Review
Microbiology
Allison R. Mason, Lois S. Taylor, Jennifer M. DeBruyn
Summary: Decomposing carcasses host dynamic microbial communities that recycle carbon and nutrients, serving as indicators of time since death. However, research on these microbial communities is often limited to forensic applications, neglecting the larger ecological context.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
John R. Wallace, Joseph Paul Receveur, Phillip H. Hutchinson, Sierra Frances Kaszubinski, Harrison E. Wallace, M. Eric Benbow
Summary: By studying bacterial changes on porcine carcasses submerged in a tidal-influenced river, this research identified predictors of epinecrotic community succession and developed Random Forest Models to predict postmortem submersion interval (PMSI), potentially improving accuracy of estimations for use in court.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiaojiao Liao, Yanxing Dou, Xuan Yang, Shaoshan An
Summary: Restoration of grasslands leads to shifts in soil microbial community composition and functional gene abundance, with a transition from oligotrophic to copiotrophic groups. Changes in microbial functional genes are mainly influenced by soil biotic factors.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Sabine S. Nooten, Kin H. Chan, Patrick Schultheiss, Taylor A. Bogar, Benoit Guenard
Summary: Concerns about species declines and extinctions have led to interest in the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecological processes. The loss of certain species has a greater impact on ecosystem services than others, highlighting the importance of key functional species traits and their relationship to ecosystem functioning.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Esther Sebastian-Gonzalez, Zebensui Morales-Reyes, Francisco Botella, Lara Naves-Alegre, Juan M. Perez-Garcia, Patricia Mateo-Tomas, Pedro P. Olea, Marcos Moleon, Jomar Magalhaes Barbosa, Fernando Hiraldo, Eneko Arrondo, Jose A. Donazar, Ainara Cortes-Avizanda, Nuria Selva, Sergio A. Lambertucci, Aishwarya Bhattacharjee, Alexis L. Brewer, Erin F. Abernethy, Kelsey L. Turner, James C. Beasley, Travis L. deVault, Hannah C. Gerke, Olin E. Rhodes, Andres Ordiz, Camilla Wikenros, Barbara Zimmermann, Petter Wabakken, Christopher C. Wilmers, Justine A. Smith, Corinne J. Kendall, Darcy Ogada, Ethan Frehner, Maximilian L. Allen, Heiko U. Wittmer, James R. A. Butler, Johan T. du Toit, Antoni Margalida, Pilar Oliva-Vidal, David Wilson, Klemen Jerina, Miha Krofel, Rich Kostecke, Richard Inger, Esra Per, Yunus Ayhan, Mehmet Sanci, Unsal Yilmazer, Akino Inagaki, Shinsuke Koike, Arockianathan Samson, Paula L. Perrig, Emma E. Spencer, Thomas M. Newsome, Marco Heurich, Jose D. Anadon, Evan R. Buechley, Cayetano Gutierrez-Canovas, L. Mark Elbroch, Jose A. Sanchez-Zapata
Summary: The study found that scavenger species with high olfactory acuity, social foragers, and obligate scavengers had the widest scavenging breadth. Social foragers also had a large paired nested degree in scavenger assemblages, likely due to being easier to detect by other species to signal carcass occurrence.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xin Lv, Songhe Zhang, Lisha Zhang, Shaozhuang Guo, Yu Ma, Tiantian Zhou
Summary: This study investigated nutrient transfer and microbial community shift during the decomposition of submerged macrophyte Hydrillaverticillata in flowing water and static water environments. The results showed that water flow stimulated cellulase activity and influenced nutrient transfer. Turnover affected microbial diversity, and water flow improved microbial community stability and altered the microbial food web.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lois C. Taylor, Adrian Gonzalez, Michael Z. Essington, Scott W. Lenaghan, C. Neal M. Stewart, Amy E. Mundorff, Dawnie E. Steadman, Jennifer E. DeBruyn
Summary: Mammalian decomposition creates temporary hotspots of nutrient cycling in the local ecosystem through pulses of organic matter. This study focused on evaluating temporal changes in dissolved soil elements during human decomposition, including abundant mineral elements in the human body, trace elements, and common soil elements.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Gong Wu, Jun Ling, De-Qiang Zhao, Zi-Xi Liu, Yi-Ping Xu, Yakov Kuzyakov, Karina Marsden, Yuan Wen, Shun-Li Zhou
Summary: Climate warming is a serious threat to soil biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Straw return is recommended as an environmentally friendly management practice to improve soil health and agricultural productivity. However, the interactive effects of climate warming and straw return on microbial communities and soil functioning are not well understood. In this study, soil warming decreased fungal diversity and functional genes associated with nutrient cycling, while straw return increased bacterial diversity and microbial functional gene abundances, ultimately enhancing soil multifunctionality. The findings highlight the importance of soil biodiversity in maintaining agroecosystem functioning, especially under climate warming.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sylvie Estrela, Jean C. C. Vila, Nanxi Lu, Djordje Bajic, Maria Rebolleda-Gomez, Chang -Yu Chang, Joshua E. Goldford, Alicia Sanchez-Gorostiaga, Alvaro Sanchez
Summary: The study found that family-level convergence in microbial communities reflects a reproducible metabolic organization, while taxonomic divergence among replicate communities arises from multistability in population dynamics. Multistability can lead to alternative functional states in closed ecosystems but not in metacommunities.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yuwen Zhou, Mayur B. Kurade, Ranjna Sirohi, Zengqiang Zhang, Raveendran Sindhu, Parameswaran Binod, Byong-Hun Jeon, Asad Syed, Meenakshi Verma, Mukesh Kumar Awasthi
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of two types of biochar on composting of hen manure and wheat straw. Coconut shell and bamboo biochar were used as additives to reduce antibiotic resistant bacteria in the compost. The results showed that biochar amendment significantly reduced the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Microbial activity and abundance were increased in the biochar applied treatments, and the bacterial community composition changed. Network analysis indicated that biochar amendment increased the quantity of microorganisms involved in organic matter degradation. Coconut shell biochar played a key role in mitigating antibiotic resistant bacteria and improving composting effects. Structural correlation analysis revealed that coconut shell biochar reduced the mobility of antibiotic resistant bacteria and promoted organic matter degradation by improving the structure of beneficial bacterial communities. Overall, composting with biochar amendment stimulated the dynamics of antibiotic resistant bacteria. These findings have practical value for scientific research and can serve as a foundation for promoting composting in agriculture.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Heather L. Deel, Sophia Montoya, Keli King, Alexandra L. Emmons, Cameron Huhn, Aaron M. Lynne, Jessica L. Metcalf, Sibyl R. Bucheli
Summary: This study examines the microbiome of flies associated with human cadavers and finds that these flies have a similar microbiome to flies not associated with human cadavers. However, there are differences in the microbiome between seasons and fly parts. The study also shows that flies contribute to the human decomposer microbiome, providing important insights into the ecological mechanisms of human cadaver microbial community assembly.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chen Wang, Rong Xiao, Yutong Guo, Qian Wang, Yuan Cui, Yujiao Xiu, Ziwen Ma, Mingxiang Zhang
Summary: The addition of Phragmites australis straw in soil microorganisms from different freshwater pumping areas in the Yellow River Estuary led to a significant increase in total phospholipid fatty acid content, especially in the surface soils. Bacteria and fungi showed a significant increase after straw addition, with fungi to bacteria ratio improving in all sampling sites. Soil characteristics such as organic carbon content were found to significantly influence microbial community composition.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aimee L. Massey, Roberta Vieira de Morais Bronzoni, David Jose Ferreira da Silva, Jennifer M. Allen, Patrick Ricardo de Lazari, Manoel dos Santos-Filho, Gustavo Rodrigues Canale, Christine Steiner Sao Bernardo, Carlos Augusto Peres, Taal Levi
Summary: Metabarcoding and iDNA sampling were used to study vertebrate diversity in 39 forested sites in the southern Amazon, with carrion flies showing the highest vertebrate species richness. Camera traps may have biases towards certain species.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarai S. Finks, Claudia Weihe, Sarah Kimball, Steven D. Allison, Adam C. Martiny, Kathleen K. Treseder, Jennifer B. H. Martiny
Summary: Research on the Loma Ridge Global Change Experiment in Southern California revealed that microbial and plant community changes are closely related to plant community composition, and global change treatments also affect microbial composition in an ecosystem-dependent manner.
ELEMENTA-SCIENCE OF THE ANTHROPOCENE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Claire Cartozzo, Tal Simmons, Jenise Swall, Baneshwar Singh
Summary: The study investigated changes and successional patterns in bacterial communities of porcine skeletal remains submerged in a freshwater river, showing significant differences in bacterial community abundances and increased phylogenetic diversity with time. Models fitted using rib samples provided a tighter prediction interval for estimating postmortem submersion interval compared to scapulae samples.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Jia Meng, Jiaxin Lei, Andrew Davitt, Jocelyn R. Holt, Jian Huang, Roger Gold, Edward L. Vargo, Aaron M. Tarone, Keyan Zhu-Salzman
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
R. C. Beier, R. B. Harvey, T. L. Poole, M. E. Hume, T. L. Crippen, L. D. Highfield, W. Q. Alali, K. Andrews, R. C. Anderson, D. J. Nisbet
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zachary M. Burcham, Carl J. Schmidt, Jennifer L. Pechal, Christopher P. Brooks, Jason W. Rosch, M. Eric Benbow, Heather R. Jordan
Review
Medicine, Legal
Szymon Matuszewski, Martin J. R. Hall, Gaetan Moreau, Kenneth G. Schoenly, Aaron M. Tarone, Martin H. Villet
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Ross C. Beier, J. Allen Byrd, Denise Caldwell, Kathleen Andrews, Tawni L. Crippen, Robin C. Anderson, David J. Nisbet
Article
Medicine, Legal
Sierra F. Kaszubinski, Jennifer L. Pechal, Carl J. Schmidt, Heather R. Jordan, Mark E. Benbow, Mariah H. Meek
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Entomology
A. M. Faris, W. R. West, J. K. Tomberlin, A. M. Tarone
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Entomology
Pierre Lesne, Satyam P. Srivastav, Ahmed El-Hefnawy, Jonathan J. Parrott, Michelle R. Sanford, Aaron M. Tarone
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Entomology
Nicholas J. Babcock, Jennifer L. Pechal, M. Eric Benbow
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Ross C. Beier, Kathleen Andrews, Michael E. Hume, Muhammad Umar Sohail, Roger B. Harvey, Toni L. Poole, Tawni L. Crippen, Robin C. Anderson
Summary: This study investigates the susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus strains from swine feces, mandibular lymph node tissue, and commercial pork sausage to 24 disinfectants. It was found that there is variation in susceptibility to different antimicrobials and disinfectants among S. aureus strains. The presence of MRSA strains in swine lymph node tissue highlights the importance of proper handling of raw pork products to prevent potential contamination.
Article
Microbiology
Tawni L. Crippen, Baneshwar Singh, Robin C. Anderson, Cynthia L. Sheffield
Summary: This study investigated the microbial community of litter beetles in broiler chicken facilities and pastureland after the spent litter was used as fertilizer. The research found significant changes in the microbial profiles of the beetles in different environments, indicating the potential impact of environmental conditions on their microbiome.
Review
Agronomy
Fabian List, Aaron M. Tarone, Keyan Zhu-Salzman, Edward L. Vargo
Summary: RNA interference (RNAi) shows promise in insect pest management, but standardization is currently lacking. A machine learning algorithm can predict trial efficacy, with key factors being response time and target gene.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Elizabeth A. Latham, Robin C. Anderson, Lauren R. Wottlin, Toni L. Poole, Tawni L. Crippen, Wayne D. Schlosser, Roger B. Harvey, Michael E. Hume
Summary: Yersinia ruckeri is an important fish pathogen, and the traditional use of antibiotics to control this pathogen has raised concerns about antibiotic resistance. This study tested the effects of chlorate and certain nitrocompounds on Y. ruckeri and a related species, Y. aleksiciae. The results showed that some of the tested compounds had inhibitory effects on these pathogens, suggesting their potential as alternative interventions.
Article
Microbiology
Toni L. Poole, Wayne D. Schlosser, Tawni L. Crippen, Sonja L. Swiger, Keri N. Norman, Robin C. Anderson
Summary: This study investigated the presence and characteristics of Aeromonas spp. on a dairy farm in central Texas. A total of 140 samples were collected from different areas of two barns and 22 presumptive Aeromonas isolates were cultured. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of four Aeromonas spp. All isolates exhibited beta-lactam resistance and one displayed tetracycline resistance. Virulence genes were identified in all four Aeromonas spp. and three of them had mobility elements associated with multidrug resistance. The absence of plasmids suggested the localization of resistance genes on the chromosome. These findings highlight the ubiquitous nature of Aeromonas spp. in the environment.
MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jennifer L. Pechal, Tawni L. Crippen, Jonathan A. Cammack, Jeffery K. Tomberlin, M. Eric Benbow