Review
Plant Sciences
John N. Ferguson, Alison C. Tidy, Erik H. Murchie, Zoe A. Wilson
Summary: Heat stress affects crop productivity through impaired carbon metabolism and reproductive development. Understanding the integration of these processes and their contribution to yield maintenance is crucial for developing climate-resilient crops. Recent studies on source-sink dynamics, non-foliar photosynthesis, and net carbon gain provide key insights into improving reproductive development and crop productivity under heat stress.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Ieva Juska, Peter Berg
Summary: Accurate daily metabolic estimates are essential for evaluating the health of ecosystems and blue carbon contributions of vegetated coastal ecosystems. This study examined respiration variation in a Zostera marina seagrass meadow using aquatic eddy covariance, and investigated its impact on commonly used metabolic estimates.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yunpeng Wang, Scarlet Ferrinho, Helen Connaris, Rebecca J. M. Goss
Summary: Cyanobacteria, the most abundant photosynthesizers on earth, are crucial for marine metabolite generation, ocean nutrient cycling, and oxygen generation. Infection by cyanobacteriophage controls these processes through the delivery of genes linked to key metabolic pathways in cyanobacteria. Analysis of sequenced cyanophages from the NCBI database revealed the presence of auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) that are homologous to those in cyanobacteria, encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis, central carbon metabolism, and cellular regulation. Understanding cyanobacteriophage infection can lead to insights into carbon fixation, nutrient cycling, and applications in biotechnology and sustainable manufacturing.
Article
Limnology
Matt T. T. Trentman, Robert O. O. Hall Jr, H. Maurice Valett
Summary: Estimates of primary productivity in aquatic ecosystems are commonly based on variation in O-2, rather than CO2. However, there is a mismatch between the theory and application of the photosynthetic quotient (PQ) used to convert the estimates. Aquatic ecologists use PQ=1-1.4, while literature supports PQ=0.1-4.2. This study explores the theory and processes influencing PQ in aquatic ecosystems, using a case study to highlight the importance of considering environmental conditions on PQ variability.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Flavia Tromboni, Erin R. Hotchkiss, Anne E. Schechner, Walter K. Dodds, Simon R. Poulson, Sudeep Chandra
Summary: Diel variations in the isotopic composition of dissolved oxygen in river water suggest that carbon cycling in rivers may be faster than previously thought. By comparing oxygen concentration data with stable oxygen isotope signatures, researchers found that ecosystem respiration and gross primary production in rivers were higher than predicted by traditional methods.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yamshi Arif, Priyanka Singh, Anayat Rasool Mir, Pravej Alam, Shamsul Hayat
Summary: This study investigated the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on two varieties of Abelmoschus esculentus. Results showed that SA application had positive effects on the growth, physiology, and biochemical processes of the plants. The optimal concentration of SA was determined to be 10-5 M, and Sakata-713 variety exhibited a more promising response to SA treatment compared to Neelam.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew J. Bogard, Panditha V. S. L. Gunawardana, Cynthia Soued, Holly J. Kalyn Bogard, Kristian M. Smits, Lawrence B. Flanagan
Summary: Wetlands are important ecosystems that purify wastewater, but the carbon cycling in restored treatment wetlands may differ from natural wetlands. This study examined the metabolic and carbon cycling patterns of a restored wetland receiving nutrient-rich effluents. The results showed that the wetland acted as an organic matter sink, but also emitted CO2 to the atmosphere. Over 30 years post-restoration, the wetland remained a net source of CO2, suggesting distinct aquatic carbon cycling compared to wetlands restored with non-effluent water sources.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bizhen Cheng, Min Zhou, Tao Tang, Muhammad Jawad Hassan, Jianzhen Zhou, Meng Tan, Zhou Li, Yan Peng
Summary: In this study, a gene encoding flavodoxin-like quinone reductase 1 (TrFQR1) was identified in mitochondria of leguminous white clover. Overexpression of TrFQR1 in transgenic Arabidopsis and white clover resulted in improved heat tolerance, reduced oxidative damage, and enhanced photosynthetic capacity. TrFQR1 also maintained better respiratory electron transport chain and increased accumulation of lipids involved in membrane assembly, contributing to membrane stability under heat stress.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ying Li, Yu Zhen, Jianbin Zhu, Qian Liu, Zhigang Yu, Dongyan Liu
Summary: The study investigated the molecular responses of photosynthetic carbon fixation in the globally distributed marine diatom Skeletonema costatum. Results indicated that a diverse photosynthetic pathway involving both C-3 and C-4 photosynthesis exists in S. costatum to adapt to environmental changes. This study contributes to a better understanding of the photosynthetic carbon fixation mechanism in S. costatum during the diel cycle.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jun Zhong, Marcus B. Wallin, Wanfa Wang, Si-Liang Li, Laodong Guo, Kejun Dong, Rob M. Ellam, Cong-Qiang Liu, Sheng Xu
Summary: By studying multiple rivers in Hainan Island, China, the research found that intense evaporation and aquatic primary production occur simultaneously in the headwater segments, with the available reactive area at the water-air interface playing a crucial role. This phenomenon has significant implications for understanding global carbon cycling.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ginga Shimakawa, Ayaka Kohara, Chikahiro Miyake
Summary: Light-enhanced respiration (LER) occurs in both eukaryotic algae and photosynthetic prokaryote cyanobacteria, with similar physiological characteristics. However, LER in cyanobacteria is uncoupled from photosynthetic electron transport. It is primarily driven by substrates produced during photosynthetic CO2 assimilation and has significant physiological implications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ryan B. Wallace, Bradley J. Peterson, Christopher J. Gobler
Summary: The study revealed that changes in photosynthetic and respiration rates in coastal marine habitats can lead to considerable variability in ecosystem metabolism on different time scales, from diurnal to seasonal. Different habitats showed diverse responses to changes in pH and DO, emphasizing the importance of enhancing seagrass and macroalgae cultivation to maintain estuarine ecological balance in the face of predicted declines in pH and oxygen levels.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Boda Li, Huanting Hu, William M. Berelson, Jess F. Adkins, Laurence Y. Yeung
Summary: The isotopic composition of dissolved oxygen can be used as a tracer for respiration and transport in the subsurface ocean. However, uncertainties in transport parameters and isotopic fractionation factors limit its effectiveness. In this study, new data and a model were used to investigate the oxygen isotopologues in the subsurface Pacific. The results suggest that the traditional isotopic fingerprints associated with oxygen consumption in the Pacific Ocean may need to be reexamined.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sotirios Zerveas, Melpomeni Sofia Mente, Dimitra Tsakiri, Kiriakos Kotzabasis
Summary: The photosynthetic process in microalgae leads to an increase in pH in the aquatic environment, primarily due to cellular proton uptake. This phenomenon promotes proton uptake and microalgal growth. Ocean acidification, caused by enhanced dissolution of atmospheric CO2, affects the growth of phytoplankton and zooplankton.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Eloisa Agueera, Purificacion de la Haba
Summary: Ongoing climate change impacts plant biochemical, biological, and morphogenetic processes, leading to alterations in crop development and productivity. Studying the physiological and metabolic changes in plants due to elevated CO2 levels and increased temperatures is crucial for understanding their stress response and overall impact on plant productivity in the face of environmental modifications.
Article
Fisheries
Josh Korman, Bridget R. Deemer, Charles B. Yackulic, Theodore A. Kennedy, Mariah Giardina
Summary: Flows released from reservoirs are often modified to mitigate the negative ecosystem effects of dams. This study estimated the effects of two experimental flows on the growth rates of rainbow trout in the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam. The effects of water temperature and competition on fish growth substantially exceeded the effects of controlled floods and steadier flows.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Caroline A. Havrilla, John B. Bradford, Charles B. Yackulic, Seth M. Munson
Summary: This study evaluates the distributional responses of C-3 and C-4 perennial grasses to climate change and finds that they have divergent responses, which could lead to changes in grassland ecosystem composition and functioning.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tom J. Battin, Ronny Lauerwald, Emily S. Bernhardt, Enrico Bertuzzo, Lluis Gomez Gener, Robert O. Hall Jr, Erin R. Hotchkiss, Taylor Maavara, Tamlin M. Pavelsky, Lishan Ran, Peter Raymond, Judith A. Rosentreter, Pierre Regnier
Summary: River networks are the largest biogeochemical connection between land, ocean and atmosphere. Our understanding of the role of rivers in the global carbon cycle is limited, making it difficult to predict how global change will affect riverine carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. This review summarizes the current state of river ecosystem metabolism research and provides estimates of carbon flux from land to rivers. The study highlights the importance of a global river observing system in understanding river networks and their future evolution in the context of the global carbon budget.
Article
Fisheries
Lindsay E. Hansen, Charles B. Yackulic, Brett G. Dickson, Bridget R. Deemer, Rebecca J. Best
Summary: Individual growth is influenced by resource acquisition rates, with environmental variables such as productivity and water temperature affecting fish growth. Turbidity and high-flow events have a negative impact on growth, while water temperature is the main driver of spatiotemporal variation in growth.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Joanna R. Blaszczak, Charles B. Yackulic, Robert K. Shriver, Robert O. Hall
Summary: Directly observing autotrophic biomass is difficult, so models that infer underlying biomass dynamics are useful for predicting productivity. In a study of six rivers, a biomass dynamics model was used to identify disturbance flow thresholds and understand the resilience of primary producers. The disturbance flow necessary to reduce ecosystem productivity was consistently lower than the threshold to mobilize river bed sediment.
Article
Ecology
Anya N. Metcalfe, Carol A. Fritzinger, Theodore J. Weller, Michael J. Dodrill, Jeffrey D. Muehlbauer, Charles B. Yackulic, P. Brandon Holton, Cheyenne M. Szydlo, Laura E. Durning, Joel B. Sankey, Theodore A. Kennedy
Summary: The study findings suggest that aquatic insects play a crucial role in supporting riparian ecosystems by serving as a food source for birds, spiders, lizards, and bats. The activity of bats, in particular, was found to be influenced by the abundance of aquatic flies, rather than other habitat descriptors.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Maria Dzul, Charles B. Yackulic, Mariah Giardina, David R. Van Haverbeke, Michael Yard
Summary: The Colorado River ecosystem has been impacted by habitat alterations and nonnative species invasions, resulting in extirpations and declines of many native species. However, the Humpback Chub has persisted and expanded its range in the western Grand Canyon. This study aimed to evaluate the population dynamics of this new group of Humpback Chub.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kimberly L. Dibble, Charles B. Yackulic, Kevin R. Bestgen, Keith Gido, M. Tildon Jones, Mark C. McKinstry, Doug B. Osmundson, Dale Ryden, Robert C. Schelly
Summary: Colorado Pikeminnow populations have declined due to predation by nonnative fish and habitat modification following dam construction. Climate change and drought have created an opportunity to evaluate the feasibility of restoring native fish in the altered reach of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. A Science Panel concluded that the current habitat attributes could support some life history requirements of Colorado Pikeminnow, but juvenile survival may still be limited. Further actions such as stocking, monitoring, and research are needed to evaluate potential reintroduction efforts.
JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Matt T. T. Trentman, Robert O. O. Hall Jr, H. Maurice Valett
Summary: Estimates of primary productivity in aquatic ecosystems are commonly based on variation in O-2, rather than CO2. However, there is a mismatch between the theory and application of the photosynthetic quotient (PQ) used to convert the estimates. Aquatic ecologists use PQ=1-1.4, while literature supports PQ=0.1-4.2. This study explores the theory and processes influencing PQ in aquatic ecosystems, using a case study to highlight the importance of considering environmental conditions on PQ variability.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bridget R. Deemer, Robin H. Reibold, Anna Fatta, Jessica R. Corman, Charles B. Yackulic, Sasha C. Reed
Summary: Variation in water chemistry can stimulate sediment phosphorus release and biological activity in the Colorado River below Lake Powell. pH was found to regulate phosphorus release from sediments, and reservoir management and storm dynamics were highlighted as important factors in regulating phosphorus availability and biological processes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Megan J. Osborne, Thomas P. Archdeacon, Charles B. Yackulic, Robert K. Dudley, Guilherme Caeiro-Dias, Thomas F. Turner
Summary: Human water use and recent megadrought have resulted in reduced river flow and periodic drying of river segments in the southwest United States, which threatens aquatic species. A study found that genetic diversity and effective population size are influenced by hatchery operations and wild population abundance. However, the continued impact of megadrought on wild spawner abundance and increasing proportion of hatchery-origin individuals have led to a decline in genetic diversity. An adaptive management plan is recommended to mitigate genetic diversity loss exacerbated by megadrought.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hannah D. Conroy, Erin R. Hotchkiss, Kaelin M. Cawley, Keli Goodman, Robert O. Hall Jr, Jeremy B. Jones, Wilfred M. Wollheim, David Butman
Summary: Headwater stream networks contribute significantly to the terrestrial carbon dioxide flux due to turbulence and interaction with terrestrial environments. Measuring and scaling these emissions is challenging due to limited monitoring points. Our study found that the stream network had higher carbon emissions under high flow conditions compared to low flow conditions. Winter stream emissions accounted for a larger percentage of the forest net ecosystem exchange than in summer, highlighting the importance of considering flow regime in annual estimates of stream network emissions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chaopeng Shen, Alison P. P. Appling, Pierre Gentine, Toshiyuki Bandai, Hoshin Gupta, Alexandre Tartakovsky, Marco Baity-Jesi, Fabrizio Fenicia, Daniel Kifer, Li Li, Xiaofeng Liu, Wei Ren, Yi Zheng, Ciaran J. J. Harman, Martyn Clark, Matthew Farthing, Dapeng Feng, Praveen Kumar, Doaa Aboelyazeed, Farshid Rahmani, Yalan Song, Hylke E. E. Beck, Tadd Bindas, Dipankar Dwivedi, Kuai Fang, Marvin Hoge, Chris Rackauckas, Binayak Mohanty, Tirthankar Roy, Chonggang Xu, Kathryn Lawson
Summary: Differentiable modelling integrates the learning ability of machine learning with the interpretability of process-based models. It improves representation of processes, parameter estimation, and predictive accuracy in the geosciences. By connecting prior physical knowledge to neural networks, differentiable modelling combines process-based modelling and machine learning, offering better interpretability, generalizability, and extrapolation capabilities. It requires less training data compared to purely data-driven machine learning and scales well with increasing data volumes. Under data-scarce scenarios, it outperforms machine-learning models in capturing short-term dynamics and decadal-scale trends due to the imposed physical constraints.
NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Michael D. Yard, Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman, Michael J. Dodrill, Bridget R. Deemer
Summary: This study analyzed the factors behind the decline in the number of Rainbow Trout in the tailwater portion of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam during 2012-2016 and found that fish population dynamics are mainly influenced by changes in prey production, which is closely related to soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations in the reservoir.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY
(2023)