Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tahlia Perry, Alan Stenhouse, Isabella Wilson, Imma Perfetto, Michael W. McKelvey, Michelle Coulson, Rachel A. Ankeny, Peggy D. Rismiller, Frank Grutzner
Summary: The short-beaked echidna, an iconic Australian animal, faces threats such as habitat loss, roads, and invasive species. To gather more information about echidnas Australia-wide, the Echidna Conservation Science Initiative (EchidnaCSI) was established, engaging the public in citizen science research. This project successfully collected a significant amount of echidna data through public participation, demonstrating the potential of citizen science approaches for research on cryptic species.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Physiology
Gheorghe Benga, Guy Cox
Summary: This article reviews the many cell biology discoveries based on red blood cells (RBCs) since the 17th century, with a particular focus on the discovery of the first water channel protein, aquaporin1 (AQP1). By examining RBCs from various species using light and electron microscopy, the researchers estimated the RBC cell volume and surface area. The diffusional water permeability of the RBC membrane was measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The significance of RBCs' permeability to water and its potential impact on the whole body were discussed.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
H. Christoph Liedtke, John J. Wiens, Ivan Gomez-Mestre
Summary: Amphibians have undergone significant evolutionary transitions in reproductive modes and life-cycles, with different clades exhibiting varying patterns of transition. Reproductive modes are independent of diversification rates.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jane C. Fenelon, Abbie Bennetts, Neal Anthwal, Michael Pyne, Stephen D. Johnston, Alistair R. Evans, Abigail S. Tucker, Marilyn B. Renfree
Summary: Based on the research of pre- and post-hatching tissues of the echidna, it was found that the echidna egg tooth is similar to the first teeth in reptiles and fish, and it is ankylosed to the premaxilla rather than forming a tooth root like other mammals. The caruncle of the echidna is separate from the nasal capsule and expresses markers of cornification, similar to birds and turtles. These findings suggest that the monotreme egg tooth shares similarities with reptilian teeth, indicating a conservation from a common ancestor of mammals and reptiles.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Tahneal Hawke, Gilad Bino, Richard T. Kingsford, Dion Iervasi, Kylie Iervasi, Matthew D. Taylor
Summary: The study tracked 15 male and female platypuses in eastern Australia and found some overlap in activity areas during the breeding season. Environmental flushing events did not significantly impact platypus movements, but did increase foraging duration.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kevin R. Amses, D. Rabern Simmons, Joyce E. Longcore, Stephen J. Mondo, Kensuke Seto, Gustavo H. Jeronimo, Anne E. Bonds, C. Alisha Quandt, William J. Davis, Ying Chang, Brian A. Federici, Alan Kuo, Kurt LaButti, Jasmyn Pangilinan, William Andreopoulos, Andrew Tritt, Robert Riley, Hope Hundley, Jenifer Johnson, Anna Lipzen, Kerrie Barry, B. Franz Lang, Christina A. Cuomo, Nicolas E. Buchler, Igor V. Grigoriev, Joseph W. Spatafora, Jason E. Stajich, Timothy Y. James
Summary: By analyzing the genomes of flagellated fungi, we identified major evolutionary trends in non-Dikarya fungi. Our study revealed five lineages of flagellated fungi and found that some of these lineages have diploid-dominant life cycles. Additionally, we observed the loss of ancestral traits shared with animals across these fungi lineages. These findings caution against assuming that traits observed in Dikarya are representative of other fungal lineages.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jane C. Fenelon, Caleb McElrea, Geoff Shaw, Alistair R. Evans, Michael Pyne, Stephen D. Johnston, Marilyn B. Renfree
Summary: Monotremes diverged from therian mammal ancestors approximately 184 million years ago and have unique reproductive characteristics, including their penile morphology. Despite differences between echidna and platypus phalluses, research has shown that the echidna penis shares many similarities with other mammal penises and some features homologous with reptiles. The mechanism by which unilateral ejaculation occurs in echidnas involves the direction of blood flow to specific corpora spongiosa in the penis.
SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Review
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Megan Donahue, G. Mark Voit
Summary: This article reviews how the vast atmospheres and supermassive central black holes in the biggest galaxies in the universe couple and regulate the star formation rate. Models and observational evidence suggest that many massive galaxies are close to a marginal state, where the gas supply for star formation is closely tied to the central velocity dispersion of the stars.
PHYSICS REPORTS-REVIEW SECTION OF PHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Thomas Kolbe, Caroline Lassnig, Andrea Poelzl, Rupert Palme, Kerstin E. Auer, Thomas Ruelicke
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different cage temperatures on reproduction and stress hormone metabolite excretion in two commonly used mouse strains. The results showed that higher temperatures led to increased pup loss, reduced weights of mothers and pups, and longer tails in offspring. However, there was no difference in stress hormone metabolite excretion between temperature groups. Despite the temperature effects on reproductive parameters, adrenocortical activity was not affected. Overall, the study suggests that a cage temperature of 30 degrees C during lactation can negatively impact the reproductive performance and body mass of lactating females and their offspring.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Piotr Wlodzimierz, Fernando A. Rabanal, Robin Burns, Matthew Naish, Elias Primetis, Alison Scott, Terezie Mandakova, Nicola Gorringe, Andrew J. Tock, Daniel Holland, Katrin Fritschi, Anette Habring, Christa Lanz, Christie Patel, Theresa Schlegel, Maximilian Collenberg, Miriam Mielke, Magnus Nordborg, Fabrice Roux, Gautam Shirsekar, Carlos Alonso-Blanco, Martin A. Lysak, Polina Y. Novikova, Alexandros Bousios, Detlef Weigel, Ian R. Henderson
Summary: Centromeres play a critical role in cell division by loading specific histone variant nucleosomes, forming kinetochores, and allowing chromosome segregation. Despite their conserved function, there is diversity in centromere size and structure among different species. By analyzing centromeres from Arabidopsis thaliana and Arabidopsis lyrata accessions, we found a high degree of intra- and inter-species diversity. Our findings suggest that centromere evolution is driven by cycles of transposon invasion and purging through satellite homogenization, which contribute to species diversification.
Article
Zoology
C. E. Cooper, C. Erbe, P. C. Withers, J. M. Barker, N. Ball, L. Todd-Jones
Summary: Acoustic communication is found in various terrestrial vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. This study provides quantitative evidence for acoustic communication in short-beaked echidnas through analysis of vocalization recordings. While echidnas produce infrequent vocalizations, their distinctive "cooing" tones have been confirmed.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Christine Elizabeth Cooper, Philip Carew Withers
Summary: We have discovered a new evaporative window in short-beaked echidnas, as well as demonstrated the insulating properties of their spines through infrared thermography. The moist tip of their beak functions as a wet bulb globe thermometer, maximizing evaporative heat loss. Poorly insulated areas on the ventral surface and inside the legs act as postural thermal windows, while the spines provide flexible insulation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francisco M. Martin-Zamora, Yan Liang, Kero Guynes, Allan M. Carrillo-Baltodano, Billie E. Davies, Rory D. Donnellan, Yongkai Tan, Giacomo Moggioli, Oceane Seudre, Martin Tran, Kate Mortimer, Nicholas M. Luscombe, Andreas Hejnol, Ferdinand Marletaz, Jose M. Martin-Duran
Summary: This study investigates the lifecycle of three annelid species and discovers the correlation between trunk development and larval diversification. The findings suggest that the temporal decoupling of head and trunk formation is crucial for the evolution of animal larvae, challenging existing theories.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julien Barrere, Piyush Nanda, Andrew W. Murray
Summary: The evolution of complex multicellularity has led to increased morphological diversity and organizational novelty. This transition involved the formation of cell groups, the differentiation of cells within these groups, and the evolution of new reproductive strategies. Recent experiments have identified selective pressures and mutations that drive the emergence of simple multicellularity and cell differentiation, but the evolution of life cycles in simple multicellular forms has not been well studied. By examining wild isolates of budding yeast S. cerevisiae, researchers have found that these strains can exist as multicellular clusters, controlled by genetic and environmental factors. Alternating patterns of resource availability may have played a role in the evolution of life cycles.
Article
Microbiology
Michael Wells, Minjae Kim, Denise M. M. Akob, Partha Basu, John F. F. Stolz
Summary: The MopB superfamily is a diverse group of enzymes found in bacteria and archaea, believed to have originated from the last universal common ancestor. This study analyzed over 47,000 distinct MopB homologs and demonstrated their catalytic and mechanistic diversity based on the protein's structural fold rather than the cofactor it contains. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the ancestral functions and origins of different families within this superfamily.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
