Article
Microbiology
Rajesh Sathyamoorthy, Amit Huppert, Daniel E. Kadouri, Edouard Jurkevitch
Summary: Increasing decoy:prey ratios result in reduced maximal predator population sizes and significantly increased time to reach it. BALOs spend less time handling non-prey cells and do not differentiate between efficient and less efficient prey. Less preferred prey may act as decoys in multiple predator and prey cultures.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Jade A. Ezzedine, Yves Desdevises, Stephan Jacquet
Summary: Almost sixty years ago, Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs) were discovered as the first obligate bacterial predators, showing diverse ecological, physiological, and metabolic capabilities. In the past decade, significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanistic basis of their life cycle and interactions with prey, as well as advancements in their applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry. This review highlights these achievements and aims to identify current knowledge gaps to guide future BALO research.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dora Bjedov, Alma Mikuska, Lidija Begovic, Eric Bollinger, Jan Ove Bustnes, Tamas Deme, Tibor Mikuska, Attila Morocz, Ralf Schulz, Jens Sondergaard, Igor Eulaers
Summary: This study assessed the extent and dietary sources of total mercury exposure in a population of white-tailed eagles for the first time. The results showed variations in THg concentrations across different years, with nests containing aquatic prey remains exhibiting higher THg concentrations compared to those with terrestrial remains or a mixed diet.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
J. Kimberley Summers, Jan-Ulrich Kreft
Summary: With the increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need for novel means of treating resistant infections. Bacteriophages and predatory bacteria have been proposed as suitable candidates for this role. Mathematical models have been used to investigate the mechanisms of action of predators and predict the dynamics of predator-prey systems. These models have also provided insights into the qualitative and quantitative similarities or differences between bacterial predators and bacteriophages or protists. Additionally, models have helped study the effectiveness of predators in removing prey species and their potential effects on shaping ecosystems. Overall, mathematical models have played a crucial role in understanding and predicting the behavior of prokaryotic predators.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Fereshteh Heidari Tajabadi, Asma Moeinzadeh, Aref Moshayedi, Esmaeil Basavand, Pejman Khodaygan, Gholamreza Salehi Jouzani, Masoud Ahmadzadeh
Summary: This study isolated and characterized native BALO strains from water and soil samples in Iran. The strains showed different host range and predation efficiency, with two strains being identified as the most versatile predators. The native BALOs in Iran were found to be a group of potential biocontrol agents adapted to local conditions.
JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ana Couto, Benjamin J. Williamson, Thomas Cornulier, Paul G. Fernandes, Shaun Fraser, James D. Chapman, Ian M. Davies, Beth E. Scott
Summary: This study investigates the ecological interactions influencing predator behavior and distribution in tidal stream environments, specifically focusing on the presence of marine renewable devices and their potential impacts. The research concludes that different categories of seabirds, such as benthic and pelagic foragers, exhibit distinct preferences and responses to prey presence, water velocity, and fish schools. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of considering both physical and biological data when assessing the ecological impacts of tidal turbines.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Young-Jae Jeong, Bo-Seong Seo, Nuri Baek, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Sang-Mo Lee, Hyun-Jin Park, Woo-Jung Choi
Summary: This study proposed methods for determining the δN-15 of multiple nitrogen species. The methods included traditional distillation, direct evaporation, and isotope mass balance equation. The accuracy and precision of the methods were evaluated through a series of experiments, and the influences of different conditions on the analysis results were assessed.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Weimin Sun, Xiaoxu Sun
Summary: This study found that methane can be produced through anaerobic degradation of toluene over a long-term enrichment experiment. The DNA-SIP technique identified bacteria in the phylum Proteobacteria as the dominant toluene-degrading bacteria under anaerobic conditions.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianfei Chen, Yuyin Yang, Yanchu Ke, Xiuli Chen, Xinshu Jiang, Chao Chen, Shuguang Xie
Summary: This study utilized DNA-stable isotope probing and metagenomics to investigate the active microorganisms and mechanisms of sulfonamide (SA) biodegradation in antibiotic-contaminated wetland sediments. The results revealed that SA-assimilating bacteria, particularly members of Proteobacteria, played a dominant role in SA degradation. It was found that ipso-hydroxylation was the main process by which both sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole were dissipated, and this process was driven by similar microbes. Additionally, some genes encoding dioxygenases were proposed to be involved in SA metabolism. This study provides important insights into the ecological roles of uncultured microorganisms and the in-situ biodegradation mechanisms of SA.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinha Kim, Myung Hwangbo, Chih-Hsuan Shih, Kung-Hui Chu
Summary: Stable isotope probing (SIP) is a powerful tool for studying microbial community structure and function. It has provided substantial information to understand complex microbial ecosystems. This review provides an overview of the advances and applications of SIP-based technologies and discusses important factors to be considered in experimental designs and data interpretation.
Article
Fisheries
Jiaqi Lu, Xiaohui Li, Qiongfen Qiu, Jiong Chen, Jinbo Xiong
Summary: This study investigated the gut microbiota in shrimps and its relationship with the onset of shrimp white feces syndrome (WFS). The study found significant differences in the communities of interkingdom predators (BALOs and phagotrophs) at the WFS onset stage, but not in the bacterial and protistan counterparts. The dynamics of pathogens were best predicted by BALOs or phagotrophs. Nine phagotrophic taxa were found to accurately diagnose shrimp health status at the WFS onset stage. The study also revealed the interactions among pathogens, BALOs, phagotrophs, and shrimp immune potentials. The findings provide a conceptual model to understand the etiology of shrimp WFS from ecological and molecular perspectives.
Article
Fisheries
Sarah M. Larocque, Scott F. Colborne, Aaron T. Fisk, Timothy B. Johnson
Summary: This study investigates the trophic niches, diets, and their spatial and seasonal variations in six salmonid species in Lake Ontario using stable isotopes and Bayesian models. The results show that there is overlap in the trophic niches of all species except Lake Trout, and Alewife is the preferred prey fish. The diets of Brown Trout and Lake Trout vary across spatial units as well as with seasonal changes, highlighting the importance of regional monitoring.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Matthew H. Holden, Jakeb Lockyer
Summary: The paper examines the consequences of legal wildlife trade funding conservation efforts, highlighting the critical proportions of product the manager must scavenge and revenue allocate towards enforcement. It is found that a significant portion of trade revenue is crucial to protect populations from poaching and prevent extinction under legal trade.
JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Guzin Gul, Nazli Demirel
Summary: The study investigated the feeding strategies and trophic roles of four demersal sharks and found interspecific differences in their main prey resources. Mustelus mustelus and Mustelus asterias mainly feed on crustaceans, while Squalus acanthias occupies a high trophic level and mainly feeds on teleosts. Scyliorhinus canicula shows a high probability of isotopic niche overlap with S. acanthias, indicating similar food resource exploitation in the same environment.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Haonan Fan, Shanghua Wu, Wenxu Dong, Xianglong Li, Yuzhu Dong, Shijie Wang, Yong-Guan Zhu, Xuliang Zhuang
Summary: This study identified antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soil-plant systems using stable isotope probing and highlighted the rhizosphere as a hotspot for antibiotic resistance gene transfer.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)