Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cassiano A. F. R. Gatto, Mario Cohn-Haft
Summary: The study introduces a method called SCAN to identify chorotypes based on spatial relationships among species. The analysis showed that only a small portion of range overlaps are biogeographically meaningful, and there is a large variation in patterns found in real distributions, from simple chorotypes to complex ones with multiple component species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elie Verleyen, Bart Van de Vijver, Bjorn Tytgat, Eveline Pinseel, Dominic A. Hodgson, Katerina Kopalova, Steven L. Chown, Eric Van Ranst, Satoshi Imura, Sakae Kudoh, Wim Van Nieuwenhuyze, Koen Sabbe, Wim Vyverman
Summary: The biogeographic patterns of Antarctic freshwater diatoms show a high level of uniqueness, with most species being endemic to the Antarctic region. Endemism levels significantly increase with higher latitudes and geographic isolation.
Article
Ecology
Dagmar M. Hanz, Vanessa Cutts, Martha Paola Barajas-Barbosa, Adam C. Algar, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Jose-Maria Fernandez-Palacios, Richard Field, Holger Kreft, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Patrick Weigelt, Severin D. H. Irl
Summary: Functional traits can elucidate biogeographical and ecological processes driving assemblage structure. Our study on plant species of different evolutionary origins in the Canary Islands revealed that endemic and non-endemic native species possess similar traits, while alien species tend to expand functional space in introduced ecosystems. The distribution of functional diversity of floristic groups is distinct across environmental gradients, indicating their adaptation to different habitats.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
C. A. Gonzalez-Wevar, N. I. Segovia, S. Rosenfeld, D. Noll, C. S. Maturana, M. Hune, J. Naretto, K. Gerard, A. Diaz, H. G. Spencer, T. Saucede, J. -P. Feral, S. A. Morley, P. Brickle, N. G. Wilson, E. Poulin
Summary: Members of the trochoidean genus Margarella are broadly distributed across Antarctic and sub-Antarctic ecosystems. Analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences confirmed the presence of four species, showing contrasting biogeographic patterns on either side of the Antarctic Polar Front in the Southern Ocean. Populations north and south of the Antarctic Polar Front exhibited different levels of genetic diversity, possibly influenced by Quaternary glacial cycles.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sara Montemayor, Sebastian Besteiro, M. Guadalupe del Rio
Summary: This study integrated different approaches to identify areas for protection in the Chaco and Pampean provinces. By analyzing species distribution and conducting conservation prioritization analysis, areas with high species richness, endemism, and conservation value were identified. These areas, currently only partially protected, are threatened by human activities.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Zoology
R. Danovaro, C. Gambi
Summary: Nematodes, as the most abundant benthic metazoan in the seas and oceans, play a crucial role in the deep-sea ecosystem. This study conducted a meta-analysis of nematode biodiversity data from deep-sea sites in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, revealing that only a small portion of nematode families are widely distributed, while the majority of nematode genera are linked to specific habitats or bathymetric ranges. It suggests that rareness and endemism are more common features in deep-sea nematode assemblages than previously thought.
EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Zeyneb Vildan Cakil, Giuseppe Garlasche, Nataliia Iakovenko, Andrea Di Cesare, Ester M. Eckert, Roberto Guidetti, Lina Hamdan, Karel Janko, Dzmitry Lukashanets, Lorena Rebecchi, Stefano Schiaparelli, Tommaso Sforzi, Eva Stefkova Kasparova, Alejandro Velasco-Castrillon, Elizabeth J. Walsh, Diego Fontaneto, Ceridwen Fraser
Summary: The study explored the genetic diversity patterns of bdelloid rotifers in Antarctica and found that Antarctic species had lower genetic diversity and potential younger relative age than non-Antarctic species. This may be due to a more recent origin of the species living in Antarctica compared to non-Antarctic species.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Business
Anne Vestergaard, Julie Uldam
Summary: The study suggests that Western citizens tend to focus more on individual consumer responsibility rather than corporate responsibility in online debates on child slavery. They place their hopes for change in the hands of individuals rather than corporations.
JOURNAL OF BUSINESS ETHICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea Spolaor, Francois Burgay, Rafael P. Fernandez, Clara Turetta, Carlos A. Cuevas, Kitae Kim, Douglas E. Kinnison, Jean-Francois Lamarque, Fabrizio de Blasi, Elena Barbaro, Juan Pablo Corella, Paul Vallelonga, Massimo Frezzotti, Carlo Barbante, Alfonso Saiz-Lopez
Summary: The study presents the first iodine record from the interior of Antarctica, indicating a twofold decrease in iodine concentration in ice since the onset of the ozone hole era, suggesting that the decrease is caused by enhanced iodine re-emission from snowpack due to increased UV radiation reaching the Antarctic Plateau. This highlights the potential for ice core iodine records from the inner Antarctic Plateau to serve as an archive for past stratospheric ozone trends.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Yuri Kantor, Tina Molodtsova, Sofia Zvonareva, Alexander Fedosov
Summary: The superfamily Buccinoidea is the most speciose group of Neogastropoda within the Antarctic Convergence. However, molecular phylogenetic studies on Antarctic Buccinoidea are still limited. This study revisited the relationships of Antarctic Buccinoidea using molecular data and identified new genera and species.
INVERTEBRATE SYSTEMATICS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Alexander Arkhipkin, Paul Brickle, Brendon Lee, Paul W. Shaw, Niall J. McKeown
Summary: This study examined the taxonomic status of the Patagonian toothfish on either side of the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) using genetic, phenotypic, and ecological data. The results revealed significant genetic and morphological divergence between the two groups, suggesting they should be recognized as distinct species. The authors propose using the names D. eleginoides and D. australis to differentiate toothfish north and south of the APF, reflecting their respective distributions.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Gabriela P. Camacho, Ana Carolina Loss, Brian L. Fisher, Bonnie B. Blaimer
Summary: The study assessed the spatial patterns of diversity and endemism in Malagasy ants to identify centers of endemism and evaluate the 'museum vs. cradle' hypothesis. Results showed that neo- and mixed endemism centers were correlated with higher elevations, while paleo-endemism centers were associated with lower elevations. Mountainous areas were found to be cradles of recent diversification for acrobat ants, while lower elevations acted as museums for relict lineages.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Van Wishingrad, Robert C. Thomson
Summary: The field of biogeography combines landscape genetics and phylogeography to understand genetic variation across space and time. This study used the western fence lizard as a model species to investigate the connection between landscape genetics and phylogeography. The results showed significant concordance in landscape genetics processes at different geographical scales, while phylogeographical results indicated distinct clades restricted to specific river drainages or hydrological regions. Integrating theory, models, and methods between landscape genetics and phylogeography will enhance our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Li-sha Hu, Yun-wei Dong
Summary: The study aims to clarify the mechanisms of biogeographical barriers along China's coast, revealing the northward shift of the Yangtze River Estuary Biogeographical Barrier and the emergence of the Subei Biogeographical Barrier due to habitat changes and climate factors. These findings provide insights into the impacts of anthropogenic environmental changes on coastal biogeography.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Macey P. Soltis, Sarah E. Moorey, Amanda M. Egert-McLean, Brynn H. Voy, Elizabeth A. Shepherd, Phillip R. Myer
Summary: The rumen is a vital organ for converting low-quality feedstuffs into energy. The rumen microbiome and its interaction with the host play a key role in this process. However, previous studies have mainly focused on specific regions within the rumen, which may not provide a comprehensive analysis of the rumen microbiome and its fermentative capacity. This review highlights the importance of rumen biogeography and its contribution to microbiome variation.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Konomi Suda, Takahiro Aze, Yosuke Miyairi, Yusuke Yokoyama, Yohei Matsui, Hisahiro Ueda, Takuya Saito, Tomohiko Sato, Yusuke Sawaki, Ryosuke Nakai, Hideyuki Tamaki, Hiroshi A. Takahashi, Noritoshi Morikawa, Shuhei Ono
Summary: This study investigates the methane generation processes and carbon source in the Hakuba Happo geothermal wells in Japan. The results reveal that methane associated with serpentinization is mainly derived from 13C-depleted fossil carbon sources and serpentinization-derived H2 at high temperatures, and is subsequently entrained into the cooler circulating meteoric water system.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ayaka Makino, Ryosuke Nakai, Yasuko Yoneda, Tadashi Toyama, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Xian-Ying Meng, Kazuhiro Mori, Michihiko Ike, Masaaki Morikawa, Yoichi Kamagata, Hideyuki Tamaki
Summary: This study identified four novel aquatic plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) strains, named MRB1-4, from Lythrum anceps, which exhibited beneficial growth effects on duckweed Lemna minor. These strains produced indole-3-acetic acid and possessed similar plant growth-promoting traits as terrestrial PGPB. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that MRB-1, -3, and -4 were affiliated with known proteobacterial genera, while MRB2 was a potentially novel strain at the genus level. Furthermore, MRB3, a Pelomonas strain, was found to be epiphytic and adhered to the roots and fronds of duckweed.
Article
Microbiology
Qi Liu, Zichen He, Takeshi Naganuma, Ryosuke Nakai, Luz Maria Rodriguez, Rafael Carreno, Franco Urbani
Summary: This study investigated the microbial diversity of opal speleothems from a silicate cave in Guiana Highlands and found that the microbial composition in silicate caves is similar to that in limestone and other silicate caves. Additionally, the study inferred metabolic features and found that membrane transport and amino acid metabolism may play important roles in the formation and weathering of silicate speleothems.
Article
Microbiology
Zichen He, Takeshi Naganuma, Ryosuke Nakai, Satoshi Imura, Megumu Tsujimoto, Peter Convey
Summary: This study compared the bacterial floras and potential metabolism of rock tripe lichens from two distinct Antarctic biological regions. The results showed clear differences in bacterial communities between the two regions and suggested that the sampling area's climate may influence the metabolism of the lichen-associated bacteria.
Article
Ecology
Masaru Konishi Nobu, Ryosuke Nakai, Satoshi Tamazawa, Hiroshi Mori, Atsushi Toyoda, Akira Ijiri, Shino Suzuki, Ken Kurokawa, Yoichi Kamagata, Hideyuki Tamaki
Summary: The serpentinization of ultramafic rocks can provide molecular hydrogen (H-2) for microorganisms, but the conditions in these environments are extremely challenging. Through metagenomics and thermodynamics, researchers have discovered unique microbial taxa in serpentinization-active systems that are adapted to these conditions. These microorganisms utilize alternative modes of H-2-utilizing lithotrophy, specifically using reduced carbon compounds rather than CO2. This research sheds light on potential strategies that extremophiles may employ in serpentinization-associated environments, which could also be relevant to primordial lithotrophy on early Earth.
Article
Microbiology
Kyohei Kuroda, Kyosuke Yamamoto, Ryosuke Nakai, Yuga Hirakata, Kengo Kubota, Masaru K. Nobu, Takashi Narihiro
Summary: Ca. Patescibacteria is a highly diverse group of bacteria that has symbiotic or parasitic relationships with other bacteria or even eukarya. By amending wastewater treatment sludge samples, researchers discovered a novel cross-domain parasitic interaction between Ca. Patescibacteria and an isolate archaeon closely related to a methanogen population. This finding sheds light on the potential strategies for culturing Ca. Patescibacteria and highlights the importance of cross-domain symbiosis.
Review
Microbiology
Zichen He, Takeshi Naganuma
Summary: Lichens are symbiotic systems consisting of fungal and algal symbionts. The plasticity in the combination of fungal and algal species contributes to the worldwide distribution of lichens, while the association between non-cyanobacterial bacteria and lichens has attracted attention.
Article
Microbiology
Akio Ueno, Satoshi Tamazawa, Shuji Tamamura, Takuma Murakami, Tamotsu Kiyama, Hidenori Inomata, Noritaka Aramaki, Kunihiko Yoshida, Shinji Yamaguchi, Hideo Aoyama, Takeshi Naganuma, Toshifumi Igarashi
Summary: This study reported the effective conversion of chemically solubilized lignite into methane using methanogenic consortia. Adding pulverized lignite as conductive material significantly increased methane production by approximately 50-fold. This method provides an effective utilization of the neglected subterranean lignite resource.
Article
Microbiology
Sho Shimada, Kotaro Aoki, Ryosuke Nakai, Shota Miura, Kohji Komori, Sakae Kudoh, Satoshi Imura, Yoshikazu Ishii, Kazuhiro Tateda
Summary: We report the whole-genome sequences of three psychrotolerant Mycolicibacterium strains, TUM20983, TUM20984, and TUM20985, isolated from Antarctic soils. Taxonomic analyses indicate that these strains are putative new species. These genome sequences may provide insight into the cold adaptation mechanisms of Mycolicibacterium spp. through future comparative genomic studies.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sho Shimada, Ryosuke Nakai, Kotaro Aoki, Shota Miura, Kohji Komori, Sakae Kudoh, Satoshi Imura, Yoshikazu Ishii, Kazuhiro Tateda
Summary: In this study, the complete genome sequence of Polynucleobacter sp. strain TUM22923, isolated from Antarctic lake sediment, was reported. The genome of this strain is 1,860,127 bp in length, consisting of 1,848 protein-coding sequences. These data provide insights into the genome streamlining and low-temperature adaptation mechanisms in members of the cosmopolitan group of ultramicrobacteria, Polynucleobacter.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shumaila Noreen, Ibrar Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Shehzad Khan, Bibi Zarnaab, Iram Gul, Muhammad Zahoor Khan, Waqar Azeem Jadoon, Shehzad Ghayyur, Yong Liu
Summary: This study compared the acute toxic effects of pesticides on pigeon health. The results showed significant changes in blood cell indicators and observed organ damage in pigeons exposed to pesticides. This indicates that the uncontrolled use of pesticides impairs ecosystems and poses a substantial health risk to wildlife and humans.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shuka Kagemasa, Kyohei Kuroda, Ryosuke Nakai, Yu-You Li, Kengo Kubota
Summary: This study reveals a higher diversity of Ca. Patescibacteria in activated sludge than previously expected through genetic analysis.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kyohei Kuroda, Kengo Kubota, Shuka Kagemasa, Ryosuke Nakai, Yuga Hirakata, Kyosuke Yamamoto, Masaru K. Nobu, Takashi Narihiro
Summary: This study identified a previously unseen symbiosis between Ca. Patescibacteria and Archaea by using fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy. The 32-520/UBA5633 cells were found to specifically adhere to Methanospirillum, and the metagenome-assembled genomes of these cells encoded unique gene clusters.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Haifeng Chen, Hao Zou, M. Santosh, Huawen Cao, Franco Pirajno, Changcheng Huang, Mingcai Hou
Summary: Researchers have identified a supervolcano eruption event in the tuff layers from the Early-Middle Triassic boundary in the Yangtze Block. This eruption may have contributed to the delayed biotic recovery after the end-Permian mass extinction.
GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS
(2024)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yanjuan Yin, Baohua Zhang, Xinzhuan Guo
Summary: This study determines the Fe-Mn interdiffusion rates in natural Mn-bearing garnet crystals with 750 ppm H2O using an experimental approach. The results show that the Fe-Mn interdiffusion coefficient slightly decreases with increasing Fe content, and water significantly enhances the Fe-Mn interdiffusion in garnet. These findings suggest that the time required for homogenization of the compositional zoning of a garnet is much shorter than previously thought.
GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS
(2024)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yirang Jang, Sung Won Kim, Vinod O. Samuel, Sanghoon Kwon, Seung-Ik Park, M. Santosh, Keewook Yi
Summary: Detrital zircon geochronology and Hf isotope analysis are used to infer provenance characteristics and evaluate the tectonic evolution of sedimentary basins. The results of this study show that the Paleozoic sequences of the Okcheon Belt have a diverse provenance linked to different tectonic environments.
GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS
(2024)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Stephen F. Foley, Isra S. Ezad
Summary: This study investigates the trace element compositions of melts and minerals from hydrous pyroxenites containing K-richterite through high-pressure experiments. The results show that different minerals play different roles in the enrichment of various trace elements. The study also models the isotopic aging process in hydrous pyroxenite source rocks.
GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS
(2024)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
G. Harshitha, C. Manikyamba, M. Santosh, Cheng-Xue Yang, A. Keshav Krishna, V. V. Sesha Sai, I. Panduranga Reddy
Summary: The early Archean oceans underwent significant redox changes that had a lasting impact on the Earth's biosphere. This study investigates the geochemical characteristics of Archean Mnformations in southern India and reveals the importance of these sedimentary deposits in understanding the ancient redox conditions and sedimentation patterns. The findings suggest that the sediments were deposited in shallow to deeper shelf environments in the Archean proto-ocean, and they provide evidence of regional episodes of ocean oxygenation prior to the Great Oxygenation Event.
GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS
(2024)