Article
Horticulture
Ryan C. Traband, Xuesong Wang, Jill Lui, Lei Yu, Yoko Hiraoka, Ira A. Herniter, Christian Bowman, Mariano Resendiz, Zixian Wang, Sara P. Knowles, Sassoum Lo, Daniel H. Chitwood, Louis Santiago, Tracy Kahn, Danelle Seymour, Mikeal L. Roose, John M. Chater, Zhenyu Jia
Summary: This study used the Fourier-based method to analyze the morphology of over 4000 leaves from more than 190 citrus accessions. The findings showed significant variations in leaf morphology among different citrus species groups and hybrid varieties. The study also found correlations between leaf area, aspect ratio, and temperature/rainfall, suggesting the adaptive evolution of citrus leaves. Additionally, this study contributes to our understanding of the origins and migrations of citrus species.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Garduno-Sanchez, Jorge Hernandez-Lozano, Rachel L. Moran, Ramses Miranda-Gamboa, Joshua B. Gross, Nicolas Rohner, William R. Elliott, Jeff Miller, Lourdes Lozano-Vilano, Suzanne E. McGaugh, C. Patricia Ornelas-Garcia
Summary: The study focuses on the Astyanax mexicanus complex, which includes surface- and cave-adapted ecotypes. Using genetic analysis and geometric morphometrics, the researchers found evidence of parallel evolution in cave-adapted ecotypes derived from separate lineages, with up to four independent invasions of caves by surface fish. The genetic structure of the cave populations was congruent with their geographical distribution, and no phylogenetic signal was found in body shape evolution.
Article
Ecology
Mark A. Conaway, Dean C. Adams
Summary: Understanding the covariation of phenotypic traits is an important research interest in evolutionary biology. In this study, we propose a standardized effect size to compare the extent of integration for a set of traits across taxa. We also introduce a test for comparing the strength of integration between taxa and provide software for implementation.
Article
Ecology
Travis C. Haas, Graham Derryberry, David C. Heins, Michael J. Blum
Summary: This study investigated the morphological changes in stream fish due to impoundment and unrestricted flow, finding marked phenotypic changes shortly after dam closure. Individuals in the reservoir exhibited different morphologies from those in the nearby stream, suggesting different impacts of impoundment and unrestricted flow on fish morphology.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Rosaura Torres-Moreno, Javier Victor, Gustavo Moya-Raygoza
Summary: The study found significant differences in body size and antennal variables among female Paracentrobia subflava emerged from different host eggs, while little differentiation was found among parasitoid males emerged from different Dalbulus hosts. However, the shape of male genitalia was similar regardless of the host species.
ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Clare E. Aslan, Manette Sandor, Martha Sample, Sasha Stortz, Sara Souther, Carrie Levine, Leah Samberg, Miranda Gray, Brett Dickson
Summary: The study utilized a novel spatially explicit stakeholder engagement process to quantify social-ecological resilience to fire in the non-fire-adapted Sonoran Desert Ecosystem in Arizona, USA. The research found highest fire risk in the central and eastern portions of the study area, and lowest fire resilience in the southeastern portion.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joshua R. White, Robert C. Balling Jr, Randall S. Cerveny
Summary: This study analyzes the origin, paths, and height variations of dust storms in the central Sonoran Desert of central Arizona, USA. The findings show that dust storms mainly originate from the southern region and have a preference for southwest direction. These storms travel along the river beds of the Gila River and its tributaries, while weaker dust storms move southward. As dust concentrations decrease, the storm direction shifts eastward and the dust height increases.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bruna Emilia Roman, Diego J. Santana, Carolina Prediger, Lilian Madi-Ravazzi
Summary: In this study, we conducted a phylogenetic reconstruction of the Drosophila saltans group using a combined analysis of morphological and molecular markers. The results identified five distinct lineages within the group and proposed a new hypothesis for the phylogenetic relationships among the subgroups. The relationships within some subgroups were well supported, while the saltans subgroup showed several polytomies. The morphological analysis also provided support for the formation of a specific clade. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary history of the Drosophila saltans group.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
A. T. Evan, W. Porter, R. Clemesha, A. Kuwano, R. Frouin
Summary: This study presents observations of a dust storm that occurred in the northwestern Sonoran Desert on 22 February 2020. The study found that evaporative cooling from cold frontal orographic precipitation led to the generation of a density current, which caused dust uplift as it traveled over the desert surface. Measurements from a ceilometer located downwind of the initial dust emission event showed a well-developed density current structure, and the top of the density current cold pool exhibited Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The study suggests that the internal circulation of a density current modifies the timing and patterns of dust emission and concentration.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Genna Gallas, Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman
Summary: This study compared the structure and function of biological soil crusts (BSC) in urban and non-urban environments. The results showed that although the ground cover was similar between sites, the spatial distribution of BSCs was significantly different, with more BSCs found under plants in the non-urban site. Gross photosynthesis, an indicator of productivity, was also higher in the non-urban BSCs, indicating that urban BSCs may have lower productivity due to their proximity to urban environments. This study provides evidence that BSCs in urbanized areas are functionally affected and may have different contributions to carbon and nitrogen cycling in these ecosystems.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pedro A. M. Leite, Alejandro E. Castellanos, Bradford P. Wilcox, Masuly Vega-Puga, Enrique Martinez, Sara Dennis, Sofia Choza, Delia M. Acuna-Acosta
Summary: Invasion by exotic grasses, such as buffelgrass, is altering the ecohydrological feedbacks in drylands. This study found that buffelgrass significantly affects soil moisture patterns and infiltrability in the Sonoran Desert. The invasion increases hydraulic conductivity and surface roughness, altering hydrological connectivity and potentially impacting native vegetation dynamics and stability.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Colton Flowers, Francois-Michel Le Tourneau, Nirav Merchant, Brian Heidorn, Regis Ferriere, Jake Harwood
Summary: This study proposes a holistic approach to analyzing soundscapes using acoustic indices, and demonstrates through analysis of a soundscapes database from the Sonoran Desert region that sound indices can reveal temporal variations and patterns of soundscapes, as well as surprising similarities between otherwise different environments.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Enrique R. Vivoni, Eli R. Perez-Ruiz, Russell L. Scott, Adam T. Naito, Steven R. Archer, Joel A. Biederman, Nicole P. Templeton
Summary: Woody plant encroachment limits forage productivity of rangelands and alters ecosystem processes. Intervention strategies to reduce woody plant abundance lack observations to quantify changes in ecosystem processes. This study investigated the effects of brush management on an encroached grassland in Arizona.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angelica Jara-Servin, Adan Silva, Hugo Barajas, Rocio Cruz-Ortega, Clara Tinoco-Ojanguren, Luis D. Alcaraz
Summary: Buffelgrass is an invasive plant that invades land by secreting chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants. A study found that the root-associated bacteria of buffelgrass can adapt to this environment and promote its growth. The composition of the buffelgrass microbiome also changes with its developmental state. These findings provide new insights for controlling buffelgrass invasion.
Article
Ecology
Natalie Pilakouta, Joseph L. Humble, Iain D. C. Hill, Jessica Arthur, Ana P. B. Costa, Bethany A. Smith, Bjarni K. Kristjansson, Skuli Skulason, Shaun S. Killen, Jan Lindstrom, Neil B. Metcalfe, Kevin J. Parsons
Summary: Testing for divergent evolution in wild populations from different thermal environments is a powerful approach for predicting population responses to climate change.