Article
Plant Sciences
Hongbin Yang, Zhifeng Zhu, Mingfei Zhang, Xin Li, Rangwei Xu, Feng Zhu, Juan Xu, Xiuxin Deng, Yunjiang Cheng
Summary: Postharvest water loss is crucial for the quality and shelf life of fresh fruit. The NAC042 gene may be involved in fruit cuticular wax synthesis to reduce water loss in fruits.
HORTICULTURAL PLANT JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biology
Caleb L. Loughran, Blair O. Wolf
Summary: In lizards, there is a wide variation in their ability to cool down through panting, which affects how long they can tolerate high heat levels. This study examines the relationship between panting, temperature regulation, evaporative water loss, and metabolic costs in 17 lizard species. The results show that the capacity for evaporative cooling varies among species and significantly affects lizards' ability to dissipate heat. Evaporation rates ranged from 0.32 to 1.5 g H2O h-1, with lizards losing up to 6% of their body mass per hour while panting. Despite experiencing an increase in metabolic rate, the energetic costs of panting remained relatively low compared to evaporative water loss. The overall rate of evaporative heat loss is positively correlated with the maximum temperature difference a species can maintain. This study highlights the importance of considering the metabolic and water balance costs associated with evaporative cooling in hot environments.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Ayako Konishi, Satoshi Terabayashi, Akihiro Itai
Summary: Postharvest water loss and fruit texture in pepper fruit are related to anatomical traits, such as cuticular membrane thickness and the content of cutin and polysaccharide.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carine de Freitas Souza, Matheus Dellamea Baldissera, Danilo Barroso, Mayara Cristina Moraes de Lima, Bernardo Baldisserotto, Adalberto Luis Val
Summary: The Amazonian aquatic ecosystem experiences seasonal and daily fluctuations in oxygen levels, which significantly impact the physiology and performance of aquatic organisms. In a study comparing two cichlid species, it was found that the white water cichlid showed higher sensitivity and mortality rates in hypoxic conditions compared to the black water cichlid, which exhibited better physiological strategies to cope with hypoxia.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stanislaw Knutelski, Hubert Haranczyk, Piotr Nowak, Andrzej Wrobel, Bartosz Leszczynski, Takashi Okuda, Kazimierz Strzalka, Ewelina Baran
Summary: The Polypedilum vanderplanki larva loses a significant amount of body water during desiccation, causing a halt in metabolic and physiological processes. However, the larva is able to return to active life upon rehydration. Research on the rehydration mechanisms showed that the larva's head volume remains relatively constant while the rest of the body expands. The H-1-NMR spectrum analysis revealed the absence of solid state matter in the active larvae, with the spectrum being a combination of tightly and loosely bound water fractions as well as lipids. The increase in volume during larva rehydration follows a linear pattern. The initial phase of hydration is independent of the water's chemical composition, but the presence of ions affects the further process and the rate of larva's return to active life. Diffusion and ion channels play a significant role in the permeability of water through the larva's body integument.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hrishikesh S. Kulkarni, Janet S. Lee, Julie A. Bastarache, Wolfgang M. Kuebler, Gregory P. Downey, Guillermo M. Albaiceta, William A. Altemeier, Antonio Artigas, Jason H. T. Bates, Carolyn S. Calfee, Charles S. Dela Cruz, Robert P. Dickson, Joshua A. Englert, Jeffrey Everitt, Michael B. Fessler, Andrew E. Gelman, Kymberly M. Gowdy, Steve D. Groshong, Susanne Herold, Robert J. Homer, Jeffrey C. Horowitz, Connie C. W. Hsia, Kiyoyasu Kurahashi, Victor E. Laubach, Mark R. Looney, Rudolf Lucas, Nilam S. Mangalmurti, Anne M. Manicone, Thomas R. Martin, Sadis Matalon, Michael A. Matthay, Daniel F. McAuley, Sharon A. McGrath-Morrow, Joseph P. Mizgerd, Stephanie A. Montgomery, Bethany B. Moore, Alexandra Noel, Carrie E. Perlman, John P. Reilly, Eric P. Schmidt, Shawn J. Skerrett, Tomeka L. Suber, Charlotte Summers, Benjamin T. Suratt, Masao Takata, Rubin Tuder, Stefan Uhlig, Martin Witzenrath, Rachel L. Zemans, Gutavo Matute-Bello
Summary: Advancements in methods and technology have led to the need for an updated definition of experimental acute lung injury (ALI). Through surveys and workshops, researchers propose that ALI presents as a multidimensional entity characterized by four domains: tissue injury, alteration of the alveolar-capillary barrier, inflammatory response, and physiologic dysfunction. They suggest measurements for each domain and divide experimental ALI into a continuum of models.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Jin Wang, Qingyun Shan, Ting Yi, Yanqing Ma, Xiaoxun Zhou, Luzhao Pan, Wu Miao, Xuexiao Zou, Cheng Xiong, Feng Liu
Summary: In this study, a pepper fruit cuticle development mutant fcd1 was obtained by mutagenesis, and it was found to have significant defects in fruit cuticle development compared to the wild-type. Genetic analysis revealed that a recessive candidate gene CaFCD1 on chromosome 12 controlled the phenotype of the mutant. The study also identified a base substitution in the CaFCD1 domain that affected cutin and wax biosynthesis in pepper fruit.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
John J. Ciancio, Kurtis F. Turnbull, Tara D. Gariepy, Brent J. Sinclair
Summary: Halyomorpha halys, an emerging pest in Ontario, overwinters as adults in anthropogenic structures. This study investigated seasonal variations in cold tolerance, water balance, and energetics of H. halys. The research found that overwintering H. halys are chill-susceptible, and those in sheltered habitats had a higher survival rate. Additionally, inducing diapause in laboratory-reared H. halys resulted in lower supercooling points and extended survival in desiccating conditions.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Subhash Rajpurohit, Vladimir Vrkoslav, Robert Hanus, Allen G. Gibbs, Josef Cvacka, Paul S. Schmidt
Summary: The insect cuticle acts as a barrier between internal homeostasis and the external environment, with cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) playing a key role in stress response and communication. Exposure to different temperatures post-eclosion resulted in significant changes in CHCs profiles among Drosophila melanogaster populations, with variations observed in chain length and effects varying between populations and sexes. The differences in CHCs were linked to desiccation tolerance, highlighting the genetic and plasticity effects in response to environmental temperatures during the adult stage.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Di Chen, Tingyu Wang, Hua Huang, Qiaoli Zhang, Xue Chen, Zongyan Sun, Yanping Song, Yuetong Yi, Chengxia Liu, Donald Grierson, Jiankang Cao, Daqi Fu, Hongliang Zhu, Guiqin Qu
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that the tomato SBP-box protein SlCNR plays a role in regulating fruit wax accumulation and postharvest water loss. The overexpression of SlCNR led to decreased wax accumulation and increased water loss, while the knockout of SlCNR resulted in increased wax accumulation and decreased water loss. RNA-seq analysis revealed that SlCNR directly repressed the expression of wax biosynthetic genes, such as SlCER1-2 and SlCER6. These findings provide new insights into the genetic regulatory mechanisms of fruit wax accumulation in tomatoes.
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Pediatrics
Martin Fardig, Hrefna Katrin Gudmundsdottir, Angela Hoyer, Karen Eline Stensby Bains, Catarina Almqvist, Christine Monceyron Jonassen, Eva Maria Rehbinder, Havard O. Skjerven, Anne Cathrine Staff, Riyas Vettukattil, Cilla Soderhall, Karin C. Lodrup Carlsen, Bjorn Nordlund
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between high transepidermal water loss (TEWL), eczema, Filaggrin (FLG) mutations and lung function in three-month-old infants. The results showed that high TEWL was associated with lower lung function, while eczema or FLG mutations were not.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Haizhen Zhang, Zhiyan Wan, Jianhua Liu, Xuefei Hu, Lulu Ren, Shuang Feng, Kun Qiao, Jingang Wang, Aimin Zhou
Summary: A study identified DsCER26 protein from a high-wax mutant and found that its heterologous expression in transgenic rice reduced water loss rate by increasing the content of cuticular wax C27 alkane, potentially enhancing dehydration tolerance in rice without impacting grain nutrition.
ACS AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Xiao-Jin Pei, Tian-Tian Bai, Zhan-Feng Zhang, Nan Chen, Sheng Li, Yong-Liang Fan, Tong-Xian Liu
Summary: The genes BgFas3 and BgElo1 identified in the German cockroach are independent of hydrocarbon production, but are crucial for water retention in insects. They are required for both inward and outward waterproofing of the respiratory system, impacting the insect's ability to resist desiccation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marie E. Herberstein, Donald James McLean, Elizabeth Lowe, Jonas O. Wolff, Md Kawsar Khan, Kaitlyn Smith, Andrew P. Allen, Matthew Bulbert, Bruno A. Buzatto, Mark D. B. Eldridge, Daniel Falster, Laura Fernandez Winzer, Simon C. Griffith, Joshua S. Madin, Ajay Narendra, Mark Westoby, Martin J. Whiting, Ian J. Wright, Alexandra J. R. Carthey
Summary: Trait databases are important resources for comparative studies in ecology and evolution. AnimalTraits database is introduced here, which includes body mass, metabolic rate, and brain size data of terrestrial animals. The database covers a wide range of taxonomic groups and species, sourced from original empirical publications with accompanying metrics and measurements. Additional R scripts are provided to assist researchers in aggregating standardized observations.
Article
Entomology
Yuya Fukada, Tomoyosi Nisimura
Summary: Experimental results showed that Baliga micans antlion larvae exhibit a preference for soil moisture, especially the 2nd- and 3rd-instar larvae showing selectivity for different levels of soil moisture content. This preference for soil moisture may be related to physiological constraints, aiding in effective foraging and survival of the larvae.
APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mario Mairal, Steven L. Chown, Justine Shaw, Desalegn Chala, John H. Chau, Cang Hui, Jesse M. Kalwij, Zuzana Munzbergova, Bettine Jansen van Vuuren, Johannes J. Le Roux
Summary: The study reveals that human activity significantly impacts the post-introduction dynamics of invasive species, leading to high genetic diversity and admixture of P. annua on Marion Island, while populations on unoccupied Prince Edward Island show low genetic diversity and structure. High genetic variation and admixture facilitated by human activity, coupled with high habitat suitability, suggest that P. annua is likely to increase its distribution and abundance in the future.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Helena P. Baird, Seunggwan Shin, Rolf G. Oberprieler, Maurice Hulle, Philippe Vernon, Katherine L. Moon, Richard H. Adams, Duane D. McKenna, Steven L. Chown
Summary: Global cooling since the Miocene has driven the diversification of herbivorous beetles, known as Ectemnorhinini weevils, along the Antarctic Polar Front. Colonizing subAntarctic islands from Africa at least 50 million years ago, these weevils underwent accelerated diversification as the climate cooled. This diversification coincided with major environmental changes and occurred similarly for Antarctic marine and terrestrial organisms, potentially representing a general biodiversity paradigm for the region.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura M. Phillips, Rachel Leihy, Steven L. Chown
Summary: This study focuses on the type locality criterion for area protection in Antarctica and reveals the inadequacy of the current protected areas network. By analyzing a comprehensive database of type localities, the study identifies numerous unprotected areas that should be considered for future conservation efforts. The authors propose alternative approaches to deploy the type locality criterion, such as systematic conservation planning and emphasis on species habitat.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Grant A. Duffy, Arda C. Kuyucu, Jessica L. Hoskins, Eleanor M. Hay, Steven L. Chown
Summary: The study shows that only a small percentage of thermal trait studies have sample sizes large enough to ensure confidence in reported trait means. Greater inter-individual trait variance in the source population requires a larger number of individuals to be measured for accurate estimation of mean and variance of that trait. It is recommended for future studies to use preliminary data to estimate trait variance and calculate minimum sample sizes.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Marie Henriksen, Guillaume Latombe, David G. Chapple, Steven L. Chown, Melodie A. McGeoch
Summary: The ecological network structure is maintained by a generalist core of common species, but rare species also significantly contribute to both species and functional diversity. It is crucial to capture changes in species composition and interactions to understand the roles of rare and common species. Pairwise metrics used to quantify interaction turnover are sensitive to compositional changes in rare interactions, highlighting the importance of considering both rare and common interactions in maintaining network structure and function.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael R. Kearney, Moshe E. Jasper, Vanessa L. White, Ian J. Aitkenhead, Mark J. Blacket, Jacinta D. Kong, Steven L. Chown, Ary A. Hoffmann
Summary: The rarity of parthenogenetic species is not due to rapid extinction but rather constrained origin. This study found that a diploid grasshopper species underwent a single hybrid mating origin at least 0.25 million years ago and showed no changes in fitness compared to its sexual progenitors.
Article
Soil Science
Steven L. Chown, Dana M. Bergstrom, Melissa Houghton, Kate Kiefer, Aleks Terauds, Rachel I. Leihy
Summary: The study supports the predictions of the Antarctic climate-diversity-invasion hypothesis, indicating that climate change affects the abundance and diversity of indigenous fauna in the Antarctic region. Invasive alien species have negative impacts on indigenous fauna. The research shows that the density of indigenous fauna on invaded islands in the Antarctic is significantly lower than on uninvaded islands.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
David Renault, Camille Leclerc, Marc-Antoine Colleu, Aude Boutet, Hoel Hotte, Herve Colinet, Steven L. Chown, Peter Convey
Summary: Polar and alpine regions are experiencing rapid changes due to global climate change, affecting biodiversity, particularly invertebrate ectotherms. Short-term extreme temperature events have significant impacts on high-latitude ectotherms, with native species being less resilient than their alien counterparts.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Jan M. Strugnell, Helen McGregor, Nerida G. Wilson, Karina T. Meredith, Steven L. Chown, Sally C. Y. Lau, Sharon A. Robinson, Krystyna M. Saunders
Summary: Anthropogenic climate change is causing observable changes in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, impacting local ecosystems and the Earth's climate system. Understanding Antarctica's paleoecosystems and past climate change helps constrain future projections. Biological archives provide valuable information about past ecological change and help constrain current models.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Christopher W. Weldon, John S. Terblanche, Henrika Bosua, Kevin Malod, Steven L. Chown
Summary: Females and males have different thermal preferences, as demonstrated in Mediterranean fruit flies. Males prefer higher temperatures while females prefer lower temperatures. Different temperatures have varying effects on reproductive fitness and lifespan, but male traits align more closely with their thermal preference.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Zoology
S. L. Chown
Summary: In an 1854 lecture, TH Huxley proposed three criteria for measuring the importance of physiology: its contribution to science, its practical value, and its inclusion in education. Macrophysiology, the study of variation in physiological traits at large scales, has made significant contributions to eco-evolutionary research and understanding the conservation implications of physiological variation in the last two decades. It has been successful in studying thermal and metabolic responses to variable environments, but progress in understanding water regulation in changing environments has been slower. The development of new datasets and the use of genomics-based approaches show promise in expanding the scope of macrophysiology research. The findings of macrophysiological investigations have influenced policy reports and implementation actions, benefiting society and the environment. However, more efforts are needed to combat the prevailing anti-science attitudes globally.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jasmine R. Lee, Aleks Terauds, Josie Carwardine, Justine D. Shaw, Richard A. Fuller, Hugh P. Possingham, Steven L. Chown, Peter Convey, Neil Gilbert, Kevin A. Hughes, Ewan McIvor, Sharon A. Robinson, Yan Ropert-Coudert, Dana M. Bergstrom, Elisabeth M. Biersma, Claire Christian, Don A. Cowan, Yves Frenot, Stephanie Jenouvrier, Lisa Kelley, Michael J. Lee, Heather J. Lynch, Birgit Njastad, Antonio Quesada, Ricardo M. Roura, E. Ashley Shaw, Damon Stanwell-Smith, Megumu Tsujimoto, Diana H. Wall, Annick Wilmotte, Iadine Chades
Summary: Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity is under multiple threats, and current conservation efforts are deemed insufficient. A participatory study estimates that up to 65% of native terrestrial taxa and land-associated seabirds may decline by 2100. Implementing 10 key threat management strategies could benefit up to 84% of Antarctic taxa.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anton M. Potapov, Carlos A. Guerra, Johan van den Hoogen, Anatoly Babenko, Bruno C. Bellini, Matty P. Berg, Steven L. Chown, Louis Deharveng, Lubomir Kovac, Natalia A. Kuznetsova, Jean-Francois Ponge, Mikhail B. Potapov, David J. Russell, Douglas Alexandre, Juha M. Alatalo, Javier I. Arbea, Ipsa Bandyopadhyaya, Veronica Bernava, Stef Bokhorst, Thomas Bolger, Gabriela Castano-Meneses, Matthieu Chauvat, Ting-Wen Chen, Mathilde Chomel, Aimee T. Classen, Jerome Cortet, Peter Cuchta, Ana Manuela de la Pedrosa, Susana S. D. Ferreira, Cristina Fiera, Juliane Filser, Oscar Franken, Saori Fujii, Essivi Gagnon Koudji, Meixiang Gao, Benoit Gendreau-Berthiaume, Diego F. Gomez-Pamies, Michelle Greve, I. Tanya Handa, Charlene Heiniger, Martin Holmstrup, Pablo Homet, Mari Ivask, Charlene Janion-Scheepers, Malte Jochum, Sophie Joimel, Bruna Claudia S. Jorge, Edite Jucevica, Olga Ferlian, Luis Carlos Iunes de Oliveira Filho, Osmar Klauberg-Filho, Dilmar Baretta, Eveline J. Krab, Annely Kuu, Estevam C. A. de Lima, Dunmei Lin, Zoe Lindo, Amy Liu, Jing-Zhong Lu, Maria Jose Lucianez, Michael T. Marx, Matthew A. McCary, Maria A. Minor, Taizo Nakamori, Ilaria Negri, Raul Ochoa-Hueso, Jose G. Palacios-Vargas, Melanie M. Pollierer, Pascal Querner, Natalia Raschmanova, Muhammad Imtiaz Rashid, Laura J. Raymond-Leonard, Laurent Rousseau, Ruslan A. Saifutdinov, Sandrine Salmon, Emma J. Sayer, Nicole Scheunemann, Cornelia Scholz, Julia Seeber, Yulia B. Shveenkova, Sophya K. Stebaeva, Maria Sterzynska, Xin Sun, Winda I. Susanti, Anastasia A. Taskaeva, Madhav P. Thakur, Maria A. Tsiafouli, Matthew S. Turnbull, Mthokozisi N. Twala, Alexei V. Uvarov, Lisa A. Venier, Lina A. Widenfalk, Bruna R. Winck, Daniel Winkler, Donghui Wu, Zhijing Xie, Rui Yin, Douglas Zeppelini, Thomas W. Crowther, Nico Eisenhauer, Stefan Scheu
Summary: Soil life plays a crucial role in maintaining the functioning and biodiversity of terrestrial ecosystems. Among soil arthropods, springtails are highly abundant and they regulate soil fertility and energy flow in above- and belowground food webs. However, we currently have limited knowledge about the global distribution of springtail diversity and density, as well as their relationship with energy fluxes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel I. Leihy, Lou Peake, David A. Clarke, Steven L. Chown, Melodie A. McGeoch
Summary: Open data on biological invasions are crucial in regions with shared responsibility for invasive species control, such as the Antarctic. Despite successful invasion policies, centralized data on invasive species are lacking. This dataset provides comprehensive information on introduced and invasive species in the Antarctic region, including their identity, establishment, eradication status, and impact. The data serve as a baseline for combating the increasing risk of biological invasion in the region.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Genie M. M. Fleming, Moataz M. M. ElQadi, Ruzka R. R. Taruc, Autiko Tela, Grant A. A. Duffy, Emma E. E. Ramsay, Peter A. A. Faber, Steven L. L. Chown
Summary: Sound has a wide-ranging influence on humans, with nature sounds generally preferred and associated with health benefits. However, quantifying and classifying soundscapes is challenging due to their complex and dynamic nature. The researchers developed an analytical procedure to address this challenge and proposed a generalized soundscape classification framework that can elucidate dominant sound sources and improve our understanding of their spatial and temporal variation.