Natural disturbances are largely suppressed in Central European landscapes due to economic and human safety concerns. European goals to increase the extent of secondary wilderness areas have the potential to support the restoration of threatened habitats associated with natural disturbances. Germany is among the Central European countries with the most advanced wilderness goals. This study aimed to

Evaluating the effects of soil and water conservation on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) during the past 60 years depends mainly on understanding the historical processes of soil erosion fluxes and their mechanism. However, little was known about the historical variation in soil erosion and its driving factors due to the lack of few ideal geological carriers on the CLP. A representative Heshui (HS)

Loess-like deposits and soils distribute extensively along the wide valleys across the Yarlung Tsangpo River (YTR) catchment in southern Tibetan Plateau. They provide insights into pedogenetic processes and environmental changes. The climate of the low reach area of the YTR catchment is currently relatively wet and warm compared with the middle and upper reaches. To reconstruct climate and environmental

Former and present cultivation of plant species impacts their distribution patterns and today's composition of floras. If native and feral populations are overlapping, the local status of a species remains often questionable. The musk strawberry (Fragaria moschata) is such an example: It is native to Central Europe but has been extensively cultivated until the end of 19th century. The border between

The many high-resolution tools that are uniquely applicable to specimens from the Quaternary period (the past ~2.5 Ma) provide an opportunity to cross-validate data and test hypotheses based on the morphology and distribution of fossils. Among these tools is palaeogenomics – the genome-scale sequencing of genetic material from ancient specimens – that can provide direct insight into ecology and evolution

The symbiosis between scleractinian corals and photosynthetic algae from the family Symbiodiniaceae underpins the health and productivity of tropical coral reef ecosystems. While this photosymbiotic association has been extensively studied in shallow waters (<30 m depth), we do not know how deeper corals, inhabiting large and vastly underexplored mesophotic coral ecosystems, modulate their symbiotic

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents resemble the early Earth, and thus the dominant Thermococcaceae inhabitants, which occupy an evolutionarily basal position of the archaeal tree and take an obligate anaerobic hyperthermophilic free-living lifestyle, are likely excellent models to study the evolution of early life. Here, we determined that unbiased mutation rate of a representative species, Thermococcus eurythermalis

Arsenic pollution is a widespread threat to marine life, but the ongoing rise pCO2 levels is predicted to decrease bio-toxicity of arsenic. However, the effects of arsenic toxicity on marine primary producers under elevated pCO2 are not well characterized. Here, we studied the effects of arsenic toxicity in three globally distributed diatom species (Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Thalassiosira pseudonana

The vertical flux of marine snow particles significantly reduces atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. In the mesopelagic zone, a large proportion of the organic carbon carried by sinking particles dissipates thereby escaping long term sequestration. Particle associated prokaryotes are largely responsible for such organic carbon loss. However, links between this important ecosystem flux and ecological

Heterotrophic lineages of stramenopiles exhibit enormous diversity in morphology, lifestyle, and habitat. Among them, the marine stramenopiles (MASTs) represent numerous independent lineages that are only known from environmental sequences retrieved from marine samples. The core energy metabolism characterizing these unicellular eukaryotes is poorly understood. Here, we used single-cell genomics to

Asgard archaea are widely distributed in anaerobic environments. Previous studies revealed the potential capability of Asgard archaea to utilize various organic substrates including proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids and hydrocarbons, suggesting that Asgard archaea play an important role in sediment carbon cycling. Here, we describe a previously unrecognized archaeal phylum, Hermodarchaeota

Bacterial endosymbiosis has been instrumental in eukaryotic evolution, and includes both mutualistic, dependent and parasitic associations. Here we characterize an intracellular bacterium inhabiting the flagellated protist Bodo saltans (Kinetoplastida). We present a complete bacterial genome comprising a 1.39 Mb circular chromosome with 40.6% GC content. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation confirms that

Dichloromethane (DCM; CH2Cl2) is a toxic groundwater pollutant that also has a detrimental effect on atmospheric ozone levels. As a dense non-aqueous phase liquid, DCM migrates vertically through groundwater to low redox zones, yet information on anaerobic microbial DCM transformation remains scarce due to a lack of cultured organisms. We report here the characterisation of DCMF, the dominant organism

Bacteria that inhabit glaciers usually produce carotenoids. Here, we report that a group of zeaxanthin-producing glacial Flavobacterium exhibited light-promoted growth. Of the tested 47 strains, 45 showed increased growths but two died under illumination at 50 μmol photon m−2 s−1. Light stimulation occurred mainly in either anoxic or nutrient-poor cultures, while the same levels of light promotion

Temperate phages are viruses of bacteria that can establish two types of infection: a lysogenic infection in which the virus replicates with the host cell without producing virions, and a lytic infection where the host cell is eventually destroyed, and new virions are released. While both lytic and lysogenic infections are routinely observed in the environment, the ecological and evolutionary processes

Environmental stress is increasing worldwide, yet we lack a clear picture of how stress disrupts the stability of microbial communities and the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we present the first evidence that naturally-occurring microbiomes display network properties characteristic of unstable communities when under persistent stress. By assessing changes in diversity and structure of soil

The adaptive potential of pathogens in novel or heterogeneous environments underpins the risk of disease epidemics. Antagonistic pleiotropy or differential resource allocation among life-history traits can constrain pathogen adaptation. However, we lack understanding of how the genetic architecture of individual traits can generate trade-offs. Here, we report a large-scale study based on 145 global

The rapid increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in wildlife research has raised concerns about its potential negative impact on animals. The paucity of studies and the variability of responses of pinnipeds to UAVs prompts the need for species-specific impact assessments. Here we assessed the potential behavioural impact of low altitude UAVs on Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii)

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has the most fragile ecosystems in the world. Over the past decades, QTP is suffering from increasing external pressures of climate change, human activities, and natural hazards, thus ecological vulnerability assessment is crucial for its sustainable development. This study proposes an objective and automatic framework to assess the ecological vulnerability in the

Harmful algal blooms are a major type of marine disaster that endangers the marine ecological environment and human health. Since the algal bloom is a complex nonlinear process with time characteristics, traditional statistical methods often cannot provide good predictions. In this paper, we propose a method based on machine learning with the aim to predict the occurrence of algal blooms by environmental

Societies use material and energy resources to build up, maintain and utilize long-lasting structures such as buildings, infrastructures or machinery, i.e. entertain a ‘social metabolism’. Nexus approaches provide useful heuristics for interdisciplinary analyses of (un)sustainable society-nature interactions, for example by highlighting relations between different resources (e.g. land, water and energy)

This research investigates farm households' adaptations to climate change-driven monsoon floods in the rural district of Nowshera, Pakistan. Some households in these flood-affected communities have undertaken autonomous adaptations to flooding. We surveyed five hundred farm households from both flood-affected and unaffected villages to investigate the factors driving the uptake of the following autonomous

Africa contains much of Earth's biological and cultural‐linguistic diversity, but conserving this diversity faces enormous challenges amid widespread poverty, expanding development, social unrest, and rapidly growing human population. Here we examine UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites (WHSs) on continental Africa and nearby islands—48 protected areas containing globally important natural or combined

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a primary tool for the stewardship, conservation, and restoration of marine ecosystems, yet 69% of global MPAs are only partially protected (i.e., are open to some form of fishing). Although fully protected areas have well‐documented outcomes, including increased fish diversity and biomass, the effectiveness of partially protected areas is contested. Partially protected

Cyanobacteria are integral to soil development in the earliest stages of primary succession by fixing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) essential for organismal growth. In this study, we examined soil cyanobacterial communities at the earliest stage of succession (<5 years) at two disparate glacial forefields to reveal cyanobacterial patterns central to ecosystem development. Despite vast differences in

Biochars generally result in short-term positive priming of native soil organic carbon (SOC), but longer-term carbon (C) stabilization, and these effects can be altered by global warming. However, uncertainty remains about the mechanisms associated with these priming effects, temperature sensitivity of native SOC, and microbial responses to biochars of differing properties. To address these knowledge

Secondary metabolites produced in glandular trichomes of tomato are involved in interactions with herbivores. In cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) glandular trichomes accumulate a blend of abundant monoterpenes and smaller amounts of a few sesquiterpenes. These mono- and sesquiterpenes are synthesized by three terpene synthases, TPS20 as well as TPS9 and TPS12, respectively. To study effects

Species distributions are rapidly being altered by human globalisation and movement. As species are moved across biogeographic boundaries, human‐mediated secondary contacts between historically allopatric taxa may promote hybridisation between closely related native and introduced species. The outcomes of hybridisation are diverse from strong reproductive barriers to gene flow to genome‐wide admixture

The immigration history of communities can profoundly affect community composition. For instance, early‐arriving species can have a lasting effect on community structure by reducing the invasion success of late‐arriving ones through priority effects. This can be particularly important when early‐arriving communities coalesce with another community during dispersal (mixing) events. However, the outcome

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are amongst the most abundant animals on Earth, with a circumpolar distribution in the Southern Ocean. Genetic and genomic studies have failed to detect any population structure for the species, suggesting a single panmictic population. However, the hyper‐abundance of krill slows the rate of genetic differentiation, masking potential underlying structure. Here we

Due to the ecological changes and imbalance in their natural habitat, capybaras have been found in both urban and rural areas in Brazil, which may favor the transmission of pathogens with zoonotic potential. Furthermore, in the northeastern region, there are no studies about the pathogens of free-ranging capybaras. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the role of capybaras as bioindicators

The chevron butterflyfish, Chaetodon trifascialis, is among the most specialised coral-feeding fish, and while it is known to be very susceptible to extensive depletion of its preferred coral prey (tabular Acropora spp.), their specific responses to changing coral cover are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to test for variation in territorial behaviour and condition of C. trifascialis

Global anthropogenic changes have altered biogeography and phenology of marine populations, thereby promoting a spatial reconfiguration in the functioning of marine ecosystems. Among these changes, massive proliferations of jellyfish in temperate latitudes warn of potential alterations in biogeochemical fluxes, ecosystems’ structure and assets, and the services they provide to human welfare. Understanding

As apex predators, blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) are highly susceptible to biomagnified mercury (Hg) particularly in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), which is known to contain fishes and invertebrates with elevated Hg levels. Blacktip sharks occur in the GOM year-round and are heavily fished both commercially and recreationally, but little is known about how Hg affects the species. In this study

We investigated the landscape epidemiology of a globally distributed mammal, the wild pig (Sus scrofa), in Florida (U.S.), where it is considered an invasive species and reservoir to pathogens that impact the health of people, domestic animals, and wildlife. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that two commonly cited factors in disease transmission, connectivity among populations and abundant resources

With urbanization expanding into natural areas, it is increasingly important to understand how species subject to human-induced habitat alteration respond to novel opportunities and stressors. A pervasive consequence of urbanization is artificial light at night (ALAN), which previous studies have found introduces both costs and benefits for vertebrates. This understanding, however, primarily reflects

Urbanization transforms natural ecosystems, creating an environmental mosaic, characterized by native vegetation sites mixed with constructed sites. In this study, we compared dung beetle taxonomic and functional diversity between residential and greenspace sites (remnants of native vegetation) in an urban landscape in the Brazilian Cerrado. We sampled dung beetles in February (2013–2014 – 2015) in

There are few animal germplasm/gene bank collections in Brazil, and basic studies are needed to attend the future internal and external demands from international partners. The aim of this work was to validate a “proof of concept” that integrates spatial (georeferenced data) and genetic data regarding the local of origin from 3518 DNA samples from 17 different genetic groups or breeds of sheep in the

Efficient utilization of locally available feed resources is needed for further development of livestock productions in the tropics. However, an inadequate supply of nourish grass is common, and limited information exists regarding the chemical composition and digestibility of locally available feed resources in the different season. There were few reliable information concerning nutritive value of

The effect of dietary supplementation of Crassocephalum crepidioides leaf powder (CCLP) in comparison with oxytetracycline and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on growth, caecal microbiota, immune status, blood chemistry, carcass traits, meat quality, and oxidative stability in broiler chickens was evaluated. Two hundred and eighty 1-day-old Arbor acre chicks were randomly assigned to a basal diet containing

Social interactions among chickens can have a great unfavourable effect on economic returns in a poultry farm. The purpose of this study was to use four models to examine the influence of social genetic influences on the variation in body weight of Nigerian indigenous chickens. Sex was treated as the fixed effect within the models. Direct additive genetic, social genetic, and family effects and covariance

1. Resilience is broadly understood as the ability of an ecological system to resist and recover from perturbations acting on species abundances and on the system's structure. However, one of the main problems in assessing resilience is to understand the extent to which measures of recovery and resistance provide complementary information about a system. While recovery from abundance perturbations

Theory predicts that because costs constrain female sexual signaling, females are expected to have a low signaling effort that is increased with passing time until mating is secured. This pattern of signaling is expected to result from females balancing the costs associated with a higher than optimal signaling effort and those costs associated with a low signaling effort that increase the likelihood

The feasibility of converting full nitritation to partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) at ambient temperature (20 °C) was investigated in a continuous granular reactor. The process was conducted without anammox bacteria inoculation for the treatment of 70 mg L−1 of low-strength ammonium nitrogen wastewater. Following the stepwise increase of the nitrogen loading rate from 0.84 to 1.30 kg N m−3 d−1 in

Aims It is well known that plant root-microbe interactions are critical drivers of ecosystem processes such as soil carbon and nutrient cycling; however, considerable uncertainties exist about how root chemical and morphological traits influence soil microbial community composition. Methods We used 13 tree species grown in field monocultures in subtropical China to explore the ecological linkages between

Background and aim Root exudates are generally known to play an important role in ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. We aimed to quantify the responses of root exudates to increased N availability in an alpine shrub-dominated ecosystem, and unravel the associated ecological consequences to N cycling. Methods After three consecutive years of N addition at three rates (N0, control; N5, 5

Aims An unresolved question in plant ecology is whether diversity of the aboveground and belowground compartments of a plant community is similar at different neighbourhood scales. We investigated how the similarity between both compartments varies with the aboveground sampling grain and if significant discrepancies exist between aboveground and belowground plant diversity at the maximum similarity

Aims In cold biomes, snow cover mitigates the harsh winter soil conditions, thereby enhancing overwinter decomposition of organic matter which controls the availability of nutrients for plants and microbial uptake at the beginning of the growing season. Yet, how this buffering effect is modulated by litter traits, soil characteristics and herbivory remains poorly studied. Methods We conducted a litter-bag

Abstract Male-male social relationships in group-living mammals vary from fierce competition to the formation of opportunistic coalitions or the development of long-lasting bonds. We investigated male-male relationships in Guinea baboons (Papio papio), a species characterized by male-male tolerance and affiliation. Guinea baboons live in a multi-level society, with units of one reproductively active