Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sara M. Melo-Merino, Andres Lira-Noriega, F. Javier Gonzalez-Barrios, Hector Reyes-Bonilla, Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
Summary: Understanding the divergence of emergent ecological assemblages from natural states is crucial for predicting the future functioning and services of ecosystems. This study used a novel approach to estimate the physical functionality of coral reefs in the Caribbean based on habitat suitability and morpho-functional traits of coral species. The results showed spatial variability in reef functional potential, with the highest values in the western Caribbean and the lowest in environmentally marginal areas. The physical functioning of reefs in the western Caribbean has significantly declined, particularly in hotspots with high initial functional potential.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Trevor T. Bringloe, David P. Wilkinson, Jesica Goldsmit, Amanda M. Savoie, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Kathleen A. Macgregor, Kimberly L. Howland, Christopher W. McKindsey, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: The Arctic is experiencing rapid warming, and marine forests formed by seaweeds are predicted to expand northward. However, the expansion of northern habitat cannot compensate for the losses at the southern range edge, resulting in an overall loss of habitat. The extent of marine forests within the Arctic basin is expected to remain stable, with some exceptions in certain areas.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geography
Peter Demjan, Dagmar Dreslerova, Jan Kolar, Tomas Chuman, Dusan Romportl, Miroslav Trnka, Tibor Lieskovsky
Summary: This study applies ecological niche modelling to analyze a long time-series of archaeological data, revealing the development of settlement behavior and its dependence on environmental conditions. The results show that settlement strategies were remarkably stable and previous settlement was beneficial for subsequent land-use. Comparison with contemporary landscape typology highlights the long-term legacy of prehistoric settlement, making it an important heritage monument.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jhony Fernando Cruz Roman, Ricardo Enrique Hernandez-Lambrano, David Rodriguez de la Cruz, Jose angel Sanchez Agudo
Summary: The study analyzed the niche dynamics of the invasive species Cirsium vulgare in different geographical areas, finding a trend for the species to expand towards warmer climates with less seasonality. The models had good statistical performance, with annual temperature and seasonality being key factors in the establishment of the species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Amy R. R. Tims, Erin E. E. Saupe
Summary: In this study, the effect of climate change on suitable conditions for Australian freshwater fishes was projected using MAXENT bioclimatic models. The results indicate that Australian freshwater fishes are likely to experience broadscale poleward shifts in suitable conditions and considerable loss of suitable habitat by 2100, with threatened species being more adversely affected. This research provides important insights for future conservation of freshwater fish in Australia.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shan Gao, Zan Zeng, Yujia Zhai, Fangyuan Chen, Xiangning Feng, Honglong Xu, Wei Kan, Jiahai Lu, Jian Zhou, Zeilang Chen
Summary: Mpox is an ongoing viral zoonotic disease epidemic worldwide, mainly caused by human-to-human transmission, posing the risk of global epidemic. The study highlights the importance of human factors in the risk and prevalence of Mpox. The risk map shows that Mpox may affect extensive areas worldwide, with Europe and North America having the highest risk, and some high-risk areas in Asia.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jocelyn M. Velazquez-Hernandez, Jose Ariel Ruiz-Corral, Noe Duran-Puga, Diego R. Gonzalez-Eguiarte, Fernando Santacruz-Ruvalcaba, Giovanni Emmanuel Garcia-Romero, Jesus German de la Mora-Castaneda, Carlos Felix Barrera-Sanchez, Agustin Gallegos-Rodriguez
Summary: This research focused on characterizing the eco-geography of Dioscorea composita and predicting its potential geographic distribution under climate change scenarios in Mexico-Central America. The findings showed that D. composita adapts to warm and humid agro-climates and the most contributing variables for its presence are moisture availability indices, photoperiod, thermal range, and specific bioclimatic variables. The results provide valuable information for the effective utilization and conservation of this plant.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ram K. Raghavan, Z. Koestel, R. Ierardi, A. Townsend Peterson, Marlon E. Cobos
Summary: The study used data collected over the past two decades to create several hundred ecological niche models for predicting the current and future potential distribution of the eastern paralysis tick in Australia. The best-fitting model matched the known distribution and predicted extension to coastal areas in the south and up to the Kimbolton peninsula in Western Australia in the north. The future distribution in 2050 showed a moderate increase in suitability in some areas but also a moderate to low loss of suitable areas in other regions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xiaoqing Xian, Haoxiang Zhao, Rui Wang, Huijie Qiao, Jianyang Guo, Guifen Zhang, Wanxue Liu, Fanghao Wan
Summary: This study predicts the potential distribution and estimates the invasive risk of Rapistrum rugosum in China based on distribution records and environmental variables. It found that ecological niche shifts strongly affect the potential invasive risk of the species, with temperature variables being the most important. The suitable habitat for R. rugosum covers a large area in Southwest, Southeast, and Central China.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Haitao Zhou, Xiaodong Na, Lin Li, Xiaoli Ning, Yanru Bai, Xiaodong Wu, Shuying Zang
Summary: This study evaluated the suitability of rural settlements in the farming-pastoral ecotone of Northern China using a data-driven machine learning method. The results showed that factors such as distance to cultivated land, population density, and distance to road had a significant impact on the early-stage distribution of settlements. However, the importance of cultivated land decreased, and the effect of grassland increased in the later period. The suitability evaluation across multiple periods revealed a gradual decrease in suitable areas and significant fragmentation of settlements.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Buse Ar, Gamze Tuttu, Derya Gulcin, Ali Ugur Ozcan, Emre Kara, Mustafa Surmen, Kerim Cicek, Javier Velazquez
Summary: This study predicts the current and potential range of the invasive weed species stranglewort under changing climate conditions. It is found that the species is likely to expand its distribution to the north, particularly in agricultural landscapes.
Article
Forestry
Fatima M. Mendez-Encina, Jorge Mendez-Gonzalez, Rocio Mendieta-Oviedo, Jose O. M. Lopez-Diaz, Juan A. Najera-Luna
Summary: This study generated ecological niche models and evaluated the climate suitability overlap between bark beetles and pine trees, finding that Dendroctonus mexicanus is expanding into climates not currently occupied by the studied pine species.
Article
Forestry
Lan Yang, Huie Li, Qian Li, Qiqiang Guo, Jiangrong Li
Summary: This study evaluated the genetic diversity of the endemic species S. moorcroftiana in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, revealing that its genetic diversity is generally low, with altitude being a key factor. Due to climate change, the suitable area for this species is expanding, providing potential benefits for its conservation and survival.
Article
Ecology
Alexandra Evans, Hans Jacquemyn
Summary: Climate change affects the distribution and habitat of terrestrial orchid species. Species with wide ecological niches are more capable of shifting their distribution and adapting to climate change, while species with narrow ecological niches are at greater risk. However, successful adaptation also depends on the availability of suitable habitat for expansion.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Horticulture
Xueying Wei, A. J. Harris, Yuwen Cui, Yangwu Dai, Hanjia Hu, Xiaoling Yu, Rihong Jiang, Faguo Wang
Summary: This study investigated suitable habitats for the endangered tree fern S. lepifera through a combination of fieldwork, ecological niche modeling, and lab experiments. The research highlighted the importance of environmental factors such as temperature stability and precipitation seasonality in influencing the distribution of S. lepifera. Additionally, the study found that south-facing slopes provide more sunlight for mature trees and necessary shade for fiddleheads due to denser canopy.
Article
Ecology
Francesco Cicala, Jose Alejandro Cisterna-Celiz, Marcos Paolinelli, James D. Moore, Joseph Sevigny, Axayacatl Rocha-Olivares
Summary: Withering syndrome (WS) is a gastro-intestinal infectious disease that likely affects all abalone species worldwide. This study found that the structure and function of abalone GI microbiota are related to the occurrence of WS, but this association depends on the diversity of the microbiota. In more complex bacterial communities, there were minimal differences in microbiota between stressed and healthy abalone, while significant structural changes were observed in less complex bacterial microbiota.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Madalena Mesquitela Pereira Cabral, Joshua D. Stewart, Tiago A. Marques, James T. Ketchum, Arturo Ayala-Bocos, Edgar Mauricio Hoyos-Padilla, Hector Reyes-Bonilla
Summary: This study used photo-identification data of oceanic manta rays in Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico, to describe the baseline characteristics and evaluate the influence of environmental factors on population dynamics. Significant sex bias and a relationship between the El Nino Southern Oscillation index and survival probabilities were found. Chlorophyll-a was identified as a driver of recruitment. These findings provide crucial information for effective conservation and management plans for this endangered species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose Manuel Morales-Pulido, Adrian Munguia-Vega, Sylvia Patricia A. Jimenez-Rosenberg, Axayacatl Rocha-Olivares, Clara E. Galindo-Sanchez
Summary: Knowing about adult and larval genetic information is essential to understand processes such as connectivity. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity of Twospot flounder (Bothus robinsi) larval pools, test if the larvae tend to mix or display collective dispersal, compare genetic information between larvae and adults, and evaluate its connectivity.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Misha Yazmin Hernandez-Lozano, Jose Antonio Cruz-Barraza, Axayacatl Rocha-Olivares
Summary: In this study, the first microsatellite loci for a sponge species from the Eastern Pacific coast were developed. These loci will be used for population genetic studies of Mycale cecilia and potentially other related species, particularly in vulnerable marine areas like coral reefs.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Corentin Hochart, Lucas Paoli, Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh, Guillem Salazar, Emilie Boissin, Sarah Romac, Julie Poulain, Guillaume Bourdin, Guillaume Iwankow, Clementine Moulin, Maren Ziegler, Barbara Porro, Eric J. Armstrong, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Jean-Marc Aury, Claudia Pogoreutz, David A. Paz-Garcia, Maggy M. Nugues, Sylvain Agostini, Bernard Banaigs, Emmanuel Boss, Chris Bowler, Colomban de Vargas, Eric Douville, Michel Flores, Didier Forcioli, Paola Furla, Eric Gilson, Fabien Lombard, Stephane Pesant, Stephanie Reynaud, Olivier P. Thomas, Romain Trouble, Patrick Wincker, Didier Zoccola, Denis Allemand, Serge Planes, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Christian R. Voolstra, Shinichi Sunagawa, Pierre E. Galand
Summary: This study investigates the ecology of Endozoicomonadaceae at an ocean basin-scale and reveals that different coral genera have distinct host-symbiont association strategies at the bacterial lineage level.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pierre E. Galand, Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh, Guillem Salazar, Corentin Hochart, Nicolas Henry, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Pedro H. Oliveira, Aude Perdereau, Karine Labadie, Caroline Belser, Emilie Boissin, Sarah Romac, Julie Poulain, Guillaume Bourdin, Guillaume Iwankow, Clementine Moulin, Eric J. Armstrong, David A. Paz-Garcia, Maren Ziegler, Sylvain Agostini, Bernard Banaigs, Emmanuel Boss, Chris Bowler, Colomban de Vargas, Eric Douville, Michel Flores, Didier Forcioli, Paola Furla, Eric Gilson, Fabien Lombard, Stephane Pesant, Stephanie Reynaud, Olivier P. Thomas, Romain Trouble, Didier Zoccola, Christian R. Voolstra, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Shinichi Sunagawa, Patrick Wincker, Denis Allemand, Serge Planes
Summary: Using data from the Tara Pacific expedition, this study reveals the biogeography and diversity of microbiomes collected from corals, fish, and plankton in the Pacific Ocean. The richness of Pacific Ocean reef microorganisms represents the estimated total prokaryotic diversity for the entire Earth. Our unprecedented sampling effort of coral reef microbiomes provides new insight into the global microbial diversity and the factors driving their distribution.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alice Rouan, Melanie Pousse, Nadir Djerbi, Barbara Porro, Guillaume Bourdin, Quentin Carradec, Benjamin CC. Hume, Julie Poulain, Julie Le-Hoang, Eric Armstrong, Sylvain Agostini, Guillem Salazar, Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh, Jean-Marc Aury, David A. Paz-Garcia, Ryan McMinds, Marie-Josephe Giraud-Panis, Romane Deshuraud, Alexandre Ottaviani, Lycia Die Morini, Camille Leone, Lia Wurzer, Jessica Tran, Didier Zoccola, Alexis Pey, Clementine Moulin, Emilie Boissin, Guillaume Iwankow, Sarah Romac, Colomban de Vargas, Bernard Banaigs, Emmanuel Boss, Chris Bowler, Eric Douville, Michel Flores, Stephanie Reynaud, Olivier P. Thomas, Romain Trouble, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Serge Planes, Denis Allemand, Stephane Pesant, Pierre E. Galand, Patrick Wincker, Shinichi Sunagawa, Eric Rottinger, Paola Furla, Christian R. Voolstra, Didier Forcioli, Fabien Lombard, Eric Gilson
Summary: This study uses data from the Tara Pacific expedition to show that the history of water temperature is a key factor in the variation of coral telomere DNA length across the Pacific Ocean. Telomere lengths of short-lived, stress-sensitive Pocillopora colonies are more affected by seasonal temperature variations compared to long-lived and stress-resistant Porites colonies. Telomeres are sensitive to environmental factors, and this research reveals that water thermal regime plays a significant role in the regulation of telomere DNA length in different coral genera.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eric J. Armstrong, Julie Le-Hoang, Quentin Carradec, Jean-Marc Aury, Benjamin Noel, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Christian R. Voolstra, Julie Poulain, Caroline Belser, David A. Paz-Garcia, Corinne Cruaud, Karine Labadie, Corinne Da Silva, Cle'mentine Moulin, Emilie Boissin, Guillaume Bourdin, Guillaume Iwankow, Sarah Romac, Sylvain Agostini, Bernard Banaigs, Emmanuel Boss, Chris Bowler, Colomban de Vargas, Eric Douville, Michel Flores, Didier Forcioli, Paola Furla, Pierre E. Galand, Eric Gilson, Fabien Lombard, Stephane Pesant, Stephanie Reynaud, Matthew B. Sullivan, Shinichi Sunagawa, Olivier P. Thomas, Romain Trouble, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Didier Zoccola, Serge Planes, Denis Allemand, Patrick Wincker
Summary: Heat waves are causing declines in coral reefs globally. Coral thermal responses depend on multiple, interacting drivers, such as past thermal exposure, endosymbiont community composition, and host genotype. This study used DNA and RNA analysis to investigate gene expression patterns in Pocillopora corals across a historical thermal gradient, revealing the importance of host-photosymbiont specificity and host transcriptomic plasticity in thermal acclimatization.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fabien Lombard, Guillaume Bourdin, Stephane Pesant, Sylvain Agostini, Alberto Baudena, Emilie Boissin, Nicolas Cassar, Megan Clampitt, Pascal Conan, Ophelie Da Silva, Celine Dimier, Eric Douville, Amanda Elineau, Jonathan Fin, J. Michel Flores, Jean-Francois Ghiglione, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Laetitia Jalabert, Seth G. John, Rachel L. Kelly, Ilan Koren, Yajuan Lin, Dominique Marie, Ryan McMinds, Zoe Meriguet, Nicolas Metzl, David A. Paz-Garcia, Maria Luiza Pedrotti, Julie Poulain, Mireille Pujo-Pay, Josephine Ras, Gilles Reverdin, Sarah Romac, Alice Rouan, Eric Roettinger, Assaf Vardi, Christian R. Voolstra, Clementine Moulin, Guillaume Iwankow, Bernard Banaigs, Chris Bowler, Colomban de Vargas, Didier Forcioli, Paola Furla, Pierre E. Galand, Eric Gilson, Stephanie Reynaud, Shinichi Sunagawa, Matthew B. Sullivan, Olivier P. Thomas, Romain Trouble, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Patrick Wincker, Didier Zoccola, Denis Allemand, Serge Planes, Emmanuel Boss, Gaby Gorsky
Summary: The Tara Pacific expedition conducted a comprehensive study of coral ecosystems in the Pacific Ocean from 2016 to 2018. The expedition collected nearly 58,000 samples from 32 islands, including corals, fish, plankton, and seawater, for advanced analysis. The methodology of the sampling process is described, and the different datasets generated by the expedition are made accessible. The released datasets provide valuable environmental context data and have the potential to address various scientific questions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caroline Belser, Julie Poulain, Karine Labadie, Frederick Gavory, Adriana Alberti, Julie Guy, Quentin Carradec, Corinne Cruaud, Corinne Da Silva, Stefan Engelen, Paul Mielle, Aude Perdereau, Gaelle R. Samson, Shahinaz E. Gas, Christian R. Voolstra, Pierre E. Galand, J. Michel Flores, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Gabriela Perna, Maren Ziegler, Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh, Emilie Boissin, Sarah Romac, Guillaume A. Bourdin, Guillaume Iwankow, Clementine Moulin, David A. Paz Garcia, Sylvain Agostini, Bernard Banaigs, Emmanuel Boss, Chris Bowler, Colomban de Vargas, Eric Douville, Didier Forcioli, Paola Furla, Eric Gilson, Fabien Lombard, Stephane P. Pesant, Stephanie Reynaud, Shinichi Sunagawa, Olivier Thomas, Romain Trouble, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Didier H. Zoccola, Claude Scarpelli, E' Krame Jacoby, Pedro Oliveira, Jean-Marc Aury, Denis Allemand, Serge Planes, Patrick Wincker
Summary: Coral reef science aims to understand coral health and resilience to combat reef loss caused by environmental stress. The intricate symbiotic interactions within the coral holobiont play a vital role in coral resilience. The Tara Pacific project utilizes advanced sequencing technologies to study the biodiversity and complexity of coral holobionts across the Pacific Ocean, providing valuable insights for future investigations of coral reef dynamics and their future in the Anthropocene.
Article
Ecology
Phillip B. Fenberg, Rodrigo Beas-Luna, Boris Igic, Moira A. Maclean, David A. Paz-Garcia, Peter T. Raimondi, Jacqueline L. Sones, Karolina M. Zarzyczny, Eric Sanford
Summary: The biogeography of predator-induced defences is understudied. This study found that the bent morphs of a temperate barnacle are primarily present in areas where they co-occur with range-expanding warm-water predators, and they exhibit size-structure.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Karolina M. Zarzyczny, Michael E. Hellberg, Elena B. Lugli, Moira MacLean, David A. Paz-Garcia, Marc Rius, Ethan G. Ross, Erick X. Trevino Balandra, James Vanstone, Suzanne T. Williams, Phillip B. Fenberg
Summary: This study investigates the consequences of tropicalisation in rocky shore gastropods using distributional and genetic data. The findings show range contraction in temperate species and range expansion in tropical species. Additionally, population subdivision and phylogeographic breaks are observed in temperate species.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Nancy C. Saavedra-Sotelo, Paul Mendivil-Castro, Erick C. Onate-Gonzalez
Summary: The white shark population in the Northeastern Pacific (NEP) is genetically distinct from other populations worldwide due to their fidelity to specific aggregation sites. This study evaluated the genetic structure, connectivity, and diversity of NEP white sharks using microsatellite loci. The results showed low genetic diversity and a slight genetic structure between different localities, suggesting high connectivity between nursery areas in the NEP.
LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biology
Kira E. Turnham, Matthew D. Aschaffenburg, D. Tye Pettay, David A. Paz-Garcia, Hector Reyes-Bonilla, Jorge Pinzon, Ellie Timmins, Robin T. Smith, Michael P. McGinley, Mark E. Warner, Todd C. LaJeunesse
Summary: The flexibility of associating with multiple symbionts expands a host's niche breadth. Coral animals and dinoflagellate micro-algae have a widespread mutualistic relationship that greatly affects a coral's ability to cope with extreme conditions. The study of Pocillopora grandis, a dominant coral species in the Eastern Pacific, shows significant functional differences between host-symbiont combinations when exposed to increased temperatures. The findings suggest that co-evolved thermally tolerant host-symbiont combinations are likely to dominate future reef ecosystems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)