Article
Plant Sciences
Felix Althoff, Linus Wegner, Katrin Ehlers, Henrik Buschmann, Sabine Zachgo
Summary: The colonization of land by embryophyte plants is one of the most significant evolutionary events in the history of life on earth. This study investigates the morphological and physiological adaptations of Riccia fluitans during its transition from a water form to a land form. The results reveal the significant changes in cell division, differentiation, air pore formation, and surface permeability in response to the transition.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Liang Wang, Shuangmei Ding, Stephen L. Cameron, Xin Li, Yue Liu, Gang Yao, Ding Yang
Summary: Vermileonidae is an odd and rarely collected dipteran family, with larvae famous for their unique prey behavior and adults rarely seen. Researchers have sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Vermileonidae for the first time, providing insights into its phylogenetic relationships with other flies. By combining mitochondrial genome data with morphology, geographical distribution, and geological history, researchers propose that Vermileonidae originated in India and spread to Africa, the Palaearctic, and the Nearctic through land bridges.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Fouad El Baidouri, Polona Zalar, Timothy Y. James, Amy S. Gladfelter, Anthony S. Amend
Summary: Since the emergence of the first fungi some 700 million years ago, unicellular yeast-like forms have emerged multiple times in independent lineages via convergent evolution. Despite tens to hundreds of millions of years separate the independent evolution of these unicellular organisms, they share remarkable phenotypic and metabolic similarities, and all have streamlined genomes.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MICROBIOLOGY, VOL 75, 2021
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xu Xing, James M. Clark, David A. Eberth, Philip J. Currie
Summary: The Middle-Late Jurassic transition period is crucial for understanding the evolution of terrestrial vertebrates. The Shishugou Fauna has yielded significant fossil remains that shed light on the origin and evolution of various vertebrate lineages. Radiometric dating places this fauna at approximately 159-164 million years old. Comparisons with similar faunas suggest that the Junggar deposits may preserve the most complete vertebrate fossil record from the Middle-Late Jurassic.
ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA-ENGLISH EDITION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcus C. Stensmyr
Summary: Food texture plays a role in determining the palatability of food, and a recent study shows that the common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is selective about food texture, using neurons in the tongue expressing the mechanosensitive channel protein TMEM63 to evaluate the size and presence of food particles.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Silvia Gisondi, Eliana Buenaventura, Arn Rytter Jensen, John O. Stireman, Silvio S. Nihei, Thomas Pape, Pierfilippo Cerretti
Summary: Phylogenetic relationships within the oestroid subclades Rhinophorinae and Polleniidae were reconstructed using the Sanger sequencing approach, revealing weak support for deeper nodes and proposing new classifications for certain taxa.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Feixiang Wu, Philippe Janvier, Chi Zhang
Summary: Two well-preserved fossil lampreys from the Middle-Late Jurassic in North China provide insights into the feeding apparatus, life cycle, and biogeography of this group. These fossils have toothed feeding structures similar to modern lampreys, suggesting a predatory habit and a southern origin for living lampreys. The findings challenge the conventional understanding of the biogeographical pattern and suggest an earlier origin of lampreys in the Southern Hemisphere.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patricia A. Wright
Summary: In his early career, August Krogh made significant discoveries about cutaneous respiration in fish and amphibians. The study of amphibious fishes offers insights into the evolution of skin morphology and physiology to adapt to aquatic and terrestrial environments. The skin of air-exposed fishes functions similarly to gills in water, with ionocytes and mitochondrial-rich cells playing key roles in ion exchange and ammonia excretion.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robin Guilhot, Anne Xuereb, Auxane Lagmairi, Laure Olazcuaga, Simon Fellous
Summary: This study investigates the acquisition of microbiota in Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila suzukii larvae from various sources. The results show that fly mothers, fruits, and adult males contribute to the larval microbiota, and yeasts acquired during the larval stage can be maintained and transmitted to offspring. The transmission strategies vary among microbial strains.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ahmet F. Demiroers, Sumeyye Aykut, Sophia Ganzeboom, Yuki A. Meier, Robert Hardeman, Joost Graaf, Arnold J. T. M. Mathijssen, Erik Poloni, Julia A. Carpenter, Caner Unlu, Daniel Zenhaeusern
Summary: This study explores a method for controlling micromanipulation using active and adaptive materials, showing that soft magnetic carpets can be effectively used for transportation and their effects can be easily controlled through magnetic fields.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Qifan Tan, Xinyu Zhang, Huaping Liu, Shuyuan Jiao, Mo Zhou, Jun Li
Summary: This article introduces a novel amphibious fly-drive vehicle that achieves continuous air-land motion through rotor-wing and Ackerman chassis driving. It utilizes an integrated dynamic model and rotor-wing controller to enhance the landing stability of the fly-drive vehicle.
IEEE-ASME TRANSACTIONS ON MECHATRONICS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
R. J. Thibodeaux, J. A. Brady, C. C. K. Maryak, S. L. Swiger, B. W. Jones
Summary: Digital dermatitis is a bacterial infection affecting cattle hooves, with Treponema species suspected as causative agents. This research aimed to investigate if flies captured from a dairy farm with digital dermatitis were contaminated with Treponema bacteria, but DNA-based assays did not detect any contamination. Other potential means of bacterial transmission were also discussed.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yibin Wang, Xingzhou Du, Huimin Zhang, Qian Zou, Junhui Law, Jiangfan Yu
Summary: To mimic the biomechanics of semiaquatic arthropods, researchers have developed mini jumping robots that can be deployed on the water surface, but very few of them possess controllability comparable to living systems. To address this issue, an insect-scale magnetoelastic robot has been designed with improved controllability, capable of generating controllable jumping motion by adjusting magnetic and elastic strain energy. Dynamic and kinematic models have been developed to predict the robot's jumping trajectories, allowing for precise control of its pose and motion during flight. The robot is also capable of adaptive amphibious locomotion and performing various tasks with integrated functional modules.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
V Ruiz Gonzalez, E. M. Renda, H. Vizan, M. Ganerod, C. G. Puigdomenech, C. B. Zaffarana
Summary: This study presents the analysis of paleomagnetic data from the Jurassic Bahia Laura Complex in the Deseado Massif, revealing the regional deformation history during the breakup of Gondwana. The results indicate northward drift, clockwise rotation, and westward drift of South America during the Jurassic period. These findings provide important insights into the evolution of Gondwana.
Article
Biology
Eleanor Bath, Danielle Edmunds, Jessica Norman, Charlotte Atkins, Lucy Harper, Wayne G. Rostant, Tracey Chapman, Stuart Wigby, Jennifer C. Perry
Summary: This study demonstrates how aggression evolves in response to competitive environments in both sexes, with males fighting less in female-biased environments and increased aggression among mated females. There is evidence of a positive genetic correlation for aggression between males and females, suggesting a shared genetic basis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Geology
Qianqi Zhang, Bo Wang, Daran Zheng, Jiahao Li, Xueheng Wang, Edmund A. Jarzembowski, Chunpeng Xu, Ting Li, Haichun Zhang, Michael S. Engel
Summary: Resource pulses play a significant role in nutrient transport between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The discovery of complex mayfly mating-swarm behavior in the Early Jurassic highlights the ecological significance of insects in deep-time terrestrial ecology.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andressa C. Nascimento, Jose Montalva, John S. Ascher, Michael S. Engel, Daniel P. Silva
Summary: Climate change affects the distribution range of Bombus funebris in South America, causing it to retract and disperse to higher elevations. The loss of its crucial role in pollination in the Andes could have implications for insect conservation.
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ales Bucek, Menglin Wang, Jan Sobotnik, Simon Hellemans, David Sillam-Dusses, Nobuaki Mizumoto, Petr Stiblik, Crystal Clitheroe, Tomer Lu, Juan Jose Gonzalez Plaza, Alma Mohagan, Jean-Jacques Rafanomezantsoa, Brian Fisher, Michael S. Engel, Yves Roisin, Theodore A. Evans, Rudolf Scheffrahn, Thomas Bourguignon
Summary: This study inferred the phylogenetic tree of Kalotermitidae using mitochondrial genomes and revealed that early-diverging kalotermitid lineages had disjunctions predating the breakup of Gondwana. Most of the disjunctions between biogeographic realms occurred in the last 50 million years, indicating that transoceanic and human-mediated dispersals have driven the global distribution of Kalotermitidae. The study also suggests that early-diverging kalotermitids had the ability to forage among multiple wood pieces.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Qian-Qi Zhang, Da-Ran Zheng, Edmund A. Jarzembowski, Xue-Heng Wang, Jia-Hao Li, Michael S. Engel
Summary: This study reports a new genus and species, Jurassephemera zhangi, discovered in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. This extinct genus belongs to the family Sharephemeridae and is characterized by its moderate size and unique wing venation structure. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the diversity and paleogeographic distribution of Sharephemeridae in China.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Vincent Perrichot, Brendon E. Boudinot, Michael S. Engel, Chunpeng Xu, Blazej Bojarski, Jacek Szwedo
Summary: The Early Miocene amber of Ethiopia provides a new source of fossil ants for Africa. The study reveals the presence of six subfamilies and at least 19 genera, which are still common in the Afrotropics today. This is the first report of amber fossils from the subfamily Dolichoderinae, including the description of two new species.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongru Yang, Michael S. Engel, Weiwei Zhang, Dong Ren, Taiping Gao
Article
Geology
Yuan Peng, Ri-xin Jiang, Chao Shi, Weicai Song, Xiaoxuan Long, Michael S. Engel, Shuo Wang
Summary: A new subfamily of fossil auger beetles from the mid-Cretaceous of northern Myanmar is described. The subfamily is distinguished by unique characteristics and is currently represented by one genus and species. The presence of charcoal-like fragments with one specimen suggests a potential association with fire-prone habitats, which could have contributed to the formation of amber deposits.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Jakub Prokop, Andre Nel, Michael S. Engel
Summary: The Paleozoic insect fauna provides unique insights into key innovations in insect evolution, such as the origin of wings and modifications of postembryonic development. Most contemporary insect orders originated in the Late Paleozoic, but these estimates reflect divergences between stem groups rather than the appearance of crown groups. Fossil record shows the initial radiations of extant hyperdiverse clades during the Early Permian, as well as the specialized fauna before the End Permian mass extinction.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
David Sillam-Dusses, Vojtech Jandak, Petr Stiblik, Olivier Delattre, Thomas Chouvenc, Ondrej Balvin, Josef Cvacka, Delphine Soulet, Jiri Synek, Marek Brothanek, Ondrej Jiricek, Michael S. Engel, Thomas Bourguignon, Jan Sobotnik
Summary: The study reveals that vibration and chemical signals are the main means of alarm communication in termites and wood roaches. Vibration signals are a shared characteristic of both termites and wood roaches, while chemical signals have independently evolved in multiple cockroach groups and at least two termite species. The complexity of vibration and chemical alarm signaling patterns is correlated with phylogenetic position, food type, foraging area size, and nesting habits.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaoxuan Long, Yuan Peng, Qi Feng, Michael S. Engel, Chao Shi, Shuo Wang
Summary: This article reports a new genus of Dryopteridaceae based on a well-preserved fertile specimen frond in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, representing the first fossil record of Dryopteridaceae from the Mesozoic. The age of this fossil is consistent with molecular-based estimates of divergence time, and it expands our understanding of polypod fern diversity in Mesozoic forests.
PALAEOBIODIVERSITY AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
Article
Geology
Ya-Ni Tang, An-Cheng Peng, Zi-Ying Wu, Michael S. Engel, Zi-Zhong Yang, Yu Liu
Summary: Although there is a diverse spider fauna in Kachin amber, species of the family Macrothelidae have been scarce. This study reports the first fossil occurrence of Macrothelidae, represented by a well-preserved adult female specimen of a new genus and species. The discovery refines existing calibration points for phylogenetic work on mygalomorph diversification and contributes to our understanding of Cretaceous spider diversity in southern Asia.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Yuqing Yin, Chungkun Shih, Michael S. Engel, Dong Ren
Summary: Two new genera and species of Dermaptera are described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. Applanatiforceps angustus belongs to the archidermapteran family Protodiplatyidae, and Ekpagloderma gracilentum belongs to the eodermapteran family Semenoviolidae. The discovery of these two new species enriches the fossil record of Dermaptera and highlights the diversity within this group.
Article
Entomology
Andre Nel, Romain Garrouste, Michael S. Engel
Summary: Eornithoica grimaldii gen. et sp. nov., the earliest known Pupipara, was discovered in the lower Eocene of the Green River Formation. This fossil, dating back to around 52 Ma, suggests that epizooic ectoparasitic flies may have originated during the Paleocene or late Cretaceous, preceding the first bats. E. grimaldii likely parasitized birds or terrestrial mammals, exhibiting plesiomorphic characteristics. This study highlights the significance of examining fossil insects under UV light for obtaining new information.
Article
Entomology
Chen-yang Cai, Erik Tihelka, Xing-yue Liu, Michael S. Engel
Summary: The exponential growth of large-scale data for Neuropterida has greatly improved our understanding of the origin and evolution of lacewings and their allies. Recent phylogenomic studies based on various data sources have provided a well-resolved and congruent phylogeny, although some interfamilial relationships remain inconsistent.
Article
Entomology
Michael S. Engel, Hollister W. Herhold, Phillip Barden
Summary: This article describes the first fossil proctotrupid wasp found in Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber. The newly discovered species, Astarteserphus grimaldii, is distinct from all other living and fossil proctotrupids and is classified in its own subfamily called Astarteserphinae. The article also provides a key to the living and fossil subfamilies and tribes of Proctotrupidae and includes a brief discussion on the unique features and small size of the fossil.