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Environmental DNA (eDNA) is increasingly being used to assess community composition in marine ecosystems. Applying eDNA approaches across broad spatial scales now provide the potential to inform biogeographic analyses. However, to date, few studies have employed this technique to assess broad biogeographic patterns across multiple taxonomic groups. Here, we compare eDNA‐derived communities of bony fishes and invertebrates, including corals and sponges, from 15 locations spanning the entire length of the Omani coast. This survey includes a variety of habitats, including coral and rocky reefs, and covers three distinct marine ecoregions. Our data support a known biogeographic break in fish communities between the north and the south of Oman; however, the eDNA data highlight that this faunal break is mostly reflected in schooling baitfish species (e.g., sardines and anchovies), whereas reef‐associated fish communities appear more homogeneous along this coastline. Furthermore, our data provide indications that these biogeographic breaks also affect invertebrate communities, which includes corals, sponges, and broader eukaryotic groups. The observed community shifts were correlated with local environmental and anthropogenic differences characteristic of this coastline, particularly for the eDNA‐derived bony fish communities. Overall, this study provides compelling support that eDNA sequencing and associated analyses may serve as powerful tools to detect community differences across biogeographic breaks and ecoregions, particularly in places where there is significant variation in oceanographic conditions or anthropogenic impacts.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is the fastest growing biomonitoring tool fuelled by two key features: time efficiency and sensitivity. Technological advancements allow rapid biodiversity detection at both species and community levels with increasing accuracy. Concurrently, there has been a global demand to standardise eDNA methods, but this is only possible with an in-depth overview of the technological advancements and a discussion of the pros and cons of available methods. We therefore conducted a systematic literature review of 407 peer-reviewed papers on aquatic eDNA published between 2012 and 2021. We observed a gradual increase in the annual number of publications from four (2012) to 28 (2018), followed by a rapid growth to 124 publications in 2021. This was mirrored by a tremendous diversification of methods in all aspects of the eDNA workflow. For example, in 2012 only freezing was applied to preserve filter samples, whereas we recorded 12 different preservation methods in the 2021 literature. Despite an ongoing standardisation debate in the eDNA community, the field is seemingly moving fast in the opposite direction and we discuss the reasons and implications. Moreover, by compiling the largest PCR-primer database to date, we provide information on 522 and 141 published species-specific and metabarcoding primers targeting a wide range of aquatic organisms. This works as a user-friendly ‘distillation’ of primer information that was hitherto scattered across hundreds of papers, but the list also reflects which taxa are commonly studied with eDNA technology in aquatic environments such as fish and amphibians, and reveals that groups such as corals, plankton and algae are under-studied. Efforts to improve sampling and extraction methods, primer specificity and reference databases are crucial to capture these ecologically important taxa in future eDNA biomonitoring surveys. In a rapidly diversifying field, this review synthetises aquatic eDNA procedures and can guide eDNA users towards best practice.

Rising temperatures and extreme climate events are propelling tropical species into temperate marine ecosystems, but not all species can persist. Here, we used the heatwave-driven expatriation of tropical Black Rabbitfish (Siganus fuscescens) to the temperate environments of Western Australia to assess the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that may entail their persistence. Population genomic assays for this rabbitfish indicated little genetic differentiation between tropical residents and vagrants to temperate environments due to high migration rates, which were likely enhanced by the marine heatwave. DNA metabarcoding revealed a diverse diet for this species based on phytoplankton and algae, as well as an ability to feed on regional resources, including kelp. Irrespective of future climate scenarios, these macroalgae-consuming vagrants may self-recruit in temperate environments and further expand their geographic range by the year 2100. This expansion may compromise the health of the kelp forests that form Australia’s Great Southern Reef. Overall, our study demonstrates that projected favourable climate conditions, continued large-scale genetic connectivity between populations, and diet versatility are key for tropical range-shifting fish to establish in temperate ecosystems., Laura Gajdzik et al. used population genomics, dietary DNA metabarcoding, and climate models to understand the influence of the 2010/2011 marine heatwave on the migration of rabbitfish from tropical environments into temperate environments in Western Australia. Their results reveal (i) little genetic differentiation and high migration rates between tropical residents and temperate vagrants, (ii) an overall diverse diet (including phytoplankton, local and widespread algae, and kelp), and (iii) projected suitable climate conditions for vagrants to establish in temperate marine waters.

Early life dietary patterns and timely maturation of mucosa-associated microbial communities are important factors influencing immune development and for establishing robust immune tolerance networks. Microbial fermentation of dietary components in vivo generates a vast array of molecules, some of which are integral components of the molecular circuitry that regulates immune and metabolic functions. These in turn protect against aberrant inflammatory processes and promote effector immune responses that quickly eliminate pathogens. Multiple studies suggest that changes in dietary habits, altered microbiome composition, and microbial metabolism are associated with asthma risk and disease severity. While it remains unclear whether these microbiome alterations are a cause or consequence of dysregulated immune responses, there is significant potential for using diet in targeted manipulations of the gut microbiome and its metabolic functions in promoting immune health. In this article, we will summarize our knowledge to date on the role of dietary patterns and microbiome activities on immune responses within the airways. Given the malleability of the human microbiome, its integration into the immune system, and its responsiveness to diet, this makes it a highly attractive target for therapeutic and nutritional intervention in children with asthma.

Over the last decade, the microbiome has received increasing attention as a key factor in macroorganism fitness. Sustainable pest management requires an understanding of the complex microbial endophyte communities existing symbiotically within plants and the way synthetic pesticides interact with them. Fungal endophytes are known to benefit plant growth and fitness and may deter pests and diseases. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) have enabled integrative microbiome studies, especially in agricultural contexts. Here, we profile the fungal endophyte community in the phyllosphere of two barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivars exposed to two systemic foliar fungicides using metabarcoding, an HTS tool that constructs community profiles from environmental DNA. We studied the fungal nuclear ribosomal large subunit D2 and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) DNA markers through a bioinformatics pipeline introduced here. We found 88 and 128 unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) using the D2 and ITS2 metabarcoding assays, respectively. With principal coordinate analysis and permutational analysis of variance, ASV diversity did not change in response to barley cultivar or fungicide treatment; however, the community structure of unsprayed plants did change between two collection times 8 days apart. The workflow described here can be applied to other microbiome studies in agriculture and we hope it encourages further research into crop microbiomes to improve agroecosystem management.

International audience; Diagenetic models for silt-rich mudstone (siltstone) are less advanced than those for sandstone and clay-rich mudstone. In addition, the influences of diagenetic processes on reservoir quality in siltstone formations are poorly understood. Here we examine the roles of depositional facies, detrital composition, and diagenetic processes in the compositional evolution and reservoir quality of the Lower Triassic Montney Formation, a prominent siltstone-dominated reservoir in western Canada with very large reserves of oil, gas-liquids and natural gas. We applied advanced, high-resolution petrographic methods including SEM (SE, BSE, EDX and SEM-CL), XRD, and QEMSCAN technologies, as well as He-pycnometry on samples from 17 different locations within the basin that represent a range of depths and thermal maturities. Cross-cutting and overgrowth relationships and volumes of authigenic phases demonstrate massive precipitation of quartz, feldspar, dolomite, calcite and anhydrite cements at shallow burial depths, leading to compositional homogeneity among different lithofacies. We propose that the precipitation of large volumes of cement resulted from high fluid flux through the formation at shallow depth, possibly driven by reflux of concentrated seawater in nearshore saltpans. Siltstones preserve relatively high porosity and permeability at shallow burial depths, differing from clay-rich mudstones. In contrast to sandstones, deep burial diagenesis played a relatively minor role in the compositional evolution of the Montney Formation siltstone and is expressed in the form of pressure solution and minor amounts of fibrous illite precipitation.

Summer warming is driving a greening trend across the Arctic, with the potential for large-scale amplification of climate change due to vegetation-related feedbacks [Pearson et al., Nat. Clim. Chang. (3), 673–677 (2013)]. Because observational records are sparse and temporally limited, past episodes of Arctic warming can help elucidate the magnitude of vegetation response to temperature change. The Last Interglacial ([LIG], 129,000 to 116,000 y ago) was the most recent episode of Arctic warming on par with predicted 21st century temperature change [Otto-Bliesner et al., Philos. Trans. A Math. Phys. Eng. Sci. (371), 20130097 (2013) and Post et al., Sci. Adv. (5), eaaw9883 (2019)]. However, high-latitude terrestrial records from this period are rare, so LIG vegetation distributions are incompletely known. Pollen-based vegetation reconstructions can be biased by long-distance pollen transport, further obscuring the paleoenvironmental record. Here, we present a LIG vegetation record based on ancient DNA in lake sediment and compare it with fossil pollen. Comprehensive plant community reconstructions through the last and current interglacial (the Holocene) on Baffin Island, Arctic Canada, reveal coherent climate-driven community shifts across both interglacials. Peak LIG warmth featured a ∼400-km northward range shift of dwarf birch, a key woody shrub that is again expanding northward. Greening of the High Arctic—documented here by multiple proxies—likely represented a strong positive feedback on high-latitude LIG warming. Authenticated ancient DNA from this lake sediment also extends the useful preservation window for the technique and highlights the utility of combining traditional and molecular approaches for gleaning paleoenvironmental insights to better anticipate a warmer future.

The recent development and refinement of the molecular toolkit to detect ancient DNA in sediment samples (sedaDNA) has allowed the high-resolution reconstruction of ancient ecological communities dating back thousands of years. Specifically, DNA from lake sediment has been used to derive continuous records of ecological community changes through variable paleoenvironmental conditions. These paleoecological reconstructions can be an important tool for understanding how ecosystems may respond to current and future warming, but reliable methods for taxonomic detection are needed in order make optimal use of these bioarchives. In this study, metabarcoding assays targeting mammal, bird, and marine fauna have been carried out across a sediment core collected from Lake Qaupat, Baffin Island, Arctic Canada. While Lake Qaupat is currently ~30 m above sea level, it is located below the local marine limit related to isostatic adjustment after deglaciation. Consequently, initial sediment accumulation is in a marine environment, Combined results from the DNA assays indicate a transitional period over which marine-based fauna are systematically replaced by more terrestrial-based fauna. This transition occurs at a predicted age of 7.4 ± 0.2 ka. This research builds on previous studies to develop Baffin Island paleorecords in an effort to inform future changes to the Arctic system in the context of a rapidly warming world. Ultimately these data will be useful in better informing climate models and how taxa may move, adapt or be extirpated from arctic regions[GHM1] [SC2] .[SC3]

The colonization of recently deglaciated landscapes by tundra vegetation during the early Holocene is an important case study for understanding possible rates and patterns of plant migration in a rapidly warming world. Fossil pollen in lake sediment has traditionally served as the primary tool for reconstructing paleovegetation and understanding postglacial biogeography. However, because pollen can be wind-transported long distances and, in some cases, reworked from older deposits on the landscape, pollen-based vegetation histories can sometimes obscure the true history of plant colonization. In contrast, lacustrine sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) is sourced locally and is less likely to be adequately preserved through reworking events, thus making it a more reliable proxy for determining the precise timing of plant colonization. Here, we present three sedaDNA records from Holocene lake sediment across southern Baffin Island, Arctic Canada, that clarify the timing of postglacial vegetation changes. In particular, DNA from the subarctic shrub Betula (dwarf birch) first appears thousands of years after deglaciation in all three lake catchments, suggesting delayed colonization despite its strong pollen signal in early postglacial sediments. While moderate levels of Alnus (alder) pollen characterize early to mid-Holocene lake sediments from the region, sedaDNA suggests that Alnus was likely not present in any of the three lake catchments during the Holocene. In addition, aquatic plant community changes indicated by sedaDNA faithfully reflect the timing of early Holocene warmth in the region, highlighting the potential utility of aquatic plant DNA as a qualitative temperature proxy. We suggest that ancient plant DNA in lake sediment provides key paleoecological information that is distinct from traditional proxy records, particularly during periods of relatively rapid ecological change like the early Holocene.

“Black mass” is the industry term used to describe a type of e-waste comprising crushed and shredded battery cells. It is an intermediate product in the recycling of spent, end-of-life, batteries. It comprises a mixture of metals including; lithium, manganese, cobalt and nickel, which are valuable recycling commodities, of increasing strategic and economic importance to meet future global demands in the “battery revolution”. The objective of this “phase characterisation” investigation was to provide an indicative profile of the morphological characteristics, grain size, composition and textural variability for a natural state (unprepared) and prepared (powdered) sample of black mass from Europe. It is envisaged that this is relevant to: (a) develop a pragmatic sampling strategy to ensure a non-biased, representative sample is provided for assaying; (b) determine the optimal processing route (e.g., hydrometallurgical, pyrometallurgical); (c) identify the presence of payable phases; (d) identify phases that may hinder metal recovery or penalty components; (e) develop assay procedures; and (f) assist in the identification of hazards and the mitigation of risks. The techniques used were: (1) visual examination and binocular microscopy; (2) manual scanning electron microscopy (SEM); (3) automated scanning electron microscopy with linked energy dispersive spectrometers (SEM-EDS), to characterise the phases present and particle types (using AMICS); (4) X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) to provide the 3D morphology of the particles; and (5) laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to detect and quantify the phases that cannot be detected using automated SEM-EDS and X-CT. The results demonstrated that automated SEM-EDS can be used to characterise and quantify the phases present, and the phase chemistry allows the particle types to be assigned back to the primary battery components. Some phases identified are at present not linked back to the original components and further work is needed to refine the compositional groups, with the analysis of additional samples from different feeds/streams in Europe, China and USA. Interactive SEM-EDS analysis also demonstrated that there is a high-resolution chemical variability within the individual particle categories. X-CT imaging demonstrated the complex 3D textures and morphology of the particles, which is potentially significant during sample preparation and chemical analysis. Neither automated nor manual interactive analysis can determine the presence / abundance of the light elements, such as lithium. However, LA-ICP-MS was successful in detecting and quantifying lithium. Furthermore, LA-ICP-MS was able to determine contents of 67 other non-metals and metals at a 20-micron scale with ppm to ppb level detection limits.

Diet studies provide base understanding of trophic structure and are a valuable initial step for many fields of marine ecology, including conservation and fisheries biology. Considerable complexity in marine trophic structure can exist due to the presence of highly mobile species with long life spans. Mobula rays are highly mobile, large, planktivorous elasmobranchs that are frequently caught either directly or as bycatch in fisheries, which, combined with their conservative life history strategy, makes their populations susceptible to decline in intensely fished regions. Effective management of these iconic and vulnerable species requires an understanding of the diets that sustain them, which can be difficult to determine using conventional sampling methods. We use three DNA metabarcode assays to identify 44 distinct taxa from the stomachs (n = 101) of four sympatric Mobula ray species (Mobula birostris, Mobula tarapacana, Mobula japanica, and Mobula thurstoni) caught over 3 years (2013–2015) in a direct fishery off Bohol in the Philippines. The diversity and incidence of bony fishes observed in ray diets were unprecedented. Nevertheless, rays showed dietary overlap, with krill (Euphausia) dominating their diet. Our results provide a more detailed assessment of sympatric ray diets than was previously described and reveal the complexity that can exist in food webs at critical foraging habitats.

The detrital grain size of siltstone reservoirs occupies a middle ground between sandstones and shales, both of which are better understood in terms of their petrophysical properties. Because siltstones can be important hydrocarbon reservoirs, we examine controls on petrophysical properties in the Lower Triassic Montney Formation in western Canada, which hosts world-class reserves of gas, gas liquids and oil. We focus on the effects of rock fabric (including grain size) and composition on pore system characteristics and permeability, drawing contrasts between the three reservoir types. The Montney Formation is an unconventional reservoir through most of its subcrop, with porosities ranging from ∼3 to 7.5% and permeabilities in the micro to nano Darcy range (6.5*10−6 mD to 5.6*10−2 mD). Shale reservoirs worldwide are characterized by similar porosity and permeability values, with porosity of up to 8% (rarely up to 15%) and permeability in the nano to micro-Darcy range. Quartz, clay, and organic matter abundance influence the petrophysical properties of the Montney siltstone. Quartz content exerts a positive control on both porosity and permeability by strengthening the rock framework and reducing porosity loss due to compaction. Elevated clay content is also associated with higher porosity and permeability, in part because of a depositional association with quartz, and in part because clays locally shelter interconnected primary porosity that promotes permeability. Organic matter content is negatively correlated to porosity and permeability despite the presence of organic matter porosity because relict oil (now solid bitumen) occludes primary pores and because other pore types contribute a greater fraction of the total pore volume. Lithofacies, characterized in four cores, are indistinguishable on the basis of petrophysical properties, due to their similar grain size and composition and the massive overprinting by shallow burial diagenesis. While the pore system evolution of sandstones is mainly controlled by the mechanical compaction of hard grains and cementation, pore system evolution of shales is primarily controlled by compaction of ductile grains and diagenesis of primary organic matter, in addition to cementation. Porosity and permeability values of the Montney siltstones are similar to those of shale formations, but the controls on pore system evolution of this intermediate grain size reservoir are predominantly controlled by processes similar to sandstones: compaction, cementation, and cement dissolution. Minor contribution from secondary porosity in bitumen affects some sections of the reservoir in a way that is similar, but not identical, to shale reservoirs.

The role of herbal medicine in the treatment of common psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression and insomnia has become more established over the past decade. Some herbal preparations such as St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) have demonstrated clinical evidence but have also been included in recent reports of widespread adulteration and contamination. Herbal medicines sold in Australia are required to be listed on the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and must comply with strict ingredient and manufacturing guidelines to assure quality and safety. The aim of this research was to assess whether pharmaceutical adulterants and contaminants were present in psychotropic herbal medicines available in Australia, as a measure of quality, and the effectiveness of regulation. A two-pronged approach combining next-generation DNA sequencing and small-molecule analysis techniques was undertaken to audit a subset of herbal medicines for the presence of prescription medications, illicit drugs, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals and contaminant DNA. Small-molecule analysis included liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LC-QTOF-MS) detection, liquid chromatography with UV/vis diode array (LC-UV) detection, gas chromatography with nitrogen–phosphorus and mass spectrometer detection (GC-NPD/MS) and heavy metal analysis using inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) detection. In total, 49% (29 of 59) of the investigated herbal medicines had one or more materials not listed on their labels or ARTG registration, including Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)-listed material (one medicine), heavy metals (12%) or components that could trigger food sensitivity, such as wheat (12%). In contrast to previous studies, no prescription pharmaceutical adulterants were detected, although 10% had undeclared caffeine. Twenty-four percent of herbal medicines had DNA from animal species, including mice and bats, indicating poor quality control. The surveyed herbal medicines included both traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and Western herbals. Ninety-four percent of TCMs were contaminated or adulterated, compared with 37% of the Western herbals. Only two of the 59 samples contained the listed active ingredient(s) without additional adulterants and contaminants, or missing ingredients. The high levels of contamination found in this study suggests that closer surveillance of herbal medicines is needed in order to assure the required level of quality of herbal medicines available in Australia. The results suggest that the TGA’s low-/high-risk system for regulation coupled with post-market auditing is not keeping unapproved and/or unsafe herbal medicines from the market.

Heavy minerals are typically rare but important components of siliciclastic sediments and rocks. Their abundance, proportions, and variability carry valuable information on source rocks, climatic, environmental and transport conditions between source to sink, and diagenetic processes. They are important for practical purposes such as prospecting for mineral resources or the correlation and interpretation of geologic reservoirs. Despite the extensive use of heavy mineral analysis in sedimentary petrography and quite diverse methods for quantifying heavy mineral assemblages, there has never been a systematic comparison of results obtained by different methods and/or operators. This study provides the first interlaboratory test of heavy mineral analysis. Two synthetic heavy mineral samples were prepared with considerably contrasting compositions intended to resemble natural samples. The contributors were requested to provide (i) metadata describing methods, measurement conditions and experience of the operators and (ii) results tables with mineral species and grain counts. One hundred thirty analyses of the two samples were performed by 67 contributors, encompassing both classical microscopic analyses and data obtained by emerging automated techniques based on electron-beam chemical analysis or Raman spectroscopy. Because relatively low numbers of mineral counts (N) are typical for optical analyses while automated techniques allow for high N, the results vary considerably with respect to the Poisson uncertainty of the counting statistics. Therefore, standard methods used in evaluation of round robin tests are not feasible. In our case the 'true' compositions of the test samples are not known. Three methods have been applied to determine possible reference values: (i) the initially measured weight percentages, (ii) calculation of grain percentages using estimates of grain volumes and densities, and (iii) the best-match average calculated from the most reliable analyses following multiple, pragmatic and robust criteria. The range of these three values is taken as best approximation of the 'true' composition. The reported grain percentages were evaluated according to (i) their overall scatter relative to the most likely composition, (ii) the number of identified components that were part of the test samples, (iii) the total amount of mistakenly identified mineral grains that were actually not added to the samples, and (iv) the number of major components, which match the reference values with 95% confidence. Results indicate that the overall comparability of the analyses is reasonable. However, there are several issues with respect to methods and/or operators. Optical methods yield the poorest results with respect to the scatter of the data. This, however, is not considered inherent to the method as demonstrated by a significant number of optical analyses fulfilling the criteria for the best-match average. Training of the operators is thus considered paramount for optical analyses. Electron-beam methods yield satisfactory results, but problems in the identification of polymorphs and the discrimination of chain silicates are evident. Labs refining their electron-beam results by optical analysis practically tackle this issue. Raman methods yield the best results as indicated by the highest number of major components correctly quantified with 95% confidence and the fact that all laboratories and operators fulfil the criteria for the best-match average. However, a number of problems must be solved before the full potential of the automated high-throughput techniques in heavy mineral analysis can be achieved. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

International audience; This study focuses on the Lower–Middle Triassic Montney, Sunset Prairie, Doig and Halfway formations from the foreland basin of the Canadian Cordillera (Alberta and British Columbia). Based on core and outcrop descriptions, the correlation of 400 wells, and on mineralogical analyses, this study interprets the basin-scale, 3D-stratigraphic architecture of these formations and discusses the controls on its evolution.Well correlation highlights four sequences (1–4) interpreted to occur in two second-order cycles (A and B). In this work, the Early Triassic Montney Formation and the early Middle Triassic Sunset Prairie Formation are interpreted to consist of three third-order sequences (1–3) related to the first second-order cycle (cycle A). The Middle Triassic Doig and Halfway formations are interpreted to consist of a fourth sequence (4) related to a second second-order cycle (cycle B). Integration of the stratigraphic surfaces with previously published biostratigraphic analyses emphasizes a major time gap of c. 2 myr between these two cycles, interpreted to record a major reorganization of the basin. Mineralogical analyses suggest that during cycle A, sediments were delivered from the east (Canadian Shield); whereas in cycle B, additional sources from the west (proto-Canadian Cordillera) occurred. This study shows that the stratigraphic architecture evolution was affected by the structural heritage of the basin and continental geodynamic evolution. This study provides a large-scale understanding on the controls of the stratigraphic architecture of the Lower and Middle Triassic strata, suggesting local and regional controls on the reservoir extension and unconventional play configuration within these strata.

Arctic shrubification is an observable consequence of climate change, already resulting in ecological shifts and global-scale climate feedbacks including changes in land surface albedo and enhanced evapotranspiration. However, the rate at which shrubs can colonize previously glaciated terrain in a warming world is largely unknown. Reconstructions of past vegetation dynamics in conjunction with climate records can provide critical insights into shrubification rates and controls on plant migration, but paleoenvironmental reconstructions based on pollen may be biased by the influx of exotic pollen to tundra settings. Here, we reconstruct past plant communities using sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA), which has a more local source area than pollen. We additionally reconstruct past temperature variability using bacterial cell membrane lipids (branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers) and an aquatic productivity indicator (biogenic silica) to evaluate the relative timing of postglacial ecological and climate changes at a lake on southern Baffin Island, Arctic Canada. The sedaDNA record tightly constrains the colonization of dwarf birch (Betula, a thermophilous shrub) to 5.9 ± 0.1 ka, ~3 ka after local deglaciation as determined by cosmogenic 10 Be moraine dating and >2 ka later than Betula pollen is recorded in nearby lake sediment. We then assess the paleovegetation history within the context of summer temperature and find that paleotemperatures were highest prior to 6.3 ka, followed by cooling in the centuries preceding Betula establishment. Together, these molecular proxies reveal that Betula colonization lagged peak summer temperatures, suggesting that inefficient dispersal, rather than climate, may have limited Arctic shrub migration in this region. In addition, these data suggest that pollen-based climate reconstructions from high latitudes, which rely heavily on the presence and abundance of pollen from thermophilous taxa like Betula, can be compromised by both exotic pollen fluxes and vegetation migration lags.

Use of herbal medicines and supplements by consumers to prevent or treat disease, particularly chronic conditions continues to grow, leading to increased awareness of the minimal regulation standards in many countries. Fraudulent, adulterated and contaminated herbal and traditional medicines and dietary supplements are a risk to consumer health, with adverse effects and events including overdose, drug-herb interactions and hospitalisation. The scope of the risk has been difficult to determine, prompting calls for new approaches, such as the combination of DNA metabarcoding and mass spectrometry used in this study. Here we show that nearly 50% of products tested had contamination issues, in terms of DNA, chemical composition or both. Two samples were clear cases of pharmaceutical adulteration, including a combination of paracetamol and chlorpheniramine in one product and trace amounts of buclizine, a drug no longer in use in Australia, in another. Other issues include the undeclared presence of stimulants such as caffeine, synephrine or ephedrine. DNA data highlighted potential allergy concerns (nuts, wheat), presence of potential toxins (Neem oil) and animal ingredients (reindeer, frog, shrew), and possible substitution of bird cartilage in place of shark. Only 21% of the tested products were able to have at least one ingredient corroborated by DNA sequencing. This study demonstrates that, despite current monitoring approaches, contaminated and adulterated products are still reaching the consumer. We suggest that a better solution is stronger pre-market evaluation, using techniques such as that outlined in this study.

Nectria flute canker is a disease of Pinus radiata stems caused by Neonectria fuckeliana. The fungus is not known in the North Island, leading to concern that it may be transported north via asymptomatically colonised nursery stock. Wounded P. radiata seedlings and cuttings were exposed to natural inoculum from an adjacent infected forest, and half were artificially inoculated. No disease symptoms were recorded throughout the trial. Neonectria fuckeliana was re-isolated from 24% and 7% of inoculated seedlings and cuttings respectively 3 months after inoculation, and at 12 months from 3.5% of the remaining inoculated seedlings only. Neonectria fuckeliana was not isolated from uninoculated seedlings or cuttings exposed to natural inoculum. These results indicate that nursery plants have little capability of retaining N. fuckeliana within the tissue even when directly inoculated. Nursery stock is therefore unlikely to be a pathway for transport of the fungus.

This study used a molecular technique to identify airborne basidiospores caught using a SporeWatch volumetric spore trap in order to understand the nature of basidiospore dispersal by Armillaria novaezelandiae The spore trap was deployed during 3 successive years year 1 within a mature podocarphardwood forest containing fruitbodies of A novaezelandiae year 2 in the open at the edge of the forest and year 3 150 m from the forest edge Results indicated that although a high proportion of Armillaria basidiospores were trapped within the forest by screening and reduced air currents others escaped and were dispersed beyond the stand edge Year 1 results showed the presence of A novaezelandiae on 63 of days while A novaezelandiae was recorded on 11 and 20 of days in years 2 and 3 respectively Sensitivity analysis of the molecular technique that was used indicated that the minimum detectable basidiospore concentration was 110 basidiospores/l or about 1 pg/l of DNA

Armillaria hinnulea has been recorded from the northwest quadrant of the South Island of New Zealand Tasmania and Australia In New Zealand A hinnulea is rare being restricted to decaying wood in South Island Nothofagus forests A preliminary study of the relationship between the populations of A hinnulea was performed using DNA sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA Two major ITS clades were observed each of which included representative sequences from Australian collections Within one ITS clade one Australian sequence was 100 identical with the New Zealand isolates while in the other ITS clade eight New Zealand isolates representing five locations were 100 identical but the Australian sequence differed by five base substitutions and was in a separate subclade These results suggest at least two introductions of A hinnulea have occurred one relatively recently and one in the more distant past

Fungi were isolated to determine the predominant decomposer species active in the coarse woody debris in a beech forest in the central North Island of New Zealand. Basidiomycetes were obtained in 55% of 4569 isolation attempts from discs cut from six trees each of Nothofagus fusca (Hook. F.) Oerst. and Nothofagus menziesii (Hook. F.) Oerst. uprooted during a storm 24 years earlier. Percentage yields varied significantly among trees but not between tree species. However, for N. fusca, basidiomycetes were obtained less frequently from stems of greater mean diameter. In total, 96% of basidiomycete isolates were composed of 18 species, the most abundant being Armillaria novae-zelandiae (G. Stev.) Herink, mainly present in the outer 12 cm, and Ganoderma cf. applanatum sensu Wakef. and Cyclomyces tabacinus (Mont.) Pat., which penetrated more deeply. These fungi were distributed along the stems as somatically incompatible colonies reaching lengths of 11, 2, and 3 m for each species, respectively; those of G. cf. applanatum were separated by brown pseudosclerotial plates. Fruiting of these species was significantly associated with isolation of cultures and, for G. cf. applanatum and C. tabacinus, provided a reliable guide to stem colonization. Basidiomycete diversity in the Nothofagus stems was greater than in two podocarp species in an earlier study. Data from this investigation are being used to assess how decay fungi, together with other factors, influence rates of decomposition of indigenous coarse woody debris.

We introduce a new, cost-effective solution for the characterization of unconventional shale resources based on innovative analysis of drill cuttings. This solution was tested successfully on the Toarcian shales of the Couy-1 well, located in the southern Paris Basin, France. Ten samples of cuttings-sized rock fragments from different depths were subjected to several analytical methods to determine geochemical parameters (LECO and Rock Eval), the mineralogy and texture (QEMSCAN), and the mechanical properties (nanoindentation). Based on the results, the Toarcian shales were subdivided into two mineralogically distinct lithostratigraphic intervals. The Upper Toarcian shales consist of siltstone with a matrix of illitic clays, whereas the Lower Toarcian shales consist mainly of calcareous mudstone with a matrix of finely intermixed calcite and clays. The Young's modulus varies between 12.5 and 25.6 GPa and decreases with increasing TOC content. An interval with high TOC content (> 1.9%) is located between depths of 330 and 350 meter in the Lower Toarcian shales, with a maximum TOC content of 7.6%. A basic set of wireline logs was available and subjected to multi-mineral stochastic log interpretation. By calibrating the log interpretation with the results of the analytical methods, the main petrophysical parameters (TOC content, lithology, porosity, saturation) were successfully determined on log scale. This provides a method for upscaling core and drill cuttings measurements to reservoir scale. In addition, nanoindentation data were used to create a synthetic shear sonic log, allowing for calculation of elastic moduli and brittleness logs. The workflow introduced here provides a method for reliable and accurate characterization of unconventional shale resources based on existing data sets, i.e. drill cuttings and basic log sets. The results can be used for assessment of the hydrocarbon potential and identification of the most prospective zones within source-rock intervals.

Background: Nectria flute canker is an important disease of Pinus radiata in the South Island of New Zealand. The causal agent of the disease, Neonectria fuckeliana, is a known wound invader of Picea abies in Europe. To test the hypothesis that pruning wounds are necessary for infection of Pinus radiata by N. fuckeliana ,t he presence of the fungus was assessed in pruned and unpruned trees. Methods: The presence of the fungus was investigated in a total of 180 trees (90 pruned and 90 unpruned) using both DNA and microbial culturing techniques over three consecutive years. The data was analysed using a logistic regression analysis. Results: It was found that there was no significant difference in the presence of the fungus in pruned and unpruned trees. Conclusions: These results indicate that pruning wounds are not the primary infection court for N. fuckeliana and that the fungus is able to enter the tree through an alternative infection point.

Chondrostereum purpureum is a basidiomycete fungus that is being investigated as an inundative biological control agent for invasive woody weeds. This study was conducted to assess the susceptibility of seven species of weeds to C. purpureum. The species that were inoculated in this trial were: broom (Cytisus scoparius), gorse (Ulex europeaus), buddleia (Buddleja davidii), Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa), hawthorne (Crataegus monogyna), poplar (Populus trichocarpa) and willow (Salix matsudana). Two isolates of C. purpureum and a control were used and were each replicated 12 times. All plants were potted and the trial took place under nursery conditions. Mortality and canker size were measured 6 months after inoculation. Data were analysed using SAS. The highest mortality (50%) was recorded for broom with one isolate, but very little mortality was observed across the other species. A highly significant weed by isolate interaction was observed with regards to lesion length, with weed species susceptibility varying with respect to one of the C. purpureum isolates. Hawthorn and willow had greater lesion lengths after inoculation with the same isolate that had caused mortality in broom. The results from this trial are being used to direct a larger field trial.

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