Review
Ecology
Hannah Wynen, Andreas Heyland
Summary: The article discusses the regulation of programmed cell death in the metamorphic transition of organisms such as frogs, insects, and sea urchins. Marine invertebrates with indirect life histories undergo rapid metamorphosis, with most larval structures being abandoned. In sea urchins, hormonal signals regulate the development and destruction of the larval body, with a majority of PCD-related genes being annotated in the species. Ongoing studies on sea urchin metamorphosis are expected to shed light on the underlying regulatory architecture of this dramatic life history transition.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gabriele Costa, Giorgio Bavestrello, Simonepietro Canese, Martina Canessa, Claudio Mazzoli, Paolo Montagna, Stefania Puce, Stefano Schiaparelli, Marco Bertolino
Summary: The presence of secondary bio-substrates formed by calcareous organisms in Antarctic seas is crucial for increasing the diversity of sessile benthic fauna. Stylasterid hydrozoa, with their branched carbonate structures, create a three-dimensional habitat that supports a high biodiversity of associated organisms, especially invertebrates.
Article
Limnology
Tao Yan, Mingqing Lin, Wenhao Cao, Shuaishuai Han, Xikun Song
Summary: Hydrozoans and anthozoans are important components of marine communities, particularly found in fouling assemblages globally. In coastal waters of China, 76 species of fouling cnidarians were observed, with different major species in different seas influenced by factors such as seasonality, latitude, and salinity.
JOURNAL OF OCEANOLOGY AND LIMNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Ann E. Caldwell, Daniel K. Cummings, Paul L. Hooper, Benjamin C. Trumble, Michael Gurven, Jonathan Stieglitz, Helen E. Davis, Hillard Kaplan
Summary: Over 80% of adolescents worldwide are insufficiently active, posing massive public health and economic challenges. Like post-industrialized populations, declining physical activity and sex differences in activity accompany transitions from childhood to adulthood. Tanner stage mediates the age-activity association, reflecting higher energetic demands for growth and reproductive maturation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Shanshan Jiang, Hui Li, Limei He, Kongming Wu
Summary: The study found that Megoura japonica is the most suitable prey for Eupeodes corollae, providing the shortest generation time, highest intrinsic rate of natural increase, maximum fecundity, and greatest flight ability. This provides a theoretical basis for utilizing the ecological service function of Eupeodes corollae.
Article
Cell Biology
Huifang Yuan, William L. Hatleberg, Bernard M. Degnan, Sandie M. Degnan
Summary: This study characterizes the composition, structure, and expression of Fox genes in the marine demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica, revealing that these genes are similar to the ancestral metazoan Fox gene family and are differentially expressed during development and in adult cell types. Additionally, some of these genes are induced within just 1 hour of larval settlement and commencement of metamorphosis.
DEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Tigano, Michael A. Russello
Summary: This study investigated the genomic basis of reproductive and migratory behavior in sockeye salmon and kokanee. The results showed that there were three main blocks of sequence differentiation on chromosomes 7, 12, and 20 associated with migratory behavior, spawning location, and spawning timing. Structural variants in these regions could contribute to ecotypic differentiation either as causal variants or through recombination suppression mechanisms. Genes in these regions were related to spatial memory, swimming endurance, eye and brain development, and timing of migration, which could explain the differences in behavior and habitats among the different ecotypes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ariana S. Huffmyer, Colton J. Johnson, Ashleigh M. Epps, Judith D. Lemus, Ruth D. Gates
Summary: Feeding plays a crucial role in the physiological and stress tolerance of corals, with feeding leading to increased growth, thicker tissues, and enhanced survival under thermal stress. Corals that were fed and exposed to cool temperatures prior to high-temperature stress showed higher survival rates, possibly due to reduced symbiont fluorescence providing protective effects. As oceans continue to warm, early life stages of corals may need to adapt their feeding strategies to survive.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kathreen Bitner, Grant A. Rutledge, James N. Kezos, Laurence D. Mueller
Summary: A study using 40 populations of Drosophila melanogaster larvae investigated phenotypic adaptation to urea-laced food, aiming to map genes responsible for these traits. Results showed that urea-adapted populations had higher survival rates and shorter development times in urea-laced food, but lower feeding rates compared to controls and non-adapted populations. The study suggests a strong linear relationship between larval feeding rates, food consumption, and growth rates, indicating important trade-offs influencing larval evolution in stressful environments.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Alasdair I. Houston, Lutz Fromhage, John M. McNamara
Summary: The behavior of animals can impact various variables, such as their energy reserves, risk of injury or mortality, and reproduction rate. This study presents a unified framework that explains how these trade-offs fit together, covering a wide range of biological phenomena and helping to identify gaps in knowledge. Additionally, a new model of foraging under the risk of predation and damage accumulation is introduced to fill one of these gaps.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shaukat Ali, Jing Peng, Jian-Feng Liang, Chuyang Huang, Yong-Hui Xie, Xingmin Wang
Summary: This study found that Corcyra cephalonica eggs can be used as an alternative host for Serangium japonicum, as the predator's survival rates and predatory efficacy are similar to those feeding on the natural prey (B. tabaci). When faced with dietary changes, S. japonicum can successfully feed on C. cephalonica eggs by upregulating genes related to nutrient transport, metabolism, and detoxification.
Article
Ecology
Hannah I. Weller, Hernan Lopez-Fernandez, Caleb D. McMahan, Elizabeth L. Brainerd
Summary: Mouthbrooding is a form of evolution that increases multifunctionality by adding reproductive function to existing structures. The study suggests that mouthbrooding is more likely to evolve in lineages with feeding adaptations. This research provides a new perspective on the evolution of multifunctionality.
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jinping Liu, Chen Wang, Huatong Li, Yu Gao, Yizhong Yang, Yanhui Lu
Summary: Drought stress caused changes in physiological characteristics of cotton plants, leading to adverse effects on the performance of cotton aphids. The adoption of drip irrigation under plastic film may favor the population growth of cotton aphids under drought stress conditions.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ricardo Gomez-Reyes, Clara E. Galindo-Sanchez, Fabiola Lafarga-De la Cruz, Jose M. Hernandez-Ayon, Enrique Valenzuela-Wood, Laura Lopez-Galindo
Summary: This study examines the vulnerability of red abalone's early life history to acidification and finds that developmental abilities are impaired under pH levels below -0.4 units. Additionally, it reveals that short-term acidification produces opposite effects compared to long-term acidification.
Article
Fisheries
Richard James Kennedy, James Barry, William Roche, Robert Rosell, Michelle Allen
Summary: The effective management of anadromous Salmo trutta resources is challenging due to limited long-term data and high diversity. This study used acoustic telemetry to investigate sea trout in two Irish river systems, providing insights into their phenology, spawning behavior, and return rates. The results highlighted the importance of body size in influencing behavior and survival across different life stages. Understanding variation and survival in life history is crucial for the successful management and conservation of sea trout stocks.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joana Sandes, Fernando Moraes, Ulisses Pinheiro, Guilherme Muricy
Summary: This study redescribed Didiscus and Myrmekioderma sponges, described new species, expanded morphological diversity, and classified them in the family Heteroxyidae based on morphological data. The total number of species in the Tropical Atlantic is raised to 11 for Didiscus and 13 for Myrmekioderma, with most species having narrow distributions. The study highlights the importance of scientific explorations in understudied areas such as off the mouths of the Amazon and Sao Francisco rivers.
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Giliane G. Rasbold, Ulisses Pinheiro, Leandro Domingos-Luz, John Dilworth, J. Ryan Thigpen, Luiz C. R. Pessenda, Michael M. McGlue
Summary: The study reveals the presence of freshwater sponge species in Jackson Lake, Wyoming, expanding the biogeography of freshwater sponges and highlighting the morphological and ecological variability of these species in different environments. This discovery suggests the potential for ecophenotypic effects and the need for further studies to explore taxonomic differences and potential new species within the Nearctic region.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Karine B. Nascimento, Alvaro E. Migotto, Claudia F. Vaga, Leandro M. Vieira
Summary: Since 2018, the ctenostomatous bryozoan Amathia alternata has been recorded in the SW Atlantic, indicating new invasion events on the Brazilian coast. Recent findings suggest that the species has successfully established itself in the region and is spreading north- and southwards. Reports from local fishermen indicate that the colonies may impact human livelihoods.
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Amanda Ferreira Cunha, David Carmelet-Rescan, Antonio Carlos Marques, Mary Morgan-Richards
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between genetic, morphological, and environmental variability within three benthic marine hydroid species. The results showed contrasting patterns of genetic and phenotypic divergence, suggesting the existence of cryptic speciation and plasticity in different species.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Rafaela Indalecio Moreno, Vanessa O. Zambelli, Gisele Picolo, Yara Cury, Andre C. Morandini, Antonio Carlos Marques, Juliana Mozer Sciani
Summary: Neuroinflammation, a condition associated with dementia such as Alzheimer's disease, can be caused by an inflammatory response to amyloid peptides. This study identified new caspase-1 and cathepsin B inhibitors from Brazilian marine invertebrates. The extract of the box jellyfish Chiropsalmus quadrumanus was found to inhibit caspase-1, and trigonelline was identified as the active molecule. Additionally, betaine from Exaiptasia diaphana was shown to inhibit cathepsin B. These new prototypes may provide potential targets for enzyme inhibition and control of neuroinflammation.
Article
Ecology
Marina Oliveira Fernandez, Adrian Jaimes-Becerra, Antonio Carlos Marques
Summary: The aim of this study was to test trait-environment relationships in hydroids across large spatial and environmental gradients and to evaluate associations between traits, environmental variables, space, and phylogeny. The results showed significant correlations between hydroid traits and environmental variables as well as geographical space, and a correlation between hydroid phylogeny and the environment and geographical space. Multiple environmental variables combined affect the distribution of hydroid traits, which are also influenced by spatial and historical factors. This study provides an overview of how hydroids are distributed across environments according to their traits and reveals the spatial and phylogenetic components of these trait-environment relationships.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carlos J. A. Campos, Laura T. Kelly, Jonathan C. Banks
Summary: This study combined traditional risk management methods with faecal source tracking, bacterial source apportionment, and hydrometeorological modelling to determine the causes of elevated E. coli concentrations contributing to harvest closures in Papanui Inlet (New Zealand). The results showed that ruminant livestock accounted for 80% of the faecal contamination, and the contamination levels in shellfish exceeded the approved limit in summer due to faecal inputs from both animal and human sources.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Alan Dias, Michelle Kelly, Ulisses Pinheiro
Summary: In this study, two new species of Corallistidae from Brazil are described and compared to all valid species of the respective genera. These findings are significant as they represent the first records of Neophrissospongia Pisera and Levi, 2002 from the Brazilian coast and Awhiowhio Kelly, 2007 from the Atlantic Ocean. The specimens were preserved in 80% ethanol and analyzed using classical procedures for Demospongiae, including dissociated spicule mounts, skeletal sections, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Neophrissospongia jorgeorum sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the types of spicules present, particularly the absence of streptasters/amphiasters. Awhiowhio saci sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of spiraster-shaped microrhabds and microxeas.
Article
Zoology
Joana Sandes, Livia Rocha, Ulisses Pinheiro, George Garcia Santos
Summary: This study describes new specimens of Neopetrosia carbonaria from the Brazilian coast, analyzes the holotype of N. carbonaria, and reviews the previous records of N. carbonaria in Brazil. The study reveals new morphological features and spicule types in the Brazilian populations of N. carbonaria. The authors suggest reevaluating all records of N. carbonaria and using molecular methods to investigate the relationship between Caribbean and Brazilian populations.
Article
Zoology
Larissa Bettcher, Julio C. C. Fernandez, Marianela Gastaldi, Andre Bispo, Camille V. Leal, Dora Leite, Dhara Avelino-alves, Pedro H. b. Clerier, Dafinny Rezende, Clara M. R. Gulart, Ulisses Pinheiro, Eduardo Hajdu
Summary: This study presents a checklist of sponge species in Costa do Descobrimento, Brazil, and their distribution in the studied reefs, including new records for the region. The richness of sponge species varied among the surveyed reefs, with some reefs having higher species turnover and others having lower richness. The uniqueness of the AA reef highlights the need for its inclusion in a comprehensive conservation strategy.
Article
Zoology
Elielton Nascimento, Ulisses Pinheiro
Summary: The synapomorphic character of the genus Acarnus Gray, 1867 is the presence of the cladotylote spicule. There are a total of 27 valid species worldwide, with five species reported from the Brazilian coast. We describe a new species, A. microxeatus, which is characterized by the presence of smooth microxeas and acanthoxeas, new characters for the genus. We also provide a complete characterization of the skeletal architecture and spicule morphology of A. toxeata, with SEM images of the spicule set.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carlos J. A. Campos, Anna Berthelsen, Fiona Maclean, Lisa Floerl, Don Morrisey, Paul Gillespie, Nathan Clarke
Summary: This study evaluated the long-term effects of biosolids applied to forestry plantations on the adjacent intertidal habitats of Rabbit Island (New Zealand). The results showed that no long-term adverse changes to intertidal habitats attributed to biosolids application were detected.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francisco R. N. Andrade, Pedro A. S. Tabosa, Renato C. F. Torres, Romulo F. Carneiro, Mayron A. Vasconcelos, Alexandre L. Andrade, Elielton Nascimento, Ulisses Pinheiro, Edson H. Teixeira, Celso S. Nagano, Alexandre H. Sampaio
Summary: A lectin (HiL) with galactose specificity was isolated from marine sponge Haliclona (Reniera) implexiformis using affinity chromatography. Potent inhibitors of HiL included glycoproteins porcine stomach mucin (PSM) and bovine stomach mucin (BSM). HiL showed maximal hemagglutinating activity at pH 5.0-9.0 and remained active up to 60 degrees C. It consists of a dimer with identical subunits linked by disulfide bonds and has a significant impact on Staphylococcus biofilms.
ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Antonio C. Marques, Alvaro E. Migotto, Marcelo Kitahara, Gustavo Muniz Dias, Tania Marcia Costa, Mariana C. Oliveira
Summary: This study surveys and analyzes 300 projects on marine biodiversity funded by FAPESP from 1972 to 2021, finding a gradual increase in project numbers and a expanding geographical range. The majority of projects focus on coastal benthic organisms. The top five research topics include taxonomy, phylogeny, community, "omics", and pollution.
Article
Environmental Studies
Andrew Younger, Simon Kershaw, Carlos J. A. Campos
Summary: Storm overflow (SO) discharges in shellfish growing waters are a concern for both shellfish growers and consumers due to potential health risks. We found that the performance of permitted SOs with a shellfish water spill monitoring requirement varied across five water companies in England from 2019 to 2021. More than half of the SOs in all companies spilled more frequently than the design criterion of 10 spills per year. The number of SOs with the monitoring requirement also differed significantly between water companies, resulting in some companies handling a higher "burden" than others. Discharges from SOs can lead to short-term reductions in water quality that may not be detected by routine monitoring using faecal indicator bacteria. Such discharges can increase the incidence of norovirus in shellfish and thus pose a potential health risk to consumers.