Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zihua Zhao, Cang Hui, Shuo Peng, Shanqing Yi, Zhihong Li, Gadi V. P. Reddy, Mark van Kleunen
Summary: Through comparing the characteristics of invasive and non-invasive insects, it is found that invasive insects have more pathways of introduction, occur in more habitats, have higher fecundities, higher voltinism, more genes, shorted lifespans and faster development from egg to adult. The study can guide the improvement of screening tools for assessing the invasion potential of alien insects.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lara M. Beckmann, Joan J. Soto-Angel, Aino Hosia, Luis Martell
Summary: Knowledge of life histories is crucial, and this study describes the previously unknown polyp stages of two hydrozoan species using a combination of techniques. The results reveal that the nominal species previously described actually represent a species complex with different polyp stages. Morphological and ecological differences were found between the polyps, suggesting the presence of other similar species. Molecular identification proved to be an effective approach in linking inconspicuous stages of marine invertebrates. This study sets the foundation for future research on the taxonomy and systematics of these enigmatic families.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Viktor Nilsson-Ortman, Locke Rowe
Summary: Developing organisms mature earlier and at larger sizes in favorable growth conditions, with theory suggesting that the existence of critical size thresholds affects maturation time and size. This study demonstrates that food manipulations can indeed influence the timing and size at maturity, supporting the validity of the threshold model. The results also suggest that the evolution of threshold sizes plays a key role in the diversity of reaction norms for age and size at maturity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carmen Hoffbeck, Casey P. TerHorst
Summary: This study revealed significant differences in fruit and seed production, as well as biomass allocation, between invasive and native genotypes. There were also non-linear relationships between some traits and fitness, particularly for plants from the invasive range. These findings suggest that the stabilizing selection on biomass, resource allocation, and flowering phenology may contribute to the success of the invasion.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhang Qin, Xue Haili, Lan Xiao, Dai Luwei, Wang Bojie, Cui Fengqi, Tang Haiping
Summary: This study establishes a livelihood vulnerability assessment system based on survey data from 427 households in the Hulunbuir Grasslands of northern China. It identifies key variables that determine livelihood vulnerability and finds that pastoral households in the region have moderate overall vulnerability, with decreasing adaptive capacity as the household life cycle progresses.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Yu Cao, Hong Yang, Yulin Gao, Lijuan Wang, Jun Li, Chun Wang, Can Li
Summary: Increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations can directly impact insect behavior and physiology. Invasive species such as Frankliniella occidentalis may benefit from elevated CO2 levels, while native species like Thrips hawaiiensis may be negatively affected. The differences in detoxifying enzyme activities between the two species could contribute to these contrasting responses to elevated CO2.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Hongran Li, Yan Peng, Yansong Wang, Bryce Summerhays, Xiaohan Shu, Yumary Vasquez, Hannah Vansant, Christy Grenier, Nicolette Gonzalez, Khyati Kansagra, Ryan Cartmill, Edison Ryoiti Sujii, Ling Meng, Xuguo Zhou, Gabor L. Loevei, John J. Obrycki, Arun Sethuraman, Baoping Li
Summary: This study provides new insights into the invasion processes of the harlequin ladybird into other continents from its native range in Asia. It identifies a population in eastern China as the source of non-native populations and identifies potential adaptive genomic loci related to body color variation, visual perception, and hemolymph synthesis. The study also reveals asymmetric migration, varying population sizes, historical bottlenecks, and different mitochondrial haplotypes between native and non-native populations.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
O. Seuntjens, B. Belmans, M. Buyle, A. Audenaert
Summary: Currently, many buildings are demolished before reaching their technical lifespan due to the inability to meet the changing needs of owners and users. To address this waste, the construction industry is shifting towards adaptable building practices. Comfort systems in buildings play a critical role in ensuring occupant health and comfort in flexible scenarios. However, traditional approaches to ventilation lack adaptability, and there is a lack of specific guidelines for designing adaptable ventilation systems.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Ying Zhong Tang, Haifeng Gu, Zhaohui Wang, Dongyan Liu, Yan Wang, Douding Lu, Zhangxi Hu, Yunyan Deng, Lixia Shang, Yuzao Qi
Summary: Over the past three decades, studies in China have made significant progress in the research of dinoflagellates and other groups' resting cysts, including detecting species diversity, toxin production mechanism, and distribution, providing important references for the protection and management of coastal ecosystems.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
James W. E. Dickey, Ross N. Cuthbert, Gregor T. Steffen, Jaimie T. A. Dick, Elizabeta Briski
Summary: This study experimentally assessed the impact of seawater freshening on emerging and existing invasive species as well as a native species in the Baltic Sea. The results show that freshening significantly altered the ecological impacts of the invasive species compared to the native species.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Larissa Guillen, Carlos Pascacio-Villafan, Ixchel Osorio-Paz, Rafael Ortega-Casas, Erick Enciso-Ortiz, Alma Altuzar-Molina, Olinda Velazquez, Martin Aluja
Summary: Climate change, particularly global warming, has disrupted biological processes, affecting insect functional traits under extreme temperature conditions. This study examined the effects of varying temperatures on fruit fly species, revealing differences in survivorship, fecundity, and fertility under laboratory and field conditions.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Steffen Oppel, Bethany L. Clark, Michelle M. Risi, Catharine Horswill, Sarah J. Converse, Christopher W. Jones, Alexis M. Osborne, Kim Stevens, Vonica Perold, Alexander L. Bond, Ross M. Wanless, Richard Cuthbert, John Cooper, Peter G. Ryan
Summary: Invasive species are causing significant biodiversity loss globally, and removing them from islands is an effective management strategy. However, uncertainty over the impacts of invasive species and their eradication can hinder investment in eradication efforts. This study focuses on the Tristan albatross, a long-lived bird species threatened by invasive species on land and industrial fisheries at sea. The research shows that eradicating invasive mice on the breeding site of Tristan albatrosses could significantly increase their population, emphasizing the importance of invasive species control to prevent population decline.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Noah H. Rose, Rachael A. Bay, Megan K. Morikawa, Luke Thomas, Elizabeth A. Sheets, Stephen R. Palumbi
Summary: Reef-building coral species are experiencing a significant decline due to increasing heatwaves and bleaching-induced mortality. Differences in heat tolerance and symbiont associations exist among closely related species within the Acropora hyacinthus species complex, with genetic differences observed among cryptic species during the 2015 bleaching event. Strong differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms and specific genetic regions contribute to the resilience to bleaching, with host cryptic species playing a key role in determining bleaching susceptibility during global events.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joleen Chan, Yiwen Zeng, Darren C. J. Yeo
Summary: This study focuses on assessing the risk of non-native fish establishment in tropical Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore, using trait-based analysis. It emphasizes the importance of considering species traits such as climate match, prior invasion success, fecundity, trophic level, and involvement in the aquarium trade to minimize invasive risks and update regulatory lists. Additionally, the study suggests the need for more research on biological invasions in the tropics, especially in Asia.
Review
Plant Sciences
Jianfan Sun, Wajid Ali Khattak, Adeel Abbas, Mohsin Nawaz, Rashida Hameed, Qaiser Javed, Yanwen Bo, Khalid Ali Khan, Daolin Du
Summary: Global ecosystems are facing rapid and unprecedented transformations due to human activities, posing challenges for biodiversity, ecosystem functionality, and social well-being. Environmental pollutants play a significant role in shaping the invasibility of invasive species by altering ecosystem composition and functioning. Analyzing the interactions between invasive weeds, pollutants, and native species provides valuable insights into their strategies and implications for ecosystem stability and management efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)