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The waxy layer on leaf surfaces may restrict the range of arthropod species that can grip the leaf, thus affecting biological interactions. Here, we report that the wax on the leaf surface of Phragmites australis leaves provides enemy-free space for the aphid Hyalopterus pruni. In our experiment, aphids had higher survival rates on Ph. australis leaves than on Prunus mume leaves in the presence of ladybirds. In addition, removal of wax from the surface of Ph. australis leaves enabled ladybugs to grip the surface of Ph. australis leaves and decreased the survival rate of aphids. These results indicate that the leaf wax of Ph. australis provides enemy-free space for H. pruni by inhibiting ladybird adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyadesimyia clausa Bigot is a morphologically striking tachinid that inhabits the Sub‐Antarctic Ecoregion of the Magallanes Region in Chile and Tierra del Fuego province in Argentina. Much of the distributional information about this species is restricted to the Cape Horn islands, which have extreme environmental conditions, but the species' natural history, range limits, and habitat use have never been described or confirmed. Our goals were to describe the distributional limits of this sub‐Antarctic fly with the help of citizen science and use this information type to describe this tachinid's habitat use and potential biological interactions with nonvascular and vascular flora. We found that citizen science significantly increased our understanding of the extent of occurrence, expanding the known distributional range by 195 km to the north and 153 km to the west. On the contrary, the values for the area of occupancy were not significant, but the occupancy overlap between different records was very low. We confirmed that H. clausa's habitat uses peatlands and although we have not provided evidence of pollination or movement of spores, we hypothesized, that the walking activity of H. clausa could help move sperm from mosses and pollen from the flowers of vascular plants, so they could act as potential pollinators. Citizen science can reduce and eliminate some scientific knowledge shortfalls and propose new ecological questions that could increase our knowledge of extreme ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In red-tide dynamics, one species often predominates microalgal communities after severe competition among several species. In Korean waters, Prorocentrum donghaiense, Tripos fusus, Alexandrium fraterculus, and Margalefidinium polykrikoides form red tides, which sometimes cause massive fish kills and economic losses. When two of these species were cultivated together, M. polykrikoides inhibited the growth of A. fraterculus, P. donghaiense, and T. fusus at a M. polykrikoides abundance of 610, 2230, and 410 cells mL−1, respectively. Alexandrium fraterculus inhibited the growth of P. donghaiense and T. fusus at a A. fraterculus abundance of 840 and 10 cells mL−1, respectively. Prorocentrum donghaiense inhibited the growth of T. fusus at a P. donghaiense abundance of 2020 cells mL−1. Our field data on the abundance of these species in 2014 show that the abundances of A. fraterculus, P. donghaiense, and T. fusus were less than 10 cells mL−1 when that of M. polykrikoides exceeded 500 cells mL−1. Therefore, the red-tide formation of one of these four species can be affected by the high abundance of the others, which is an example of density-dependent inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hyadesimyia clausa Bigot is a morphologically striking tachinid that inhabits the Sub‐Antarctic Ecoregion of the Magallanes Region in Chile and Tierra del Fuego province in Argentina. Much of the distributional information about this species is restricted to the Cape Horn islands, which have extreme environmental conditions, but the species' natural history, range limits, and habitat use have never been described or confirmed. Our goals were to describe the distributional limits of this sub‐Antarctic fly with the help of citizen science and use this information type to describe this tachinid's habitat use and potential biological interactions with nonvascular and vascular flora. We found that citizen science significantly increased our understanding of the extent of occurrence, expanding the known distributional range by 195 km to the north and 153 km to the west. On the contrary, the values for the area of occupancy were not significant, but the occupancy overlap between different records was very low. We confirmed that H. clausa's habitat uses peatlands and although we have not provided evidence of pollination or movement of spores, we hypothesized, that the walking activity of H. clausa could help move sperm from mosses and pollen from the flowers of vascular plants, so they could act as potential pollinators. Citizen science can reduce and eliminate some scientific knowledge shortfalls and propose new ecological questions that could increase our knowledge of extreme ecosystems.

This study investigates coordinated behaviors and the underlying collective intelligence in biological groups, particularly those led by informed leaders. By establishing new convergence condition based on experiments involving real biological groups, this research introduces the concept of a volitional term and heterogeneous networks, constructing a coupled-force Cucker–Smale model with informed leaders. Incorporating informed leaders into the leader-follower group model enables a more accurate representation of biological group behaviors. The paper then extracts the Flock Leadership Hierarchy Network (FLH), a model reflecting real biological interactions. Employing time slicing and rolling time windows, the study methodically analyzes group behavior stages, using volatility and convergence time as metrics to examine the relationship between group consistency and interactions. Comparative experiments show the FLH network’s superior performance. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test demonstrates that the FLH network conforms to a power-law distribution, a prevalent law in nature. This result further illuminates the crucial role that power-law distribution plays in the evolutionary processes of biological communities. This study offers new perspectives on the evolution of biological groups, contributing to our understanding of the behaviors of both natural and artificial systems, such as animal migration and autonomous drone operations.

Distance learning as Covid-19 pandemic solution has student learning boredom as a negative impact. Game application can increase students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn in distance learning. The game-based learning (GBL) model is potentially applied to create a fun learning atmosphere and overcome learning boredom. This study aims to determine the effect of GBL implementation on cognitive learning outcomes and student responses in the biological interaction chapter in Covid-19 distance learning. This research wasexperimental research (one-group pretest-posttest design). The research sample was 25 students. This research used one treatment group without a control group. The test questions were used as cognitive learning outcomes instruments. The questionnaire was used as a student response instrument. Game application used were classified as mobile games, single-player games, role-playing game (RPG). GBL syntaxes were pre-experimentation, experimentation, reflection, activity, and discussion. The results showed that the implementation of GBL in the biological interaction chapter in Covid-19 distance learning affected students' cognitive learning outcomes. The effect of this model could improve students' cognitive learning outcomes with 28% students of low category N-gain while 72% students of medium and high.

Rui-Fei Zhou1,2 *, Ning-Peng Liang1 *, Shuo Chen,1 Wen-Chao Zhang,1 Yi-Xi Wang,1 Yu Wang,1 Hui-Fang Ji,1 Yi-Fei Dong1,3 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yichun People’s Hospital, Yichun, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 3Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yi-Fei Dong, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Minde Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, People’s Republic of China, Email yf_dong66@126.comPurpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients and is related to worse adverse prognosis in HCM patients. However, there are no acknowledged warning characteristics to help to identify OSA in HCM patients.Methods: Seventy-one HCM patients and forty-nine hypertensive (HTN) patients as control group underwent polysomnography (PSG) examination at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2015 to December 2019 patients were consecutively enrolled. The characteristics were analyzed and compared between HCM patients with OSA and without OSA.Results: A total of 37 (52%) HCM patients and 25 (51%) HTN patients were diagnosed with OSA. High body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.228, 95% CI: 1.032,1.461, P = 0.020) and low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (OR = 0.959, 95% CI: 0.931,0.989, P = 0.007) independently correlated with the occurrence of OSA in HCM patients, respectively. Multiplicative interaction was shown between high BMI and low eGFR on the risk of OSA in HCM patients (OR: 6.050, 95% CI: 1.598, 22.905, P = 0.008). The additive interaction analysis further suggested that 70.1% of HCM patients developed OSA due to the additive interaction between BMI and eGFR. The identification ability of OSA in HCM patients was significantly enhanced by using both BMI and eGFR (area under receiver-operating characteristic analysis curve 0.785; P = 0.000038) as compared with BMI (area under curve 0.683, P = 0.008) or eGFR (area under curve 0.700, P = 0.004), respectively.Conclusion: High BMI or low eGFR independently related to the occurrence of OSA in HCM patients, and the multiplicative and additive interactions between BMI and eGFR increased the identification ability of OSA in HCM patients.Keywords: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, obstructive sleep apnea, body mass index, estimation of glomerular filtration rate, biological interaction

Malassezia synthesizes and releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs), small molecules that allow them to carry out interaction processes. These lipid-dependent yeasts belong to the human skin mycobiota and are related to dermatological diseases. However, knowledge about VOC production and its function is lacking. This study aimed to determine the volatile profiles of Malassezia globosa, Malassezia restricta, and Malassezia sympodialis in the exponential and stationary growth phases. The compounds were separated and characterized in each growth phase through headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). We found a total of 54 compounds, 40 annotated. Most of the compounds identified belong to alcohols and polyols, fatty alcohols, alkanes, and unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons. Unsupervised and supervised statistical multivariate analyses demonstrated that the volatile profiles of Malassezia differed between species and growth phases, with M. globosa being the species with the highest quantity of VOCs. Some Malassezia volatiles, such as butan-1-ol, 2-methylbutan-1-ol, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, and 2-methylpropan-1-ol, associated with biological interactions were also detected. All three species show at least one unique compound, suggesting a unique metabolism. The ecological functions of the compounds detected in each species and growth phase remain to be studied. They could interact with other microorganisms or be an important clue in understanding the pathogenic role of these yeasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisms utilize chemical signals to perceive their external environmental and regulate their behavior and development. The discovery of ascarosides; a class of small molecular compounds, has been a breakthrough in the study of nematode pheromones. Ascarosides are structurally and functionally diverse and occur widely in nematodes. They regulate a variety of behaviors, including mating, diapause, foraging, aggregation, and dispersal. This paper primarily summarizes the structure, function, biosynthesis, metabolism and signal transmission of ascarosides, thereby providing a reference for future research on chemical signal regulation theory, multi-species interactions, and the development of novel targeted drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraradical hyphae-associated microbiome of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), the "hyphosphere microbiome," harbors a diverse reservoir of microbes. The biological interactions in the AMF hyphosphere have major implications for soil carbon and nutrient cycling, soil food web dynamics, and plant nutrition and health. Hyphosphere microbial communities are thought to assist AMF in accessing organic nutrients by degrading complex organic compounds that AMF are unable to do by themselves. The AMF, in return, provide an energy-rich microhabitat supplied with hyphal exudates that facilitates microbial growth and mobility in the hyphosphere. However, our current knowledge of hyphosphere entities, their trophic interactions and functional roles, and the underlying mechanisms facilitating microbial co-occurrence and co-operation is largely incomplete. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the identity and putative roles of AMF hyphae-associated microbes, with a specific focus on prokaryotes, and potential drivers of such microbial communities in the hyphosphere. Moreover, we discuss the knowledge gaps and open challenges that should be addressed and prioritized in future studies on the AMF microbiomes. We also provide an appraisal of available and emerging tools and technologies and highlight the need for innovative approaches to disentangle AMF hyphosphere processes and answer the many unresolved questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Most plants have a hyphosphere, the thin zone of soil around extraradical hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which extends beyond the rhizosphere. This important interface has critical roles in plant mineral nutrition and water acquisition, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, mineral weathering, the formation of soil macroaggregates and aggregate stabilization, carbon (C) allocation to soils and interaction with soil microbes. Scope: This review focuses on the hyphosphere of AM fungi and critically appraises the important findings related to the hyphosphere processes, including physical, chemical and biological properties and functions. We highlight ecological functions of AM fungal hyphae, which have profound impacts on global sustainability through biological cycling of nutrients, C sequestration in soil, release of greenhouse gas emissions from soil and the diversity and dynamics of the microbial community in the vicinity of the extraradical hyphae. Conclusions: As a critical interface between AM fungi and soil, hyphosphere processes and their important ecological functions have begun to be understood and appreciated, and are now known to be implicit in important soil processes. Recent studies provide new insights into this crucial zone and highlight how the hyphosphere might be exploited as a nature-based solution, through understanding of interactions with the microbiome and the impacts on key processes governing resource availability, to increase sustainability of agriculture and minimize its environmental impact. Uncovering hyphosphere chemical and biological processes and their subsequent agricultural, ecological and environmental consequences is a critical research activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Synthesis and characterization of two new mononuclear Cu(II) complexes derived from N-donor ligands. • Comparison between mononuclear tridentate and pentadentate Cu(II) complexes. • Copper complex as a promiscuous catalyst. • Interaction and cleavage of the BSA protein mediated by a Cu(II) complex. • Cytotoxic activity of a Cu(II) complex in two cancer cell lines. In this work, we describe the synthesis and structural and spectroscopic characterizations of two copper(II) complexes, [(Cu)(L1)(Cl 2)].4H 2 O (1), where L1 is 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-hexahydropyrimidine, and [Cu(L2)](ClO 4) 2 (2), where L2 is N1,N1,N3-tris(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)propane-1,3-diamine. The crystalline structure analysis indicates that both complexes are mononuclear and pentacoordinated compounds. In the case of complex 1 , it bears a neutral charge, with the ligand coordinating to the Cu(II) center in a tridentate manner, utilizing N -donor atoms. Additionally, two cis -chlorido ligands completing the coordination sphere. On the other hand, complex 2 is a cationic complex, with the ligand coordinated in a pentadentate manner, with only N -donor atoms for coordination around the Cu(II). Complex 1 showed catalytic promiscuity, displaying hydrolytic and oxidative activity. The hydrolytic activity was investigated using bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl) phosphate (2,4-BDNPP) as a phosphodiester substrate and applying the Michaelis–Menten approach, obtaining the following kinetic parameters: k cat = 1.21 × 10-4 s−1; K M = 3.35 × 10-3 molL-1. Complex 1 also accelerates the oxidation of the 3,5-di- tert -butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) substrate with catalytic efficiency equal to 6.11 L mol-1s-1. Interestingly, we demonstrated that this Cu(II) complex 1 can also cleave the very stable peptide bonds from BSA (bovine serum albumin) through an oxidative mechanism using ascorbate as a reducing agent. Complexes 1 and 2 show good cytotoxic activity against two cancer cell lines: A431 from human squamous cell carcinoma and K562 from chronic myeloid leukemia. This study showed that complexes 1 and 2 are selective towards cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The negative effects of fungal infection on the survival and reproduction of cladocerans, a representative prey community in freshwater, are unexplored. In this study, we hypothesized that the winter migration pattern of Daphnia pulicaria, observed in the Anri Reservoir in South Korea, is the host's defense response to fungal infection. Daphnia pulicaria was mainly distributed in the central bottom layer of the reservoir before winter (summer to autumn) but migrated to the littoral area during winter as fungal infections in the communities gradually spread in the bottom region. However, when the spread of infection was low, D. pulicaria did not migrate. The migrated individuals with dormant eggs were mostly infected and are believed to have migrated to the littoral area to freeze their dormant eggs. We found that dormant eggs of D. pulicaria obtained from ice crystals had lower hatching and infection rates than dormant eggs obtained adaptively in Daphnia mothers. Such a strategy is an efficient response of D. pulicaria to avoid the spread of fungal infection in communities and to maintain their continuous population growth. Morphological or behavioral defense mechanisms are important evolutionary strategies for the survival of prey. Studies have focused on predation and competition, but infection has been overlooked, despite being a determining factor of distribution and species diversity of prey. We hypothesized that the winter migration of Daphnia pulicaria is a community defense strategy to avoid fungal infection. To test this hypothesis, environmental variables and the Cladocera community, including D. pulicaria, were monitored in three study sections of the Anri Reservoir in the Republic of Korea during September 2010–August 2015. During three winter seasons, the density of infected D. pulicaria increased in all study sections, and they migrated from the central to the littoral area. Most of the infected individuals had dormant eggs in sexually reproducing mothers. However, when the proportion of non-infected individuals was higher than that of infected individuals, winter migration was not observed. Additional microcosm experiments showed that dormant eggs of D. pulicaria obtained from ice crystals in the littoral area had lower hatching and infection rates than those obtained from mothers moving from other zones. Therefore, the migration of D. pulicaria during winter is an active response to avoid intergenerational fungal infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psarocolius decumanus (crested oropendola) (Icteridae) is a neotropical bird whose reproductive biology is well studied. Its nests consist of pendulous bags up to 2‐m long usually made of Tillandsia usneoides (Bromeliaceae) with dry leaves lining up the incubation chamber. Several materials from different botanical families have been reported in the nests of crested oropendolas. However, these other plants have not been recognized at the specific level. In the present study, we report the use of roots and pseudobulbs of Gomesa recurva (Orchidaceae) by crested oropendolas to build nests in strictly protected area in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The roots of G. recurva are fibrous, eventually intertwined and reach tens of centimetres, constituting a suitable material for building nests. This interaction could also be beneficial for the orchid, because when searching for roots and pulling them out, the birds end up taking with them also small pseudobulbs. When building the nest with these parts of G. recurva, crested oropendolas promote the dispersal of the orchid throughout the area. Seedlings may occasionally get attached to the lower branches and grow at more basal strata of the phorophytes or as terricolous in the forest understory after nests fall. In addition, as the nests are always built in the upper strata of trees, crested oropendolas may also be improving plant performance since many orchid species need relatively high light environments to bloom. The relationship between P. decumanus and G. recurva and the ecological conditions required by both species need to be better investigated in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) rely on the microbes' ability to transfer charges from their anaerobic respiratory processes to electrodes through extracellular electron transfer (EET). To increase the generally low output signal in devices, advanced bioelectrical interfaces tend to augment this problem by attaching conducting nanoparticles, such as positively charged multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), to the base carbon electrode to electrostatically attract the negatively charged bacterial cell membrane. On the other hand, some reports point to the importance of the magnitude of the surface charge of functionalized single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) as well as the size of functional groups for interaction with the cell membrane, rather than their polarity. To shed light on these phenomena, in this study, we prepared and characterized well-solubilized aqueous dispersions of SWCNTs functionalized by either positively or negatively charged cellulose-derivative polymers, as well as with positively charged or neutral small molecular surfactants, and tested the electrochemical performance of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in MESs in the presence of these functionalized SWCNTs. By simple injection into the MESs, the positively charged polymeric SWCNTs attached to the base carbon felt (CF) electrode, and as fluorescence microscopy revealed, allowed bacteria to attach to these structures. As a result, EET currents continuously increased over several days of monitoring, without bacterial growth in the electrolyte. Negatively charged polymeric SWCNTs also resulted in continuously increasing EET currents and a large number of bacteria on CF, although SWCNTs did not attach to CF. In contrast, SWCNTs functionalized by small-sized surfactants led to a decrease in both currents and the amount of bacteria in the solution, presumably due to the detachment of surfactants from SWCNTs and their detrimental interaction with cells. We expect our results will help researchers in designing materials for smart bioelectrical interfaces for low-scale microbial energy harvesting, sensing, and energy conversion applications.

[Display omitted] • Direct evidence of biological interactions in the early Cambrian. • Brachiopods dominated a vertically stratified benthic community. • In situ preservation of different phyla that fill multiple ecological niches. • An original benthic community preserved in life position from the Guanshan Biota. The Cambrian radiation is characterized by the emergence of diverse bilaterian animal phyla and the establishment of complex marine ecosystems. The Guanshan Biota records an unusual ecological transition from trilobite- to brachiopod-dominated communities during Cambrian Stage 4. This community transition is accompanied by direct evidence of in situ biological interactions such as durophagous predation and kleptoparasitism. Here we describe new material from the Guanshan biota, focusing on an association of palaeoscolecidomorphs and brachiopods with parasitic tube worms that occur on micro-bedding planes. The bedding plane assemblages are dominated by the organophosphatic brachiopod Neobolus wulongqingensis encrusted with kleptoparasitic tube-dwelling worms, along with infaunal palaeoscolecidans. Taphonomic and sedimentological evidence indicates that these specimens are commonly preserved in life position, and thus the association between individuals represent potential biological interactions. This case study reveals that ecosystems during the early Cambrian exhibited a well-developed system of tiering and a complex trophic network, easily distinguished from the simple communities typical of precursor deposits in the Ediacaran. Brachiopods forming extremely dense concentrations on the sea floor are effectively acting as ecosystem engineers, not only to stabilize the soft-substrate seafloor, but also act as an alternative substrate for the oldest empirically demonstrated kleptoparasites. The in situ biological interactions preserved in the Guanshan Biota are critical for filling gaps in our knowledge of ecosystem complexity in the Cambrian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicide-induced phytoplankton inhibition threatens coastal biodiversity and ecosystem function. Although studies employing single-frequence exposure aid in understanding the phytoplankton community's responses to herbicides, it's difficult to objectively assess their response to cyclic herbicide inputs (long-term low-dose and short-term high-dose) in marine ecosystems. Here, we analyzed the concentration and distribution of herbicides in global coastal waters and simulated this cyclic process through a two-phase atrazine exposure mesocosm experiment and laboratory tests. The results indicated that, the herbicide concentrations (0.82 nmol L−1, 95 % CI 0.55, 1.74) from May to August were significantly higher than that (0.14 nmol L−1, 95 % CI 0.02, 0.38) in the remainder months, and highest concentrations typically emerged in summer; the changes in phytoplankton community composition under environmental concentrations of triazine herbicides could recover in the short term, but sustained inhibition of biomass was produced; the dominant populations were more likely to develop tolerance through preexposure and recover from subsequent impulse of atrazine, but this process was accompanied by the loss of rare groups and a decrease in biodiversity, meanwhile, affected the bacterial community in phycosphere. Consequently, we considered that the cyclic herbicide inputs may cause more detrimental effects than single-frequence exposure, potentially leading to a large-scale decline in coastal primary productivity. [Display omitted] • Changes in phytoplankton communities induced by low-dose atrazine are reversible. • Biomass inhibition caused by ambient concentration of atrazine is more sustained. • The dominant populations are more likely to gain tolerance from exposure history. • Community rescue comes with loss of rare groups and decline in biodiversity. • Atrazine produces secondary effects (algae-related) on bacterial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute coronavirus disease 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus represents an ongoing threat to human health and well-being. Notably, many COVID-19 patients suffer from complications consistent with osteoporosis (OP) following disease resolution yet the mechanistic links between SARS-CoV-2 infection and OP remain to be clarified. The present study was thus developed to explore the potential basis for this link by employing transcriptomic analyses to identify signaling pathways and biomarkers associated with OP and SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, a previously published RNA-sequencing dataset (GSE152418) from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in OP patients and individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 as a means of exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms linking these two conditions. In total, 2,885 DEGs were identified by analyzing the COVID-19 patient dataset, with shared DEGs then being identified by comparison of these DEGs with those derived from an OP patient dataset. Hub genes were identified through a series of bioinformatics approaches and protein-protein interaction analyses. Predictive analyses of transcription factor/gene interactions, protein/drug interactions, and DEG/miRNA networks associated with these DEGs were also conducted. Together, these data highlight promising candidate drugs with the potential to treat both COVID-19 and OP.

Hydrological variations affect habitat characteristics and fish distribution in floodplain lakes. Assessing the contributions of the local community (i.e., LCBD, community uniqueness) and species to overall β diversity (i.e., SCBD, species uniqueness) of fish assemblages is valuable for habitat and species conservation planning, particularly from functional and phylogenetic perspectives. We examined the changes in multifaceted LCBD and SCBD of fish across different hydrological periods in the Poyang Lake, China, and analyzed their responsive mechanisms using regression models, based on which the conservation priorities of habitats and species were evaluated. The findings revealed that taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic LCBD and SCBD were lowest during the wet season compared to the normal and dry seasons, emphasizing the regulatory effects of hydrological regimes on fish assemblages. Taxonomic and functional LCBD were significantly impacted by the mean abundance of migratory fish, highlighting the importance of specific species combinations on community uniqueness. Taxonomic and functional SCBD exhibited positive correlations primarily with mean abundance, suggesting the potential uniqueness of certain common species. Additionally, we identified the river-lake junction (Hukou station) and natural reserve (Xingzi and Nanjishan stations) with high overall community uniqueness as critical habitats. We also emphasized the necessity for increased conservation efforts for species having high overall species uniqueness during different hydrological periods, including Coilia brachygnathus , Ctenopharyngodon idella , Coilia nasus , Saurogobio dabryi , Hypophthalmichthys molitrix , Megalobrama amblycephala , and Parabramis pekinensis. This research underscores the significance of integrating multiple ecological perspectives to manage biodiversity changes and maintain ecological conservation values effectively. • Hydrological changes regulated the multifaceted community and species uniqueness. • Taxonomic and functional community uniqueness positively responded to biotic factor. • The dominant species displayed high taxonomic and functional species uniqueness. • The multifaceted LCBD and SCBD helps prioritize conserving key areas and species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroalgal holobiont studies involve understanding interactions between the host, its microbiota, and the environment. We analyzed the effect of bacteria–kelp interactions on phenotypic responses of two genetically distinct populations of giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera (north and south), exposed to different nitrogen (N) concentrations. In co‐culture experiments with different N concentration treatments, we evaluated kelp growth responses and changes in three specific molecular markers associated with the N cycle, both in epiphytic bacteria (relative abundance of nrfA‐gene: cytochrome c nitrite reductase) and macroalgae (expression of NR‐gene: nitrate reductase; GluSyn‐gene: glutamate synthase). Both kelp populations responded differently to N limitation, with M. pyrifera‐south sporophytes having a lower specific growth rate (SGR) under N‐limiting conditions than the northern population; M. pyrifera‐north sporophytes showed no significant differences in SGR when exposed to low‐N and high‐N concentrations. This corresponded to a higher GluSyn‐gene expression in the M. pyrifera‐north sporophytes and the co‐occurrence of specific nrfA bacterial taxa. These bacteria may increase ammonium availability under low‐N concentrations, allowing M. pyrifera‐north to optimize nutrient assimilation by increasing the expression of GluSyn. We conclude that bacteria–kelp interactions are important in enhancing kelp growth rates under low N availability, although this effect may be regulated by the genetic background of kelp populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed seed predation is an important ecosystem service in paddy areas. To conserve and sustainably utilize this service, it is necessary to quantify the seed predation and reveal the relative contributions of seed predators. In this study, we quantified the extent of postdispersal seed predation of Lolium multiflorum Lam., a non‐native invasive grass weed, on levees of terraced paddy fields located in a traditional cultural landscape (satoyama landscape) of Japan. We investigated the temporal variability in seed predation of L. multiflorum during summer after the seed shed, and estimated the total seed loss due to predation on the levees of terraced paddy fields for 2 years. Furthermore, the relative contribution of invertebrates and vertebrates to the seed predation was estimated based on exclosures. The total seed loss due to predation during 4 months (from late June to late October) was consistently high (>99%) in both years (the maximum proportion of seed predation per 2 weeks = 80.0–86.7%). The seed predators were likely to be mainly invertebrates such as crickets and ground beetles. This study revealed that the seed predation intensity was consistently high and can be an important depletion factor for the seedbanks of weeds such as L. multiflorum on the levees of terraced paddy fields. The high intensity of seed predation by invertebrates might suppress the invasion and population expansion of L. multiflorum on the levees of terraced paddy fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological or behavioral defense mechanisms are important evolutionary strategies for the survival of prey. Studies have focused on predation and competition, but infection has been overlooked, despite being a determining factor of distribution and species diversity of prey. We hypothesized that the winter migration of Daphnia pulicaria is a community defense strategy to avoid fungal infection. To test this hypothesis, environmental variables and the Cladocera community, including D. pulicaria, were monitored in three study sections of the Anri Reservoir in the Republic of Korea during September 2010–August 2015. During three winter seasons, the density of infected D. pulicaria increased in all study sections, and they migrated from the central to the littoral area. Most of the infected individuals had dormant eggs in sexually reproducing mothers. However, when the proportion of non-infected individuals was higher than that of infected individuals, winter migration was not observed. Additional microcosm experiments showed that dormant eggs of D. pulicaria obtained from ice crystals in the littoral area had lower hatching and infection rates than those obtained from mothers moving from other zones. Therefore, the migration of D. pulicaria during winter is an active response to avoid intergenerational fungal infection.

Epiphytes colonizing adult seagrasses highly contribute to seagrass ecosystem functioning and plant growth. Yet, little information exists on epiphytic communities developing on seagrass seedlings. Moreover, for some species our knowledge about seedling performance is limited to early establishment phases, and the role of substrate type in affecting their growth is still unclear. These are considerable knowledge gaps, as seedlings play an important role in meadow expansion and recovery from disturbance. In this study, seedlings of Posidonia oceanica, a keystone species of the Mediterranean, were grown in a shallow (1.5 m deep) coastal area along the Tuscany coast (Italy). After five years of growth (July 2009), seedlings were collected and, through multivariate analysis, we examined whether the epiphytic communities of leaves (both internal and external side) and rhizomes, as well as the growth characteristics differed between rock and sand substrate. The epiphytic communities of seedlings largely reflected those found on adult shoots. Epiphyte cover was similar between the two leaf sides, and it was higher on seedlings grown on rock than on sand, with encrusting algae dominating the community. No differences in epiphyte cover and community structure on rhizomes were found between substrates. Seedling growth characteristics did not differ between substrates, apart from the number of standing leaves being higher on rock than on sand. No correlation was found among epiphyte communities and seedling growth variables (i.e., leaf area, maximum leaf length, number of leaves, total number of leaves produced, rhizome length, total biomass, and root to shoot biomass ratio). Results indicate that epiphytes successfully colonize P. oceanica seedlings, and the surrounding micro-environment (i.e., substrate type) can influence the leaf epiphytic community. This study provides new valuable insights on the biological interactions occurring in seagrass ecosystems and highlights the need for better understanding the effects of seedling epiphytes and substrate on the formation of new meadows.

Epiphytes colonizing adult seagrasses highly contribute to seagrass ecosystem functioning and plant growth. Yet, little information exists on epiphytic communities developing on seagrass seedlings. Moreover, for some species our knowledge about seedling performance is limited to early establishment phases, and the role of substrate type in affecting their growth is still unclear. These are considerable knowledge gaps, as seedlings play an important role in meadow expansion and recovery from disturbance. In this study, seedlings of Posidonia oceanica , a keystone species of the Mediterranean, were grown in a shallow (1.5 m deep) coastal area along the Tuscany coast (Italy). After five years of growth (July 2009), seedlings were collected and, through multivariate analysis, we examined whether the epiphytic communities of leaves (both internal and external side) and rhizomes, as well as the growth characteristics differed between rock and sand substrate. The epiphytic communities of seedlings largely reflected those found on adult shoots. Epiphyte cover was similar between the two leaf sides, and it was higher on seedlings grown on rock than on sand, with encrusting algae dominating the community. No differences in epiphyte cover and community structure on rhizomes were found between substrates. Seedling growth characteristics did not differ between substrates, apart from the number of standing leaves being higher on rock than on sand. No correlation was found among epiphyte communities and seedling growth variables (i.e., leaf area, maximum leaf length, number of leaves, total number of leaves produced, rhizome length, total biomass, and root to shoot biomass ratio). Results indicate that epiphytes successfully colonize P. oceanica seedlings, and the surrounding micro-environment (i.e., substrate type) can influence the leaf epiphytic community. This study provides new valuable insights on the biological interactions occurring in seagrass ecosystems and highlights the need for better understanding the effects of seedling epiphytes and substrate on the formation of new meadows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Anammox contributed to 91.3 % nitrogen removal with 14.4 % of AnAOB enriched. • AOB and DNB provided NO to AnAOB causing only 4.5 % NO 3 −-N to be produced. • The expression of nirS of AnAOB was downregulated, while hzs and hdh kept high level. • Using NO by AnAOB caused the downregulation of nirC, narK and carbon metabolism. • Increasing NO supply is a strategy to promote nitrogen removal of the anammox process. Nitric oxide (NO) has been suggested as an obligate intermediate in anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), nitrification and denitrification. At the same time, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and denitrifying bacteria (DNB) are always existed in anammox flora, so what is the role of NO produced from AOB and DNB? Could it accelerate nitrogen removal via the anammox pathway with NO as an electron acceptor? To investigate this hypothesis, nitrogen transforming of an anammox biofilter was analyzed, functional gene expression of anammox bacteria (AnAOB), AOB and DNB were compared, and NO source was verified. For anammox biofilter, anammox contributed to 91.3 % nitrogen removal with only 14.4 % of AnAOB being enriched, while DNB was dominant. Meta-omics analysis and batch test results indicated that AOB could provide NO to AnAOB, and DNB also produced NO via up-regulating nirS/K and down-regulating nor. The activation of the anammox pathway of NH 4 ++NO→N 2 caused the downregulation of nirS and nxr in Ca. Kuenenia stuttgartiensis. Additionally, changes in nitrogen transforming pathways affected the electron generation and transport, limiting the carbon metabolism of AnAOB. This study provided new insights into improving nitrogen removal of the anammox system. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing interest, a large number of researches have been conducted on carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs). However, their uses are limited due to comprehensive potential environmental and human health effects. It is often confusing for researchers to make an informed choice regarding the versatile carbon-based nanocarrier system and its potential applications. This review has highlighted emerging applications and cutting-edge progress of CBNs in drug delivery. Some critical factors like enzymatic degradation, surface modification, biological interactions, and bio-corona have been discussed here. These factors will help to fabricate CBNs for effective drug delivery. This review also addresses recent advancements in carbon-based target specific and release controlled drug delivery to improve disease treatment. The scientific community has turned their research efforts into the development of novel production methods of CBNs to make their production more attractive to the industrial sector. Due to the nanosize and diversified physical properties, these CBNs have demonstrated distinct biological interaction. Thus long-term preclinical toxicity study is recommended before finally translating to clinical application.

Background: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is linked to abnormal lipid metabolism, but evidence regarding PAHs as risk factors for dyslipidemia is lacking. Objective: To investigate the respective role and interaction of PAH exposure and antioxidant consumption in the risk for pediatric dyslipidemia. Methods: We measured the concentrations of serum lipids, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and urinary hydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs) in 403 children, of which 203 were from an e-waste-exposed area (Guiyu) and 200 were from a reference area (Haojiang). Biological interactions were calculated by additive models. Results: Guiyu children had higher serum triglyceride concentration and dyslipidemia incidence, and lower serum concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) than Haojiang children. Elevated OH-PAH concentration, and concomitant SOD reduction, were both associated with lower HDL concentration and higher hypo-HDL risk (∑3OH-Phes: B for lgHDL = −0.048, P

Mixed cropping has been suggested as a resource-efficient approach to meet high produce demands while maintaining biodiversity and minimizing environmental impact. Current breeding programs do not select for enhanced general mixing ability (GMA) and neglect biological interactions within species mixtures. Clear concepts and efficient experimental designs, adapted to breeding for mixed cropping and encoded into appropriate statistical models, are lacking. Thus, a model framework for GMA and SMA (specific mixing ability) was established. Results of a simulation study showed that an incomplete factorial design combines advantages of two commonly used full factorials, and enables to estimate GMA, SMA, and their variances in a resource-efficient way. This model was extended to the Producer (Pr) and Associate (As) concept to exploit additional information based on fraction yields. It was shown that the Pr/As concept allows to characterize genotypes for their contribution to total mixture yield, and, when relating to plant traits, allows to describe biological interaction functions (BIF) in a mixed crop. Incomplete factorial designs show the potential to drastically improve genetic gain by testing an increased number of genotypes using the same amount of resources. The Pr/As concept can further be employed to maximize GMA in an informed and efficient way. The BIF of a trait can be used to optimize species ratios at harvest as well as to extend our understanding of competitive and facilitative interactions in a mixed plant community. This study provides an integrative methodological framework to promote breeding for mixed cropping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study was to investigate the entomopathogenic capacity of the mold Fusarium verticillioides and the effect of its mycotoxins fumonisins, on the grain beetle Sitophilus zeamais. We evaluated the capacity of this fungus to infect live insects, the antifungal activity of constituents of the insect's epicuticle, and the effect of a fumonisin extract on the fitness of the insects. We found that F. verticillioides could not penetrate the cuticle of S. zeamais and that the fumonisin extract had no negative effects on the fitness of the insects. However, the progeny of the insects increased, and the fumonisin extract had repellent effects. This is the first report about the effects of fumonisins on the relationship between F. verticillioides and S. zeamais, which may provide useful information about interactions between pathogenic microorganisms and insects, especially on stored product pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sirex noctilio, a major forestry quarantine pest, has spread rapidly and caused serious harm. However, existing methods still need to be improved because its olfactory interaction mechanisms are poorly understood. In order to study the role of male-specific protein SnocOBP7 in the protein–ligand interactions, we selected it as the object of computational simulation and analysis. By docking it with 11 ligands and evaluating free binding energy decomposition, the three best binding ligands were found to be female sex pheromones ((Z)-7-heptacosene and (Z)-7-nonacosene) and symbiotic fungal volatiles ((−)-globulol). Binding mode analysis and computational alanine scanning suggested that five residues play key roles in the binding of each female sex pheromone to SnocOBP7, whereas two residues play key roles in (−)-globulol binding. Phe108 and Leu36 may be the crucial sites via which SnocOBP7 binds female sex pheromones, whereas Met40 may regulate the courtship behavior of males, and Leu61 may be related to mating and host finding. Our studies predicted the function of SnocOBP7 and found that the interaction between SnocOBP7 and pheromone is a complex process, and we successfully predicted its binding key amino-acid sites, providing a basis for the development of new prevention and control methods relying on female sex pheromones and symbiotic fungi.

The ambrosial forest pest Megaplatypus mutatus causes high economic losses in Argentina and has been classified as an emerging pest in Europe. The high diversity of susceptible tree-species (native and non-native) and its wide geographical distribution turn this ambrosial beetle into a serious threat to forest plantations. This work aimed to characterise the fungal communities associated with M. mutatus' gut, compare the current results with previous culture-dependent and independent datasets and test the specificity of the fungal communities among adults, larvae and host-plants. A total of 2200 fungal strains were isolated by culture method from Males, Females and Larvae from Populus deltoides, grouping them into eleven fungal taxa. Additionally, the larval gut was studied by culture-independent method (454-pyrosequencing) analysing P. deltoides and Casuarina cunninghamiana. The Principal Component Analyses showed a separation between fungal species within adults and larvae, strongly suggesting that males and Graphium basitruncatum association would be even more specific than previously reported. The use of complementary culture-methods, integrated into different scales of study, reflected an important biological complexity in the studied interaction, showing that the specificity in the Fungi-M. mutatus association is given by key-fungal members such as Fusarium solani species complex, Candida insectalens, G. basitruncatum and Raffaelea spp. The multitrophic interactions between M. mutatus and gut-associated fungi were assessed for the first time. These results complement the data from culture methods previously reported, thus improving the accuracy and understanding of the fungal assemblages associated with M. mutatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of invasion by non-native species can be influenced by positive interactions established in the area of introduction. For instance, seed dispersal by birds can increase seed rain, seed germination, and, as a consequence, the probability of establishment of new invasion foci. Schefflera arboricola, an ornamental shrub with fruits largely consumed by birds, is invasive in several countries. To our knowledge, this is the first research project on mechanisms that might explain the success of S. arboricola in areas where it is invasive. The main aim of this study was to assess the invasiveness of S. arboricola associated with seed dispersal by birds. Fruit availability and frugivory interactions with local birds were registered and the germination percentage of seeds not consumed by birds was compared to the germination of seeds collected from bird feces. Our results show that frugivory and seed dispersal by native birds increase the establishment of S. arboricola. In addition, intrinsic species traits such as extended flowering and fruiting, high percentage of seed germination, early germination due to frugivory, and ability to establish in different microhabitats facilitate invasion by S. arboricola. Given the intensive horticultural use of S. arboricola and seed dispersal interactions with generalist birds, there is an imminent risk of invasion in forest remnants close to wherever S. arboricola is cultivated. We recommend that adult plants of S. arboricola are eliminated from gardens and semi-natural areas close to protected areas as a prevention measure to avoid invasions and impacts on natural habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules capable of recognizing targets via specific three-dimensional structures. Taking advantage of this unique targeting function, aptamers have been extensively applied to bioanalysis and disease theranostics. However, the targeting functionality of aptamers in the physiological milieu is greatly impeded compared with their in vitro applications. To investigate the physiological factors that adversely affect the in vivo targeting ability of aptamers, we herein systematically studied the interactions between human plasma proteins and aptamers and the specific effects of plasma proteins on aptamer targeting. Microscale thermophoresis and flow cytometry analysis showed that plasma interacted with aptamers, restricting their affinity toward targeted tumor cells. Further pull-down assay and proteomic identification verified that the interactions between aptamers and plasma proteins were mainly involved in complement activation and immune response as well as showed structure-selective and sequence-specific features. Particularly, the fibronectin 1 (FN1) protein showed dramatically specific interactions with nucleolin (NCL) targeting aptamer AS1411. The competitive binding between FN1 and NCL almost deprived the AS1411 aptamer's targeting ability in vivo . In order to maintain the targeting function in the physiological milieu, a series of optimizations were performed via the chemical modifications of AS1411 aptamer, and 3'-terminal pegylation was demonstrated to be resistant to the interaction with FN1, leading to improved tumor-targeting effects. This work emphasizes the physiological environment influences on aptamers targeting functionality and suggests that rational design and modification of aptamers to minimize the nonspecific interaction with plasma proteins might be effective to maintain aptamer functionality in future clinical uses.

Mango is known as king of fruits. Among mango pests, mango mealy bug, Drosicha mangiferae (MMB), is considered one of the most destructive pests of mango orchards and other plantations. Whenever it enters in any orchards it is difficult to eradicate it from those orchards. The experiment was conducted at Entomological Research Sub Station, Multan-Punjab, Pakistan, during 2009 and 2010, to evaluate fitness of mango mealy bug on different varieties of mango and biology on 'Chaunsa' variety. Mango mealy bug, Drosicha mangiferae Green (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Margarodidae), is matter of concern, as it is widespread pest of woody plants even in urban areas. A study was conducted on cultivar resistance and fecundity of mango mealy bug. The 'Chaunsa' cultivar of mango proved highly susceptible to mango mealy bug with maximum number of eggs laid, i.e. 335.90, and maximum weight, i.e. 0.239 g of the female, was recorded on the cultivar 'Chaunsa'. The maximum length, i.e. 1.63 cm, and width, i.e. 0.80 cm of female, was observed on 'Chaunsa', which showed a susceptible response and did not differ significantly with the width of female on 'Black Chaunsa'. Regarding biology, the 1st instar male and female duration on an average is 56.3 days, whereas the 2nd instar has 26 days. In case of the 3rd instar, female has duration 19.5 days and male has three days. Male has pupal stage, while it is absent in female. On an average two study years, the ranking of susceptibility of mango cultivars was as under: 'Chaunsa' > 'Black Chaunsa' > 'Malda > 'Fajri' > 'Retaul-12' > 'Langra' > 'Sensation' > 'Sindhri' > 'Dusehri' > 'Sufaid Chaunsa' > 'Anwar Reutul' and > 'Tukhmi'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aptamers are functional small single-strand oligonucleotides (DNA) that show high affinity to their target molecules such as proteins or small analytes through the formation of specific secondary structures. In the present paper, we study the interaction of one aptamer with its target protein, the manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), under specific conditions of surface chemical grafting. For this purpose, we exploit two different chemical strategies to graft the aptamers onto pegylated gold nanoparticles: the carbodiimide chemistry (EDC/NHS method) and the thiol covalent bond (S–Au bond). We also study the influence of the presence of a spacer of 15 thymine bases at the aptamer extremity. The aptamer interactions with the MnSOD were characterized by UV-Vis absorption on a large range of MnSOD concentrations (from 10−12 up to 10−5 M). We observe that the interaction is strongly dependent on the MnSOD concentration and also on the aptamer structure at the surface of the gold nanoparticles. We demonstrate that the highest affinity is obtained for the aptamer with the 15 thymine bases spacer and grafted with the carbodiimide method. We assume that the grafting method has a strong influence on the accessibility and the conformation of the aptamer at the nanoparticle surface and thus on its possibility to interact with the MnSOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Biochar is extensively applied in amendment of contaminated soils. However, the effect of biochar on the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and electricity generation in soil microbial fuel cells (MFCs) remains unclear. Here, three biochars respectively derived from poultry (chicken manure, CB), agriculture (wheat straw, SB) and forestry industries (wood sawdust, WB) were investigated after 223 days of amendment. Consequently, high removal for alkanes was in CB with the mineral nutrition and phosphorus while aromatics were in SB with the most N content and the highest molecular polarity. The lowest removal efficiency of total petroleum hydrocarbons was observed in WB with the highest surface area, whereas the most charge was obtained. The different performance of soil MFCs was due to physicochemical properties of biochar and colonized microbial communities of bacteria and archaea. The abundance of Actinotalea increased by 144–263% in SB and CB while that of Desulfatitalea distinctly increased in WB. Meanwhile, species from Methanosarcina , Methanoculleus , Halovivax and Natronorubrum exerted probably a methanogenic degrading role. This study revealed that the degrader, azotobacter and electricigens exhibited a close relationship in order to degrade hydrocarbons and generate electricity in soil bioelectrochemical remediation systems. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • CB and SB enhanced the removal of alkane and aromatic, respectively. • The sawdust biochar exerted the best effect on the electron transfer in soils. • The biochar accelerated the selective enhancement of bacteria and archaea. • The methanogenic degradation of hydrocarbons was an important process in soils. • The degrader, azotobacter and electricigens exhibited a synergic relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the relationship between plant functional foliar traits and the endophytic bacterial communities associated in trees, taking the example of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl). Forty-five samples with replicates of eight leaves per sample were collected in spring, summer and autumn. Bacterial community diversity was analyzed via Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA). The leaf traits specific leaf area, level of herbivory, stomatal number, stomatal length, carbon and nitrogen concentration were measured for the leaves of each sample. For statistical analysis, linear mixed effect models, the Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) and Non-Parametric Multivariate Analysis of Variance (NPMANOVA) were applied. Herbivory, nitrogen and carbon concentration were significantly different in autumn compared to spring and summer (p value < 0.05), while stomatal length was differentiated between spring and the other two seasons (p value < 0.01). The seasonal differentiation of the bacterial community structure was explained by the first and second axes (29.7% and 25.3%, respectively) in the CCA. The bacterial community structure significantly correlated with herbivory, nitrogen concentration and stomatal length. We conclude that herbivory, nitrogen content, and size of stomatal aperture at the leaf level are important for endophyte colonization in oaks growth in alpine forest environments.

Abstract In studies of community assembly, species are often assumed to have similar spatial distributions and responses to the environment regardless of age or size. Under this assumption, it is possible to use species and species‐level traits in community composition studies. Here, we test this assumption for two species of soil‐living arthropods (springtails: Collembola) with direct development but assumed differences in self‐organizing behavior. We expected that the species with more pronounced social interactions (Hypogastrura tullbergi) should be less influenced by environmental factors and species interactions across all age classes, than Folsomia quadrioculata that is not known to exhibit social behavior. We used variance partitioning to examine the relative contributions of soil variables, vegetation composition, and other Collembola, vs. spatial variables (as a proxy for intraspecific interactions, i.e., self‐organization), on the distribution of the two species and three of their age classes. We show that two coexisting species with clear aggregation patterns greatly differ in how much the environment contributes to affecting the species’ spatial structure. Local F. quadrioculata abundance was explained by different spatial and environmental variables depending on age class. In contrast, for H. tullbergi, spatial variables explained more of the abundance variation in all age classes. These differences have implications for the general predictability of changes in spatial structuring of species, as self‐organized species may be less likely to respond to changes in environmental factors. Our results show that because age classes may be differentially affected by environmental conditions, caution should be taken when assuming that species traits can be applied to all developmental stages in a species.

The interaction of graphene oxide (GO) and municipal landfill leachate bacterial culture was investigated. In aerobic conditions, stepwise addition of GO concentration to 60 mg/L increased the oxygen uptake rate coefficient. However, increasing the GO concentration to 100 mg/L slightly decreased the oxygen uptake rate coefficient. When anoxic conditions developed, GO suspensions decreased the total bacterial activity and the substrate consumption. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the chemical reduction of GO during exposure to bacteria; nonetheless, the extent of reduction in anoxic conditions was more than that in aerobic conditions. The chemical composition of landfill leachate showed to be able to also slightly reduce the GO after 10 days exposure, but the role of bacterial activity in the reduction process seemed to be dominant. As far as it could be seen under a light microscope, while the gram-positive bacteria were more vulnerable in anoxic assays, GO suspension did not affect the morphology and size of active cultures in the aerobic atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the relationship between plant functional foliar traits and the endophytic bacterial communities associated in trees, taking the example of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl). Forty-five samples with replicates of eight leaves per sample were collected in spring, summer and autumn. Bacterial community diversity was analyzed via Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA). The leaf traits specific leaf area, level of herbivory, stomatal number, stomatal length, carbon and nitrogen concentration were measured for the leaves of each sample. For statistical analysis, linear mixed effect models, the Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) and Non-Parametric Multivariate Analysis of Variance (NPMANOVA) were applied. Herbivory, nitrogen and carbon concentration were significantly different in autumn compared to spring and summer (p value < 0.05), while stomatal length was differentiated between spring and the other two seasons (p value < 0.01). The seasonal differentiation of the bacterial community structure was explained by the first and second axes (29.7% and 25.3%, respectively) in the CCA. The bacterial community structure significantly correlated with herbivory, nitrogen concentration and stomatal length. We conclude that herbivory, nitrogen content, and size of stomatal aperture at the leaf level are important for endophyte colonization in oaks growth in alpine forest environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Insulin and uric acid were shown affect the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), but no studies examine their interaction. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine their biological interaction in subjects from central Mexico. Methods 433 subjects were enrolled for a cross-sectional study. MetS was defined according to the Harmonizing Definition. Hyperuricemia was defined as ≥7.0 mg/dL in males and ≥5.8 mg/dL in females. Hyperinsulinemia was defined as ≥11.0 μU/mL. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was calculated to determine the association between uric acid or insulin and MetS. Logistic regression was used to determine the risk (odds ratio) of developing MetS. Biological interactions were determined by the PROCESS Macro and Anderson’s method. Results Insulin and uric acid levels were elevated in MetS positive group (p < .05) and correlated with the number of MetS components (r = 0.276 and r = 0.166, p < .001, respectively). The interaction between uric acid and insulin was associated with the number of MetS components (PROCESS Model 1, interaction coefficient = −0.009, 95%CI: −0.017 to −0.001, p = .036). Johnson-Neyman analysis suggests the interaction is lost when uric acid concentration increased >7.0 mg/dL. When the cohort was separated by hyperinsulinemia and hyperuricemia, there was a significant risk of developing MetS for subjects with hyperuricemia (odds ratio = 2.3; 95%CI: 1.1–4.8, p < .05), hyperinsulinemia (odds ratio = 3.1; 95%CI: 1.9–4.9, p < .05), or both (odds ratio = 7.4; 95%CI: 3.2–17.2, p < .05); however, there was no multiplicative or additive interaction. Conclusion Here, we show that uric acid and insulin augments the prevalence of MetS; however, no biological interaction was determined for hyperuricemia and hyperinsulinemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]