Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nannan Liu, Yuanhao Du, Marilyn L. Warburton, Yingjie Xiao, Jianbing Yan
Summary: The study found rich phenotypic plasticity variation among maize F-1 hybrids, involving hundreds of quantitative trait loci, most of which contributed little variance. Heterosis in terms of phenotypic plasticity was also observed, which is crucial for understanding the genetic structure and breeding of maize.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Hannah M. Schneider
Summary: Plastic responses of plants are widespread, occurring in many forms and at various biological scales, and their adaptive value depends on the specific environment and interactions with other plant traits and organisms. However, the complex nature of plasticity has posed challenges in characterizing its expression, determining its adaptive value, and understanding the environmental cues that regulate it.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kyle A. Sirovy, Kevin M. Johnson, Sandra M. Casas, Jerome F. La Peyre, Morgan W. Kelly
Summary: By conducting a common garden experiment, the study investigates the plastic and evolved responses of Crassostrea virginica to environmental changes and Perkinsus marinus infection. Results show that C. virginica exhibits a highly plastic response to environment across genotypes, but the lack of genetic variation suggests limited capacity for evolved responses.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Min-Chen Wang, Mao-Ting Hsu, Ching-Chun Lin, Shao-Chun Hsu, Ruo-Dong Chen, Jay-Ron Lee, Yi-Lin Chou, Hua-Pin Tseng, Fumiya Furukawa, Sheng-Ping L. Hwang, Pung-Pung Hwang, Yung-Che Tseng
Summary: This study found that tropical tilapia demonstrate adaptive trade-off mechanisms in response to thermal perturbations through transgenerational metabolic adjustments. However, global warming may lead to reduced thermal variation and lower energy deposits in tropical tilapia. Lack of cold exposure across multiple generations of fish may also decrease the native cold-tolerance traits of subtropical/tropical organisms.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Joao Paulo Pennacchi, Jean Marcel Sousa Lira, Marcelo Rodrigues, Fernando Henrique Silva Garcia, Ane Marcela das Chagas Mendonca, Joao Paulo Rodrigues Alves Delfino Barbosa
Summary: The research proposes an integrative index MVPi for quantifying and evaluating phenotypic plasticity, with sensitivity to complex genotype-environment interactions. The new method proved elucidative of plant metabolic changes and provides a tool for systemic evaluation of plant phenotypic traits.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tingting Guo, Jialu Wei, Xianran Li, Jianming Yu
Summary: This study examines the consistency of parameter estimation for reaction norms of genotypes across different subsets of environments for sorghum and rice genetic populations. The results show that both sample size and environmental mean range of the subset affect the consistency. Additionally, high accuracy of genomic prediction is obtained for reaction norm parameters of untested genotypes using models built from tested genotypes under subsets with a large range or a large sample size.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jose M. Gomez, Adela Gonzalez-Megias, Cristina Armas, Eduardo Narbona, Luis Navarro, Francisco Perfectti
Summary: Plasticity can have direct effects on the interactions between species, by expanding or shifting interaction niches, and ultimately modifying the structure and functionality of ecological networks. This causal pathway may explain how interaction niches evolve quickly in response to rapid environmental changes and is important for understanding the impact of global change on ecological interactions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raquel Castillo-Contreras, Gregorio Mentaberre, Xavier Fernandez Aguilar, Carles Conejero, Andreu Colom-Cadena, Arian Raez-Bravo, Carlos Gonzalez-Crespo, Johan Espunyes, Santiago Lavin, Jorge R. Lopez-Olvera
Summary: The study investigated the impact of urbanisation on wild boars, showing that urban wild boars have larger body size, higher body mass, better body condition, and different serum metabolite concentrations compared to non-urban wild boars. Urban wild boars also consumed food from anthropogenic origin more frequently. These results suggest that urbanisation can induce adaptive changes in morphology and physiology in wild boars.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Jose Correa, Johannes A. Postma, Tobias Wojciechowski
Summary: Soil compaction has a significant impact on plant growth and development. This study examines the plasticity of sorghum genotypes in response to soil compaction, focusing on both above- and belowground traits. The results show that plasticity is correlated with plant biomass, with larger genotypes exhibiting earlier and more intense responses. The root system is more affected by soil compaction, particularly in terms of nodal root number and fine root length. The findings suggest that maintaining stable shoot growth while modifying root structure may be an important adaptation mechanism to soil compaction.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ran Fu, Xiangfeng Wang
Summary: This research mathematically modeled the phenotypic plasticity in inbred and hybrid maize lines using phenotypic and genotypic data. They found that the phenotypic plasticity is associated with hybrid performance and yield combining ability.
PLANT COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Natalie Pilakouta, Patrick J. O'Donnell, Amelie Crespel, Marie Levet, Marion Claireaux, Joseph L. Humble, Bjarni K. Kristjansson, Skuli Skulason, Jan Lindstrom, Neil B. Metcalfe, Shaun S. Killen, Kevin J. Parsons
Summary: The costs and benefits of social behavior in animals are influenced by environmental conditions, particularly temperature. Temperature affects food availability, predator abundance, and physiological traits related to social behavior. Understanding the effects of temperature on sociality is important in the context of climate change.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato, Giulia Montalbano, Cristiano Bertolucci
Summary: Animal species, including humans, exhibit individual variability in cognition that is difficult to explain. This study demonstrates that cognitive plasticity contributes to this variability. The results show that guppies exposed to different levels of resource predictability develop different cognitive abilities, suggesting that adaptive cognitive plasticity is a key determinant of cognitive individual differences.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mary M. Happ, George L. Graef, Haichuan Wang, Reka Howard, Luis Posadas, David L. Hyten
Summary: Analyzing QTL associated with yield and yield stability in soybean reveals that explicitly mapping GxE interactions results in more variance explained in yield and differs from traditional stability estimates, emphasizing the importance of examining stability in multiple contexts when manipulating GxE interactions in soybean breeding.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Christoph Bachofen, Anouchka Perret-Gentil, Thomas Wohlgemuth, Pierre Vollenweider, Barbara Moser
Summary: The study found that European scots pine and black pine seedlings exhibited significant ecotypic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity in responding to severe summer drought, particularly in terms of shoot morphological traits rather than foliar traits. Adaptation to the drought was achieved by reducing shoot growth.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
S. P. Bonser
Summary: Plasticity in fitness and performance traits is crucial for plant adaptation to changing environments, but the misinterpretation of plastic responses highlights the need for guidelines in interpreting adaptive responses.
Article
Agronomy
Erica Lombardi, Juan Pedro Ferrio, Ulises Rodriguez-Robles, Victor Resco de Dios, Jordi Voltas
Summary: This study used Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) to characterize root traits of the Mediterranean conifer Pinus halepensis, revealing variability in these traits within populations and their correlation with climate variables at origin. Root diameter decreased eastward within the Mediterranean basin, while root frequency decreased following a northward gradient.
Article
Forestry
Juan Pedro Ferrio, Tatiana A. Shestakova, Jorge del Castillo, Jordi Voltas
Summary: In the Mediterranean region, mixed forests of Aleppo pine and holm oak are widespread, with niche segregation playing a role in their prevalence. Competition affects oak's climate response, while pine's response remains insensitive to competition. Presence of pines has positive effects on oaks, but competition limits oak's ability to recover after drought.
Article
Agronomy
Ester Gonzalez de Andres, Tatiana A. Shestakova, Rebecca C. Scholten, Clement J. F. Delcourt, Natalia Gorina, J. Julio Camarero
Summary: This study focuses on the growth patterns of trees under different disturbance regimes in the Pinus sylvestris forests of southwestern Siberia, highlighting the impacts of climate change and increased fire activity. Climate was found to be the primary driver of tree growth, with differences in growth trends depending on substrate type. Areas with frequent fires experienced growth suppression since the 1980s, with potential fire years identified as 1915, 1952, 1977, 1983, 2003, and 2012.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rosario Sierra-de-Grado, Valentin Pando, Jordi Voltas, Rafael Zas, Juan Majada, Jose Climent
Summary: A study on maritime pine demonstrated that straight- and crooked-stemmed provenances showed contrasting responses to mechanical stress, indicating potential intraspecific divergence in adaptive phenotypic plasticity.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Jesus Julio Camarero, Tatiana A. Shestakova, Manuel Pizarro
Summary: The consecutive occurrence of drought and insect outbreaks can have negative impacts on boreal forest productivity. This study examines the effects of a severe drought followed by a Siberian silk moth (SSM) outbreak on Siberian spruce forests, finding that the SSM outbreak had a greater impact on tree canopy cover and radial growth compared to the drought. Furthermore, trees in locations with higher growth responsivity to drought were more susceptible to SSM outbreak defoliation.
Article
Agronomy
Rodrigo Balaguer-Romano, Ruben Diaz-Sierra, Miquel De Caceres, Angel Cunill-Camprubi, Rachael H. Nolan, Matthias M. Boer, Jordi Voltas, Victor Resco de Dios
Summary: LFMC is an important factor affecting forest ignitability, but current monitoring methods lack species-specific insights and forecasting capabilities under future climate change. This study developed a semi-mechanistic model to predict daily LFMC variation in different woody species by adjusting a soil water balance model. The model showed good accuracy, particularly for seeding shrubs.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Erica Lombardi, Tatiana A. Shestakova, Filippo Santini, Victor Resco de Dios, Jordi Voltas
Summary: This study investigates the genetic basis of adaptation and plasticity in a widespread conifer species using dendrochronology and genomics. The results show that winter temperature and spring moisture positively affect annual growth, while previous autumn precipitation and warm springs have negative effects. Both climate factors and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) explain a significant portion of the interannual growth variability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arden L. Burrell, Qiaoqi Sun, Robert Baxter, Elena A. Kukavskaya, Sergey Zhila, Tatiana Shestakova, Brendan M. Rogers, Jorg Kaduk, Kirsten Barrett
Summary: Climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and severity of fires in Eurasian boreal forests, leading to post-fire recruitment failure and permanent forest loss. Using data on burned areas and forest loss, this study calculates the landscape-scale fire return interval (FRI) and predicts future changes in FRI under a high emissions scenario. The results show that a large area of forest is at high risk of fire-induced forest loss, which could have detrimental effects on intact forests, regional wellbeing, and global climate change.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tatiana A. Shestakova, Brendan Mackey, Sonia Hugh, Jackie Dean, Elena A. Kukavskaya, Jocelyne Laflamme, Evgeny G. Shvetsov, Brendan M. Rogers
Summary: Deforestation and forest degradation are concerning issues in human land use. The conservation of old-growth and other forests with important environmental values is crucial for protecting biodiversity, mitigating climate change impacts, and supporting sustainable livelihoods. This study developed a novel approach for mapping forest ecosystem stability based on satellite data, providing accurate and applicable results for identifying and conserving stable forests.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Adrianna C. Foster, Jonathan A. Wang, Gerald Frost, Scott J. Davidson, Elizabeth Hoy, Kevin W. Turner, Oliver Sonnentag, Howard Epstein, Logan T. Berner, Amanda H. Armstrong, Mary Kang, Brendan M. Rogers, Elizabeth Campbell, Kimberley R. Miner, Kathleen M. Orndahl, Laura L. Bourgeau-Chavez, David A. Lutz, Nancy French, Dong Chen, Jinyang Du, Tatiana A. Shestakova, Jacquelyn K. Shuman, Ken Tape, Anna-Maria Virkkala, Christopher Potter, Scott Goetz
Summary: Ecosystems in the North American Arctic-Boreal Zone (ABZ) are experiencing increasing disturbances due to climate warming and human activity. However, many of these disturbances are understudied, leading to uncertainty in their impacts on vegetation dynamics and interactions between disturbance types. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge of ABZ disturbances and their impacts, as well as identifying gaps in knowledge and priorities for future research.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Hannah Augustijnen, Theofania Patsiou, Kay Lucek
Summary: Secondary contact zones provide ideal systems for studying the evolution of reproductive barriers, but the extent of their influence in nature remains unclear. A study on two butterfly species in the Swiss Alps suggests that reinforcement may have occurred in the past, as there are few current indications of reinforcing selection. Additionally, the species show less differentiation in their ecological niche at the contact zone, which may explain their inability to coexist.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Khaoula Nefzi, Jordi Voltas, Bochra Bejaoui Kefi, Mokhtar Baraket, Touhami Rzigui, Patrick Martin, Naceur M'Hamdi, Kamel Msaada, Zouhair Nasr
Summary: Understanding the functioning of shrub species during dry periods is crucial for predicting ecosystem responses to future climates in Mediterranean environments. In this study, we assessed the seasonal changes in various traits of seeders and resprouting shrub species across an aridity gradient in Tunisia. The results showed that seeders had higher leaf water content variations and resistance to embolism compared to resprouters. On the other hand, resprouters had higher seasonal variations in non-structural carbohydrates, especially in the driest site. Both seeders and resprouters exhibited seasonal patterns of isotopes and discriminating analysis indicated that resprouters could maintain positive carbon balance during drought periods.
Article
Forestry
Erica Lombardi, Shawn Carlisle Kefauver, Luis Serrano, Ester Sin, Paula Pinas-Bonilla, Beatriz Perez, Belen Luna, Gonzalo Zavala, Victor Resco de Dios, Jordi Voltas
Summary: This study investigated the intraspecific differentiation of Aleppo pine related to needle phenology and found differences between different ecotypes, suggesting a possible trade-off between drought and fire resistance for the species. Remote sensing and ground measurements were used to infer phenological changes and assess flammability traits.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Brendan M. Rogers, Brendan Mackey, Tatiana A. Shestakova, Heather Keith, Virginia Young, Cyril F. Kormos, Dominick A. DellaSala, Jacqueline Dean, Richard Birdsey, Glenn Bush, Richard A. Houghton, William R. Moomaw
Summary: This study assesses the potential of using an ecosystem integrity framework to guide policy goals. They find that primary forests consistently have higher levels of ecosystem integrity and lower risk profiles than human-modified forests. Therefore, protecting primary forests, developing consistent large-scale data products to identify high-integrity forests, and operationalizing an ecosystem integrity framework are crucial.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Estefania Suarez-Vidal, Luis Sampedro, Jose Climent, Jordi Voltas, Ester Sin, Eduardo Notivol, Rafael Zas
Summary: The study found direct and correlated responses to selection for growth and drought tolerance in the tree populations. An increase in the concentration of chemical defenses was observed in the offspring of mother trees selected for growth. The results suggest that the tree species has the potential to evolve in response to increasing drought stress.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Sadadi Ojoatre, Jos Barlow, Suzanne R. Jacobs, Mariana C. Rufino
Summary: This study evaluates the changes in a forest complex in Kenya and finds that within 20 years of disturbance, there is rapid recovery of aboveground biomass and carbon accumulation, and the species diversity remains high in these previously disturbed fragments.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Astor Torano Caicoya, Peter Biber, Miren del Rio, Ricardo Ruiz-Peinado, Catia Arcangeli, Robert Matthews, Hans Pretzsch
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of site and climate on the self-thinning line in Scots pine forests in Europe. The results showed that species tolerance, temperature, and precipitation influenced the slope of the self-thinning line. In terms of the intercept, latitude and radiation had compensating effects. Time did not show significant trends in the self-thinning line. The study highlights the need to adapt management strategies and models based on self-thinning to different latitudes. Climate change has not yet significantly impacted the self-thinning trajectory, but a continuous rise in temperature and high precipitation may accelerate the self-thinning process and result in increased biomass accumulation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Haonan Zhang, Jianing Xu, Weiqi Meng, Zhonglin Li, Yanyan Ni, Weijie Li, Hao Chen, Xingshuo Zhang, Huanhuan Yuan, Zhi Wang
Summary: Secondary forests play a crucial role in ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity recovery. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying secondary succession in a restored secondary forest and found that deciduous tree species transition from diversity accumulators to repellents as they progress through different life history stages, while evergreen tree species can act as accumulators or remain neutral. The study also revealed the effects of density dependence on the mortality and regeneration of different tree species, and highlighted the importance of early-arriving tree species in facilitating the establishment and diversity of late-arriving counterparts.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Yierxiati Abulaiti, Zijian Huang, Guojiao Xie, Xiaojuan Zou, Qin Luo, Minhuang Wang, Qiong Yang, Ping Hu, Shixiao Yu
Summary: In this study, the resistance to pest infestation of native and exotic mangrove species was compared based on their traits and spectral reflectance. The results showed that exotic species exhibited higher resistance to pest infestation compared to native species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Thomas Feiss, Vincent Robin, Delphine Aran, Joseph Levillain, Thierry Paul, Jean-Luc Dupouey
Summary: Fagus sylvatica L. is a competitive tree in European temperate deciduous forests, but often sporadic or absent in present-day stands where Quercus spp. are dominant. Through soil charcoal analysis in the Lorraine Plateau in France, the presence of Fagus and Quercus in mature Quercus stands was confirmed. Radiocarbon dating results indicated that historical forest management caused the replacement of Fagus by Quercus, starting from the Bronze Age.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Paula Halbig, Anne-Sophie Stelzer, Peter Baier, Josef Pennerstorfer, Horst Delb, Axel Schopf
Summary: The incidence of oak processionary moth in Central Europe has been increasing, posing severe threats to oak trees, humans, and animals. To address this issue, researchers have developed an online early warning system that provides phenological forecasts and decision support for the protection of oak trees and human health.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Jean-Baptiste Ndamiyehe Ncutirakiza, Sylvie Gourlet-Fleury, Philippe Lejeune, Xavier Bry, Catherine Trottier, Frederic Mortier, Adeline Fayolle, Francois Muhashy Habiyaremye, Leopold Ndjele Mianda-Bungi, Gauthier Ligot
Summary: This study examines the influence of canopy structure on tropical tree growth using data collected through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and field measurements. The results show that combining UAV and field data can improve the prediction of tree diameter increment. Diameter at breast height and crown area are complementary predictors, and crown-based competition indices significantly enhance prediction models. The calibrated model at one site can accurately predict growth at another site.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Abebe Damtew, Emiru Birhane, Christian Messier, Alain Paquette, Bart Muys
Summary: Restoring degraded dryland requires a diverse mixture of trees and shrubs. Shading and species diversity can improve seedling survival and vitality. Shaded conditions led to higher seedling survival, vitality, and chlorophyll content, while increasing species richness improved seedling vitality in non-shaded conditions.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Francois Hebert, Isabelle Delisle, Marc Tremblay, Pascal Tremblay, Jean- Francois Boucher, Yan Boucher, Daniel Lord
Summary: Regeneration failures in the closed-crown boreal forest, resulting in the creation of open lichen woodlands, can be restored through clear-cutting, scarification, and natural seeding. Clear-cutting combined with scarification promotes seedling establishment, and scarification creates suitable microsites for germination. Seedling growth in lichen woodlands is higher when logging and scarification are combined, but lower compared to feather moss stands. Afforestation through natural seeding following scarification could be a cost-effective option for restoring lichen woodlands.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bianca Wulansari Kassun, A. Maarit I. Kallio, Erik Tr Omborg, Meley Mekonen Rannestad
Summary: Mapping and analyzing forest ecosystem services in dry and mountain forests can provide valuable knowledge for sustainable forest management strategies.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Michael Premer, Eric Turnblom, Aaron Weiskittel
Summary: Managed forests serve as a natural climate change solution by sequestering carbon and storing it in harvested wood products, while also providing ecosystem services and wildlife habitat. This study focused on the stem sinuosity of juvenile coastal Douglas-fir and found that genetic improvement, silviculture practices, and local growing conditions can impact stem sinuosity. Factors such as tree spacing, vegetation control, and climate variables also affect the severity of stem sinuosity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bronwyn Lira Dyson, Rhea Herpel, Peter Karasch, Jorg Mueller, Dominik Thom, Claus Baessler
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effects of different forest management strategies, dead wood types, and microclimates on Fomes fomentarius. The results showed that the occupancy of Fomes fomentarius was lower in control stands, while the percent cover occupied on snags under a closed canopy was higher. Increasing the number of snags and maintaining dense forest canopies could enhance the presence of Fomes fomentarius as well as provide important microhabitats for various arthropods.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Di Liu, Chaofan Zhou, Xiao He, Xiangdong Lei, Huiru Zhang, Xianzhao Liu
Summary: Canopy structure plays a significant role in the distribution and growth of saplings. Traditional canopy metrics are inadequate in irregular stands. The innovative framework of canopy triangular units provides a comprehensive understanding of the canopy's three-dimensional attributes. Through this framework, we can analyze the differences in various triangular unit types and the spatial dispersion of saplings.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Amalia Valeria Ibanez Moro, Fabian Borghetti, Leonardo Galetto, Juan M. Cellini, Sandra J. Bravo
Summary: This study evaluated the size and persistence of soil seed banks (SSB) of six native woody species in dry subtropical forests of the western Argentine Chaco region. The results showed that SSB size was influenced by different sites and sampling years, and forest disturbances had varying effects on SSB.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Stephanie Landry, Marc-Andre Villard, Gaetan Pelletier, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: In many regions of the world, excessive browsing by ungulates has reached unsustainable levels, threatening biodiversity and forest regeneration. Moose, as ecological engineers, have severe impacts on forest structure and composition through overbrowsing. The distribution of forage and cover patches affects moose browsing pressure, and this relationship has been explored in conifer-dominated stands but not in hardwood-dominated landscapes.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)