decreased, while the preoviposition period obviously increased. A relative decreased tendency of flight capacity was observed for migrants and residents under fluctuating temperatures. We also confirmed that populations and sexes differed in their responses to temperature variations. Mythimna separata residents showed slower development, weaker flight capacity and lower triglyceride content but greater reproductive performance than the migrants under both fluctuating and constant temperatures. Furthermore, female migrants had greater flight potential and triglyceride levels than those of males at both constant temperature and fluctuating temperatures. These findings expand our knowledge of the relationships between fluctuating temperatures and armyworm development, reproduction, energy reserves and adaptive strategies in a complex ambient environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under standard guidance for conducting Ecological Risk Assessments (ERAs), the risks of chemical exposure to diverse organisms are most often based on deterministic point estimates evaluated against safety-factor-based levels of concern (LOCs). While the science and guidance for mechanistic effect models (e.g., demographic, population, and agent-based) have long been demonstrated to provide more ecologically relevant effect endpoints upon which risk can be evaluated, their application in ERAs has been limited, particularly in the US. This special issue highlights the state of the science in effect modeling for ERAs through demonstrated application of the recently published Population modeling Guidance, Use, Interpretation, and Development for ERA (Pop-GUIDE). We introduce this issue with a perspective on why it is critical to move past the current application of deterministic endpoints and LOCs. We demonstrate how the current, widely used approaches contain extensive uncertainty that could be reduced considerably by applying models that account for species life histories and other important endogenous and exogenous factors critical to species sustainability. We emphasize that it is long past time to incorporate better, more robust, and ecologically relevant effect models into ERAs, particularly for chronic risk determination. The papers in this special issue demonstrate how mechanistic models that follow Pop-GUIDE better inform ERAs compared to the current standard practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-quarters of the Russian maple resources are concentrated in Bashkortostan. Norway maple Acer platanoides L. forms here in pure stands or dominates in the composition of broad-leaved forests on the western macroslope of mountains of the Southern Urals. But the species is represented in the Bashkir Cis-Urals as a part of this type of vegetation with relatively low participation, and the stands are geographically isolated. Using ISSR-analysis of DNA, we carried out a comparative analysis of the genetic variation of populations, which are fragmented to varying degrees during the centuries-old economic development of this region. The 5 primers used allowed us to detect polymorphism in 77 of 96 markers (80.2 %) in 6 examined stands. Significant differences in the level of genetic diversity of maple samples were revealed (the proportion of polymorphic loci varies in the range Р95 = 0.323–0.662, the expected heterozygosity HE = 0.052–0.148, the average number of alleles na = 1.197–1.385, the average effective number of alleles ne = 1.105–1.261), these parameters are significantly higher in forest areas with a relatively large proportion of the maple in the composition of stands. A comparatively large differentiation of populations was found in the frequencies of ISSR markers. The inter-sample component of genetic variation has a relatively high level of 60.1 % (GST = 0.601, the parameter varies from 0.523 to 0.676 for the primers), this is confirmed by the relatively high pairwise Nei’s genetic distances among populations (they vary from 0.129 to 0.347, on average D = 0.272). The clustering of samples and the use the method of principal components demonstrated that neighboring populations have relatively similar gene pools. It is concluded that the entomophilicity of the maple may be a cause of the patterns identified in the study, which limited the gene flow among geographically isolated stands and their groups. The ways of applying the obtained results in the practice of forestry are discussed.

In connection with the increasing negative impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity and the environment in general, their research, as well as throughout the world, is relevant. The distribution of the Heracleum sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum of the secondary range on the example of the Kyiv agglomeration is investigated in the work. In our study we aimed to evaluate the possibility of spontaneous spread of giant hogweeds in the secondary range, adaptation of the species to the new conditions of the environment that favor to control of these species’ expansion and reduce the threat to the urban ecosystems and citizens’ health. We hypothesise that in the secondary range H. sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum settle sites with relatively high temperature (Tr), lightening (Lc), and soil moisture conditions similar to that in their natural range. 17 populations and four localities (sites) of H. sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum were studied. They were found within forest, meadow, riverine and ruderal plant communities. It is indicated that the advent species fully adapted to the conditions of the environment. The difference by ecological indicators Lc2 and Tm1 is pointed out. According to the results of our research, for the area of Kyiv urban agglomeration the growth of H. sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum is indicated in the plants communities of six classes. They spread most in ruderal plant communities of the: Robinietea, Artemisietea, Epilobietea classes. The studied species belong to invasive plant species in Ukraine and are characterized by extremely high effect on the environment and high invasive potential.

Indigenous goats form the majority of populations in smallholder, low input, low output production systems and are considered an important genetic resource due to their adaptability to different production environments and support of communal farming. Effective population size (Ne), inbreeding levels, and the runs of homozygosity (ROHs) are effective tools for exploring the genetic diversity and understanding the demographic history in efforts to support breeding strategies to use and conserve genetic resources. Across populations, the current Ne of Gauteng was the lowest at 371 animals, while the historical Ne across populations suggests that the ancestor Ne has decreased by 53.86%, 44.58%, 42.16%, and 41.16% in Free State (FS), North West (NW), Limpopo (LP), and Gauteng (GP), respectively, over the last 971 generations. Genomic inbreeding levels related to ancient kinship (FROH > 5 Mb) were highest in FS (0.08 ± 0.09) and lowest in the Eastern Cape (EC) (0.02 ± 0.02). A total of 871 ROH island regions which include important environmental adaptation and hermo-tolerance genes such as IL10RB, IL23A, FGF9, IGF1, EGR1, MTOR, and MAPK3 were identified (occurring in over 20% of the samples) in FS (n = 37), GP (n = 42), and NW (n = 2) populations only. The mean length of ROH across populations was 7.76 Mb and ranged from 1.61 Mb in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to 98.05 Mb (GP and NW). The distribution of ROH according to their size showed that the majority (n = 1949) of the detected ROH were > 5 Mb in length compared to the other categories. Assuming two hypothetical ancestral populations, the populations from KZN and LP are revealed, supporting PC 1. The genomes of KZN and LP share a common origin but have substantial admixture from the EC and NW populations. The findings revealed that the occurrence of high Ne and autozygosity varied largely across breeds in communal indigenous goat populations at recent and ancient events when a genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker was used. The use of Illumina goat SNP50K BeadChip shows that there was a migration route of communal indigenous goat populations from the northern part (LP) of South Africa to the eastern areas of the KZN that confirmed their historical relatedness and coincides with the migration periods of the Bantu nation.

Abstract Determine seasonal, annual, and decadal patterns of abundance in reptile species and assemblages occupying central Bold Park (~338 ha), an isolated urban bushland remnant in Perth, Southwestern Australia. Fenced pitfall trapping in four sampling sites, representing different habitats and fire history, over the primary reptile activity period for 35 consecutive years with over 17,000 individuals captured during 3300 days of sampling; the trapping regime was modified for the last 28 years. Sampling occurred in one of 35 global biodiversity hotspots that has a Mediterranean climate experiencing a 15% decline from the century average rainfall over the last 50 years. Twenty‐nine species were recorded, with 16 captured in 32 or more years and accounting for nearly 97% of all captures; the six most common for 81%. Three taxa became locally extinct. Activity predominates in warmer and dryer months (October to April), peaking in November–December. Species richness remained relatively constant between years with around 73% of known taxa captured annually. Assemblages did not change when analyzing the presence/absence data but moved through five statistically significant assemblages analyzing relative abundance data. Over the last 28 years, relative abundance was significantly and positively correlated with annual rainfall residuals, uniquely for the 4 years preceding annual sampling, resulting in significant changes in total assemblages and significantly similar patterns in four sample sites; the presence/absence data indicated only minor assemblage changes across sites. The number of species recorded annually remained relatively constant, but relative abundance illustrated significant temporal changes in assemblages over decades. The modeled relationship between relative abundance and annual rainfall residuals for 4 years preceding annual sampling is supported by known ecological responses and reptile demographics within this Mediterranean climate. Maintenance of urban biodiversity should consider impacts of a significantly drying climate exacerbating the extinction debt already inherent in isolated bushland populations experiencing limited immigration.

Adansonia digitata L. commonly known as baobab is a globally known high valued multipurpose tree. The current study was designed to map the distribution and determine the effects of different land use systems (cropland, grazing land and settlement area) on the species population density, composition, health and productivity in Makueni County. Livelihood potential of baobab in the studied area was also assessed. Two sub counties; Kibwezi East and West in Makueni County where baobab populations occur were purposely selected for this study. A reconnaissance study was carried out followed by selection of three contrasting representative land use systems: Namely cropland, grazing land and settlement area/homesteads using Google Map through a desktop study. Plots of 0.5 km long and 0.25 km wide were used to assess the population and health status of baobab trees. Market centers and chiefs’ camps were randomly sampled for a household and market survey where a total of 423 informants were interviewed. Baobab growth characteristics across the three land use systems in the two sub counties as well as household and market data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism version 8.4.3. The waypoints were downloaded from the Garmin etrex 10 GPS handset into Arc Map 1.0 of Arc Geographic Information System (GIS) (ESRI, Redlands, CA) where the baobab distribution maps were generated. The findings revealed that the baobab populations occurred in clusters of high to low density. Density and fruit production of baobab trees were statistically different across the three land use systems in the two sub counties while height, DBH and crown diameter did not differ significantly. No saplings were found in the study area. The study revealed that there is a huge potential for baobab fruits in diet especially during food scarcity. Therefore, farmer training is advisable to augment local knowledge and skills for enhanced value addition of baobab products.

Abstract Background Analysis of lymphocyte cell lines revealed substantial differences in the expression of mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) among human populations. The extent of such population-associated differences in actual human tissues remains largely unexplored. The placenta is one of the few solid human tissues that can be collected in substantial numbers in a controlled manner, enabling quantitative analysis of transient biomolecules such as RNA transcripts. Here, we analyzed microRNA (miRNA) expression in human placental samples derived from 36 individuals representing four genetically distinct human populations: African Americans, European Americans, South Asians, and East Asians. All samples were collected at the same hospital following a unified protocol, thus minimizing potential biases that might influence the results. Results Sequence analysis of the miRNA fraction yielded 938 annotated and 70 novel miRNA transcripts expressed in the placenta. Of them, 82 (9%) of annotated and 11 (16%) of novel miRNAs displayed quantitative expression differences among populations, generally reflecting reported genetic and mRNA-expression-based distances. Several co-expressed miRNA clusters stood out from the rest of the population-associated differences in terms of miRNA evolutionary age, tissue-specificity, and disease-association characteristics. Among three non-environmental influenced demographic parameters, the second largest contributor to miRNA expression variation after population was the sex of the newborn, with 32 miRNAs (3% of detected) exhibiting significant expression differences depending on whether the newborn was male or female. Male-associated miRNAs were evolutionarily younger and correlated inversely with the expression of target mRNA involved in neuron-related functions. In contrast, both male and female-associated miRNAs appeared to mediate different types of hormonal responses. Demographic factors further affected reported imprinted expression of 66 placental miRNAs: the imprinting strength correlated with the mother’s weight, but not height. Conclusions Our results showed that among 12 assessed demographic variables, population affiliation and fetal sex had a substantial influence on miRNA expression variation among human placental samples. The effect of newborn-sex-associated miRNA differences further led to expression inhibition of the target genes clustering in specific functional pathways. By contrast, population-driven miRNA differences might mainly represent neutral changes with minimal functional impacts.

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a multifactorial disease influenced by host genetics and environmental factors, is the most common endocrine disease. Several studies have shown that the gut microbiota as a close-up environmental mediator influences host physiology including metabolism. The aim of the present study is to examine the compositional and functional potential of the gut microbiota across individuals from Denmark and South India with a focus on T2D. Many earlier studies have investigated the microbiome aspects of T2D, and it has also been anticipated that such microbial associations would be dependent on diet and ethnic origin. However, there has been no large scale trans-ethnic microbiome study earlier in this direction aimed at evaluating any “universal” microbiome signature of T2D. Methods 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed on stool samples from 279 Danish and 294 Indian study participants. Any differences between the gut microbiota of both populations were explored using diversity measures and negative binomial Wald tests. Study samples were stratified to discover global and country-specific microbial signatures for T2D and treatment with the anti-hyperglycemic drug, metformin. To identify taxonomical and functional signatures of the gut microbiota for T2D and metformin treatment, we used alpha and beta diversity measures and differential abundances analysis, comparing metformin-naive T2D patients, metformin-treated T2D patients, and normoglycemic individuals. Results Overall, the gut microbial communities of Danes and Indians are compositionally very different. By analyzing the combined study materials, we identify microbial taxonomic and functional signatures for T2D and metformin treatment. T2D patients have an increased relative abundance of two operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from the Lachnospiraceae family, and a decreased abundance of Subdoligranulum and Butyricicoccus. Studying each population per se, we identified T2D-related microbial changes at the taxonomic level within the Danish population only. Alpha diversity indices show that there is no significant difference between normoglycemic individuals and metformin-naive T2D patients, whereas microbial richness is significantly decreased in metformin-treated T2D patients compared to metformin-naive T2D patients and normoglycemic individuals. Enrichment of two OTUs from Bacteroides and depletion of Faecalibacterium constitute a trans-ethnic signature of metformin treatment. Conclusions We demonstrate major compositional differences of the gut microbiota between Danish and South Indian individuals, some of which may relate to differences in ethnicity, lifestyle, and demography. By comparing metformin-naive T2D patients and normoglycemic individuals, we identify T2D-related microbiota changes in the Danish and Indian study samples. In the present trans-ethnic study, we confirm that metformin changes the taxonomic profile and functional potential of the gut microbiota.

Abstract. The pattern of morphological variations among Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cichlidae; Teleostei) from three populations from South West Nigeria (Asejire reservoir, Ureje reservoir and Ogbese River were examined (n=10 speciments from each water body) with a view to investigate the genetic diversity using morphometrics and meristics indices. In general, 77.22% of the total variation in the sampled populations is from first principal component (PC1) and the characters that contributed to this variation are with pre-dorsal length, pre-pectoral length, pre-anal length, dorsal spine length and anal spine length. Canonical variate analysis (CVA) showed that O. niloticus populations from the three water bodies formed a separate cluster from each other and that there was an intersection between the Asejire and Ureje reservoirs samples and the Asejire reservoir with Ogbese River samples. However, the samples from Ureje reservoir and Ogbese River had no intersection. Cluster analysis revealed two major clusters with Ureje reservoir samples belong to one and Ogbese River and Asejire reservoir fall in the other cluster. Principal Components for meristic (PC1 and PC2) accounted for 46.49% and 24.17% revealed that transverse scales and scales surrounding the caudal peduncle, pre-dorsal scales accounted for the variation. The CVA revealed that of all the populations sampled, samples from Ureje reservoir are more diverse that the other two populations. The research disclosed that there is variation in O. niloticus populations from the three water bodies, which could be a result of genetic structure and environmental conditions, being major factors affecting morphological variability among different geographical populations. Further study on genetic differentiation of individuals from different species is necessary to confirm findings of the present study.

Short-chain enoyl-coA hydratase (SCEH) deficiency due to biallelic pathogenic ECHS1 variants was first reported in 2014 in association with Leigh syndrome (LS) and increased S-(2-carboxypropyl)cysteine excretion. It is potentially treatable with a valine-restricted, high-energy diet and emergency regimen. Recently, Simon et al. described four Samoan children harbouring a hypomorphic allele (c.489G > A, p.Pro163=) associated with reduced levels of normally-spliced mRNA. This synonymous variant, missed on standard genomic testing, is prevalent in the Samoan population (allele frequency 0.17). Patients with LS and one ECHS1 variant were identified in NZ and Australian genomic and clinical databases. ECHS1 sequence data were interrogated for the c.489G > A variant and clinical data were reviewed. Thirteen patients from 10 families were identified; all had Pacific ancestry including Samoan, Māori, Cook Island Māori, and Tokelauan. All developed bilateral globus pallidi lesions, excluding one pre-symptomatic infant. Symptom onset was in early childhood, and was triggered by illness or starvation in 9/13. Four of 13 had exercise-induced dyskinesia, 9/13 optic atrophy and 6/13 nystagmus. Urine S-(2-carboxypropyl)cysteine-carnitine and other SCEH-related metabolites were normal or mildly increased. Functional studies demonstrated skipping of exon four and markedly reduced ECHS1 protein. These data provide further support for the pathogenicity of this ECHS1 variant which is also prevalent in Māori, Cook Island Māori, and Tongan populations (allele frequency 0.14–0.24). It highlights the need to search for a second variant in apparent heterozygotes with an appropriate phenotype, and has implications for genetic counselling in family members who are heterozygous for the more severe ECHS1 alleles. Short-chain enoyl-CoA hydratase deficiency is a frequent cause of Leigh-like disease in Māori and wider-Pacific populations, due to the high carrier frequency of a hypomorphic ECHS1 variant c.489G > A, p.[Pro163=, Phe139Valfs*65] that may be overlooked by standard genomic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective fishery management relies on accurate knowledge of the spatial distribution of stocks of target species to efficiently focus fishing efforts. However, the distribution and abundance of species such as the silverlip pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) can be difficult to determine with traditional survey methods since populations are patchy, often occur in low densities, and individuals can be quite cryptic, living partially buried in sediment. Environmental DNA is increasingly used to survey marine species and has proven to be particularly useful in detecting rare or elusive organisms. Here, we compared the presence of silverlip pearl oysters detected via eDNA metabarcoding to traditional towed video surveys offshore of Eighty Mile Beach, northwest Australia. Seawater samples were collected at the end of towed video transects and sites were categorised into shallow (<40 m depth) or deep (40 m +) groups. We applied an oyster-specific 16S metabarcoding assay as well as a universal 18S assay to identify potential indicator taxa associated with the presence of pearl oysters. Using the 16S assay, we detected silverlip pearl oysters at three of the 12 sites sampled, and found that eDNA records generally matched towed video transect data, with both survey methods detecting the target species predominantly in inshore waters at depths <40 m. Our results indicate that metabarcoding of seawater eDNA can be applied to detect cryptic species of commercial importance but highlight limitations around detecting organisms at very low abundances. • Applied environmental DNA metabarcoding and towed video surveys for the detection of a low-density, hard-to-detect oyster species. • Both survey methods recovered similar results with pearl oysters mainly detected in shallow inshore waters. • Metabarcoding of seawater eDNA can be applied to detect cryptic species of commercial importance, but we highlight limitations around detecting organisms at very low abundances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex-determining regions have been identified in the Nile tilapia on linkage groups (LG) 1, 20 and 23, depending on the domesticated strains used. Sex determining studies on wild populations of this species are scarce. Previous work on two wild populations, from Lake Volta (Ghana) and from Lake Koka (Ethiopia), found the sex-determining region on LG23. These populations have a Y-specific tandem duplication containing two copies of the Anti-Müllerian Hormone amh gene (named amhY and amhΔY). Here, we performed a whole-genome short-reads analysis using male and female pools on a third wild population from Lake Hora (Ethiopia). We found no association of sex with LG23, and no duplication of the amh gene. Furthermore, we found no evidence of sex linkage on LG1 or on any other LGs. Long read whole genome sequencing of a male from each population confirmed the absence of a duplicated region on LG23 in the Lake Hora male. In contrast, long reads established the structure of the Y haplotype in Koka and Kpandu males and the order of the genes in the duplicated region. Phylogenies constructed on the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, showed a closer relationship between the two Ethiopian populations compared to the Ghanaian population, implying an absence of the LG23Y sex-determination region in Lake Hora males. Our study supports the hypothesis that the amh region is not the sex-determining region in Hora males. The absence of the Y amh duplication in the Lake Hora population reflects a rapid change in sex determination within Nile tilapia populations. The genetic basis of sex determination in the Lake Hora population remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The behavior of the population structure, indicators of reproduction and production in sheep were determined. Materials and methods. 104 sheep farms were monitored, in 7 regions of Colombia, corresponding to a population of 7708 animals, distributed in: Inventory, Infants, Growth 1, Development, Completion and Adults. It was applied descriptive statistics and simple ANOVA and with covariance. Results. The mean Inventory per farm is 74.1±79 heads; category Infants corresponds to 8.7% of the population, Growth1 15.3%, Development 12%, Completion 20.8% and Adults 43.3%. The Age of Conception in Corderas was 15.7±5.5 months; Age at First Delivery of 20.7±5.5 months; the Birth Interval Concepción was 160.3±65.4 days, the Interval Between Births was 310.3±65.4 days. The Birth Weight of males was 4.2±4 kg and females 3.4±1.2 kg, without significant differences (p>0.05); Weaning Weight, adjusted at 90 days (3 months) in males was 16.8±6.4 kg and females 16.3±5.6 kg, without significant differences (p>0.05); the weight at 12 months for males was 34.9±13.7 kg and females 33.4±10.7 kg, without significant differences (p>0.05). Discussion. Different sizes of farms are evident; the onset of reproductive activity is late, with Interval Between Births that maintain a not very dynamic reproductive rhythm. The productive variables are within the range. Conclusions. The indicators obtained represent referential information on the population structure and productive behavior of sheep production systems in the seven monitored regions of Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five populations of Typha domingensis Pers. were evaluated for their tolerance to different regimes of cadmium (Cd). Plants were collected from different sites in Punjab province of Pakistan viz. Jaranwala (S1), Farooq Abad (S2), Chiniot (S3), Khurianwala (S4), and Sidhnai (S5). Collected plants were established for three months and then subjected to Cd levels, i.e., 0, 50, 100, and 150 µM L−1. Differential changes in attributes presented variation in tolerance level of T. domingensis populations against Cd toxicity. Fresh and dry biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and total soluble sugars were decreased in all populations under Cd stress, but reduction in biomass of S2 plants was least. Similarly, amino acids, protein contents, and antioxidant enzymatic activity were increased in S2 and S3 under Cd. The populations, i.e., S2, S3, with better anti-oxidative metabolism, ionic partitioning, and growth presented useful structural changes in root and leaves. Contrary to increased leaf thickness, area of leaf and root conducting vessels was decreased with increasing Cd concentrations but these changes were lowest in S2 plants as compared to other populations. Our data indicate that the higher tolerance to Cd toxicity observed in S2 population of T. domingensis could be related to the collective role played by physiological, biochemical and anatomical changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of 45 diverse Asian and African origin/bred populations of pearl millet were investigated multi-locationally for morphological traits including grain yield and assessed for their fertility restoration ability on three cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) systems in two contrasting seasons. Significant genetic variation was found for all the yield linked traits. Multivariate analysis for grain yield and its component traits grouped these populations into five clusters. Most of the Asian origin populations grouped into single cluster (Cluster III) and separated from the rest of the African origin populations indicating the presence of correspondence between clustering pattern and geographical origin of the populations. Clusters dominated with Asian populations (As-As) had linkages with early flowering, short plant height, more number of tillers, small and thin panicles, small seeded and low grain yield compared to the clusters dominated by African populations (Af-Af) or African origin and Asian bred (Af-As) populations. Genetically related populations having common parentage were found grouped in same clusters. Fertility restoration/maintainer frequency of 45 populations on three diverse CMS systems revealed that overall fertility restoration frequency was highest for A1 (86%) followed by A4 (37%) and for A5 (7%) CMS system. Five populations were identified as potential sources for developing maintainer lines for all three CMS systems and eight populations were identified specifically for A4 and A5 CMS systems. A set of 11 and four populations were identified for restorer line development exclusively for A1 and A5 CMS system, respectively. Six populations were identified for the development of dual restorers for both A1 and A4 CMS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We attempted to identify the factors influencing size and shape dimorphism between sexes, as well as among populations and species in the Sceloporus scalaris group (Sceloporus aeneus , S. scalaris , S. bicanthalis and S. subniger). Our analysis focused on five morphological characteristics: snout–vent length, head length, head width, forearm length and tibia length. The effect of environmental variables (precipitation and temperature) on these variables was also tested. We found differences in morphological traits between sexes, and among populations of the same species. The oviparous species (S. aeneus and S. scalaris) were larger in overall body size than the viviparous species (S. bicanthalis and S. subniger). Differences in overall body size among populations were recorded only in S. aeneus and S. scalaris. Male-biased sexual size dimorphism occurred in oviparous but not viviparous lizards (except for one population of S. bicanthalis). An absence of sexual size dimorphism was also recorded in S. subniger and some populations of the remaining species. Two different shape patterns were found; the first was female-biased with larger relative body length in almost all populations, which could be explained by fecundity, and the second was male-biased with relatively larger head and limbs in a few populations, which may be explained by sexual selection. The patterns of sexual size and shape dimorphism show that environment, rather than phylogeny, may be determining the extent of sexual dimorphism. These types of studies show the importance of an integrated evaluation of interpopulation and interspecies variation to determine the factors that generate sexual dimorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Hammarbya paludosa (L.) Kuntze (bog orchid, bog adder's‐mouth orchid) (Malaxis paludosa (L.) Sw., Ophrys paludosa L.), that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history and conservation.Hammarbya paludosa is a small bisexual perennial forb. It occurs in open habitats in bogs, mires and heaths as well as semi‐shaded open woodland and, in some areas, in shaded coniferous forest. It is found in a few locations in the southern England (the New Forest, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall), in Cumbria and Northumberland, and in western counties in Wales. It is rare in Ireland but wide spread but very local in Scotland. H. paludosa has a Holarctic circumboreal range. Ninety per cent of known locations are recorded in Northern Europe and the British Isles.Hammarbya paludosa occurs in Sphagnum, other mosses and bare peat, overlying a variety of superficial deposits and sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks. The pH of the rooting substrates ranges from acidic to neutral and slightly alkaline. Its nutrient status is oligotrophic, although occasionally mesotrophic, and very rarely eutrophic. It grows well in conditions of consistent lateral flow of water in the substratum.Hammarbya paludosa is visited by small insects of the order Diptera. Two species of gnats are recorded as orchid pollinators: Phronia digitata and Sciara thomae. It produces a small amount of nectar but is often considered as non‐rewarding. The seeds are dust‐like, dispersed by wind and water and the species has a short‐term seed bank. Tiny bulbils (propagules) are formed on the leaf margins. They are dispersed by water.Hammarbya paludosa has declined in Britain since the late 19th century primarily due to drainage of its mire habitats in lowland regions of southern and eastern England and Wales. The decline slowed down by the 2000s, and new locations have been found in Scotland and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults in long-term care (LTC) facilities suffer disproportionately from health conditions caused or worsened by secondhand smoke. Long-term care facilities in many states and municipalities permit smoking. Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights compiles data on smoke-free policies only in institutional facilities (e.g., nursing homes), but not in transitional (e.g., independent living) or community-based settings (e.g., adult day). A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted of smoke-free policies using cluster random sampling in Kentucky to compare differences in policy location of coverage and strength of smoke-free policies in institutional, transitional, and community-based LTC facilities by rural/urban status. Online or phone surveys of LTC administrators representing 306 facilities were conducted. Of the facilities sampled, 35.5% were institutional, 33.4% transitional, 25.1% community-based, and 6.0% multi-type. Only one in five (19.6%) facilities restricted smoking indoors and outdoors. Only 17.3% of the policies were comprehensive (i.e., prohibiting use of all tobacco products by all persons living, frequenting, or working in LTC facilities). Compared to transitional facilities, institutional and community-based facilities were more likely to have comprehensive policies and restrict smoking indoors and outdoors. Facilities located in rural communities were less likely to restrict smoking indoors or outdoors and less likely to have comprehensive smoke-free policies, reflecting a disparity in policy protections. Strong, consistent smoke-free policies and policy enforcement are needed to reduce the disparity in smoke-free protections for older adults, LTC employees, and visitors. More research is needed to investigate the best strategies for implementing and enforcing policies that completely restrict smoking in all LTC facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North American birds have declined by 29% over 48 years, with declines occurring across species and biomes. To examine population patterns at a local scale, we investigated species and population shifts in a forest bird community in northeastern Connecticut. We did so in relation to its changing environments, focusing on patterns consistent with the effects of climate change and habitat manipulation. In 1985, we established survey routes primarily in the intensively managed Yale-Myers experimental forest, which we repeated in 2018 and 2019. Species richness varied little from the initial survey to the recent ones, although population density increased by 24% after 1985. Turnover in species composition exceeded 50%. The 5 most strongly declining species were northerly distributed, forest interior inhabitants, whereas the 7 most strongly increasing species were variously distributed forest interior and edge/successional-associated species. Some species experienced increases by invading new habitats, whereas at least one appeared to decline due to interspecific competition. Expected effects of climate change on populations were consistent with some findings, but habitat effects appeared related to a greater number of shifts. However, much contrary data indicated that these factors were not alone in driving community change. This bird community may best be thought of as a dynamic assemblage that represents the sum of individualistic responses to environmental and perhaps stochastic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]