Article
Fisheries
Seiji Ohshimo, Taketoshi Kodama, Tohya Yasuda, Satoshi Kitajima, Toshihiro Tsuji, Hideaki Kidokoro, Hiroshige Tanaka
Summary: This study evaluated changes in carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of three small pelagic forage fish species in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea over 22 years. The study found that the stable isotope ratios of these fish species can be affected by changes in baseline values, which should be taken into consideration when inferring food-web structures.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Elisabetta Oddo, Giuseppe D'Asaro, Emmanuele Monti, Geraldina Signa, Salvatrice Vizzini, Maurizio Sajeva
Summary: The study investigated the optimization of resource utilization in Lithops plants in extremely arid environments, and provided experimental evidence of carbon and nitrogen isotope values in leaves and roots, supporting the existence of CAM metabolism.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Miao Zhang, Renjie Hou, Tianxiao Li, Qiang Fu, Shoujie Zhang, Anshuang Su, Ping Xue, Xuechen Yang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different tillage patterns and biochar gradients on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and soil nitrogen fixation capacity of soybean. The results showed that biochar can enhance soil nitrogen fixation capacity, improve soybean's nitrogen use efficiency and yield, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hao Jiang, Wenjing Liu, Yuanchuan Li, Jiangyi Zhang, Zhifang Xu
Summary: The Tibetan Plateau is sensitive to climate change, and this study investigates the feedbacks of nitrogen cycling to climate conditions in the Nujiang River Basin. The isotopic compositions reveal that nitrate loadings are controlled by multiple sources during the low-flow season and biological removal processes occur during the high-flow season. Soil sources, sewage, and atmospheric precipitation contribute to riverine nitrate during different seasons. The study highlights the importance of hydrology in controlling nitrogen cycling dynamics in the basin.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Zaid Al Rubaiee, Haider Al Murayati, Marcin Tobolka, Piotr Tryjanowski, Anders Pape Moller
Summary: The abundance and diversity of microorganisms on black and white feathers have significant effects on the growth and breeding success of white stork chicks and adults. The findings suggest that different microbial environments on black and white feathers play a role in these birds' fitness and overall health.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Wenjing Liu, Hao Jiang, Jiangyi Zhang, Zhifang Xu
Summary: This study explores the nitrogen cycling processes and driving forces in the Yarlung Tsangpo River Basin and finds that in-soil nitrification dominates the basin-scale nitrogen cycle. The study estimates the contributions of different sources to nitrate and proposes a nitrification-driven feedback loop on climate.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dan Wu, Fenfen Zhang, Xiaodi Zhang, Xiubao Li, Hui Huang, Huan Feng, Jing Zhang
Summary: Stable isotopes (delta C-13 and delta N-15) in black coral serve as useful indicators for environmental records, with studies showing variations in climate and environmental changes over the past 110 years. This research suggests that black coral could be a new proxy indicator for climate changes related to anthropogenic activities.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Catalina Marin, Milos Bartak, Gotz Palfner, Pablo Vergara-Barros, Francisco Fernandoy, Josef Hajek, Angelica Casanova-Katny
Summary: Climate warming in the Antarctic tundra will affect the dominant cryptogams in the region. This study found that different lichen species have specific responses to long-term warming and desiccation, with some species being more sensitive to water stress than others.
Article
Neurosciences
Shana Harris, Nandakumar S. S. Narayanan, Daniel Tranel
Summary: Black patients are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at a lower rate than White patients, and the reasons for this disparity are unknown. Practitioner bias surrounding facial expressivity in Black patients may lead to misinterpretation of hypomimia as higher levels of facial expressivity and negative personality traits. This bias in the evaluation of hypomimia could significantly impact referral decisions and diagnosis rates. Exploring these differences is crucial for addressing healthcare disparities and improving detection of Parkinson's disease in Black patients.
NPJ PARKINSONS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Oliver N. Shipley, Jill A. Olin, John P. Whiteman, Dana M. Bethea, Seth D. Newsome
Summary: The study used amino acid isotope analysis to investigate nitrogen balance changes during shark gestation, finding that nitrogen isotope values decreased with different stages of pregnancy and observed contrasting patterns of isotopic discrimination in embryo tissues.
Article
Anthropology
Elizabeth Stroud, Michael Charles, Amy Bogaard, Helena Hamerow
Summary: The stable isotopic values of charred crops are often studied in archaeology. This study provides experimental data on the impact of charring on two northern European cereals, rye and oat, expanding the temperature range to 300 degrees C. The findings have implications for the investigation of medieval agricultural practices in Britain.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Qian Huang, Oluwatoosin B. A. Agbaje, Martina Conti, Bernd R. Schoene
Summary: The stable nitrogen isotope composition of bivalve shell organics can serve as a proxy for nitrogen fluxes in ecosystems. It has been found that pristine isotope signals can be retrieved from shell organics and intra-crystalline organic matrix is less likely contaminated than inter-crystalline organics. Furthermore, the different shell organic phases may have distinct isotopic characteristics and may not agree with the bulk organic matter.
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Qian Huang, Oluwatoosin B. A. Agbaje, Martina Conti, Bernd R. Schoene
Summary: The stable nitrogen isotope composition of bivalve shell organics can be used as a proxy for nitrogen fluxes in ecosystems. This study investigated the possibility of retrieving pristine isotope signals from shell organics after sample pretreatment. The results showed that intra-crystalline organic matrix (intra-OM) is a reliable source for delta N-15 analyses, while inter-crystalline organics (inter-OM) should be avoided due to potential contamination or diagenetic overprinting. Different solvents were tested, and NaOCl treatment was found to be more effective in cleaning inter-OM and producing reliable delta N-15 data of intra-OM. Differences in the abundance and delta N-15 values of individual amino acids suggested that the N isotope composition is not uniform within shells.
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Matthew D. Ramirez, Alexi C. Besser, Seth D. Newsome, Kelton W. McMahon
Summary: This study conducted a meta-analysis to investigate sources of variability in primary producer AA nitrogen isotope data, finding that vascularization is a greater source of variability than habitat type. Results show that variation in beta(Glx-Phe) values is two times greater than previously considered, and the relative influence of beta values dissipates at higher trophic levels.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Kimberly A. A. Lato, Lesley H. H. Thorne
Summary: Anticoagulants like sodium heparin are commonly added to avian blood samples, but their effects on stable isotope studies are not well understood. This study assessed the effects of sodium heparin on stable isotope values in avian blood and found that it only significantly affected the S-34 values, with minimal impact on diet proportion estimation. Researchers should be cautious of the potential impacts of sodium heparin on stable isotope values in avian blood, especially for S-34, and consider the study scale and species characteristics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
R. Colominas-Ciuro, M. Cianchetti-Benedetti, L. Michel, G. Dell'Omo, P. Quillfeldt
Summary: This study investigates the physiological differences between incubation and chick rearing in seabirds, revealing that chick rearing is more energetically demanding and stressful with lower body reserves. Additionally, there are gender differences in oxidative status and antioxidant capacity during the reproductive period, with males showing higher levels of monocytes and increased antioxidant capacity.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Maria Laranjeiro, Marc Farre, Richard A. Phillips, Petra Quillfeldt, Francesco Bonadonna, Charlene Gemard, Maximiliano Daigre, Cristian G. Suazo, Christophe Barbraud, Joan Navarro
Summary: Morphological variation in bill shape among planktivorous petrels (Antarctic prion, blue petrel, and thin-billed prion) is primarily driven by diet and potential niche differentiation. Antarctic prions have robust and shorter bills for filtering small prey, while blue petrels and thin-billed prions have narrower and longer bills for catching larger prey. Geographic variation in bill shape, specifically longer and narrower bills in Kerguelen colonies, may be associated with diet differences. Prey availability and diversity are important factors influencing bill morphology.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juan F. Masello, Peter G. Ryan, Lara D. Shepherd, Petra Quillfeldt, Yves Cherel, Alan J. D. Tennyson, Rachael Alderman, Luciano Calderon, Theresa L. Cole, Richard J. Cuthbert, Ben J. Dilley, Melanie Massaro, Colin M. Miskelly, Joan Navarro, Richard A. Phillips, Henri Weimerskirch, Yoshan Moodley
Summary: Interspecific introgression and homoploid hybrid speciation have led to different populations of Pachyptila petrels evolving with varying bill sizes. The medium-billed prions may have originated from common ancestry or through independent convergent evolution. The newly discovered population of MacGillivray's prion on Gough Island represents a conservation priority due to the small relict population in the Indian Ocean.
MOLECULAR GENETICS AND GENOMICS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Petra Quillfeldt, Julius Morkunas, Helmut Kruckenberg, Alexander Kondratyev, Julia Loshchagina, Tomas Aarvak, Ingar Jostein Oien, Jochen Bellebaum, Petr Glazov
Summary: Research on Long-tailed Ducks found distinct spatial differences in their winter migration routes and stopover sites between males and females. The study also identified differences in post-breeding and autumn migration locations chosen by the different genders.
Article
Environmental Sciences
William F. Mills, Andres E. Ibanez, Paco Bustamante, Ana P. B. Carneiro, Stuart Bearhop, Yves Cherel, Rocio Mariano-Jelicich, Rona A. R. McGill, Diego Montalti, Stephen C. Votier, Richard A. Phillips
Summary: Antarctic marine ecosystems are often considered pristine, but wildlife may still be exposed to high levels of environmental contaminants. This study found that blood mercury concentrations increased from the Antarctic Peninsula towards the Antarctic Polar Front, with the highest contamination at Bird Island. Blood mercury concentrations also showed a weak positive correlation with delta N-15 values, likely indicating biomagnification. Males had higher mercury burdens than females, possibly due to differences in their trophic ecology.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nina J. O'Hanlon, Chris B. Thaxter, Niall H. K. Burton, Dave Grant, Nigel A. Clark, Gary D. Clewley, Greg J. Conway, Lee J. Barber, Rona A. R. McGill, Ruedi G. Nager
Summary: Understanding the distribution and habitat use of species throughout the annual cycle is crucial to understanding their vulnerability to environmental change. In this study, we investigated the migratory strategies and non-breeding habitat selection of a declining seabird species, the European herring gull. We found that herring gulls displayed a generalist use of non-breeding habitats at the population level, but individual birds showed some habitat specialisation. The results emphasize the importance of intertidal habitat and a mix of alternative foraging habitats for herring gulls during the non-breeding season.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joshua Bennett-Williams, Christina Skinner, Alex S. J. Wyatt, Rona A. R. McGill, Trevor J. Willis
Summary: The application of stable isotope analysis (SIA) in elasmobranch trophic ecology is increasing, but there is inconsistency in the choice of tissue pre-treatment methods. Different tissues and species have different isotope biases, suggesting a need for standardized treatment methods. The choice of treatment method can significantly impact the estimation of prey contributions to elasmobranch diet.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Alberto Pina-Ortiz, Jose Alfredo Castillo-Guerrero, Luis Manuel Enriquez-Paredes, Guillermo Fernandez, Salvador Hernandez-Vazquez, Petra Quillfeldt
Summary: The study found that the Red-billed Tropicbird exhibited a body-size cline related to environmental conditions in a south-to-north gradient. This body size variation could be influenced by both abiotic and biotic factors. Furthermore, sexual size dimorphism was more pronounced in colonies with larger body sizes, suggesting that environmental-mediated variation is a crucial factor in sexual size dimorphism.
JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Juan F. Masello, Wanja Rast, Yvonne R. Schumm, Benjamin Metzger, Petra Quillfeldt
Summary: Accelerometers and machine learning algorithms were used to analyze the behaviors of woodpigeons in different environments, and the results showed variations in time budgets among seasons and locations. Urban woodpigeons were found to spend more time foraging compared to forest woodpigeons.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Georgina L. Hunt, Matthew R. D. Cobain, Rona A. R. McGill, John K. Pinnegar, Georg H. Engelhard, Benjamin D. Wigham, Nicholas V. C. Polunin
Summary: Sympatric flatfish predators in coastal environments may partition their resources to reduce competition and increase foraging efficiency. However, the consistency in their feeding habits over time and space is not well understood. This study uses stomach content and stable isotope analysis to investigate the feeding habits of two flatfish predators across different temporal scales, revealing changes in resource partitioning and diet switching in response to prey availability.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isabella Mele, Rona A. R. McGill, Jordan Thompson, James Fennell, Susan Fitzer
Summary: Molluscs are affected by ocean acidification, which can alter their metabolic and environmental sourcing pathways for carbon and negatively impact shell development. However, supplementary feeding can help offset these effects.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Juan F. Masello, Yvonne R. Schumm, Sven Griep, Petra Quillfeldt
Summary: This study aimed to understand the diet composition of Falkland Flightless Steamer Duck and Patagonian Crested Duck sharing a coastal environment. Using DNA extracted from scats and Illumina sequencing, molecular operational taxonomic units were identified. Both ducks consumed various invertebrates, with overlapping taxa. However, only Falkland Flightless Steamer Ducks consumed fish, indicating dietary specialization and inter-specific segregation in the shared space.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tessa Plint, Mariel T. I. ten Doeschate, Andrew C. Brownlow, Nicholas J. Davison, Georg Hantke, Andrew C. Kitchener, Fred J. Longstaffe, Rona A. R. McGill, Cornelia Simon-Nutbrown, Clayton R. Magill
Summary: Dolphins are highly mobile marine predators that have expanded their range and abundance in British waters. While warm-water adapted species are increasing, cold-water adapted species are decreasing, potentially due to the impact of ocean warming. Competition for prey and the decline in available habitat are important factors that should be considered in the management of dolphin populations.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Martin Austad, Steffen Oppel, James Crymble, Hannah R. Greetham, Dilek Sahin, Paulo Lago, Benjamin J. Metzger, Petra Quillfeldt
Summary: Artificial light can have complex ecological effects, and ships, which are often brightly lit, can temporarily increase light levels in otherwise dark areas. In this study, we found that the presence of ships in front of coastal cliffs significantly reduced colony attendance of Yelkouan Shearwaters.
JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Petra Quillfeldt, Yuliana Bedolla-Guzman, Marcela M. Libertelli, Yves Cherel, Melanie Massaro, Paco Bustamante
Summary: Ocean pollution caused by global industrial production and consumer behavior affects wildlife in distant areas. This study compared mercury levels among different species of storm-petrels in various breeding and non-breeding areas, revealing variations based on species distribution and prey choice.
ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2023)