Article
Ecology
Corey T. Callaghan, Facundo X. Palacio, Yanina Benedetti, Federico Morelli, Diana E. Bowler
Summary: Quantifying intraspecific and interspecific trait variability is crucial for understanding biogeography, ecology, and conservation. This study used citizen science data to examine bird responses to urbanization across the US and found that interspecific variability was greater than intraspecific variability.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roghaieh Ashrafi, Matthieu Bruneaux, Lotta-Riina Sundberg, Ville Hoikkala, Anssi Karvonen
Summary: Increasing AMR presents a challenge for treating bacterial diseases. In real life, bacterial infections are influenced by complex communities and the environment, which can affect the costs and benefits of AMR. However, our knowledge of these interactions and their implications for AMR in vivo is limited.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nadege Ginibre, Ludovic Legrand, Victoria Bientz, Jean-Claude Ogier, Anne Lanois, Sylvie Pages, Julien Brillard
Summary: This study investigates the MTase encoding genes in entomopathogenic bacteria and identifies a persistent MTase called Dam. The study confirms the high methylation rate of specific motifs recognized by Dam and suggests a potential role of epigenetic regulation in the studied strains. The overexpression of Dam MTase impairs important phenotypes but does not modify the virulence properties of the bacteria.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Noemi Vergopolan, Sitian Xiong, Lyndon Estes, Niko Wanders, Nathaniel W. Chaney, Eric F. Wood, Megan Konar, Kelly Caylor, Hylke E. Beck, Nicolas Gatti, Tom Evans, Justin Sheffield
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential of using field-scale soil moisture simulations to support high-resolution agricultural yield prediction and smallholder farm field scale drought monitoring. By combining simulation results with meteorological data, maize yield losses were successfully predicted, revealing that soil moisture is the strongest and most reliable predictor of yield impacts.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
L. Piazzi, M. F. Cinti, I Guala, D. Grech, G. La Manna, A. Pansini, F. Pinna, P. Stipcich, G. Ceccherelli
Summary: The study contributes to understanding the spatial variability of coralligenous reefs around the island of Sardinia by evaluating patterns from local to biogeographic scale. The structure of coralligenous reefs is found to be related to biogeographic patterns, rather than spatial distance, highlighting the need for specific reference conditions to assess ecological quality depending on the biogeographic area.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Delphine Brousmiche, Caroline Lanier, Florent Occelli, Louis Pochet, Samuel Degezelle, Michael Genin, Annabelle Deram, Damien Cuny
Summary: Resolving health inequalities is a priority worldwide, and environmental health inequalities have become of increasing concern to public health governance. A methodology based on spatial composite index has been developed to assess these inequalities and provide an alternative to traditional approaches. This study uses different cases to understand how the change of scale influences the analysis of environmental health inequalities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Giuseppe Andolfo, Christina Schuster, Haifa Ben Gharsa, Michelina Ruocco, Andreas Leclerque
Summary: The newly reported genome sequence of P. vermicola DSM_17385 will serve as a well-supported reference for comparative genomics studies on Providencia bacteria. The presence of potential antibiotic resistance-associated genes in the P. vermicola DSM_17385 genome is noted, although unlike clinical Providencia strains, no plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance genes or mobile genetic elements causing multidrug resistance phenomena were identified, suggesting that P. vermicola in its natural environment may not be prone to acquiring such genetic elements.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Noemi Vergopolan, Justin Sheffield, Nathaniel W. Chaney, Ming Pan, Hylke E. Beck, Craig R. Ferguson, Laura Torres-Rojas, Felix Eigenbrod, Wade Crow, Eric F. Wood
Summary: Soil moisture shows significant spatiotemporal variability at local scale, primarily driven by local variations in soil properties. This local-scale complexity yields multi-scale behavior at different locations and is lost at larger spatial scales.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Shujun Song, Rong Yang, Xiaoru Cui, Qixian Chen
Summary: This study analyzed the spatial distribution and influencing factors of soil nutrients in the semiarid Anding district farming region in northern China. The results showed considerable variability in soil nutrient content, with soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus showing increasing trends from the middle to the northeast and southwest, while available potassium showed the opposite trend. Factors such as soil texture, irrigation method, and water source type significantly influenced the distribution of soil nutrients.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yan Li, Guoyu Ren, Qingyuan Wang, Lin Mu, Qianru Niu
Summary: This study investigated the behaviors and variations of marine heatwaves (MHWs) in the South China Sea (SCS) based on remote sensing data. The results showed that MHWs are more frequent, longer, and more intense in the northern SCS, while they are less frequent, shorter, and weaker in the southern SCS. The analysis of leading modes revealed a consistent anomaly pattern of MHWs throughout the SCS, with significant interdecadal variations. The study also found a link between MHWs and anomalous western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH), suggesting the potential predictability of MHWs in the SCS.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jing Xiao, Asa K. Rennermalm, Federico Covi, Regine Hock, Sasha Z. Leidman, Clement Miege, Michael J. MacFerrin, Samira Samimi
Summary: The study investigates the local-scale variability in firn density and ice content in southwest Greenland using shallow firn cores. The results show that there is substantial local variability in density and ice content, especially in high-elevation sites. The study emphasizes the importance of considering local variability in regional analyses.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Wei Zhao, Meng Yang, Guirui Yu, Zhi Chen, Qiufeng Wang
Summary: This study investigated soil respiration in China's terrestrial ecosystems and its responses to environmental factors, revealing spatial and temporal variations and differences in sensitivity to environmental changes.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Andras Fodor, Maxime Gualtieri, Matthias Zeller, Eustachio Tarasco, Michael G. Klein, Andrea M. Fodor, Leroy Haynes, Katalin Lengyel, Steven A. Forst, Ghazala M. Furgani, Levente Karaffa, Tibor Vellai
Summary: Antimicrobial multidrug resistance is a global challenge, and using antimicrobial peptides produced by soil organisms to protect plants is a potential alternative. Xenorhabdus szentirmaii and X. budapestensis produce antimicrobial peptides that have the potential to control drug-resistant bacteria and fungi.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Renaud Lestringant, Thierry Bergot
Summary: The study revealed that about 50% of fog at the airport is thin and heterogeneous, and a single measurement point may not be representative of a sub-kilometer scale area, leading to issues when verifying numerical models using local measurements.
Review
Microbiology
Surajit De Mandal, Amrita Kumari Panda, Chandran Murugan, Xiaoxia Xu, Nachimuthu Senthil Kumar, Fengliang Jin
Summary: The rapid emergence of multidrug resistant microorganisms poses a critical threat to public health, with AMPs showing potential as an alternative to antibiotics.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Anat Eidelman, Carmit Cohen, Alvaro Navarro-Castilla, Serina Filler, Ricardo Gutierrez, Enav Bar-Shira, Naama Shahar, Mario Garrido, Snir Halle, Yoav Romach, Isabel Barja, Severine Tasker, Shimon Harrus, Aharon Friedman, Hadas Hawlena
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Alvaro Navarro-Castilla, Mario Garrido, Hadas Hawlena, Isabel Barja
Summary: The study validated an enzyme immunoassay for measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites in three wild gerbil species, showing its suitability as a reliable indicator of adrenocortical activity in these species and revealing different responses to stressors among closely related species and individuals within the same species.
Article
Microbiology
Ron Flatau, Michal Segoli, Hadas Hawlena
Summary: The study examined three common mechanisms for endosymbiont persistence in arthropod host populations and found that none of them fully support the continual presence of endosymbionts. Future research should focus on other directions to better understand the persistence of endosymbionts in fleas and other model systems with extreme sex differences.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Mario Garrido, Snir Halle, Ron Flatau, Carmit Cohen, Alvaro Navarro-Castilla, Isabel Barja, Hadas Hawlena
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between species diversity and disease risk using a model system of rodents and Mycoplasma pathogens. The results suggest that one host acts as a pathogen amplifier while the other two hosts serve as diluters, reducing the overall number of infected hosts by clearing the infection faster. This highlights the importance of experimental studies exploring different aspects of host-pathogen interactions in multiple hosts in diversity-disease research.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Snir Halle, Mario Garrido, Klil Noy, Irit Messika, Hadar Kedem, Carmit Cohen, Koren Ytzhak, Zehava Siegal, Georgy Shenbrot, Zvika Abramsky, Yaron Ziv, Arnon Karnieli, Hadas Hawlena
Summary: The study found that spatial heterogeneity in sand biocrusts in the desert is closely related to differences in host community structure, and that the stabilization of sand can affect pathogen occurrence through changes in host community structure and vector burdens. Changes in the structure of the same host community can simultaneously amplify and dilute the effects of different pathogens.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Mario Garrido, Scott K. Hansen, Rami Yaari, Hadas Hawlena
Summary: The study recommends a formal model selection approach (MSA) using information criteria and compares it with two traditional methods using numerical simulations. MSA-SEM shows superior and unbiased results under suboptimal realistic conditions typical in ecological studies. A roadmap for MSA-SEM is provided along with a demonstration through a case study.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Keyla Carstens Marques de Sousa, Ricardo Gutierrez, Dayana Yahalomi, Tali Shalit, Barak Markus, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Hadas Hawlena, Evgeniya Marcos-Hadad, Einat Hazkani-Covo, Haroldo Henrique de Rezende Neves, Shay Covo, Shimon Harrus
Summary: This study focused on the genetic diversity of a genetically diverse Bartonella species, Bartonella krasnovii, which circulates among gerbils and their associated fleas. The researchers found structural diversity in the genomes of this species, with a large proportion of the structural variations associated with prophages. Further analysis revealed that most of the structural variations and prophage insertions were found at the chromosome replication termination site, suggesting this site as a plastic zone of the B. krasnovii chromosome. These findings demonstrate the extensive genomic diversity harbored by wild B. krasnovii strains and suggest that its diversification is initially promoted by structural changes, probably driven by phages.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruth Rodriguez-Pastor, Yarden Shafran, Nadav Knossow, Ricardo Gutierrez, Shimon Harrus, Luis Zaman, Richard E. Lenski, Jeffrey E. Barrick, Hadas Hawlena
Summary: This article introduces laboratory experiments on the evolution of blood-borne parasitic microbes in animal hosts, offering guidelines for designing such experiments. The importance of selecting appropriate ancestral genotypes, treatments, replicates, controls, variables, covariates, and timing for checkpoints is emphasized, along with recommended preliminary experiments for quantification and transmission methods. Despite their technical nature, these methodological considerations also have conceptual implications.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Idit Gunther, Hadas Hawlena, Lior Azriel, Dan Gibor, Olaf Berke, Eyal Klement
Summary: This article examines the effectiveness of trap-neuter-return/release (TNR) in controlling the population of domestic cats and suggests a management approach that emphasizes high intensity, continuity, and geographic contiguity. The study finds that TNR has some effectiveness in reducing the cat population, but the rebound increase in reproduction and longevity of cats limits the population reduction. To enhance management effectiveness and mitigate compensatory effects, the article recommends integrating TNR with complementary methods.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Hadas Hawlena
Summary: Coexistence theories have advanced rapidly in the field of ecology, surpassing their experimental testing. This article discusses the reasons for this gap, calls for interdisciplinary researchers to construct a roadmap for coexistence research, and recommends actions to be implemented.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Zoe M. Dinges, Raelyn K. Phillips, Curtis M. Lively, Farrah Bashey
Summary: Coevolution between mutualists can lead to barriers to host switching. The study found both pre- and post-association barriers, with some bacteria being highly virulent to non-native hosts and some nematode hosts carrying fewer cells of non-native bacteria. No barriers to symbiont switching were detected between nematode species within the same clade.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Zoe M. Dinges, Raelyn K. Phillips, Curtis M. Lively, Farrah Bashey
Summary: Following a host shift, repeated co-passaging is expected to increase fitness in a novel mutualistic relationship between Steinernema nematodes and Xenorhabdus bacteria. However, experimental evolution did not improve the fitness of either partner, suggesting that post-association costs may hinder the formation of novel partnerships among sympatric mutualists.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Hadas Hawlena, Mario Garrido, Carmit Cohen, Snir Halle, Shahar Cohen
Summary: Coexistence theories have rapidly developed in the field of ecology, but they suffer from interdisciplinary gaps and a lack of universality. The modern coexistence theory (MCT) aims to address these deficiencies by formulating universal conditions for coexistence. However, despite its mechanistic foundation, it has been rarely used to determine the exact mechanisms that govern competitive outcomes. Recent theoretical developments have made MCT more accessible to experimentalists, but practical challenges remain. This study proposes that a comprehensive understanding of species co-occurrence patterns in nature can be achieved by combining the phenomenological approach with the mechanistic view of MCT and coexistence experiments focusing on specific mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Bhavya Papudeshi, Douglas B. Rusch, David VanInsberghe, Curtis M. Lively, Robert A. Edwards, Farrah Bashey
Summary: In this study, the authors investigated the host specificity and geographic structure of the insect pathogen and nematode mutualist Xenorhabdus bovienii to understand the extent to which generalist species are cohesive evolutionary units. The results showed that X. bovienii forms associations with multiple nematode species, but the bacterial and nematode phylogenies were not entirely congruent. Additionally, genetic similarity and gene flow decreased with increasing geographic distance across nematode species, suggesting the presence of differentiation and constraints on gene flow.
Article
Biology
Adam Z. Hasik, Kayla C. King, Hadas Hawlena
Summary: We examine the potential influence of interspecific host competition on the evolution of virulence. Host natural mortality, body mass changes, population density, and community diversity are identified as factors affecting virulence evolution. A conceptual framework is proposed to explain how these factors, which change during host competition, can drive the evolution of virulence through impacts on life-history trade-offs. The complexity of interspecific host competition and virulence evolution requires further investigation to understand contrasting mechanisms. Additionally, different transmission strategies of parasites should be taken into account. A comprehensive approach focusing on interspecific host competition is crucial for understanding the evolution of virulence.
