Article
Plant Sciences
Hyeong Bin Park, Jiae An, Kee-Hwa Bae, Seung Hyo Hong, Hwan Joon Park, Seongjun Kim, Chang Woo Lee, Byoung-Doo Lee, Ju Hyoung Baek, Nam Young Kim, Jung Eun Hwang
Summary: This study aimed to develop an effective in vitro propagation system for C. guttatum to aid in its conservation. The results of this study show that sterilization, appropriate light, and optimal NAA concentrations are beneficial for seed germination.
Article
Forestry
Juan Carlos Lopez-Almansa
Summary: This paper investigates the ecological factors affecting seed germination and early seedling establishment in Ulmus minor. The results suggest that factors such as light, water availability, soil cover, and substrate type play significant roles in the sexual regeneration of U. minor.
Article
Agronomy
Hongmei Liu, Yanling Wu, Yingxin Li, Shijie Lv, Zhijun Wei, Baorui Chen, Lijun Xu, Guixia Yang, Xiaoping Xin, Ruirui Yan
Summary: This study compares the germinable seed bank in the soil and the germination characteristics of Leymus chinensis in free-grazing and enclosed areas. The results show that free-grazing increases the number of germinable L. chinensis seeds and advances the initial germination time. Livestock grazing behaviors also improve the germination rate.
Article
Plant Sciences
Si-Chong Chen, Xiao-Wen Hu, Carol C. Baskin, Jerry M. Baskin
Summary: This study demonstrates that there is no trade-off between seed persistence and seedling emergence from the soil seed bank. Physically dormant seeds are more persistent but exhibit lower emergence. Monocarpic species have both higher persistence and emergence than polycarpic species. Seed mass has a marginal effect on persistence, while emergence increases nearly twofold from the smallest to the largest seeds.
Article
Ecology
Brian MacPherson, Ryan Scott, Robin Gras
Summary: The prevalence of sexual reproduction in animal species is a paradox for evolutionary theory. Sexual reproduction can create a wide range of individuals to adapt to fluctuating environments, while clonal reproduction may lead to reduced genetic variation and inability to survive in changing conditions. Our study shows that fluctuating resources can result in decreased asexual reproduction and increased sexual reproduction in facultative species, suggesting an evolutionary response. This contributes to the ongoing debate of whether the switch to sex in facultative species is mainly due to phenotypic plasticity or evolutionary factors.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cintia Vanesa LEDER, Dianela Alejandra CALVO, Guadalupe PETER
Summary: Grazing negatively affects the seed rain, soil seed bank, and seedling recruitment of Nassella tenuis, especially in interpatch areas. Soil compaction, seed removal by wind, and increased cover of annual species decrease the soil seed bank of N. tenuis, particularly in microsites exposed to the prevailing wind direction. However, there is no difference in seed rain and soil seed bank density between grazed and ungrazed sites in shrub patches and interpatches.
JOURNAL OF ARID LAND
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Zong Zhao, Yong Liu, Hongyan Jia, Wensheng Sun, Angang Ming, Shengjiang Pang, Ning An, Jihui Zhang, Chuang Tang, Shitao Dong
Summary: The study revealed that the environmental conditions of the semi-sunny slope were most suitable for the seed germination and seedling growth of Castanopsis hystrix, promoting the regeneration and restoration of its population.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yupeng Zhang, Marcos Viejo, Igor Yakovlev, Torstein Tengs, Paal Krokene, Timo Hytoenen, Paul E. Grini, Carl Gunnar Fossdal
Summary: This study aimed to understand the impact of temperature on the transcriptomes of different strawberry ecotypes. The results showed that plants reproduced asexually had a general transcriptomic response to temperature conditions, while sexually reproduced plants displayed less significant responses. Very few differentially expressed genes were shared between ecotypes, possibly due to their significant genetic and epigenetic differences. Temperature-induced changes had differential effects on the epigenetic machinery during the two types of reproduction.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cynthia G. Hays, Torrance C. Hanley, Rachel M. Graves, Forest R. Schenck, A. Randall Hughes
Summary: Sexual reproduction is the primary source of genotypic diversity in seagrass meadows, but there is limited understanding of seagrass pollination dynamics and the influence of genetic diversity among life history stages.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Yonghong Luo, Jinfeng Zhang, Xingfu Yan, Min Zhang, Shuhua Wei, Hui Yang, Yan Shen, Jinbao Zhang, Jiming Cheng
Summary: The establishment of seedlings is crucial for plant regeneration, but vulnerable to various factors. This study examined the effects of different degrees of cotyledon loss on the growth of seedlings germinating from different seed sizes. The results showed that large-seeded seedlings exhibited better growth characteristics compared to small-seeded seedlings, and slight cotyledon excision had no effect on the growth of large-seeded seedlings but significantly reduced the biomass of small-seeded seedlings. These findings suggest that large-seeded seedlings have a stronger adaptation for early seedling recruitment.
Article
Microbiology
Luis M. Rodriguez-R, Roth E. Conrad, Tomeu Viver, Dorian J. Feistel, Blake G. Lindner, Stephanus N. Venter, Luis H. Orellana, Rudolf Amann, Ramon Rossello-Mora, Konstantinos T. Konstantinidis
Summary: This study reveals the existence of a genetic distance gap between 99.2% and 99.8% in most bacterial species, which can be used to define intra-species units more accurately. These findings have significant implications for future epidemiological and micro-diversity studies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lei Yu, John J. Stachowicz, Katie DuBois, Thorsten B. H. Reusch
Summary: This study proposes a new genetic similarity index based on genetic marker loci, which focuses on shared heterozygosity and improves the ability to distinguish sample pairs belonging to different clones. The method successfully detects clonemates in a location dominated by a single clone and can also be used to detect parent-descendant pairs under selfing.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zimeng Li, Jinfeng Wu, Qing Han, Kunyan Nie, Jiani Xie, Yufei Li, Xinyu Wang, Haibo Du, Deli Wang, Jushan Liu
Summary: The study found that nitrogen deposition and litter addition have impacts on the sexual reproduction and clonal propagation of perennial clonal grasses, with nitrogen addition potentially reducing spike and seed numbers, while litter addition can increase bud numbers.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Maria E. Orive, Stacy A. Krueger-Hadfield
Summary: Organisms in the tree of life have complex life cycles involving sexual and asexual reproduction, with significant ecological implications. Researchers investigating these cycles are focused on understanding how evolution and ecological forces shape these modes of reproduction.
JOURNAL OF HEREDITY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claire Anne Holden, John Paul Bailey, Jane Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Martin, Paul Beckett, Martin McAinsh
Summary: Extreme weather and globalization make our climate vulnerable to invasion by alien species, which have negative impacts on the economy, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Rapid and accurate identification is key to the control of invasive alien species. However, visually similar species hinder conservation efforts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Zhang, Peng Zhao, Shidong Yue, Mingjie Liu, Yongliang Qiao, Shaochun Xu, Ruiting Gu, Xiaomei Zhang, Yi Zhou
Summary: The study showed that anoxic stress significantly reduced leaf Fv/Fm and had a negative impact on photosynthesis and growth of Zostera marina. Metabolomic analysis revealed promotion of glycolysis process and inhibition of the TCA cycle under anoxia, indicating a complex strategy of acclimation and adaptation in seagrass to resist anoxic stress.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shaochun Xu, Yi Zhou, Pengmei Wang, Feng Wang, Xiaomei Zhang, Shidong Yue, Yu Zhang, Yongliang Qiao, Mingjie Liu
Summary: Seagrasses, like eelgrass, play a key role in coastal ecosystems by cycling elements. Eelgrass tissues in northern China showed variable elemental contents with seasonal trends and spatial variations in isotope content. The study identified leaf sheaths as a potentially valuable indicator for ecological research in seagrass ecosystems.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ruiting Gu, Haiying Lin, Yi Zhou, Xiaoyue Song, Shaochun Xu, Shidong Yue, Yu Zhang, Shuai Xu, Xiaomei Zhang
Summary: The study found that the seedling period of Ruppia sinensis is the most vulnerable, showing visible toxic effects at the individual level in response to 50 μM copper and 500 μM cadmium after 4 days of exposure. The highest concentrations of trace metals were found in the vacuoles and cytoplasmic structures of aboveground tissues. Genes related to signal identification and protein processing were significantly downregulated after 4 days of exposure to copper and cadmium. These results provide insights into the trace metal-absorbing capacity of R. sinensis and its phytoremediation potential.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shaochun Xu, Shuai Xu, Yi Zhou, Shidong Yue, Xiaomei Zhang, Ruiting Gu, Yu Zhang, Yongliang Qiao, Mingjie Liu
Summary: Seagrass meadows in Caofeidian shoal harbor in the Bohai Sea of northern China were studied to evaluate the impact of sea reclamation activities using Landsat imagery. The study found that sea reclamation resulted in rapid changes in seagrass meadows, mainly due to physical damage, excessive sedimentation, and increased turbidity. However, sea reclamation also created artificial longshore bars that provided relatively sheltered conditions for seagrass growth, leading to a large increase in habitat since 2012.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ruiting Gu, Xiaoyue Song, Yi Zhou, Shaochun Xu, Shuai Xu, Shidong Yue, Yu Zhang, Xiaomei Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the differences in biomass, seed bank, and sediment nutrient composition between annual and perennial populations of Ruppia sinensis in the Yellow River Delta. Results showed that the annual population had higher biomass and seed bank and higher nitrogen levels in sediment compared to the perennial population. The annual population also exhibited greater resilience after habitat desiccation.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shidong Yue, Yi Zhou, Shaochun Xu, Xiaomei Zhang, Mingjie Liu, Yongliang Qiao, Ruiting Gu, Shuai Xu, Yu Zhang
Summary: The study highlighted the competitive effects of the exotic plant S. alterniflora on seagrass Z. japonica, with S. alterniflora invasion leading to inhibition of Z. japonica growth and significant increase in the distribution area of the invader. S. alterniflora primarily propagates via seeds and rhizomes, posing a threat to the population ecology of seagrass.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Xujia Liu, Xugang He, Guoqiang Huang, Yi Zhou, Junxiang Lai
Summary: The study shows that mullets can effectively ingest and absorb organic deposits produced by white shrimp farming, and polyculture of shrimp and mullets not only does not reduce shrimp yield, but also improves shrimp survival rate and food utilization efficiency, while enhancing water quality.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yu Zhang, Shaochun Xu, Shidong Yue, Xiaomei Zhang, Yongliang Qiao, Mingjie Liu, Yi Zhou
Summary: Based on observations and experiments on eelgrass seeds in Swan Lake and Qingdao Bay in northern China, it was found that although the seeds matured at the same time, their germination time varied. Further analysis revealed that this difference was determined by internal molecular mechanisms rather than environmental factors. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that eelgrass seeds in Swan Lake had a deeper dormancy depth and required the mobilization of more related genes to break dormancy and initiate germination compared to seeds in Qingdao Bay.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shaochun Xu, Shuai Xu, Yi Zhou, Shidong Yue, Xiaomei Zhang, Ruiting Gu, Yu Zhang, Yongliang Qiao, Mingjie Liu, Yunling Zhang, Zhenhai Zhang
Summary: This study conducted field sampling over 19 months in a large seagrass meadow in a eutrophic bay in northern China to investigate eelgrass population reproduction status and ecological interactions. The results showed that asexual growth was important for maintaining existing meadows, while sexual reproduction played a critical role in colonization of new areas. Nutrient uptake by seagrass might reduce the probability of a red tide in the study area.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Shaochun Xu, Yi Zhou, Yongliang Qiao, Shidong Yue, Xiaomei Zhang, Yu Zhang, Mingjie Liu, Yunling Zhang, Zhenhai Zhang
Summary: This study describes a novel method using seed ball burial for eelgrass restoration, and tests its effectiveness in different environmental conditions. The results show that the seed ball restoration method has varying effects at different sites, and there is an environmental mismatch in large-scale restoration.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shaochun Xu, Yu Zhang, Yi Zhou, Shuai Xu, Shidong Yue, Mingjie Liu, Xiaomei Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the distribution of eelgrass at its southern limits on the eastern coast of China and found a northward shift in the southern limit. Further experiments showed that high water temperatures negatively affected eelgrass growth and caused shoot mortality. These findings indicate that suitable eelgrass habitat has moved further north along the eastern coast of China.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongliang Qiao, Yu Zhang, Shaochun Xu, Shidong Yue, Xiaomei Zhang, Mingjie Liu, Lingling Sun, Xiaoping Jia, Yi Zhou
Summary: This study examined the toxic effects of copper and cadmium on eelgrass at multiple levels. The results showed that copper was more toxic to eelgrass than cadmium. High temperatures increased heavy metal damage, while low temperatures inhibited damage. Copper and cadmium had a synergistic effect on photosynthesis. Transcriptome analysis revealed severe damage to the photosynthetic system under cadmium stress, while copper stress resulted in up-regulation of genes related to glutathione metabolism. Recovery experiments showed that the damage caused by short-term copper and cadmium stress was reversible. These findings provide insights into the heavy metal toxic effects and resistance strategies of eelgrass, highlighting its potential for phytoremediation, especially for cadmium.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shaochun Xu, Zonghe Yu, Yi Zhou, Shidong Yue, Junhua Liang, Xiaomei Zhang
Summary: Large-scale kelp aquaculture in Ailian Bay, northern China, can remove 1309 tons of carbon, 104 tons of nitrogen, and 12 tons of phosphorus, effectively combating eutrophication. The study provides evidence for the hypothesis that farmed kelp can remove nutrients and demonstrates the bioremediation potential of kelp farming.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruiting Gu, John Statton, Susi Rahmawati, Renae Hovey, Yi Zhou, Jianwu Tang, Shuo Yu, Gary A. Kendrick
Summary: The seed bank of Halophila ovalis plays a crucial role in resilience and restoration. Seasonal changes in seed abundance and viability were studied, and a viability test was conducted. The results showed differences in seed density and low proportion of viable seeds in the seed bank. Low salinity and extreme rainfall events could affect seed viability and germination, limiting population growth.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mingjie Liu, Shaochun Xu, Shidong Yue, Yongliang Qiao, Yu Zhang, Xiaomei Zhang, Yi Zhou
Summary: This study proposes a method to evaluate the seed provision efficacy of detached eelgrass reproductive shoots. Mature seeds were collected from detached eelgrass reproductive shoots in Swan Lake, China, using in situ net cages. The results showed that each detached reproductive shoot produced an average of 50 viable seeds, and the potential seed yield overestimated the actual seed yields. The simplest treatment (a single reproductive shoot) was convenient and robust for this method, indicating its potential for improving the efficiency of seed use in restoration projects.