Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irune Ruiz-Gartzia, Esther Lizano, Tomas Marques-Bonet, Joanna L. Kelley
Summary: Wet specimens from museum collections can serve as a new source of DNA for scientific studies, but the overall condition of the specimens is crucial for obtaining high-quality genomic DNA.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Alec T. Thompson, Seth A. White, Emily E. Doub, Prisha Sharma, Kenna Frierson, Kristen Dominguez, David Shaw, Dustin Weaver, Stacey L. Vigil, Denise L. Bonilla, Mark G. Ruder, Michael J. Yabsley
Summary: This study surveyed ticks collected from animals in 23 different states in the eastern USA, with the primary goal of better characterizing the distribution and host associations of the exotic tick H. longicornis. New distribution data on tick species of veterinary or medical importance were also obtained.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Emma Ladouceur, Forest Isbell, Adam T. Clark, W. Stanley Harpole, Peter B. Reich, G. David Tilman, Jonathan M. Chase
Summary: Human impacts have caused significant biodiversity change, which varies depending on scale. Passive or active ecological restoration is a key method for managing these changes. Recovery of biodiversity following disturbance is often incomplete and influenced by landscape matrix and contingent factors. Inferences about recovery and biodiversity change depend on the temporal and spatial scales of measurement.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samantha Neil, Jane Evans, Janet Montgomery, Rick Schulting, Chris Scarre
Summary: Many important archaeological sites in Europe were excavated by antiquarians over 100 years ago. This study uses multi-isotope analysis and C-14 dating to evaluate the origin of human remains in a collection believed to be from one of Britain's most significant archaeological sites. The Coldrum site in Kent, excavated in 1910, is a megalithic burial monument that may be associated with the transition to farming in Britain. Isotope analysis confirms the presence of Neolithic remains, but also reveals remains dating to the 5th-7th centuries AD. This study provides new information about subsistence and mobility patterns of early Neolithic populations and emphasizes the value of isotope analysis in determining provenance of museum collections.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Weiguo Yang, Xiaoguang Zou, Meng Wang, Pei Liu
Summary: While earthquakes pose a threat to both museum buildings and collections, this study focuses on the vulnerability of museum collections and the lack of scientific assessment of the commonly used strategy of securing objects with nylon lines. The study proposes an appropriate assessment method based on seismic risk analysis and introduces a comprehensive method for evaluating the effectiveness of nylon lines in enhancing seismic performance. Through numerical analysis and a case study, the study demonstrates that larger diameter nylon lines significantly improve seismic performance and collections secured with four lines are more secure. Nylon lines with smaller tying angles may increase the probability of seismic damage to collections.
SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alicia Grealy, Naomi E. Langmore, Leo Joseph, Clare E. Holleley
Summary: The study demonstrates the feasibility of using an optimized drilling technique to extract sufficient DNA for genetic identification from even the smallest museum eggshells. Additionally, the method was successfully applied to resolve a 53-year-old ornithological controversy regarding the identification of purported Paradise Parrot eggs collected after the species' accepted extinction date.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Douglas B. Booher, Nicholas J. Gotelli, Matthew P. Nelsen, Leo Ohyama, Mark Deyrup, Corrie S. Moreau, Andrew V. Suarez
Summary: There is a growing environmental crisis with declining global biodiversity and the increasing introduction of species. This study investigates the impact of invasive species on litter ant communities in natural ecosystems using a dataset spanning 54 years in Florida, USA. The results show a decline in native species and an increase in introduced species, leading to changes in the composition of rare and common species. The study also reveals that introduced species are more likely to be polygynous and form supercolonies, which correlate with their increasing abundance over time. If current trends continue, over half of the litter ant communities in Florida will be dominated by introduced species in the next 50 years.
Article
Archaeology
Liutao Zhao, Jiawan Zhang, Hairong Jing, Jianping Wu, Yanjun Huang
Summary: We developed a museum art exchange protocol (MAXP) for museum digital collections using blockchain technology. MAXP enables online exchange of digital collections between two museums on Ethereum. It eliminates security risks and copyright disputes, and includes a regulatory mechanism to prevent fraud and illegal activities. The exchange system has been successfully tested by the Beijing Planetarium and the Beijing Museum of Natural History, demonstrating its feasibility, security, and scalability. Our encrypted exchange management method of digital collections in museums promotes cultural heritage and scientific knowledge dissemination.
JOURNAL OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Chris Stantis, Carlina de la Cova, Dorothy Lippert, Sabrina B. Sholts
Summary: With increasing global attention on the preservation of human remains held by museums and universities, it is crucial for anthropology researchers to be aware of the ethical considerations involved.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Virology
Edwin O. Ogola, Anne Kopp, Armanda D. S. Bastos, Inga Slothouwer, Marco Marklewitz, Dorcus Omoga, Gilbert Rotich, Caroline Getugi, Rosemary Sang, Baldwyn Torto, Sandra Junglen, David P. Tchouassi
Summary: Ticks infected with JMTV were found in two pastoralist-dominated areas in Kenya, with goats, sheep, and tortoises being the hosts. The study confirms the circulation of JMTV in Kenya and highlights the need for further research on its potential impact on public health.
Review
Microbiology
Jose de la Fuente, Agustin Estrada-Pena, Marta Rafael, Consuelo Almazan, Sergio Bermudez, Abdelbaset E. Abdelbaset, Paul D. Kasaija, Fredrick Kabi, Foluke Adedayo Akande, Dorcas Oluwakemi Ajagbe, Timothy Bamgbose, Srikant Ghosh, Azhahianambi Palavesam, Penny H. Hamid, Charlotte L. Oskam, Siobhon L. Egan, Amanda Duarte-Barbosa, Olcay Hekimoglu, Matias P. J. Szabo, Marcelo B. Labruna, Ananta Dahal
Summary: In this comprehensive review study, the challenge posed by ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) with growing incidence affecting global human and animal health was addressed. Data and perspectives from different countries and regions were collected to update the current situation with ticks and TBDs and highlight the existing information bias and gaps perceived by society. The study emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary and international collaborations in advancing surveillance, communication, and proposed future directions to address these challenges.
Article
Entomology
Annalisa Accorsi, Irene Schiavetti, Valeria Listorti, Monica Dellepiane, Chiara Masotti, Carlo Ercolini, Lisa Guardone, Elisabetta Razzuoli
Summary: This study identified and characterized tick species found on wild animals in the Liguria region of Italy, providing updated information on their host preference and geographical distribution. The data obtained will contribute to the development of control strategies for ticks.
Article
Entomology
Nicole Foley, Siddhi Balamurali, Joellen Lampman, Jody Gangloff-Kaufman, Gillian Eastwood, Alexandra N. Cumbie, Emily M. Mader, Laura C. Harrington
Summary: Ticks and tick-borne diseases pose a significant public health burden in New York State, with tick species and associated pathogens spreading and posing threats to human and animal health. The NYS Tick Blitz project was conducted to determine the distribution of two tick species, Amblyomma americanum and Haemaphysalis longicornis, in NYS. Community volunteers collected a total of 3,759 ticks from 164 sites across 15 counties, with H. longicornis being the most frequently collected species. The project also revealed the presence of tick-borne pathogens, particularly those transmitted by Ixodes scapularis.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Sarah E. Mays E. Maestas, Lindsay P. Campbell, Michael P. Milleson, Lawrence E. Reeves, Phillip E. Kaufman, Samantha M. Wisely
Summary: This study investigates the use of tick collection from wild pigs in Florida as a surveillance method for tick-borne pathogens. Four species of human-biting ticks were collected from wild pigs, and known and potential human pathogens were identified. Landscape features such as developed spaces, mixed forest, and shrub/scrub habitat were found to be associated with tick diversity and abundance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrew Dopheide, Talia Brav-Cubitt, Anastasija Podolyan, Richard A. B. Leschen, Darren Ward, Thomas R. Buckley, Manpreet K. Dhami
Summary: The lack of locally relevant DNA reference databases limits the potential for DNA-based biodiversity monitoring. This study demonstrates a sensitive and efficient method for generating DNA barcodes from invertebrate specimens, providing a foundation for DNA-based assessments and monitoring of biodiversity.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Damie Pak, David Biddinger, Ottar N. Bjornstad
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Mario Novelo, Matthew D. Hall, Damie Pak, Paul R. Young, Edward C. Holmes, Elizabeth A. McGraw
Article
Ecology
Barbara Joncour, William A. Nelson, Damie Pak, Ottar N. Bjornstad
Summary: This study proposes an approach that combines experiments with modelling to infer the pathways of intraspecific interactions. By investigating the tea tortrix, it was found that deadly interactions increase with temperature while interference that acts on energy is strongest close to the optimal temperature for reproduction. Exploitation is more important than interference at low competitor density.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Damie Pak, Spencer Carran, David Biddinger, Bill Nelson, Ottar N. Bjornstad
Summary: This study develops a new model that can predict the dynamics of pests over multiple years. It not only predicts phenology and voltinism, but also studies the degree of overlapping among different life-stages. By fitting the model with a 33-year dataset, the study predicts the impact of climate change on this agricultural pest and finds that warming temperatures increase the overlap among life-stages.
POPULATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Damie Pak, Varun Swamy, Patricia Alvarez-Loayza, Fernando Cornejo-Valverde, Simon A. Queenborough, Margaret R. Metz, John Terborgh, Renato Valencia, S. Joseph Wright, Nancy C. Garwood, Jesse R. Lasky
Summary: The study found that seed fall phenology in tropical plant communities exhibits significant synchrony and is influenced by shared environmental responses and positive interactions among species. Within species groups, both compensatory and synchronous phenology were observed. Wind-dispersed species showed significant synchrony at a scale of approximately 6 months, suggesting shared phenological niches to match seasonal wind patterns.