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Bibliography on: Invasive Species

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ESP: PubMed Auto Bibliography 17 Aug 2025 at 11:32 Created: 

Invasive Species

Standard Definition: Invasive species are plants, animals, or pathogens that are non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm. Although that definition allows a logical possibility that some species might be non-native and harmless, most of time it seems that invasive species and really bad critter (or weed) that should be eradicated are seen as equivalent phrases. But, there is a big conceptual problem with that notion: every species in every ecosystem started out in that ecosystem as an invader. If there were no invasive species, all of Hawaii would be nothing but bare volcanic rock. Without an invasion of species onto land, there would be no terrestrial ecosystems at all. For the entire history of life on Earth, the biosphere has responded to perturbation and to opportunity with evolutionary innovation and with physical movement. While one may raise economic or aesthetic arguments against invasive species, it is impossible to make such an argument on scientific grounds. Species movement — the occurrence of invasive species — is the way the biosphere responds to perturbation. One might even argue that species movement is the primary, short-term "healing" mechanism employed by the biosphere to respond to perturbation — to "damage." As with any healing process, the short-term effect may be aesthetically unappealing (who thinks scabs are appealing?), but the long-term effects can be glorious.

Created with PubMed® Query: ("invasive species" OR "invasion biology" OR "alien species" OR "introduced species" ) NOT pmcbook NOT ispreviousversion

Citations The Papers (from PubMed®)

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RevDate: 2025-08-16

Kerr RC, Small HJ, Bass D, et al (2025)

The first report of Hematodinium perezi genotype I infection of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) from the River Thames, UK.

Journal of invertebrate pathology pii:S0022-2011(25)00161-2 [Epub ahead of print].

Hematodinium is a genus of parasitic dinoflagellates which infects marine decapods, including several which are utilised in the global commercial crustacean fishery. Histological screening of the invasive Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) collected from the River Thames UK in 2018 revealed infection by a parasite with features of Hematodinium spp. Molecular analysis of gill tissues from infected crabs confirmed the presence of Hematodinium spp. and more specifically, Hematodinium perezi genotype I, which has previously been reported infecting crustacean species native to the UK (Carcinus maenas and Liocarcinus depurator), including from locations from the nearby English Channel. This is the first report of Hematodinium perezi infecting Chinese mitten crabs in either its native (Asian) or invasive host range. It is proposed that the Chinese mitten crab has acquired this parasite in UK waters subsequent to its introduction several decades ago. This finding is of particular interest for the future aquaculture of this species in its native range since it may indicate susceptibility to infection with Hematodinium perezi genotype II, a parasite prevalent in other crustacean species farmed in Asia. Parasites of the Hematodinium genus have been shown to cause high prevalence infection and disease in numerous farmed and fished crustacean species from around the world and this study marks a confirmed extension of that host range and the potential for Chinese mitten crabs to acquire novel infections within their invasive ranges.

RevDate: 2025-08-15

Turner AA, Clark ML, Salas L, et al (2025)

BioSoundSCape: A bioacoustic dataset for the Fynbos Biome.

Scientific data, 12(1):1432.

Most biodiversity data are collected at fine spatial scales, but threats to species and ecosystems occur at broad spatial scales. Remote sensing allows broad-scale assessment of biodiversity but these data need to be ground-truthed with contemporaneous in situ datasets. Various faunal groups produce sounds or vocalizations which can then be related to remotely-sensed data. As part of the NASA-led BioSCape project, the BioSoundSCape project deployed Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs), which record sounds in an approximately 50 m radius, at 521 sites spread across an area of approximately 119,058 km[2] in the Greater Cape Floristic Region, South Africa, during the wet and dry seasons of 2023. The ARUs recorded sounds one in every ten minutes, over 4-10 days, producing 825,832 minutes of recordings (approximately 400,000 minutes of recording in each season). These sound data are georeferenced to within 20 m, with time and date information, so may be useful for relating biodiversity patterns in soundscapes to vegetation structure, fire history, plant phenology, distance to roads and other human infrastructure.

RevDate: 2025-08-15

Wen TY, Wu XQ, JR Ye (2025)

Metabolome analysis and functional characterization reveals that d-gluconic acid contributes to pine defence against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus infection.

Pest management science [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Pines (Pinus L.) are widely cultivated for their rich resin content and ease of wood processing. However, pines are constantly threatened by pine wood nematode (PWN; Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), causing a large number of pine forests to wilt and die. Pinus massoniana and P. thunbergii are both major host species for PWN. Previous studies have found that P. thunbergii is more sensitive to PWN than P. massoniana. It is particularly important to understand the differential sensitivity mechanisms against PWN among pine species in order to ensure their balanced growth and protect their diversity. Therefore, this study analyzed and identified the main differential metabolic pathway between P. massoniana and P. thunbergii through metabolomics.

RESULTS: We compared the disease phenotypes of P. massoniana and P. thunbergii inoculated with PWN. And we further analyzed metabolome data to screen the different resistance pathways in the two pine species. As a result, the pentose phosphate pathway, in which d-gluconate was the key difference substance, was prominent in the resistance difference of P. massoniana and P. thunbergii. The levels of G6DPH, NADPH and organic acids in P. massoniana were significantly higher than those in P. thunbergii to better maintain redox balance. The content of these substances in P. thunbergii increased after treatment with exogenous d-gluconic acid, and its ability to resist nematodes was comparable to that of P. massoniana. Moreover, d-gluconic acid was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy to restore the damage of pine cells.

CONCLUSION: This discovery indicated that activating the pentose phosphate pathway could increase the ability of pine trees to defend against nematodes, which not only enhances the understanding of pine resistance, but also promotes breeding research on pine trees and provides a novel perspective for the development of new insecticidal substances. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

RevDate: 2025-08-14

Zhang X, Wang Q, Fei J, et al (2025)

Assessment of imazapyr's control effects and soil environmental safety in salt marsh wetlands invaded by Spartina alterniflora.

Marine pollution bulletin, 221:118551 pii:S0025-326X(25)01027-6 [Epub ahead of print].

Spartina alterniflora is a prevalent invasive species in the estuarine coastal wetlands of China. Effective control and management of S. alterniflora are crucial for preserving and enhancing the biodiversity and ecosystem functions of these wetlands. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the ecological impacts of control measures for S. alterniflora. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of imazapyr in removing S. alterniflora in salt marsh wetlands and to evaluate its ecological safety concerning the soil environment. The results showed that the herbicidal effect of imazapyr was significant one month after application, but imazapyr has a long soil residual activity, with trace residues still present one month after application at higher concentrations (dilution factor: 11.00). Thirty days after imazapyr application, most soil nutrients and bacterial diversity remained stable, but the fungal shannon index significantly increased. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria increased notably, while the abundance of Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, and other phylum-level bacteria was inhibited by imazapyr. The fungal community structure, however, was not significantly impacted. Additionally, the spraying of imazapyr reduced the robustness of the microbial ecological network, making it more vulnerable. Interestingly, imazapyr application improved the soil health index in one month. This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic changes in soil nutrients, microbial communities, and the overall soil health index following imazapyr application, thereby deepening our understanding of the soil environment after disturbance.

RevDate: 2025-08-14

Vilanova Gallardo M, Holgado Durán H, Arechavaleta Faría A, et al (2025)

Tubastraea coccinea (Lesson, 1830), a coral species with high invasive potential, can benefit from the synergistic effects of ocean warming and acidification.

Marine environmental research, 211:107430 pii:S0141-1136(25)00487-8 [Epub ahead of print].

Temperature rise and pH decrease, coupled with increasing maritime traffic, are inducing modifications in the distribution of many exotic species, such as Tubastraea coccinea, a species with high invasive potential recently recorded in the Canary Islands. This study assessed the effect of the expected end-of-century temperature and pH (26 °C and pH 7.50) on this coral species through manipulative laboratory experiments conducted over different time periods (30 days vs. 80 days). The impact of acidification, warming, and time on variables such as weight, buoyant weight, number of new polyps, area, respiration, calcification and reproduction rates were analysed. Results revealed a negative effect of acidification on growth and respiration rates of T. coccinea, with significant differences between experimental treatments in weight, buoyant weight, number of polyps, area, and respired carbon. However, in future, T. coccinea may not be adversely affected by low pH values, as the negative effect is mitigated when colonies are exposed to 26 °C. Using different experimental periods showed how this species' response is liable to change over time under future climate change conditions.

RevDate: 2025-08-14

Hamman E (2025)

Cumulative effects assessment under the World Heritage and Ramsar regimes.

Environmental management [Epub ahead of print].

Managing cumulative pressures on socio-ecological systems presents as one of the foremost policy challenges of our time. Climate change, invasive species, development and pollution all have the potential to individually, and collectively, degrade the earth's natural and cultural resources. International environmental law, a crucial element of global environmental governance, has a role to play in prompting and coordinating a response to cumulative effects. Hitherto, however, international approaches have been fragmented and unfocused, further complicating the already challenging application of Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) at the local level. This article examines how the two primary protected area treaties-the World Heritage Convention and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands-have evolved to address the concepts of CEA and cumulative effects. It uncovers instances of ambiguity and fragmentation in treaty guidance material and concludes with a suggestion for further empirical research into how CEA could (or should) apply in the context of internationally protected areas.

RevDate: 2025-08-16

Cook J, Roberts BP, Labrosse F, et al (2025)

Detecting and Mapping Invasive Species Across Riparian Corridors via Object Detection Approaches in UAV Imagery: An Example of Impatiens glandulifera.

Ecology and evolution, 15(8):e71921.

Riparian zones in the United Kingdom have high species diversity but are prone to anthropogenic changes and alien plant invasions, like Impatiens glandulifera. However, identification can be challenging due to poor accessibility or visibility via tree canopies. UAVs provide a means to access previously inaccessible areas and capture imagery of the area. In this study, a method is introduced to identify the flowers of invasive species (Impatiens glandulifera) and map their locations using a computer vision framework and oblique image capture methods. The process includes thresholding images, image masking, blurring, ellipsoid shape search, noise reduction, and contour extraction. Locations are determined using camera parameters, EXIF data, and the average flower size, then converted into vector format for GIS software. This method is wrapped into a single executable program named the semi-automatic thresholding tool (SATT). A validation set of 312 UAV images from the River Elwy, North Wales, showed high precision (79%-96%) and mean average precision (mAP) scores of 73%-86%. This demonstrates that the SATT consistently and correctly identifies Impatiens glandulifera flowers from UAV imagery, making it effective for identifying hotspots and targeting management techniques along riparian corridors. The tool has been wrapped into a single-file executable program with a graphical user interface, enabling nonexperts to use the tool without the need of any software installation. Overall, the tool obtains consistent detection levels of abundance/or flower density across the study site. The tool also does not require an extensive amount of training data, and the intuitive design of the software enables nonexperts to utilize the tool and modify parameter values to adapt it to their needs.

RevDate: 2025-08-16

Schöttes FM, Gethöffer F, Tost D, et al (2025)

A behavioral study of live captured coypu (Myocastor coypus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) with respect to animal welfare.

Frontiers in veterinary science, 12:1619604.

Since 2016, coypu (Myocastor coypus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) have been listed as invasive alien species (IAS) of European Union concern (The Implementing Regulation (EU) 1141/2016). The three-stage management plan stipulates the prevention of the further spread of species already established in Germany (Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council). Live trapping is a commonly used instrument to catch animals in hunting practice, but also in species conservation and pet protection. As part of a comprehensive study to improve animal welfare in live trapping, this paper focuses on a behavioral study with the aim of assessing the behavior of trapped animals in relation to stress. Video recordings were analyzed using a species adjusted ethogram and a quantitative observation method with focus on the animal in the trap over a maximum six-hour period. Blood and hair samples were taken for endocrinological examinations. The results showed large species-specific and individual differences in the expression of a wide range of behavior and coping strategies. As part of the stress assessment, it was concluded that external factors, among others the type of trap, have an influence on the behavior of coypu and raccoon. The raccoons showed different behaviors depending on the individual data. The endocrinological examinations of the stress parameters cortisol and dehydroepiandrosteron (DHEA) measured in serum and hair revealed differences between the species, indicating differing basal values. For coypu, the measurements indicated differences in serum and hair cortisol levels between juvenile and adult coypu. The study shows substantial indicators, such as the design of the trap type and the duration of capture, can be used to contribute to improve practices in live capture of (wild) animals.

RevDate: 2025-08-14

Cayen SC, Outha KA, PP Audate (2025)

Ecosystem services of urban food forests and their contributions to health and sustainability of North American cities: a narrative review.

International journal of environmental health research [Epub ahead of print].

This narrative review synthesizes the ecosystem services of urban food forests and their contributions to urban health and food sustainability in North American cities. The study selection and analysis processes were inspired by scoping review methodologies, with predefined inclusion criteria for empirical peer-reviewed studies on urban food forests in Canada and the United States. This review is based on 13 studies published between 2018 and 2023, using case studies, policy analyses and both quantitative and qualitative methods. The review identifies key ecosystem services of urban food forests - sustainable food production, climate regulation, water management, carbon sequestration and air quality improvement - which enhance environmental health. Urban food forests also promote food security, biodiversity, and provide recreational and educational spaces that foster community engagement, resilience and social equity. However, their implementation faces challenges, including public space governance, maintenance costs, regulatory barriers and ecological risks such as invasive species. The review highlights the importance of governance approaches that integrate ecological integrity, public health and community needs, alongside adaptive policies to support their development. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies that evaluate long-term impacts and develop evidence-based practices for sustainable and equitable implementation of urban food forests.

RevDate: 2025-08-14

Pearse IS, Becker Z, Ode PJ, et al (2025)

Low genetic diversity in populations of a clonal invasive plant limits sexual reproduction.

American journal of botany [Epub ahead of print].

PREMISE: Clonality, a form of asexual reproduction and spread, is common among invasive plants, though sexual reproduction via seeds is often still important for their long-range dispersal. In small populations, clonality has been hypothesized to interfere with sexual reproduction by limiting outcrossing opportunities of a plant.

METHODS: We developed a structural equation model based on estimates of genetic diversity and seed production of Lepidium draba, a problematic invasive clonal plant, at 26 sites in Colorado to test whether site characteristics relating to small founder populations resulted in low genetic diversity and sexual reproduction. The next year, in pollen supplementation experiments at six sites (three with high genetic diversity, three with low), we tested whether populations with low genetic diversity were limited by non-self pollen.

RESULTS: Large populations and populations associated with rivers tended to have higher genetic diversity. Percentage seed fill and total seed production were considerably higher at sites with higher genetic diversity. At populations with low genetic diversity, supplementation with pollen from outside of the site, but not from within the site, increased seed production. At populations with high genetic diversity, pollen supplementation from off-site did not increase seed production.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that, in low-diversity populations that are dominated by a few large clones, L. draba produces few seeds compared to high-diversity populations and that this appears to be due to limited availability of non-self pollen. The data indicate that low genetic diversity decreases sexual reproduction, which may greatly reduce long-distance dispersal from these populations.

RevDate: 2025-08-17

Dai T, Wang Y, Shen X, et al (2025)

DNA Methylation-Associated Epigenetic Changes in Thermotolerance of Bemisia tabaci During Biological Invasions.

International journal of molecular sciences, 26(15):.

Global warming and anthropogenic climate change are projected to expand the geographic distribution and population abundance of ectothermic species and exacerbate the biological invasion of exotic species. DNA methylation, as a reversible epigenetic modification, could provide a putative link between the phenotypic plasticity of invasive species and environmental temperature variations. We assessed and interpreted the epigenetic mechanisms of invasive and indigenous species' differential tolerance to thermal stress through the invasive species Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED) and the indigenous species Bemisia tabaci AsiaII3. We examine their thermal tolerance following exposure to heat and cold stress. We found that MED exhibits higher thermal resistance than AsiaII3 under heat stress. The fluorescence-labeled methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (F-MSAP) results proved that the increased thermal tolerance in MED is closely related to DNA methylation changes, other than genetic variation. Furthermore, the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting analysis of DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) suggested that increased expression of Dnmt3 regulates the higher thermal tolerance of female MED adults. A mechanism is revealed whereby DNA methylation enhances thermal tolerance in invasive species. Our results show that the Dnmt-mediated regulation mechanism is particularly significant for understanding invasive species' successful invasion and rapid adaptation under global warming, providing new potential targets for controlling invasive species worldwide.

RevDate: 2025-08-17

Yan SY, Yang HS, Huang C, et al (2025)

The Olfactory System of Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Natural Enemy of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

International journal of molecular sciences, 26(15):.

The parasitoid wasp Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris is a key koinobiont solitary endoparasitoid of the invasive agricultural pest Tuta absoluta. This study investigates both the morphological and molecular foundations of sex-specific olfactory differentiation in this species. Morphological analysis revealed that males possess significantly longer antennae (2880.8 ± 20.36 μm) than females (2137.23 ± 43.47 μm), demonstrating pronounced sexual dimorphism. Scanning electron microscopy identified similar sensilla types on both sexes, but differences existed in the length and diameter of specific sensilla. Transcriptomic analysis of adult antennae uncovered molecular differentiation, identifying 11 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and 20 odorant receptors (ORs), with 27 chemosensory genes upregulated in females and 4 enriched in males. Integrating morphological and molecular evidence demonstrates complementary sexual specialization in the olfactory apparatus of D. gelechiidivoris. Linking these findings to the potential functions of different sensilla types, as discussed in the context of prior research, provides crucial insights into the sex-specific use of volatile cues. These findings provide critical insights into the use of volatile signals in this highly relevant species for biological control targeting T. absoluta.

RevDate: 2025-08-16

Oduor S, Lekolool I, Ndunda MM, et al (2025)

Physiological and nutritional stress response of African elephants within the lantana-dominated Lower Imenti Forest Reserve in Kenya.

Conservation physiology, 13(1):coaf060.

Invasive species can alter the ecology of protected areas, substantially lowering the habitat quality for vertebrate communities. The Lower Imenti Forest on Mt. Kenya's northeastern slope has experienced habitat disturbance, degrading the system and resulting in the establishment of invasive species, including lantana (Lantana camara), throughout the area. Following reports of high mortality and poor conditions among the African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) inhabiting the area, we assessed the status of two endocrine indicators of their physiological condition. Specifically, we assessed the physiological stress response by measuring faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) and the nutritional stress response by measuring faecal thyroid (fT3) concentrations in elephant faecal samples collected in the forest. To better interpret the hormone levels, we compared the hormone concentrations in the Imenti faecal samples to concentrations from reference levels indicative of extreme nutritional stress (from faecal samples of elephants experiencing drought-induced mortality) and adrenal stress (from elephants experiencing high levels of human-elephant conflict). The concentrations of fT3, a biomarker of nutritional stress response, found in elephant faecal samples from the Lower Imenti Forest were lower than the drought-stressed reference levels, suggesting lower levels of energy intake and assimilation of forage resources in elephants from this area. The concentration of fGCM, a biomarker of physiological stress response, was higher than the human-elephant conflict reference levels, suggesting the elephants in Lower Imenti were experiencing a higher physiological stress response. We found no differences between fT3 and fGCM concentrations in samples assigned to different age classes (juvenile, subadults, adults), suggesting the physiological problems were not age specific. Findings from our physiological study suggest that restricted movement and reduced forage availability due to lantana infestation in the Lower Imenti Forest may be driving the elevated nutritional stress, potentially contributing to the concerning mortality observed in the area. We discuss the use of endocrine markers to ascertain wildlife responses to degraded habitats.

RevDate: 2025-08-16

Encerrado-Manriquez AM, Spooner ZT, Truong TT, et al (2025)

Developmental and caste-specific expression patterns of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Environmental toxicology and pharmacology, 118:104789 pii:S1382-6689(25)00164-4 [Epub ahead of print].

While honey bees play a vital role in global crop production, they face increasing exposure to xenobiotic chemicals during commercial pollination. Multidrug-resistance (MDR)-type ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters provide the first line of defense against xenobiotic chemicals. This study investigated the gene expression profiles of 12 ABC transporters involved in chemical detoxification across three honey bee castes and 13 life stages using quantitative real-time PCR. Six ABC genes showed increased expression during worker bee development and were identified as MDR-like transporters (Ame-ABCB1, Ame-ABCB6, Ame-ABCC4a-c, Ame-ABCG1). Four transporters showed pupal-specific expression during metamorphosis. Queens exhibited significantly reduced MDR transporter expression compared to workers between 1.7-fold lower (ABCB6) and 17.5-fold lower (ABCB1). Drones showed intermediate expression levels. Queen ovaries demonstrated tissue-specific upregulation of select transporters. These findings reveal a vulnerability hierarchy (foragers > drones > queens) and suggest caste-specific trade-offs between reproduction and chemical defense in honey bee superorganisms.

RevDate: 2025-08-12

Erickson PA, Stellwagen A, Bangerter A, et al (2025)

Limited population structure but signals of recent selection in introduced African Fig Fly (Zaprionus indianus) in North America.

G3 (Bethesda, Md.) pii:8224043 [Epub ahead of print].

Invasive species have devastating consequences for human health, food security, and the environment. Many invasive species adapt to new ecological niches following invasion, but little is known about the early steps of adaptation. Here we examine population genomics of a recently introduced drosophilid in North America, the African Fig Fly, Zaprionus indianus. This species is likely intolerant of subfreezing temperatures and recolonizes temperate environments yearly. We generated a new chromosome-level genome assembly for Z. indianus. Using resequencing of over 200 North American individuals collected over four years in temperate Virginia, plus a single collection from subtropical Florida, we tested for signatures of population structure and adaptation within invasive populations. We show founding populations are sometimes small and contain close genetic relatives, yet temporal population structure and differentiation of populations is mostly absent across North America. However, we identify two haplotypes that are differentiated between African and invasive populations and show signatures of selective sweeps. Both haplotypes contain genes in the cytochrome P450 pathway, indicating these sweeps may be related to pesticide resistance. X chromosome evolution in invasive populations is strikingly different from the autosomes, and a haplotype on the X chromosome that is differentiated between Virginia and Florida populations is a candidate for temperate adaptation. These results show that despite limited population structure, populations may rapidly evolve genetic differences early in an invasion. Further uncovering how these genomic regions influence invasive potential and success in new environments will advance our understanding of how organisms evolve in changing environments.

RevDate: 2025-08-12

Seebens H, Meyerson LA, Richardson DM, et al (2025)

Biological invasions: a global assessment of geographic distributions, long-term trends, and data gaps.

Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society [Epub ahead of print].

Biological invasions are one of the major drivers of biodiversity decline and have been shown to have far-reaching consequences for society and the economy. Preventing the introduction and spread of alien species represents the most effective solution to reducing their impacts on nature and human well-being. However, implementing effective solutions requires a good understanding of where the species are established and how biological invasions develop over time. Knowledge of the status and trends of biological invasions is thus key for guiding research efforts, informing stakeholders and policymakers, for targeted management efforts, and preparing for the future. However, information about the status and trends of alien species is scattered, patchy, and highly incomplete, making it difficult to assess. Published reports for individual regions and taxonomic groups are available, but large-scale overviews are scarce. A global assessment therefore requires a review of available knowledge with careful consideration of sampling and reporting biases. This paper provides a comprehensive global assessment of the status and trends of alien species for major taxonomic groups [Bacteria, Protozoa, Stramenopila, Alveolata, and Rhizaria (SAR), fungi, plants, and animals] for Intergovernmental Panel of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) regions. The review provides irrefutable evidence that alien species have been introduced to all regions worldwide including Antarctica and have spread to even the most remote islands. The numbers of alien species are increasing within all taxa and across all regions, and are often even accelerating. Large knowledge gaps exist, particularly for taxonomic groups other than vascular plants and vertebrates, for regions in Africa and Central Asia, and for aquatic realms. In fact, for inconspicuous species, such as Bacteria, Protozoa, and to some degree SAR and fungi, we found records for very few species and regions. Observed status and trends are thus highly influenced by research effort. More generally, it is likely that all lists for alien species of any taxonomic group and region are incomplete. The reported species numbers therefore represent minima, and we can expect additions to all lists in the near future. We identified six key challenges which need to be addressed to reduce knowledge gaps and to improve our ability to assess trends and status of biological invasions.

RevDate: 2025-08-12

Ni J, Li Z, Hu X, et al (2025)

Chikungunya's global rebound and Asia's growing vulnerability: Implications for integrated vector control and pandemic preparedness.

Bioscience trends [Epub ahead of print].

Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by an RNA virus of the Alphavirus genus and is characterized by fever and severe joint pain. The disease is primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. Since its re-emergence in 2005, chikungunya has spread extensively, affecting more than 2.8 billion people across 119 countries worldwide. This article reviews the global epidemiological features of chikungunya, with a focus on its transmission dynamics, the characteristics of the virus and its vectors, as well as the influence of ecological and climatic factors. The article also discusses public health response measures, including the Wolbachia strategy, vaccine development, and integrated vector management. Despite China being a non-epidemic area, imported cases have led to localized outbreaks, prompting the implementation of the 'Four Pests-free Village' initiative to reduce mosquito density and improve public health. Notably, as of July 31, 2025, Guangdong Province in China has reported over 5,158 chikungunya cases and has initiated a Level 3 emergency response in the City of Foshan. In the face of global challenges such as climate change and the spread of invasive species, establishing a normalized rapid response system and enhancing monitoring, early warning, and inter-departmental collaboration are crucial to controlling the spread of mosquito-borne diseases and protecting public health.

RevDate: 2025-08-16
CmpDate: 2025-08-12

Dahlberg AD, Waller DL, Severson TJ, et al (2025)

Using bioavailability modeling to refine copper treatments for zebra mussel control and better understanding risks to non-target species.

Scientific reports, 15(1):29333.

Copper can be toxic to aquatic organisms at high concentrations and has been previously used successfully to control zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). Because copper's toxicity changes with water chemistry, using the same copper concentration in different waterbodies could yield different outcomes. We demonstrate how measuring water chemistry parameters and using the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) and multiple linear regression (MLR) models can predict a suitable, site-specific copper concentration for management. We exposed zebra mussel adults and non-target organisms to varying concentrations of copper over 10 d in a mobile laboratory. We found that one non-target species, Daphnia magna, had a 50% chance of survival at 9.50 µg Cu/L (i.e., the 50% lethal concentration, LC50), within our BLM-predicted range of 3.38-16.95 µg Cu/L LC50 values. In the future, managers could make similar predictions and tailor their copper concentrations to their management goals. We also measured zebra mussel larvae mortality at copper concentrations ranging from 0 to 191 µg Cu/L. While those results were inconclusive, we present the results of this work as a foundation for future projects. Our study underscores the importance of developing site-specific copper concentration recommendations and demonstrates the potential utility of the BLM and MLR approaches for informing those recommendations.

RevDate: 2025-08-13

Larragy SJ, Colgan TJ, Stolle E, et al (2025)

A Genome-Wide Analysis of Structure and Evolution in Irish and British Populations of Bombus terrestris (L. 1758): Implications for Genetic Resource Conservation.

Evolutionary applications, 18(8):e70141.

Insect pollinators play vital regulatory roles within ecosystems and provide humanity with essential services that support our health, wellbeing, and economies. Despite their importance, reported declines at regional and national levels have raised concerns over the continuation of such benefits. Island pollinator populations are of particular conservation interest as they may harbor lower genetic diversity due to restricted gene flow caused by geographical barriers, which may in turn influence local selective processes. In this study, we investigated the population structure and potential targets of selection within the genomes of a bumblebee subspecies, Bombus terrestris audax, native to the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. In particular, we compared the genomes of wild-caught populations from each island alongside representatives of other European subspecies and commercial imports to ascertain patterns of historical admixture. Our analysis identified a largely genetically distinct population of B. t. audax on the island of Ireland, with weak evidence of admixture. In addition, we find differential signatures of positive selection between the two island populations in genes associated with neurology and development, indicating potential local adaptation. Furthermore, we identified an extremely polymorphic region on chromosome 10 with evidence of shared haplotypes in both wild and commercial bees, which may represent long-standing genetic variation at the continental level or potential localized admixture between wild and commercial bees. Collectively, our findings inform on the genetic distinctiveness of these island bumblebees, emphasizing the applied need to genetically characterize natural populations to ensure the conservation of genetic resources-in the context of this study, by informing risk-assessment and management of commercial bumblebees. In addition, our study reinforces the utility of genomic approaches in the biomonitoring of isolated or regionally adapted insect pollinator populations, which will contribute towards the effective conservation of these ecologically vital organisms.

RevDate: 2025-08-15
CmpDate: 2025-08-10

Macêdo RL (2025)

Contrasting niche dynamics in the invasion processes of two congeneric dinoflagellates.

Scientific reports, 15(1):29261.

Niche-based models are essential for predicting invasion risks. Although most invasive species tend to conserve their ecological niches after introduction, some challenge this assumption by expanding or contracting their niches, yet such patterns remain underexplored in microorganisms. Since larger niche shifts can reduce the predictive performance of these models, this study examines whether the climatic niches of the invasive dinoflagellates Ceratium hirundinella (Müller, 1841) and C. furcoides (Langhans, 1925) have shifted following their invasion from native European to non-native American ranges, where they have caused significant impacts on biodiversity and water quality. Though both species are native to temperate European lakes, their colonization patterns in the Americas differ, and the drivers of their spread remain unclear. In this study, niche conservatism was analyzed using five niche dynamic metrics for both species. The current distribution of C. hirundinella primarily in subtropical and temperate non-native areas aligns with its native climate (i.e., higher niche stability), suggesting preadaptation. Meanwhile, for C. furcoides, a niche shift-indicated by maximum expansion and unfilling-suggests a much higher potential for rapid spread across both tropical and subtropical climates. These findings show distinct climatic responses of congeneric species in non-native ranges, emphasizing the need to move beyond native environmental predictors when assessing invasion risk. Future research should explore niche shifts over time and whether invasions begin in ecologically matched habitats (as expected for C. hirundinella) or are driven by propagule pressure and human activity despite niche mismatches (as in C. furcoides).

RevDate: 2025-08-10

Fanfarillo E, Angiolini C, de Simone L, et al (2025)

Different control strategies of the invasive plant Arundo donax L. have taxon-specific effects on above- and belowground biodiversity.

Journal of environmental management, 392:126833 pii:S0301-4797(25)02809-9 [Epub ahead of print].

We assessed the short-term effects of different management strategies to control the invasive plant Arundo donax on biotic communities along a channelled stream in central Italy. We applied four treatments ordered by increasing management intensity: no management (C), one-cut per year (OC), three cuts per year (TC), and plastic mulching (M). Treatments started in June 2021 and ended in May 2022. Presence and abundance of vascular plants and soil bacteria and fungi were recorded from 24 plots immediately after the end of the treatments (May 2022) and five months later (October 2022). We tested the responses of A. donax and of the biotic communities to management intensity using generalized linear modeling and permutational analysis of variance. In May, M completely suppressed A. donax and plant communities, also reducing bacterial richness compared to C. However, plant communities under M recovered in richness by October, while A. donax under M and bacterial richness did not recover in such a timespan. Fungal richness was unaffected by treatments in both sampling seasons and decreased in October under all treatments. Management intensity had negative impacts on plant and bacterial functional diversity in both sampling seasons but did not affect fungal functional diversity. We highlighted that effective control of invasive species may imply short-term negative impacts on biotic communities. However, such impacts did not consistently affect different taxonomic groups. Plastic mulching should be used only in areas where rapid suppression of the invasive species is a priority, due to the short-term negative impacts on biodiversity of such practice.

RevDate: 2025-08-09

Camacho-Cervantes M, C Macías Garcia (2025)

Reproductive interference: a hidden threat of biological invasions.

Trends in ecology & evolution pii:S0169-5347(25)00189-2 [Epub ahead of print].

Invasive species threaten native populations in various ways, including through reproductive interference, but this remains understudied. Here, we present evidence that this interference reduces native fitness through courtship and mating. We emphasize the need for further research and highlight potential risks of using this mechanism as a management tool.

RevDate: 2025-08-12
CmpDate: 2025-08-09

Tian C, García-Girón J, Kua ZX, et al (2025)

Different Mechanisms Explain Decoupled Co-Occurrence Patterns of Native and Non-Native Macroinvertebrates.

Global change biology, 31(8):e70417.

Biological invasion is a key driver of biodiversity loss, leading to significant changes in community composition and structure. Hence, understanding how biological invasions influence community assembly processes is crucial for identifying invasion mechanisms and developing management strategies aimed at minimizing their impacts on natural ecosystems. Beyond environmental filtering or niche-based exclusion, biotic interactions (e.g., interspecific competition) between invasive and their native counterparts can also affect species distributions and local invasion dynamics. This study combined joint Species Distribution Models (jSDMs) with a long-term European-level dataset to uncover co-occurrence patterns and community organization of freshwater macroinvertebrates in the context of biological invasion. To do this, we considered functional traits, phylogenetic relationships, environmental niches, and residual variance potentially mirroring species-to-species interactions between non-native and native species. Environmental covariates exhibited significant differences in explaining variation of occurrences between native and non-native species; although environmental filtering had a more pronounced effect on native species. This finding supported the hypothesis that non-native species generally exhibit broader environmental niches. Indeed, our findings emphasized the importance of biotic filtering (in the form of interspecific competition and invasion meltdown among non-native species) acting beyond the abiotic environment in shaping the distribution of non-native and native species, providing a more nuanced view of the key drivers underlying invasion risk and success.

RevDate: 2025-08-12
CmpDate: 2025-08-09

Ferreira TN, Chen ME, Saelao P, et al (2025)

Fire ant ovary gene expression analyses revealed immune and insulin pathways underlie the reproductive transition from virgin to mated queen.

BMC genomics, 26(1):735.

BACKGROUND: Solenopsis invicta queens experience significant behavioral and physiological changes after mating, which are essential for their reproductive success. We investigated differences in ovary gene expression in virgin alate queens, newly mated queens, and mated queens to identify candidate genes associated with their physiological transition to mature egg-laying queens. Virgin queens and mated queens were obtained from field colonies and newly mated queens were collected from the ground immediately after their mating flight. Whole ovaries of virgin alate queens, and germaria and vitellaria from the ovaries of newly mated and mature mated queens were dissected. Pools of each of these five organs/tissues were used for RNAseq and RT-qPCR analyses.

RESULTS: Principal component analyses revealed a distinct transcriptomic profile among alate virgin ovaries, germaria of newly mated, and germaria of mated queens, highlighting the effect of mating driving significant differences in global gene expression. Mating did not have such a differentiating effect among libraries of newly mated and mated queen vitellaria. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between whole ovary transcriptome of virgin alate queens and germaria of newly mated and mated queens, as well as vitellaria of newly mated and mated queens. There were 22 gene ontology terms enriched among the DEGs in the germaria analysis, of note were those enriched in development and phosphorylation. In the vitellarium, terms related to nucleobase-containing molecule processes and fatty acid metabolism were enriched. Sixty-one DEGs were shared between germaria and vitellaria libraries, mainly linked to immunity, lipid metabolism, development, and transcriptional regulation. Phenoloxidase was highly expressed in mated queens in both ovarian regions, suggesting a role in immunity and choriogenesis. Vg3, one S. invicta vitellogenin gene, was upregulated in the vitellaria of mated queens, reinforcing its role in vitellogenesis. Transcripts of the prostaglandin E2 receptor showed ovary region-specific regulation, suggesting a significant role in immunity, oocyte development and potentially in the release of egg-laying behavior. Insulin-related genes were up-regulated in mated queens, reflecting the metabolic demands for egg production.

CONCLUSION: This study advances our understanding of immunity and mating and other key signaling pathways in fire ant reproduction.

RevDate: 2025-08-12
CmpDate: 2025-08-09

Lee M, Kanturski M, Kim MJ, et al (2025)

First record and integrative analysis of the invasive aphid Cinara pilicornis in South Korea.

Scientific reports, 15(1):29075.

This study presents the first record of the spruce shoot aphid, Cinara pilicornis (Hartig, 1841) (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae), in South Korea. Native to Europe, C. pilicornis has expanded its distribution globally and is recognized as a significant quarantine pest in South Korea, posing substantial ecological and economic risks to native spruce trees and forestry ecosystems. Through detailed morphological and molecular analyses, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mitochondrial COI gene sequencing, the identity of C. pilicornis was confirmed. Phylogenetic analyses (BI and NJ) and species delimitation methods (ABGD, ASAP, and bPTP) further validated the species classification, with all South Korean populations belonging to haplotype 1 a putative ancestral haplotype widely distributed across other regions. Population analyses revealed limited genetic diversity in South Korea, suggesting a recent introduction. Climatic niche modeling indicated that C. pilicornis has the potential to establish populations in temperate and subtropical regions, including Europe, North America, coastal South America, and East Asia. Observations of colony behavior on Picea abies revealed high honeydew production and the formation of black sooty mold, causing visible damage to host plants. This study underscores the importance of strengthening quarantine measures and monitoring native spruce trees in national parks to mitigate the spread and impact of this invasive pest. Effective management strategies are essential to prevent further ecological disruption and economic losses caused by C. pilicornis.

RevDate: 2025-08-11

Bacher S, Ryan-Colton E, Coiro M, et al (2025)

Correction: Global Impacts Dataset of Invasive Alien Species (GIDIAS).

Scientific data, 12(1):1390 pii:10.1038/s41597-025-05750-x.

RevDate: 2025-08-11
CmpDate: 2025-08-08

Xu M, Fang M, Usoof AM, et al (2025)

Ecological similarity governs non-native fish establishment while human pressure and native diversity shape invasion richness.

Science advances, 11(32):eadw4347.

Biological invasions by non-native fish species pose a major threat to global freshwater ecosystems. However, our understanding of why invaders establish in some communities but not others (i.e., occurrence probability) and why some communities harbor more invaders than others (i.e., invasion richness) remains limited. Here, we combine species- and community-level analyses across taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional dimensions to investigate both the occurrence probability and invasion richness of exotic and translocated fish species across nearly 3000 North American freshwater fish communities. We found that ecological similarity between non-native and native species primarily governed non-native fish establishment, with invaders more likely to succeed when closely related to native species. In contrast, invasion richness was largely promoted by human pressure, while native diversity reduced richness specifically for translocated species. Additionally, both the occurrence and richness of invaders increased toward lower latitudes. Together, these findings highlight the distinct yet complementary roles of environmental filtering, human activities, and biotic interactions in shaping freshwater fish invasions.

RevDate: 2025-08-10

Rathnayaka AR, Chethana KWT, Manowong A, et al (2025)

Taxonomy, phylogeny, and bioactive potential of Xylariales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) from Thailand: novel species discovery, new host and geographical records, and antibacterial properties.

MycoKeys, 120:35-117.

Xylariales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) comprise a wide range of species that exhibit considerable variation in stromatic characteristics, including conspicuous to inconspicuous perithecia and unitunicate asci. Most known species are endophytes and saprobes, recognized for producing secondary metabolites of fundamental importance in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The main objectives of this study were to identify novel species, document new host and geographical records within the families Diatrypaceae, Hypoxylaceae, and Xylariaceae in northern and central Thailand, and explore the bioactive properties of secondary metabolites produced by selected Xylariales species. Taxa were identified through morphological examination, supported by phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference based on LSU, ITS, rpb2, and β-tub gene sequences. These taxa are accompanied by comprehensive descriptions and illustrations. Xylariales cultures were screened for preliminary antibacterial activity against the bacterial pathogens Bacillussubtilis (Gram-positive) and Escherichiacoli (Gram-negative). Based on the screening results, two newly introduced species (Annulohypoxylonchiangraiense and Hypoxylonthailandicum) and two known species (Xylariachrysanthum and Daldiniaeschscholtzii), which exhibited antibacterial activity, were selected for secondary metabolite extraction. Crude extracts from these isolates were chemically profiled using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Q-TOF analyses, revealing a variety of potential compounds. The present study enhances our understanding of the taxonomic diversity and bioactive potential of Xylariales by introducing five new species, reporting nine new host records-including one new geographical record-and evaluating the bioactive properties of selected Xylariales cultures.

RevDate: 2025-08-10

Jones M, Matechou E, Cole D, et al (2025)

More than presence-absence; modelling (e)DNA concentration across time and space from qPCR survey data.

Journal of statistical theory and practice, 19(4):68.

UNLABELLED: Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys offer a revolutionary approach to species monitoring by detecting DNA traces left by organisms in environmental samples, such as water and soil. These surveys provide a cost-effective, non-invasive, and highly sensitive alternative to traditional methods that rely on direct observation of species, especially for protected or invasive species. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is a technique used to amplify and quantify a targeted DNA molecule, making it a popular tool for monitoring focal species. Modelling of qPCR data has so far focused on inferring species presence/absence at surveyed sites. However, qPCR output is also informative regarding DNA concentration of the species in the sample, and hence, with the appropriate modelling approach, in the environment. In this paper, we introduce a modelling framework that infers DNA concentration at surveyed sites across time and space, and as a function of covariates, from qPCR output. Our approach accounts for contamination and inhibition in lab analyses, addressing biases particularly notable at low DNA concentrations, and for the inherent stochasticity in the corresponding data. Additionally, we incorporate heteroscedasticity in qPCR output, recognizing the increased variance of qPCR data at lower DNA concentrations. We validate our model through a simulation study, comparing its performance against models that ignore contamination/inhibition and variance heterogeneity. Further, we apply the model to three case studies involving aquatic and semi-aquatic species surveys in the UK. Our findings demonstrate improved accuracy and robustness in estimating DNA concentrations, offering a refined tool for ecological monitoring and conservation efforts.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42519-025-00477-9.

RevDate: 2025-08-10
CmpDate: 2025-08-08

Bakacsy L, T Zakar (2025)

An investigation into the spatial patterns of invasive common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) stands through the utilization of drone images.

Scientific reports, 15(1):28889.

The phenomenon of biological invasions represents one of the most significant threats to biodiversity. A fundamental aspect of combating invasive plant species is the comprehension of the spatial and temporal alterations in their population dynamics. One of the important habitats of the European Union is the Pannon sand grasslands in Hungary, which are primarily threatened by the invasive common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). The objective of this study was to ascertain the efficacy of drone imaging in examining the spatial patterns of milkweed shoots in comparison to ground survey data. To facilitate comparison, a survey was conducted on 12 milkweed populations in the Fülöpháza area of Kiskunság National Park. In each population, a 12-meter transect (comprising six contiguous 2 m × 2 m quadrats) was designated within which the positions of the shoots were recorded with centimeter accuracy through ground surveys. The individual shoots were marked on images captured from an altitude of 20 m using a drone. The results indicated that the number of shoots identified in the drone images was slightly lower than in the ground surveys; however, a positive correlation was observed between the two datasets (r = 0.9594). A strong positive correlation was evident between the ground and drone surveys in terms of both the average distance between shoots and the observed pattern (r = 0.933 and r = 0.9146). In light of these findings, it can be concluded that drone imaging represents an effective method for examining the size and pattern of populations. Consequently, it may prove to be a valuable tool for the accurate planning of invasive species management in conservation efforts and the monitoring of the effectiveness of treatments.

RevDate: 2025-08-08
CmpDate: 2025-08-08

Wu T, Li Y, Cadotte MW, et al (2025)

Plant Invasion Decreases the Likelihood of Community Persistence Through Asymmetric Competition.

Ecology letters, 28(8):e70154.

Plant invasion is a significant driver of species loss in ecological communities. However, projecting its impact on multispecies coexistence remains a challenge. Here, we conducted pairwise experiments with five native and five non-native species, using the Ricker model to estimate interaction coefficients and population growth rates. We assessed the impact of non-native species on community persistence potential through a structural approach that integrates multispecies interactions and estimates coexistence probabilities. We found that community persistence potential generally declined after invasion, with the feasibility domain (i.e., the probability that all species co-occur simultaneously) becoming more asymmetric as more native species were replaced by non-native ones. Interestingly, non-native species were more likely to be excluded first under random environmental perturbations in communities where they were dominant. Our findings highlight the importance of clarifying species interaction structure under random disturbances in shaping community persistence and suggest tailored invasion management strategies to optimise resource allocation.

RevDate: 2025-08-11
CmpDate: 2025-08-06

Wang Y, Liu Y, Yang Y, et al (2025)

A chromosome-level genome assembly of Electrophorus voltai, a species of electric eel.

Scientific data, 12(1):1367.

Electrophorus voltai, a South American electric eel, is renowned as the most powerful bioelectricity generator, capable of producing electric discharges reaching 860 volts. This remarkable ability positions it as an invaluable model for investigating the genetic, physiological, and developmental mechanisms driving electrogenesis in vertebrates. Here, we report a chromosome-level genome assembly of E. voltai, constructed using PacBio HiFi long reads and Hi-C scaffolding. The final assembly spans 666.91 Mb, with a contig N50 of 1.54 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 28.42 Mb, anchored onto 26 chromosomes. Genome annotation revealed 23,221 protein-coding genes, of which 22,306 genes were functionally annotated. Repetitive sequences account for 298.83 Mb of the genome, dominated by transposable elements. Additionally, we identified 225 miRNAs, 5,409 tRNAs, 288 rRNAs, and 535 snRNAs. This genome provides a foundational resource for comparative genomic studies of electric fish and facilitates investigations into the evolution of electrogenesis, electrocyte development, and bioelectric signal regulation in vertebrates.

RevDate: 2025-08-09
CmpDate: 2025-08-06

Hartle CT, Lee CC, Hsu HW, et al (2025)

Five novel RNA viruses of the invasive big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala).

Archives of virology, 170(9):190.

The African big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala, is one of the most destructive invasive ant species, posing a significant threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem function, particularly in island ecosystems. Despite recent efforts to characterize pathogens in other major invasive ants, P. megacephala has received comparatively little attention. In this study, we characterized five novel RNA viruses actively replicating in P. megacephala, which we have named Pheidole megacephala virus 1-5 (PmV1-5), and examined viral diversity and prevalence in two invasive populations in Taiwan and Hawaii. This ant possesses a unique trait of true morphological worker dimorphism (major and minor), allowing us to test whether virus prevalence differs between the major and minor worker castes. Our findings indicate that all five novel viruses were present in both populations, but viral prevalence was higher in Hawaii than in Taiwan, potentially due to differences in supercolony structure. Multiple-virus infections were common, with coinfection by PmV1 and PmV5 being the most frequent. Notably, we found no significant difference in infection patterns between major and minor workers, suggesting that virus distribution is stable within colonies and that sampling different castes does not introduce bias in pathogen detection. This study represents the first characterization of viral pathogens in P. megacephala and may contribute to the development of microbial control strategies against this globally invasive ant.

RevDate: 2025-08-09
CmpDate: 2025-08-06

Collings JA, Shoemaker LG, JM Diez (2025)

Environmental context alters plant-soil feedback effects on plant coexistence.

Ecology, 106(8):e70170.

Plant-soil feedbacks are thought to mediate outcomes of plant competition through microbially driven positive or negative feedback loops. Plant-microbe interactions are known to depend on the underlying environmental context, yet most efforts to understand how plant-soil feedbacks mediate species coexistence have not considered these context dependencies. Here, we use modern coexistence theory to assess how this environmental context-dependence of plant-microbe interactions might influence plant coexistence, and through which species interactions environmental context-dependencies are most likely to modify coexistence outcomes. First, we found that the component species interactions in a plant-soil feedback model vary in their relative effects, with microbes impacting fitness ratios more so than direct plant-plant interactions. We also found that linear effects of the environment on plant-soil feedbacks result in nonlinear changes in niche differences and fitness ratios, which can result in altered predictions for coexistence, shifting species pairs from regions of coexistence to competitive exclusion or even priority effects. Finally, we extended our model to simulate how environmental dependence of plant-soil feedbacks in a well-studied invasive species, garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), may help explain invasion dynamics across environmental regions. We also discuss paths forward in empirically parameterizing context-dependent coexistence models using greenhouse experiments. This work builds on recent efforts to integrate plant-soil feedback theory with modern coexistence theory, suggesting that context-dependencies of plant-microbe interactions may more strongly alter fitness ratios compared to plant-plant interactions. Our results highlight how context-dependent plant-soil feedbacks may help explain spatial and temporal variation in plant community dynamics and suggest that the underlying mechanism of these dynamics depends on the relative sensitivity of particular species interactions to the environmental gradient.

RevDate: 2025-08-05
CmpDate: 2025-08-06

Hou Y, Duan L, Sun Y, et al (2025)

DNAzyme-driven dual-cycle coupled with pregnancy test strip signal transduction for monitoring of Dreissena polymorpha.

Mikrochimica acta, 192(9):557.

Dreissena polymorpha, an invasive species in North America, poses a serious threat to the environment and economy. It suffocates native species and clogs infrastructure, disrupting ecosystems. Since this species can also indicate biological pollution in water bodies, early monitoring can enable effective intervention and control measures to mitigate ecological and economic losses. Herein, a strategy was constructed for Dreissena polymorpha DNA detection with enzyme-assisted target recovery coupling DNAzyme-driven double-cycle signal amplification. This detection method utilizes the signal transduction mode of commercial pregnancy test strips. Magnetic beads conjugated with H1 (MB-H1) are hybridized to human chorionic gonadotropin-coupled H2 (hCG-H2). Target binding triggers toehold-mediated strand displacement. The cleavage of the endonuclease releases the target and hCG-H2 and generates DNAzyme. The DNAzyme, activated by Mn[2+], cleaves MB-ssDNA-hCG substrate, releasing abundant free hCG. This converts the target into free hCG, detected visually via commercial pregnancy test strips. The test strip assay showed high sensitivity with a limit of detection of 3.3 fM and showed great potential for monitoring invasive species in a portable and device-free manner, providing practical advantages for ecological management. This use of existing immediate equipment to enable portable detection of non-primary targets demonstrates high potential and advantage.

RevDate: 2025-08-05
CmpDate: 2025-08-05

Keller N, Anthony MA, van der Voort TS, et al (2025)

Soil carbon as a blind spot in tropical rainforest restoration.

Current biology : CB, 35(15):R765-R781.

Following years of degradation, tropical forests are now a key focus for active ecosystem restoration, which involves strategies such as tree planting to maximize aboveground biomass. The impact of active restoration on soil carbon storage has, however, been overlooked in restoration management and carbon offsetting projects despite its substantial contribution to ecosystem carbon budgets. In this review, we examine how active restoration in tropical rainforests can affect soil carbon storage from all major tropical regions (i.e., Southeast Asia, Central Africa, and Neotropics) and formulate testable research avenues for specific pathways of carbon gain and loss. We investigate direct and indirect impacts of active forest restoration on soil carbon related to forest structure and tree planting. We conclude that increases in aboveground biomass and biodiversity, along with the enhancement of trees with particular mycorrhizal fungal partners, could promote soil carbon storage. Silvicultural site preparation measures preceding tree planting are unlikely to significantly affect soil carbon storage, despite altering forest structure and nutrient availability. Conversely, invasive species management could decrease soil carbon storage, but this remains one of the least studied pathways in tropical rainforest restoration. The substantial amount of carbon stored in soil means net changes in soil carbon storage bear significant implications for carbon cycling and offsetting initiatives, even if changes following active restoration measures may be small. We encourage targeted belowground field campaigns in tropical regions where data are particularly sparse to test these pathways and provide much needed information for carbon offsetting programs and restoration management.

RevDate: 2025-08-05

Cai B, Giri R, Cameron AJ, et al (2025)

Pro-inflammatory macrophages transporting gut-derived bacterial DNA drive autoimmune arthritis in spondyloarthropathy.

JCI insight pii:188028 [Epub ahead of print].

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is an inflammatory arthritis of the spine and joints associated with intestinal inflammation, in which it is hypothesized that innate immune exposure to entero-invasive species is followed by self/bacterial peptide presentation. However, the mechanisms underlying loss of tolerance to gut bacteria in genetically at-risk individuals are unclear. Curdlan (β-1,3-glucan, dectin-1 ligand)-treated ZAP-70W163C (SKG) mice develop autoimmune arthritis and ileitis associated with Gram-negative faecal dysbiosis. Using gnotobiotic mice, we show that curdlan-treated SKG mice mono-associated with Parabacteroides goldsteinii or Lactobacillus murinus developed ileitis, arthritis and enthesitis, while BALB/c mice were tolerant. Gnotobiotic SKG ileum upregulated Il23a and ER stress genes and lost goblet cells. Whereas bacterial DNA co-localised with neutrophils and inflammatory macrophages in SKG lamina propria, peri-articular bone marrow, entheses and spleen, in BALB/c bacterial DNA co-localised with resident macrophages in lamina propria and spleen. Human psoriatic-arthritis synovial tissue also contained cell-associated peri-vascular bacterial DNA. Curdlan-treated SKG spleen/bone marrow macrophages transferred severe arthritis and expanded Th17 cells in naïve SKG recipients, while BALB/c or germ free-SKG macrophages transferred mild arthritis and regulated Th17 cells. Thus, bacterial DNA and myeloid cells in the gut and their subsequent traffic regulate or enforce T cell pathogenicity in SpA.

RevDate: 2025-08-07

Pleizier N, Schwieterman GD, Birnie-Gauvin K, et al (2025)

Conservation physiology of freshwater fishes: an illustration of pressing questions and implications for management.

Conservation physiology, 13(1):coaf057.

Rivers, lakes, and wetlands are facing threats that continue to grow in intensity and frequency from climate change, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, changes in food availability, natural disasters, various forms of pollution (e.g., trace metals, light, noise), and emerging infectious diseases. These disruptions to freshwater environments are driving population declines in freshwater fishes as well as threatening migratory species that need freshwater habitats to complete their life cycle. To improve freshwater fish conservation efforts, it is essential to understand the magnitude and nature of the threats fish are currently facing. Here, we present a series of case studies that illustrate the utility of employing physiological methods to assess both the threats facing freshwater fishes, and the conservation efforts being used to help preserve freshwater biodiversity. We present an array of physiological tools that can be used across multiple levels of biological organization, from molecular to population-level, to address a variety of questions. Finally, we share what we view to be pressing questions in freshwater fish conservation physiology and highlight strategies to help bridge gaps across different user groups.

RevDate: 2025-08-04

Koziol L, McKenna TP, Duell EB, et al (2025)

Seven years later: native AMF inoculation improves grassland successional stage, floristic quality index, and diversity, while suppressing weeds.

FEMS microbiology letters pii:8221859 [Epub ahead of print].

Reintroducing key soil microbes, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, can enhance prairie restoration, but the long-term persistence of these effects is unclear. In 2017, a tallgrass prairie restoration experiment was established that applied an inoculation gradient of native AM fungal inoculant ranging from 0 to 8,192 kg/ha. Here, we sample the resulting prairie community establishment and spread seven growing seasons later (72 months). We found that AM fungal application increased total diversity, floristic quality index (FQI), and average coefficient of conservatism (CC) scores-metrics which assess an area's ecological integrity based on plant species. Moreover, high application densities of native AM fungi reduced non-native plant abundance. Furthermore, inoculated prairie plots were more likely to extend 1.5 m into adjacent non-seeded old-field plots, enhancing native diversity and reducing invasion in marginal lands. These findings highlight the lasting benefits of native AM fungal inoculation in prairie restoration and their potential to facilitate long-term ecosystem recovery, aligning with global biodiversity conservation efforts such as the UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land). Given that land managers spend approximately 25% of their time and considerable economic input managing invasive species, these findings demonstrate that native AM fungi could offer cost-effective ecological benefits.

RevDate: 2025-08-04
CmpDate: 2025-08-04

Callaway RM, Pal RW, Schaar A, et al (2025)

Exotic Invasive Plant Species Increase Primary Productivity, but Not in Their Native Ranges.

Ecology letters, 28(8):e70187.

Ecosystem net primary productivity is thought to occur near the maximum that abiotic constraints allow; but exotic invasive plants often correlate with increased productivity. However, field patterns and experimental evidence for this come only from the non-native ranges of exotic species. Thus, we do not know if this pattern is caused by exotic invasions per se or whether successful exotic species are disproportionately productive or colonise more productive microsites. We measured aboveground biomass in the field and in common gardens with five plant species in their native and non-native ranges. For all species combined, exotic invaders increased total plot productivity in their non-native ranges by 91% in the field, and by 107% in the common garden, but had much smaller or no such effects in their native ranges. Thus, exotic invaders appear to be a driver of increased productivity, not simply a passenger, but only in their non-native ranges.

RevDate: 2025-08-03

Lin WJ, Hsu PW, Vargo EL, et al (2025)

Microbial, genetic, and urban drivers of ant invasions.

Current opinion in insect science pii:S2214-5745(25)00087-2 [Epub ahead of print].

Invasive ants are among the most destructive invaders worldwide, causing ecological disruption, economic losses, and public health risks. While classic traits such as polygyny, colony budding, and supercoloniality are well-known contributors to their success, emerging research reveals a broader suite of mechanisms driving their invasiveness. This review synthesizes recent findings on the microbial, genetic, and behavioral factors that facilitate ant invasions. Microbial interactions play a crucial role; invasive ants often exhibit a loss of natural enemies, including microbial pathogens such as Wolbachia. However, Wolbachia has received growing attention for its potential mutualistic role in enhancing colony productivity and nutrient provisioning. The bridgehead effect, wherein invasive populations establish strategic hubs that facilitate secondary invasions, has been increasingly recognized as a key driver of global ant spread and may promote genetic intermixing among invasive lineages. Genetic mechanisms such as double clonality, sexually antagonistic selection, and tolerance to inbreeding help invasive ants maintain genetic diversity despite founding populations often consisting of relatively few individuals. Additionally, urban environments impose unique selective pressures that may lead to adaptations favoring success across all stages of the invasion process. This framework aligns with the Anthropogenically Induced Adaptation to Invade (AIAI) hypothesis and helps explain why many urban-adapted ants become globally invasive. As urbanization continues to expand, human-modified landscapes may inadvertently serve as breeding grounds for future invasive species. Understanding these multifaceted invasion dynamics provides critical insights for managing invasive ant populations and mitigating their widespread impacts.

RevDate: 2025-08-09

Liu C, Tang Y, Yin X, et al (2025)

Nanocarrier delivered dsRNA: an efficient method for controlling the malignant invasive golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata).

International journal of biological macromolecules, 322(Pt 1):146520 pii:S0141-8130(25)07077-1 [Epub ahead of print].

Pomacea canaliculata, commonly known as the golden apple snail, is one of the world's top 100 worst invasive alien species. Its widespread invasion has led to reduced agricultural yields, water pollution, and human health risks. While several control methods have been proposed, they often pose environmental and biodiversity risks. In this study, we developed a stable, efficient, and specific molluscicide by combining RNA interference (RNAi) with nanomaterials. We targeted the PcATP5F1A gene using dsRNA, significantly increasing mortality in P. canaliculata and reducing the expression of this gene. The results demonstrated that dsPcATP5F1A@PEG-PLys(SH) substantially enhanced the gene silencing effect and mortality rates in P. canaliculata. Furthermore, the dsRNA@nanoparticle complexes exhibited remarkable stability, even in the presence of RNase A. To investigate the mechanism, we employed FITC-conjugated synthetic dsPcATP5F1A to trace fluorescence signals in P. canaliculata tissues. The signals concentrated in the hepatopancreas, and histological examination revealed disrupted connective tissue and widened interstitial spaces. The biosafety test results indicated that dsPcATP5F1A posed no risk to non-target organisms sharing the same ecological niche. These findings confirm PcATP5F1A as an effective RNA pesticide target, with dsPcATP5F1A@PEG-PLys(SH) offering an environmentally friendly solution for controlling P. canaliculata and mitigating its invasion.

RevDate: 2025-08-03

Oiry S, Davies BFR, Stiger-Pouvreau V, et al (2025)

Mapping the distribution of the alien invasive Gracilaria vermiculophylla at the site of its first European introduction.

Journal of environmental management, 392:126726 pii:S0301-4797(25)02702-1 [Epub ahead of print].

The invasive red macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla has significantly impacted intertidal ecosystems in temperate estuaries globally. This study utilized drone-based multispectral remote sensing to map the spatial and temporal distribution of G. vermiculophylla in its first documented European site, the Belon Estuary, alongside additional sites in Spain and France. By adapting the neural network classification model DISCOV, trained with a comprehensive dataset, we achieved 91.1 % accuracy in distinguishing G. vermiculophylla from other macroalgal taxa. Historical aerial imagery revealed a progressive expansion of G. vermiculophylla from its initial appearance in 1976, approximately 20 years before its first description in the literature, to extensive colonization by 2024. Concurrent LiDAR data enabled precise characterization of intertidal topography, demonstrating a strong association between algal cover, elevation, and slope. Dense mats were consistently observed in flat, elevated mudflat areas, with reduced presence in steeper or lower zones. These patterns indicate that G. vermiculophylla is able to persist in stable, fine-sediment environments where hydrodynamic forces are relatively low. Temporal analyses also linked its spread to anthropogenic activities, notably aquaculture. Our findings emphasize the utility of high-resolution drone imaging for invasive species monitoring and habitat mapping, offering critical insights into the ecological dynamics of G. vermiculophylla and its drivers. This scalable method facilitates proactive management strategies by enabling early detection and detailed assessment of invasion patterns. The integration of remote sensing and in situ validation establishes a robust framework for ecological monitoring, contributing to the understanding of biological invasions and their environmental consequences. This approach can inform management interventions to mitigate the impacts of G. vermiculophylla and similar invasive species.

RevDate: 2025-08-02
CmpDate: 2025-08-02

Eyer PA, Helms AM, Moran MN, et al (2025)

Reduced Cuticular Hydrocarbon Production in a Unicolonial Population of the Ant, Nylanderia fulva, Is Associated with Low Desiccation Resistance in its Invasive Range.

Journal of chemical ecology, 51(4):78.

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are ubiquitous among insects where they form an outer wax layer that helps maintain water balance and prevent desiccation. In social insects, CHCs were subsequently co-opted as semiochemicals in many contexts, including nestmate recognition, which maintains boundaries among competing colonies by ousting non-nestmates. In some ant populations, workers do not discriminate against non-nestmates. This leads to the development of supercolonies, a large network of interconnected nests exchanging unrelated individuals. In this study, we investigate CHC production by workers and their resistance to desiccation in the ant Nylanderia fulva, which exhibits supercolonial behavior within its invasive range in the USA. We found reduced CHC production by workers and increased susceptibility toward desiccation compared to other invasive ants of similar body size. This CHC-poor chemical profile sheds light on the susceptibility of this species to abiotic stress through desiccation with implications for its potential distribution and its development of large supercolonies in its invasive range by impairing nestmate recognition.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Junk I, Hans J, Perez-Lamarque B, et al (2025)

Archived natural DNA samplers reveal four decades of biodiversity change across the tree of life.

Nature ecology & evolution [Epub ahead of print].

Detecting the imprints of global environmental change on biological communities is a paramount task for ecological research. But a lack of standardized long-term biomonitoring data prevents a deeper understanding of biodiversity change in the Anthropocene. Novel sources of data for analysing biodiversity change across time and space are urgently needed. By metabarcoding highly standardized biota samples from a long-term pollution monitoring archive in Germany, we here analyse four decades of community diversity for tens of thousands of species across the tree of life. The archived samples-tree leaves, marine macroalgae, and marine and limnic mussels-represent natural community DNA samplers, preserving a taxonomically diverse imprint of their associated biodiversity at the time of collection. We find no evidence for universal diversity declines at the local scale. Instead, a gradual compositional turnover emerges as a universal pattern of temporal biodiversity change in Germany's terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This turnover results in biotic homogenization in most terrestrial and marine communities. Limnic communities, in contrast, rather differentiate across space, probably due to the immigration of different invasive species into different sites. Our study highlights the immense promise of alternative sample sources to provide standardized time series data of biodiversity change in the Anthropocene.

RevDate: 2025-08-05
CmpDate: 2025-08-02

Ge X, Li X, Han R, et al (2025)

Impact of Gaura parviflora invasion on urban wildness biodiversity: a campus green patch case study.

Scientific reports, 15(1):28128.

Urban wilderness has gradually emerged as a hot spot for urban ecological research due to its crucial role in maintaining urban ecosystem services and protecting biodiversity. Compared to natural areas, urban wildnesss are more susceptible to invasions by alien species, which pose a threat to the functionality of the urban ecosystem. Currently, our understanding of biodiversity within various types of urban wilderness is not comprehensive, and the laws governing biodiversity changes due to alien species invasions remain unclear. This study focuses on an abandoned grassland community on a campus in northern China, which has been invaded by the alien weed Gaura parviflora. The study measured the characteristics of the aboveground community and the soil seed bank, comparing and analyzing species composition, plant/seed density, species diversity, and similarity at different levels of invasion (uninvaded, moderately invaded, severely invaded). The findings indicate that the uninvaded abandoned grassland community is rich in species (with 32 species) and has significant recovery potential (with an average seed density of 11,671 seeds per square meter). The community harbors multiple alien invasive species both aboveground and within the soil seed bank, and its succession process is influenced by biological invasions and human disturbances. The invasion by G. parviflora alters the species composition of both the aboveground community and the soil seed bank, resulting in a significant increase in plant density within the aboveground community. Its impact on the soil seed bank varies with soil depth, leading to a notable decrease in seed density in the 0-5 cm layer compared to the 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm layers; while the Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index for the 0-5 cm and 10-15 cm layers is lower than that of the uninvaded and severely invaded plots. This study reveals that the campus abandoned grassland community faces a high risk of biological invasion, and the invasion by G. parviflora has a more significant impact on the soil seed bank than on the aboveground community, which could lead to substantial changes in community species composition and a loss of biodiversity in the soil seed bank. It is therefore strongly recommended that greater attention be given to the impact of biological invasions on seed banks within the management of campus wild ecosystems.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Inderjit , Hagerman AE, Näsholm T, et al (2025)

Linkages between plant tannins and the organic nitrogen cycle.

Trends in plant science pii:S1360-1385(25)00195-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Tannins in forest soils bind organic nitrogen into persistent complexes, impacting nutrient cycling and ecosystem productivity. Mycorrhizal fungi, especially ectomycorrhizal (EcM) and ericoid types, can degrade these complexes, releasing nitrogen for plant uptake and influencing community composition. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may also assist in nitrogen acquisition via interactions with free-living bacteria. Understanding these fungal-tannin interactions reveals key mechanisms controlling nitrogen cycling (N cycling) in forest ecosystems, especially in tannin-rich temperate and boreal regions. We propose a conceptual framework to explore the feedback loops between plant chemistry, soil microbes, and ecosystem processes. Such knowledge is vital for predicting how forest communities will respond to climate change, land use, and invasive species, informing sustainable forest management strategies.

RevDate: 2025-08-03
CmpDate: 2025-08-01

Cao Pinna L, Gallien L, Jucker T, et al (2025)

Niche Dynamics of Alien Plant Species in Mediterranean Europe.

Global change biology, 31(8):e70379.

Humans have spread plants globally for millennia, inadvertently causing ecological disruptions. Apart from their negative effects, biological invasions provide a unique opportunity to study how species modify their niche when confronted with novel environments. Focusing on the Mediterranean Basin, we assessed (1) which traits influence niche dynamics, and (2) whether niche conservatism or niche shift promotes invasion success. We selected the 80 most widespread alien vascular plant species in Mediterranean Europe and compiled data on their distributions in their native and invaded ranges. We then tested how a species' residence time, biogeographic origin, dispersal ability, functional traits, and intraspecific trait variability (ITV) influence its niche dynamics following invasion. Using already published independent data, we finally assessed whether niche dynamics can explain different dimensions of invasion success (quantified as regional spread or local abundance). We found that niche shifts were common (71% of species) and were mostly driven by species failing to occupy all suitable environments in their invaded range (unfilling), regardless of residence time. Niche unfilling and niche expansion were more important in species with high intraspecific trait variability introduced from non-Mediterranean biomes (temperate or tropical). Niche expansion was also greater in species with long-distance dispersal, a narrow native niche, and bigger seeds. Interestingly, invasion success correlated more with a species' ability to conserve its niche and residence time than with niche expansion. Niche shifts were better predicted by species traits than residence time. For example, high adaptive and acclimatization potential (inferred from high intraspecific trait variability) favored niche shifts in general, and long-distance dispersal favored niche expansion. Understanding how these traits relate to niche dynamics is important since a species' ability to conserve and fill its niche is, in turn, a good predictor of invasion success.

RevDate: 2025-08-03

Chaudhary MN, Ayub Q, Wee WY, et al (2025)

From the Americas to Southeast Asia: Navigating The Genomic Waves of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Invasions.

Evolutionary applications, 18(8):e70139.

The fall armyworm (FAW), scientifically known as Spodoptera frugiperda, is an agricultural pest native to the American continents. Its larvae display voracious feeding behavior with a host range of over 350 plant species. The pest was first detected outside the Americas in 2016, subsequently spreading across Africa, Asia, and Oceania. As a country with substantial agricultural imports and exposure to regional migration routes, Malaysia presents a valuable case study for investigating the establishment and adaptation of invasive FAW populations. Forty-two novel Malaysian FAW genomes were sequenced on the DNBSEQ-G400 platform via DNBSeq. A subset of high-quality genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms was used to compare the evolution of both native and invasive FAW populations, with publicly available samples from another 18 countries from across the world. Our analyses revealed clear genetic differentiation between native and invasive FAW populations. We found little evidence to support West African populations as the founding source for Asian or East African invasions. Instead, Malaysian FAW clustered closely with populations from India, China, and East African countries, suggesting multiple, independent introductions into the region. Genomic outliers related to sensory perception, insecticide resistance, and heat tolerance were detected, likely contributing to the recent global success of FAW invasions. This study provides new genomic insights into the invasion history and adaptive strategies of FAW in Malaysia, contributing to a clearer picture of FAW movement across Asia and Africa. The results provide critical information for future pest management and policy-making to mitigate the spread of this invasive pest.

RevDate: 2025-07-31
CmpDate: 2025-07-31

Zhang W, Sun G, Hu X, et al (2025)

Synergistic antinematodal effects of fluopyram combined with chlorfenapyr and its potential mechanism against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

Pesticide biochemistry and physiology, 213:106504.

To enhance the chemical control of pine wilt disease (PWD) and mitigate resistance arising from the prolonged use of a single-agent pesticides, the nematicides fluopyram (FLU) and chlorfenapyr (CHL) were combined (FLU_CHL) to determine the optimal ratio and assess their effects on pine wood nematodes (PWNs) and the potential synergistic mechanisms. Results revealed that the optimal synergistic mass ratio of FLU to CHL was 1:3, with nematode survival rate, egg hatchability, and population size significantly lower than with FLU or CHL alone. At this ratio, FLU_CHL also induced morphological abnormalities in nematodes, such as body swelling, lip atrophy, and shrinkage of the male tail and female clitoral cover. Transcriptome sequencing data revealed that there were 313 (83 genes upregulated, 230 genes downregulated), 251 (74 genes upregulated, 177 genes downregulated), and 258 (112 genes upregulated, 146 genes downregulated) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in FLU_CHL vs. control, FLU vs. control and CHL vs. control comparison groups, respectively. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways enriched in DEGs in the FLU_CHL vs. control comparison group encompassed those enriched for DEGs in the FLU vs. control and CHL vs. control comparison groups. Furthermore, RNA interference and FLU_CHL stress assays indicated that nematode mortality and reproduction rates were significantly reduced after silencing the BxSrab1 gene, a unique DEG in the FLU_CHL treatment group. This study provides a robust theoretical foundation for integrated pesticide applications in PWD control and offers insights for developing novel compound agents for disease management.

RevDate: 2025-07-31

Maceda-Veiga A, Colin N, Mac Nally R, et al (2025)

Effects of the invasive riparian plant Arundo donax on riverine fish: a call for action?.

The Science of the total environment, 996:180139 pii:S0048-9697(25)01779-6 [Epub ahead of print].

Studies that investigate the effects of a given invasive exotic species within real-world contexts are essential for informing effective management decisions. Here, we used extensive surveys of stream reaches in north-eastern Spain to test whether the presence of the widely distributed invasive exotic riparian plant Arundo donax is detrimental to the conservation of riverine fishes. To explore potential impacts of A. donax at different temporal scales, we examined fish responses using indicators of relatively recent effects (body-condition index) and longer lasting effects (functional diversity indices, taxonomic richness, and the relative abundance of 12 fish species). We found correlative evidence for net positive effects of the presence of A. donax on native fish richness and body condition but negative effects on the overall functional diversity of fish assemblages, including invasive exotic and translocated native fish species. Our analyses also revealed significant interactions between A. donax and local stream conditions, suggesting that these net effects of the plant on fish might shift in direction in some circumstances. In particular, several indicators at the fish community scale support that the presence of A. donax may be beneficial to fishes in streams with high Strahler order values, in-stream habitat diversity and lack of channelization. The plant may provide shelter and refugia to fish in these medium, low-land Mediterranean streams with typically poor cover of high riparian vegetation. Therefore, without overlooking the serious threats caused by biological invasions, this study illustrates that, at least under specific environmental conditions, the local removal of A. donax alone may not achieve the desired ecological outcomes if pre-existing fish-habitat relationships are not taken into account.

RevDate: 2025-08-02

Yao F, Li C, Chen Y, et al (2025)

Dynamics in gut microbiota diversity, composition, and assembly reveal the adaptability of invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata during hibernation in rice fields.

Frontiers in microbiology, 16:1616681.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host immunity and metabolism and may facilitate the adaptation of invasive species to new environments. During hibernation, gut microbial communities undergo compositional shifts to help hosts cope with low temperatures and food scarcity. However, the dynamics of gut microbiota during hibernation in invasive animals remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted an in situ hibernation experiment on the invasive freshwater snail Pomacea canaliculata to investigate changes in its gut microbiota over the course of hibernation. Gut samples were collected at pre-hibernation (day 0) and on the 15th, 30th, 60th, 90th, and 120th days of hibernation, followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that the survival rate of snails reached 85.7% after 120 days. The Shannon diversity index of gut microbiota increased with the duration of hibernation. Although species richness remained relatively stable, increased evenness led to higher alpha diversity. After 60 days of hibernation, the structure of gut microbial community changed. The dominant phylum shifted from Firmicutes to Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as hibernation progressed. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) producing genera such as Acetobacteroides, Bacteroides, Macellibacteroides, and Cetobacterium increased in abundance during hibernation, likely providing an energy source for both the gut and host. Gut microbiota changes appeared to be driven largely by stochastic assembly processes. Additionally, anaerobic bacteria and potential pathogens increased in abundance during hibernation. These adaptive shifts in gut microbiota may help maintain host metabolic and immune functions during hibernation and potentially contribute to the invasiveness of P. canaliculata.

RevDate: 2025-08-15

El-Sabrout AM, Moreno C, Temperville M, et al (2025)

Divergence and Parallelism in Two Tropical Drosophilids Simultaneously Invading a Desert Environment.

Genome biology and evolution, 17(8):.

Invasive species have once been called a "grand experiment in evolution" but natural replicates of such experiments are often scarce. When two allied species acquire invasive capacities and coinvade a new environment, it remains unclear if similar genetic basis underlies adaptation to the new environment and how the two species can coexist in that environment. Here, we investigate the parallel adaptation of two tropical drosophilid species of the genus Zaprionus, Zaprionus indianus (the African fig fly) and Zaprionus tuberculatus, to arid agrarian environments following their introduction in Egypt during the last four decades. We found the two species to have distinct spatial distribution. Population genomic analyses showed correlated differentiation levels at orthologous genes before and after introduction in both species, mostly in genes associated with thermal adaptations and circadian rhythms. Species-specific outliers contained on the other hand multiple chemoreceptor and xenobiotic detoxification genes indicating that adaptations to different host fruits may promote species coexistence. In agreement with these findings, we found the Egyptian populations to have parallel higher resistance to desiccation in both species and the two species to have distinct fruit preference. These results provide a significant step toward understanding the mechanisms underlying the simultaneous invasive success of both species, which have also recently invaded the Americas and Europe, and of which one at least is a notorious pest.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Li FF, Hao Q, Cui X, et al (2025)

Global invasive alien plant management lists: Assessing current practices and adapting to new demands.

Plant diversity, 47(4):666-680.

Invasive alien species (IAS) significantly threaten global biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Despite increasing management efforts, a critical knowledge gap existed in understanding commonalities and disparities among national strategies. We analyzed several IAS management lists from 23 countries and the European Union, focusing specifically on vascular plant species within these lists. List composition, characteristics, and associated management measures were analyzed. Key patterns in species prioritization across national lists and intercontinental exchange of invasive alien plants (IAPs) were identified. Pistia stratiotes, Pontederia crassipes, Salvinia molesta, Cabomba caroliniana, Ulex europaeus were identified as globally recognized threats, being listed by at least 33.3% of analyzed countries and invading five or more continents. Aquatic plants were found to be more frequently included in management lists. A significant directional invasion pattern between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres was identified. Species native to Asia were observed to dominate as significant donors of IAPs across continents. The analysis of list management strategies highlighted substantial gaps in achieving Target 6 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly in species prioritization and inclusion of potential IAPs. In response to these challenges, a tiered classification system for invasive alien species list was proposed, encompassing High-Priority, Watchlist, Potential, and Priority Site categories, which aimed at enhancing management effectiveness by tailoring strategies to different invasion stages and ecological contexts. This study could contribute to understanding global IAPs management strategies and serve as a reference for policymakers and conservation managers to identify priority IAPs and refine management approaches.

RevDate: 2025-08-02

Kato-Noguchi H, M Kato (2025)

The Invasive Mechanism and Impact of Arundo donax, One of the World's 100 Worst Invasive Alien Species.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 14(14):.

Arundo donax L. has been introduced in markets worldwide due to its economic value. However, it is listed in the world's 100 worst alien invasive species because it easily escapes from cultivation, and forms dense monospecific stands in riparian areas, agricultural areas, and grassland areas along roadsides, including in protected areas. This species grows rapidly and produces large amounts of biomass due to its high photosynthetic ability. It spreads asexually through ramets, in addition to stem and rhizome fragments. Wildfires, flooding, and human activity promote its distribution and domination. It can adapt to various habitats and tolerate various adverse environmental conditions, such as cold temperatures, drought, flooding, and high salinity. A. donax exhibits defense mechanisms against biotic stressors, including herbivores and pathogens. It produces indole alkaloids, such as bufotenidine and gramine, as well as other alkaloids that are toxic to herbivorous mammals, insects, parasitic nematodes, and pathogenic fungi and oomycetes. A. donax accumulates high concentrations of phytoliths, which also protect against pathogen infection and herbivory. Only a few herbivores and pathogens have been reported to significantly damage A. donax growth and populations. Additionally, A. donax exhibits allelopathic activity against competing plant species, though the allelochemicals involved have yet to be identified. These characteristics may contribute to its infestation, survival, and population expansion in new habitats as an invasive plant species. Dense monospecific stands of A. donax alter ecosystem structures and functions. These stands impact abiotic processes in ecosystems by reducing water availability, and increasing the risk of erosion, flooding, and intense fires. The stands also negatively affect biotic processes by reducing plant diversity and richness, as well as the fitness of habitats for invertebrates and vertebrates. Eradicating A. donax from a habitat requires an ongoing, long-term integrated management approach based on an understanding of its invasive mechanisms. Human activity has also contributed to the spread of A. donax populations. There is an urgent need to address its invasive traits. This is the first review focusing on the invasive mechanisms of this plant in terms of adaptation to abiotic and biotic stressors, particularly physiological adaptation.

RevDate: 2025-08-02

Onyeagoziri CA, Minoarivelo HO, C Hui (2025)

Mutualism and Dispersal Heterogeneity Shape Stability, Biodiversity, and Structure of Theoretical Plant-Pollinator Meta-Networks.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 14(14):.

Mutualistic interactions are crucial to the structure and functioning of ecological communities, playing a vital role in maintaining biodiversity amidst environmental perturbations. In studies of meta-networks, which are groups of local networks connected by dispersal, most research has focused on the effect of dispersal on interaction networks of competition and predation, without much attention given to mutualistic interactions. Consequently, the role of different dispersal rates (between local networks and across species) in stability and network structures is not well understood. We present a competition-mutualism model for meta-networks where mutualistic interactions follow a type II functional response, to investigate stability and species abundance dynamics under varying dispersal scenarios. We specifically assess the impact of mutualism and dispersal heterogeneity, both between local networks and across species, on the structure and stability of meta-networks. We find that mutualistic meta-networks exhibit greater stability, higher total abundance, lower species unevenness, and greater nestedness compared to meta-networks with only competition interactions. Although dispersal heterogeneity across species exerts some influence, dispersal heterogeneity between local networks mainly drives the patterns observed: it reduces total abundance, increases unevenness, and diminishes compositional similarity across the meta-network. These results highlight the pivotal role of both mutualism and spatial dispersal structure in shaping ecological networks. Our work advances understanding of how mutualistic interactions and dispersal dynamics interact to influence biodiversity and stability in complex ecosystems.

RevDate: 2025-08-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-30

Judžentienė A (2025)

Compositional Variability of Essential Oils and Their Bioactivity in Native and Invasive Erigeron Species.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 30(14):.

To date, various species of Erigeron genus have been used both in the ethnopharmacology of numerous nations across the world and in contemporary herbal practices. The objective of this study is to revise the phytochemical data on the essential oils (EOs) of various fleabanes species and to evaluate the variability of their biological activities. Up to June 2025, this review provides an updated overview of 105 literature sources (published during last 25 years) related to 14 Erigeron sp. (native, naturalized, or invasive) which have been investigated extensively and are of the greatest significance. It summarizes the compositional variability of the EOs and their pharmacological and toxic effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiproliferative, skin regeneration, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, insecticidal, larvicidal, repellent, and allelopathic activity. The EOs of each Erigeron species were characterized, and a chemical structure of 43 major constituents is presented herein. The most characteristic and prevalent compounds were found to be limonene, δ-3-carene, matricaria ester, lachnophyllum ester, germacrene D, β-caryophyllene, β-farnesene, α-bergamotene, allo-aromadendrene, etc., in the EOs from the E. acris, E. annuus, E. bonariensis, E. canadensis, E. floribundus E. mucronatus, and E. speciosus plants. Major constituents, such as borneol, bornyl acetate, modhephen-8-β-ol, cis-arteannuic alcohol, β-caryophyllene, and τ-cadinol, were found in the oils of E. graveolens (Inula graveolens). A paucity of data concerning E. incanus EOs was revealed, with the prevalence of 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy cinammic acid and thymol acetate noted in the oils. The EOs from E. multiradiatus and E. sublyratus were comprised mainly of matricaria and lachnophyllum esters. The available data on EOs of E. ramosus is limited, but the main constituents are known to be α-humulene, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, and globulol. The EOs containing appreciable amounts of matricaria and lachnophyllum esters exhibited strong anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, larvicidal, and repellent activities. Repellence is also related to borneol, bornyl acetate, caryophyllene derivatives, τ-cadinol, modhephen-8-β-ol, and cis-arteannuic alcohol. Cytotoxicity was determined due to the presence of limonene, δ-3-carene, α- and β-farnesene, (E)-β-ocimene, ledene oxide, sesquiphellandrene, and dendrolasin in the fleabanes EOs. Skin regeneration and antifungal properties were related to germacrene D; and anti-inflammatory effects were determined due to high amounts of limonene (E)-β-ocimene, lachnophyllum ester, and germacrene D. The antimicrobial properties of the oils were conditioned by appreciable quantities of limonene, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, carvacrol, thymol acetae, β-eudesmol, 2,6,7,7α-tetrahydro-1,5-dimethyl-1H-indene-3-carboxaldehyde, caryophyllene and its oxide, allo-aromadendrene, α-humulene, farnesene, carvacrol, and eugenol. This review provides a foundation for further studies on volatile secondary metabolites to explore the potential sources of new biologically active compounds in Erigeron sp.

RevDate: 2025-08-03

Asimakis E, Galiatsatos I, Apostolopoulou G, et al (2025)

The Symbiotic Bacterial Profile of Laboratory-Reared and Field-Caught Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes from Greece.

Microorganisms, 13(7):.

The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is a highly invasive species capable of transmitting human pathogens. For population management, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is considered an effective and sustainable alternative to conventional methods, such as insecticides and reducing or eliminating breeding sites. The use of symbiotic bacteria to improve the application of SIT or design combined SIT/incompatible insect technique (IIT) approaches is currently considered. In this context, exploring the microbiota of local mosquito populations is crucial for identifying interesting components. This study employed 16S rRNA sequencing and microbiological methods to characterize the diversity of laboratory and wild Ae. albopictus in Greece. Differences were recorded between wild and lab-reared mosquitoes, with laboratory samples exhibiting higher diversity. Laboratory treatment, sex, and developmental stage also resulted in variations between communities. Populations reared in the same facility developed mostly similar bacterial profiles. Two geographically distant wild populations displayed similar bacterial profiles, characterized by seasonal changes in the relative abundance of Pantoea and Zymobacter. Wolbachia was dominant in most groups (63.7% relative abundance), especially in field-caught mosquitoes. It was identified with two strains, wAlbA (21.5%) and wAlbB (42.2%). Other frequent taxa included Elizabethkingia, Asaia, and Serratia. Blood feeding favored an increase in Serratia abundance. Various Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Aeromonas, and Acinetobacter strains were isolated from larval and adult mosquito extracts and could be further characterized as diet supplements. These findings suggest that the microbiota of local populations is highly variable due to multiple factors. However, they retain core elements shared across populations that may exhibit valuable nutritional or functional roles and could be exploited to improve SIT processes.

RevDate: 2025-08-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-29

Córdova-Tapia F, Martínez-Pozas C, Juárez-Rodríguez D, et al (2025)

Functional traits and stable isotopes reveal trophic interactions in a highly invaded reservoir: implications for fisheries.

Proceedings. Biological sciences, 292(2051):20250240.

Freshwater reservoirs are increasingly threatened by human activities and biological invasions, which disrupt their structure and functioning. Although artificial, reservoirs act as species refuges and provide important ecosystem services. This study explores the functional diversity and trophic ecology of the fish community in Zimapán Dam, a highly disturbed reservoir in central Mexico. We focused on species coexistence, ecological niches and impacts on local tilapia fisheries. The community is dominated by nine invasive species and includes only one native species. We identified seven functional groups, most of which are composed of a single species, indicating niche differentiation. However, tilapia exhibits a complex trophic position, with significant dietary overlap with other non-natives, such as bluegill and juvenile largemouth bass, while also serving as potential prey for larger predators, including adult largemouth bass, lowland cichlid and channel catfish. These interactions may be contributing to the observed decline in tilapia, a species of key economic importance for local fisheries. Our study highlights trophic dynamics in a highly invaded ecosystem, potentially undermining local fisheries and the ecosystem services they support. We recommend a collaborative management approach that includes adaptive monitoring and targeted control of invasive predators to support both ecological balance and community livelihoods.

RevDate: 2025-08-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-30

Valliere JM, Hernández MJ, Sharifi MR, et al (2025)

Evidence of local adaptation to aridity but not nitrogen deposition in invasive annuals.

Ecology, 106(7):e70172.

Rapid adaptation of traits and trait plasticity may contribute to plant invasiveness and confer fitness advantages in novel environments resulting from global change. The importance of trait differentiation in invasive plant populations is well recognized, particularly in response to climate. However, it is largely unknown how invasive plant populations will respond evolutionarily to atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition resulting from air pollution, which is a major contributor to invasion success in many ecosystems. Using a common garden experiment, a widely used method for testing local adaptation, we assessed potential differences in plant functional traits and nitrogen plasticity across populations of two widespread invasive annuals from sites spanning a range of N deposition and aridity throughout southern California. These species exhibited clear population-level differences in traits and N responses, but these were unrelated to N deposition. Instead, we detected significant relationships between several traits and aridity, and populations from more arid sites exhibited reduced N plasticity for multiple traits. Multivariate plasticity indices also showed a strong negative relationship with aridity across populations for both species. However, trait responses to N addition also appeared to be influenced by species' drought-coping strategies. In Bromus diandrus, a drought-escaping early-season annual grass, populations from less arid sites showed increased plasticity in shoot growth and more rapid flowering in response to N addition. In contrast, Centaurea melitensis, a drought-tolerant late-season forb, showed climate-driven shifts in biomass allocation in response to N; populations from more arid sites invested more in roots, while populations from less arid sites allocated more to leaves. These contrasting N responses strongly suggest distinct growth strategies and ecophysiological trade-offs shaped by adaptation to local climate conditions. While elevated N availability may indeed promote invasion, climate stress might exert an overriding influence on local adaptation of plant invaders in dryland ecosystems subject to N deposition.

RevDate: 2025-08-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-29

Jowers MJ, Guouman Ferreyra F, Caut S, et al (2025)

First Preliminary Molecular Assessment of Ants from Cabo Verde.

Genes, 16(7):.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Ants are one of the most abundant animal groups on the planet and have a considerable impact on ecosystems. In the Cabo Verde Archipelago, the study of invertebrates is very scarce and ants are no exception.

METHODS: In this work we focus on the taxonomic analysis of formicids and study their distribution and the possible presence of invasive species in the Cabo Verde Islands. In addition, the diversity of Cabo Verde ants is compared with that of the closest African coastal countries, Senegal and Mauritania, to study a possible colonization of African ants into the archipelago. For this, we use two molecular markers, cytochrome oxidase I and the wingless gene, to perform phylogenetic analyses and haplotype networks that facilitate identification.

RESULTS: Nine taxa were identified, five invasive species, Paratrechina longicornis, Pheidole megacephala, Trichomyrmex destructor, Brachyponera sennaarensis, and Solenopsis globularia, one endemic Monomorium subopacum and three unidentified species of native genera, Monomorium sp., Lepisiota sp. Camponotus sp.

CONCLUSIONS: Molecular network patterns as well as phylogenetic analyses suggest that ants are widespread throughout the archipelago, a likely consequence of human introductions.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Brown JM, JO Stireman (3rd) (2025)

Effects of Forest Age and Invasive Shrubs on Mycophilous Coleoptera Communities in a Temperate Deciduous Woodland.

Insects, 16(7):.

Forests in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. have been profoundly affected by human use over the last 150 years, with few old growth forests remaining. Such mature forests may harbor distinct communities and high biodiversity, particularly detritivores and their associated food webs. These communities, however, have been surveyed only rarely in comparisons of diversity and community composition between old and young forests. Here, we compare the mycophilous beetle communities of young and old deciduous forest stands in Southwestern Ohio (U.S.A.). We assess how the abundance and diversity of beetles associated with fungal sporocarps varies with forest age, downed woody debris, and invasive honeysuckle density. We surveyed fungus-associated beetles with baited traps at eight wooded parklands centered around Dayton, Ohio, conducting sampling three times over a growing season. In contrast to expectation, we found no clear effect of forest age on mycophilous beetle communities, but infestation by invasive honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) negatively affected beetle abundance and diversity. Beetle abundance, richness, and community composition also strongly varied across seasonal sampling periods. Our surveys of mycophilous beetles in a Midwestern U.S. forest represent an initial step toward understanding how these communities are shaped by forest age and invasive species. Such information is crucial in managing forests to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Baser N, Matar C, Rossini L, et al (2025)

Enhancing Biological Control of Drosophila suzukii: Efficacy of Trichopria drosophilae Releases and Interactions with a Native Parasitoid, Pachycrepoideus vindemiae.

Insects, 16(7):.

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii is an injurious polyphagous pest threatening worldwide soft fruit production. Its high adaptability to new colonized environments, short life cycle, and wide host range are supporting its rapid spread. The most common techniques to reduce its significant economic damage are based on multiple insecticides applications per season, even prior to the harvest, which reduces agroecosystem biodiversity and affects human and animal health. Environmental concerns and regulatory restrictions on insecticide use are driving the need for studies on alternative biological control strategies. This study aimed to assess the effect of T. drosphilae in controlling D. suzukii infestations and its interaction with P. vindemiae, a secondary parasitoid naturally present in Apulia (South Italy). Field experiments were carried out in organic cherry orchards in Gioia del Colle (Bari, Italy) to test the efficacy and adaptability of T. drosphilae following weekly releases of artificially reared individuals. Additionally, the interaction between P. vindemiae and T. drosphilae was studied under laboratory conditions. Results from field experiments showed that D. suzukii populations were significantly lower when both parasitoids were present. However, T. drosophilae was less prone to adaptation, so its presence and parasitism were limited to the post-release period. Laboratory experiments, instead, confirmed the high reduction of D. suzukii populations when both parasitoids are present. However, the co-existence of the two parasitoids resulted in a reduced parasitism rate and offspring production, notably for T. drosophilae. This competitive disadvantage may explain its poor establishment in field conditions. These findings suggest that the field release of the two natural enemies should be carried out with reference to their natural population abundance to not generate competition effects.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Devine SM, Booth EG, Cooperband MF, et al (2025)

A "Sconce" Trap for Sampling Egg Masses of Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula.

Insects, 16(7):.

Survey and detection of the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White), rely either on traps that exploit the insect's behavior as it navigates its environment, or on visual surveys of either its mobile life stages or egg masses. A recently described egg mass trap, coined the "lampshade" trap, can assist with early detection in newly infested areas, provide egg masses for researchers, and potentially facilitate spotted lanternfly population reduction by removal of egg masses from the environment. Here, we describe a modified lampshade trap, the sconce trap, that uses less material, can be pre-cut prior to deployment, and can be deployed by one person, representing potential cost, labor, and time savings. Both traps were comparable at detecting populations of spotted lanternflies, and while females deposited more eggs on the larger lampshade traps, they deposited more eggs on sconce traps as a function of trap area.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Folgarait PJ, D Goffré (2025)

First Test of a Potential Biological Control Agent of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile).

Insects, 16(7):.

The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), listed among the world's 100 worst invasive alien species, is notoriously difficult to control due mainly to its formation of large, expansive supercolonies. Despite the drawbacks of chemical control, biological alternatives have not been previously explored for this species. In this study, we evaluated six native entomopathogenic fungal strains against Argentine ants from four behaviorally distinct supercolonies, identified through aggression assays and collected from both urban and natural sites within the species' native range. Ants were inoculated with 1 × 10[8] conidia/mL using three methods: topical application, spray, and immersion. Mortality was recorded over 14 days, and the cause of death was confirmed by fungal outgrowth from cadavers. Among all strains, Beauveria bassiana Li053 consistently induced high mortality across all supercolonies and inoculation methods, with LT50 values between 2 and 5 days and final mortality rates exceeding 80%. Fungal infection was confirmed in 87-92% of cadavers. Dose-response assays revealed that higher conidial concentrations accelerated and increased mortality, with an LC50 estimated at 1 × 10[6] conidia/mL. These results demonstrate that B. bassiana Li053 is a promising candidate for the biological control of L. humile and merits further evaluation under field conditions.

RevDate: 2025-08-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-29

Fu Y, Chen Y, Wang Y, et al (2025)

The Discovery of Potential Repellent Compounds for Zeugodacus cucuribitae (Coquillett) from Six Non-Favored Hosts.

International journal of molecular sciences, 26(14):.

Zeugodacus cucuribitae (Coquillett) (Z. cucuribitae) is a global extremely invasive quarantine pest which has a wide host range of fruits and vegetables. At present, there are a few control measures for Z. cucuribitae, and deltamethrin and avermectin are commonly used. Among the hosts of Z. cucuribitae, Luffa acutangular, Luffa cylindrica, Sechium edule, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, Musa nana, and Fragaria × ananassa are non-favored hosts. However, it is still not clear why these hosts are non-favored and whether there are any repellent components of Z. cucuribitae in these hosts. In this study, the components of these six hosts were collected from the literature, and the genes of odor and chemical sensation were determined from the genome of Z. cucuribitae. After the potential relationships between these components and genes were determined by molecular docking methods, the KEGG and GO enrichment analysis of these genes was conducted, and a complex network of genes vs. components vs. Kegg pathway vs. GO terms was constructed and used to select the key components for experiments. The results show that oleanolic acid (1 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, and 0.01 mg/mL), rotenone (1 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, and 0.01 mg/mL), and beta-caryophyllene oxide (1 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, and 0.01 mg/mL) had a significant repellent effect on Z. cucuribitae, and three components, rotenone (1 mg/mL and 0.1 mg/mL), echinocystic acid (1 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, and 0.01 mg/mL), and beta-caryophyllene oxide (1 mg/mL, and 0.1 mg/mL) had significant stomach toxicity in Z. cucuribitae. Furthermore, a complex signaling pathway was built and used to predict the effect of these components on Z. cucuribitae. These components probably play roles in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction (ko04080) and calcium signaling (ko04020) pathways. This study provides a reference for the prevention and control of Z. cucuribitae and a scientific reference for the rapid screening and development of new pest control drugs.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Vidosavljević M, Šojić B, Peulić T, et al (2025)

From Invasive Species to Sustainable Nutrition: Safety, Nutritional, and Consumer Perception Study on Faxonius limosus in Serbia.

Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 14(14):.

Faxonius limosus is an invasive alien crayfish species that has a negative effect on aquatic biodiversity. Using its meat as food could help reduce its ecological impact while providing a protein source. In order to do that, the initial step was to determine safety and nutritional parameters of crayfish meat. Samples from two localities were analyzed for energy value, moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fatty acid and amino acid composition, and macro- and micro-mineral content. Moreover, an online survey was conducted in order to evaluate the public's current knowledge about invasive alien species and willingness to consume crayfish meat as a food product. Heavy metal concentrations (Hg, Pb, Cd) were below European Commission limits, confirming safety. The meat had a high protein content (16.68%), low fat (0.22%), and a favorable fatty acid profile with notable levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Predominant macro-minerals were K, Na, Ca, Mg, and P, while Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn were the most abundant micro-minerals. Even though most participants (79.7%) were not informed about Faxonius limosus, the majority expressed willingness to participate in the assessment of new products made from invasive crayfish. These findings suggest that F. limosus meat is a nutritionally valuable and safe alternative protein source, with potential for sustainable food production and ecological management.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Meng YH, Gao WZ, Li Y, et al (2025)

Effects of Habitat Differences and Invasive Species Competition on Age and Growth of Triplophysa strauchii.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 15(14):.

Accurate age determination is fundamental for investigating fish population dynamics and growth patterns. This study used the lapillus to determine age in Triplophysa strauchii populations from an oxbow lake and a stream. Growth patterns were evaluated using three models (the Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and Logistic models). The oxbow lake population showed faster growth and longer lifespan (6 years in Dacao Lake; 5 years in Liutiao Stream). Conversely, the stream population displayed a trend toward smaller size and younger age. Both populations exhibited higher Fulton's condition factor in juveniles than in adults. The species exhibited a fast-growth type, with similar fitting results across models. These findings reflect subtle differentiation in life history strategies across habitats, likely related to environmental conditions and competitive pressure from invasive species. These insights into T. strauchii life history underscore the importance of further research to support conservation and sustainable management of this endemic species.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Engel IF, Izhaki I, M Charter (2025)

Effects of the Invasive Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) on Nest Site Competition and Predation in Native Birds: A Before-After-Control-Impact Study.

Biology, 14(7):.

Despite concerns about invasive Common Mynas (Acridotheres tristis), few studies have experimentally demonstrated their impact on native birds. Using a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design with 142 nest boxes, we assessed how Myna presence affected House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) and Great Tits (Parus major) before (2009-2010) and after (2020-2021) their arrival in 2015. Half the boxes had large entrances accessible to all three species; half had small entrances accessible only to Great Tits. In a 2022 field experiment, we manipulated nest box entrances and used cameras to study Myna predation and nest usurpation. Following the establishment of Myna, House Sparrow breeding declined by 68.1%. Great Tits increased use of small entrance boxes by 59.9% and decreased use of large entrance boxes by 45.4%. Although overall Great Tit breeding increased, fledging success declined in large entrance boxes, but not small entrance ones. In the 2022 experiment, 46% (n = 26) of Great Tit nests were predated; Common Mynas were responsible for 50% of these cases and subsequently bred in the usurped nests. This study experimentally demonstrates that House Sparrow breeding numbers decrease and that Great Tits change their nesting behavior after the appearance of the Common Myna. Additionally, this research found that Common Mynas impact native species by predating and usurping nests. Installing small-entrance boxes can help manage Great Tit populations. Further research should explore nest box designs for House Sparrows and their impacts on other cavity-nesting and non-cavity-nesting bird species.

RevDate: 2025-08-01

He P, Hu Y, Khan J, et al (2025)

The morphology, genetic structure, and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails Biomphalaria straminea and Physa acuta in Guangdong, China.

Tropical medicine and health, 53(1):98.

BACKGROUND: Biomphalaria and Physa (order Gastropoda) serve as vectors and reservoirs for infectious agents that affect both humans and animals. This study provides updated insights into the epidemiology, morphology, phylogeny, and haplotype diversity of Biomphalaria and Physa snails in Guangdong Province, southern China.

METHODS: Field surveys were conducted across Guangdong Province from 2016 to 2023. Morphological observations included assessment of snail shape, shell height, and aperture width. Molecular analysis targeted several genes, including Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 18S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA. Evolutionary trees were constructed with neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood methods. Haplotype networks were generated from COI sequences collected from multiple geographic locations.

RESULTS: Physa acuta was detected in 92% of surveyed sites, showing broad distribution and notable mitochondrial diversity (15 haplotypes). The dominant haplotype (Hap_3) was shared with sequences from Chile and the Netherlands. In contrast, Biomphalaria straminea was found at 62% of sites and displayed limited genetic variation (2 haplotypes), despite visible morphological dimorphism (red/black forms). Phylogenetic analysis exhibited minimal differences in 16S rRNA and COI gene sequences among turret snail strains, with B. straminea clustering closely to South American lineages. Morphometric analyses revealed significant size differences among strains, for example, Shuanglong B. straminea had a shell width of 8.74 ± 0.26 mm, whereas Zengcheng P. acuta exhibited 11.07 ± 0.90 mm. In contrast, analysis of 28S and 18S rRNA confirmed species boundaries but lacked at the intraspecific level.

CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of multiple target genes confirms that mitochondrial markers (COI and 16S rRNA) are effective for studying the evolutionary dynamics of freshwater invasive snails. Physa acuta exhibits a widespread distribution and notable genetic diversity across Guangdong, while B. straminea shows limited genetic variation, suggesting strong genetic conservation within the species.

RevDate: 2025-08-09
CmpDate: 2025-08-09

Kofentová N, Slavík O, Velíšek J, et al (2025)

Boldness associated with higher erythrocyte levels and a preference for higher temperatures can support the spread of European catfish to novel and warmer ecosystems.

Physiology & behavior, 300:115036.

Coping styles are the consistent physiological and behavioural responses of animals to stressors and, more generally, to variability in social and natural environments. Individuals can be characterized as proactive or reactive on the basis of their coping style, and their behavioural and physiological characteristics differ. Proactive, i.e., more bold, exploratory and stress-resistant individuals, spread more easily and prefer higher temperatures; however, available data regarding this natural stressor are available only from laboratory experiments. Indeed, data regarding the characteristics of invasive species in the wild are rare. In this study, we analysed the relationships among the boldness, exploratory behaviour, activity, physiological parameters, and temperature preferences of the European catfish, a large invasive species that destabilizes ecosystems outside its native environment. As expected, bold individuals presented greater erythrocyte counts, lower baseline cortisol levels, and increased exploratory behaviour. In a riverine environment, bold fish preferred warmer zones, reflecting their heightened metabolic demands and increased activity levels. Boldness, the number of erythrocytes and a preference for higher temperatures were key traits in both the field and experimental environments. However, the relationships among the parameters differed, suggesting behavioural adaptability to varying environmental conditions. In our study, the observed physiological and behavioural traits tended to increase the invasive potential of European catfish in warmer regions.

RevDate: 2025-07-27

Wang J, Liu Z, Chen N, et al (2025)

Enhancement of drought stress tolerance in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) through the application of carbon nanoparticles.

Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB, 228:110234 pii:S0981-9428(25)00762-4 [Epub ahead of print].

This study aims to investigate the impact of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) on seed germination, seedling growth, nutrient uptake, and the physio-biochemical characteristics of seedlings under water-limited conditions, along with the regulation of gene expression. Okra seeds were treated with CNPs at concentrations of 0, 25 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, and 200 mg/L, with germination tests conducted using drought conditions simulated through PEG-6000 solutions. A pot experiment was designed to assess plant growth, nutrient uptake, physio-biochemical properties, and transcriptomic changes. Four specific CNP concentrations (0 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg) and three watering intervals (every 3 days, 6 days, and 8 days) were employed. The results demonstrate that CNPs application significantly enhanced the germination characteristics of okra seeds under water deficit stress, leading to improved root development, nutrient (N/P/K) uptake, and various photosynthetic traits, including chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, and transpiration rate. Additionally, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), along with the accumulation of glycine betaine, total phenols, total flavonoids, and total soluble sugar, were notably higher in CNP-treated seedlings compared to those without CNPs across different water-limited scenarios. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differential expression of genes, particularly those related to starch and sucrose metabolism. These findings underscore the beneficial role of CNPs in enhancing seed germination and seedling growth of okra under drought stress, while also providing valuable insights into the optimal application levels of CNPs to boost agricultural productivity.

RevDate: 2025-07-31

Haubrock PJ, Parker B, Błońska D, et al (2025)

Conceptual and ethical considerations in invasion science.

Bioscience, 75(4):317-330.

Invasion science addresses interconnected ecological, economic, and social challenges posed by the introduction of nonnative species. Therefore, invasion scientists have to consider and reconcile interdisciplinary needs while addressing the potential implications of their findings. Navigating diverse disciplines, including environmental sciences, ecology, economics, and the humanities, invasion scientists seek to arrive at informed decisions on invasion risk, impact, and management. Individual biases, uncertainties, and systemic pressures influence the ability to maintain objectivity and resist pressures that might otherwise distort their findings or applications. In the present commentary, we examine conceptual and ethical dilemmas within the field of invasion science, particularly reputational and the risks of the discipline perpetuating its own relevance by framing invasions as insurmountable challenges. In the discussion, we highlight how incentive structures, biased assessments and framing, and conflicts of interest may compromise the discipline's integrity. We also explore questions surrounding human responsibility to animal welfare and highlight ethical conundrums in the management of invasive species.

RevDate: 2025-07-27

Yan D, Wang S, Song P, et al (2025)

Research hotspots and trends in Spartina alterniflora studies (1970-2023): A bibliometric analysis.

Marine pollution bulletin, 221:118483 pii:S0025-326X(25)00958-0 [Epub ahead of print].

Spartina alterniflora is native to the Atlantic coast of the United States but has gained attention globally as an invasive species. To improve understanding of S. alterniflora and identify future research priorities, this study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and quantitative trend analysis of 4551 publications from 1970 to 2023, using ScientoPy and VOSviewer. Results indicated a steady increase in publications on S. alterniflora. Term co-occurrence visualization analysis revealed that research has evolved through stages: from examining the species' physiological and ecological characteristics, to exploring its invasion mechanisms and impacts, and finally to developing control technologies and assessing its responses to global climate change. Quantitative trend analysis showed that China and the United States are at the forefront of S. alterniflora research. Keywords such as "Blue carbon," "Plant invasion," "Climate change," and "Remote sensing" exhibited high trend factors and normalized frequency change values, suggesting that future research will focus on S. alterniflora's role in blue carbon sequestration, salt marsh restoration, and climate response mechanisms. Notably, S. alterniflora's invasion has displaced native blue carbon ecosystems, which typically offer greater long-term carbon sequestration and lower greenhouse gas emissions. This shift has diminished regional net carbon sink function and increased the net greenhouse effect. Although S. alterniflora represents a considerable carbon stock, it also poses substantial ecological risks. Therefore, comprehensive ecological risk assessments and scientifically informed management strategies are essential to optimize environmental benefits while minimizing negative ecological impacts.

RevDate: 2025-08-11
CmpDate: 2025-08-06

South J, Sabini L, Pattison Z, et al (2025)

Aquatic biological invasions exacerbate nutritional and health inequities.

Trends in ecology & evolution, 40(8):718-721.

Fish are a critical source of accessible nutrition. However, when non-native species introduced through aquaculture establish in the wild, they inevitably alter the structure of ecological networks. This could have unprecedented outcomes for nutrient and toxin accumulation when aquatic food is consumed by humans, with socioeconomically variable impacts.

RevDate: 2025-07-25
CmpDate: 2025-07-25

Sheidai M, Alaeifar M, Koohdar F, et al (2025)

Gene-ecological studies of critically isolated fern Pteris dentata Forssk.: genetic diversity, environmental adaptation, and future distribution modeling (SDM).

Molecular biology reports, 52(1):755.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the ecological and genetic characteristics of narrowly distributed species like Pteris dentata is crucial for effective conservation planning. P. dentata, a narrowly distributed fern species that prefers moist, shaded environments, is threatened by habitat degradation associated with urban expansion, climate change, and invasive species-highlighting the urgent need for its conservation.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This study investigated genetic diversity, landscape genetics, adaptive potential, and the landscape adaptive index in two northern Iranian populations of P. dentata. Despite overall low genetic diversity, the populations exhibited significant differentiation in genetic composition and morpho-anatomical traits, primarily shaped by spatial factors. Patterns of isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by environment (IBE) were both detected. Variation in adaptive potential and the landscape adaptive index indicated population-specific responses to environmental and climatic stressors. Advanced modeling techniques, including Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Random Forest (RF), revealed complex relationships among environmental, climatic, edaphic, and genetic variables influencing adaptation.

CONCLUSIONS: Species distribution modeling predicts a substantial decline in suitable habitat for P. dentata in Iran by 2050, driven by climate change-emphasizing the need for proactive conservation strategies.

RevDate: 2025-07-25

Parks BC, Mollett A, Gangloff EJ, et al (2025)

The effects of meal size and feeding frequency on digestion in common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis).

The Journal of experimental biology pii:368698 [Epub ahead of print].

Understanding the interplay between feeding, energetics, and temperature in ectotherms is essential, particularly regarding introduced species and responses to climate change. Despite its importance, how feeding regimes-including meal timing and size-affect digestion has been underexplored. Previous research suggests that digestion is thermally dependent, with warm temperatures promoting quick digestion, and that consuming smaller meals results in slower digestion. However, empirical evidence is limited. Our study quantified digestive passage time, energy budgets, and fecal and urate production in the introduced common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) relative to meal size and timing under a naturalistic temperature cycle (warm days at 34℃ and cool nights at 25℃). We implemented four treatment groups based on meal size (large or small) and timing (morning only or morning and afternoon). While lizards consuming less food took significantly longer to completely pass food items, energy budgets and fecal and urate production did not differ among treatments. Our findings suggest that feeding regime may have some influence on digestive processes, but not to the extent of regulating energetics in the common wall lizard. Consistent energy budgets, despite variable meal sizes and timing of food consumption in relation to temperature, may contribute to wall lizard invasion success. Digestive processes play a critical role in regulating population persistence and expansion. The results of this study highlight the importance of quantifying feeding regimes and natural temperature cycles, with implications for invasion biology and predicting responses to climate change.

RevDate: 2025-07-29

Borges PAV, Morgado LN, Gabriel R, et al (2025)

Integrating plot-based methods for monitoring biodiversity in island habitats under the scope of BIODIVERSA + project BioMonI: Tree monitoring in Terceira, Tenerife and Réunion Islands.

Biodiversity data journal, 13:e158423.

BACKGROUND: Oceanic islands are globally recognised for their exceptional levels of biodiversity and endemism, often resulting from unique evolutionary processes in isolated environments. However, this biodiversity is also disproportionately threatened by anthropogenic pressures including habitat loss, invasive species and climate change. Targeted, long-term biodiversity monitoring is essential for detecting changes in these vulnerable ecosystems and providing information for conservation strategies.The EU BIODIVERSA + project BioMonI aims at building a global long-term monitoring network specifically tailored to the pressing needs of biodiversity conservation and monitoring on islands. In BioMonI, we use a novel approach that considers mapping previous and current monitoring schemes on islands, developing a harmonised monitoring scheme for island biodiversity and mobilising existing monitoring data. We are assembling data from BioMonI-Plot, a long-term vegetation plot network to understand biodiversity and ecosystem change. It will use baseline data from three focal archipelagos (Azores, Canary Islands and Mascarenes), but we aim to mobilise data from archipelagos worldwide.Plot-based data are a cornerstone of effective biodiversity monitoring on islands. These standardised data collections within permanent plots allow for consistent, replicable observations across temporal and spatial scales. Initiatives like the Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS) highlight the value of permanent plots in capturing ecological gradients and anthropogenic disturbance patterns. Such data underpin the detection of subtle shifts in community composition, functional diversity and species distributions, which are critical for assessing the effectiveness of conservation actions and predicting future ecological scenarios.In summary, plot-based data are indispensable for targeted and effective biodiversity monitoring on islands. They provide the empirical backbone necessary to provide information for adaptive management strategies and contribute to global biodiversity targets.

NEW INFORMATION: The BioMonI-Plot baseline data consist of 10 plots in each of the following islands: Terceira (Azores), Tenerife (Canaries) and Réunion Island (Mascarenes). As a first step, we describe the diversity and abundance of all woody species shoots with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1 cm in each of the 10 plots of each Island. The majority of taxa belonged to the phylum Magnoliophyta, which accounted for 96.66% of the total species and subspecies, followed by Pteridophyta (2.22%) and Pinophyta (1.11%). Réunion Island exhibited the highest species richness, with 66 identified taxa, followed by Tenerife (16 taxa) and Terceira (11 taxa). Only one species, Morellafaya, was shared between the islands, occurring in both Terceira and Tenerife. Most of the recorded species were classified as endemic according to their colonisation status. Specifically, 32 species were endemic to the Mascarene Islands, 22 to Réunion, nine to the Azores, eleven to Macaronesia and four to the Canary Islands.The data presented in this Data Paper provide a valuable proxy for evaluating the ecological integrity and overall habitat quality of native montane forests across three oceanic archipelagos: the Azores, Canary Islands and Mascarene Islands. By focusing on tree species as primary ecological indicators, the dataset offers insights into essential structural and compositional attributes of these ecosystems, including species richness, relative abundance and patterns of dominance.The comprehensive species-level information contained in this dataset allows for comparisons of forest composition across islands and biogeographic regions, contributing to our understanding of insular forest dynamics, endemism patterns and conservation priorities in tropical and subtropical montane environments.

RevDate: 2025-07-29

Pizarro-Borrull M, Font E, Marbà N, et al (2025)

Prominent Grazing Rates and Feeding Preferences of an Abundant Exotic Benthic Herbivore in the Mediterranean Sea.

Ecology and evolution, 15(7):e71686.

Exotic herbivores can exert profound impacts on terrestrial communities, but their ecological effects on marine habitats are not sufficiently quantified. The exotic crab Percnon gibbesi, which is rapidly spreading throughout the Mediterranean Sea, grazes almost exclusively on benthic macrophytes, providing an opportunity to study the potential impacts of herbivores in the marine realm. Here, we first quantified the abundance of P. gibbesi in Mallorca (Balearic Islands; Spain) in 2023/2024 and reported average densities of 61 individuals 100 m[-2], approximately 30 times greater than those recorded in 2003 on the islands. We then performed a feeding preference experiment using common native and invasive species of macroalgae (Caulerpa cylindracea, Halimeda incrassata, Haliptilon virgatum, Halopteris scoparia, Padina pavonica, and Ulva compressa) from the Mediterranean Sea. The per capita grazing rates of P. gibbesi (3.83 ± 1.71 WW g crab[-1] day[-1]), which can ingest almost 75% of their body weight daily, were higher than those recorded for most native herbivorous species in the Mediterranean. The estimated daily grazing rates for P. gibbesi average 23.59 ± 15.17 kg WW macroalgae ha[-1] day[-1], value that corresponds with 0.1% to 10.9% (average 5.5%) of the total macroalgae production in this area. Our experiment revealed clear preferences of P. gibbesi for three species of macroalgae, which were not explained by the nutritional content. Overall, our results generate great concern and, coupled with the large extent of the invasion, indicate that the ecological impacts of this exotic herbivore on Mediterranean marine communities could be substantial, and have, until now, gone largely unreported.

RevDate: 2025-07-29
CmpDate: 2025-07-25

Liu M, Sui C, Zhao W, et al (2025)

Dynamic response of gut microbiota mediates the adaptation of Cipangopaludina chinensis to Pomacea canaliculata invasion.

Microbiome, 13(1):171.

BACKGROUND: As an invasive species, Pomacea canaliculata exerts significant adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. It can infect native freshwater snails, such as Cipangopaludina chinensis, by secreting pathogens, leading to increased stress and mortality. Gut microbiota play a crucial role in the survival and adaptation of gastropods, significantly influencing their health and resistance to environmental stressors. By comparing the gut microbiota composition and metabolic profiles between resistant (RE) and sensitive (SE) populations of C. chinensis, this study aims to elucidate the role of the gut microbiota in enhancing the survival of C. chinensis under the invasion pressure from P. canaliculata. And the mechanisms were further explored through gut microbiota transplantation, horizontal and vertical transmission experiments, and field studies. Video Abstract RESULTS: Our findings reveal that RE individuals exhibit greater gut microbiota diversity and a higher abundance of core microbiota, including Psychrobacter, Comamonas, and Pseudomonas, which are correlated with enhanced host survival in the presence of pathogen infections. Analysis of metabolite composition demonstrate that antibiotics and immunological enhancers are the main metabolites, which significantly enhance the host's resistance to pathogen infections. Notably, these core gut microbiota can be transmitted both horizontally and vertically, allowing C. chinensis populations to acquire resistance to the invasion of P. canaliculata. The SE group is enriched in pathogens, such as Mycoplasma. Following the transplantation of RE gut microbiota, SE individuals exhibited improved survival rates and core microbiota abundance. The vital role of core microbiota in maintaining the survival rate of C. chinensis was further confirmed in the field studies.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights the crucial interactions between the gut microbiota and the host's adaptability, offering valuable insights for native species in response of invasive species pressure.

RevDate: 2025-07-29
CmpDate: 2025-07-24

Chiuya T, Fèvre EM, Lutomiah J, et al (2025)

Invasive alien plant litter influences larval density, size and survival of Culex spp.

Scientific reports, 15(1):26978.

Invasive alien plant (IAP) litter can alter the organic and inorganic content of mosquito breeding sites, influencing their life history traits. In Baringo County, Kenya, there is massive encroachment of Prosopis juliflora and Parthenium hysterophorus into crop and grazing lands. To mimic natural shedding, we set up experimental water containers in the field containing dried plant litter of either Parthenium, Prosopis or Lantana camara, which are invasive and Acacia tortilis which is native to the area. We measured water physicochemical parameters and counted mosquito larvae periodically for 6 weeks. After rearing, we determined survival rates and size of the emergent adults. All the plant treatments had significantly more larvae than the water-only control. Prosopis had the highest number of larvae which was significantly different from Acacia. Water conductivity, total dissolved solids and salinity were highest in Prosopis and Parthenium litter. For both Culex pipiens and Culex vansomereni, adults emerging from Prosopis and Parthenium litter were significantly larger in size compared to those from the other plants. Generally, for the two species, adults from IAPs survived longer than those from Acacia. Our study demonstrates the impact of IAPs on the life history traits of mosquitoes and how they can enhance their vectorial capacity. Mitigating the spread of these plants may reduce mosquito populations and risk of mosquito-borne disease.

RevDate: 2025-07-31
CmpDate: 2025-07-24

Spear HV, Zhuang Z, Selby C, et al (2025)

Combined impacts of sea level rise and invasive species on Cordylanthus maritimus (Salt Marsh Bird's Beak) in Upper Newport Bay, California.

PloS one, 20(7):e0328652.

From Central California to Northern Baja California, Salt Marsh Bird's Beak (Cordylanthus maritimus subsp. Maritimus; C. maritimus) is an annual hemiparasitic halophyte that is endemic to coastal salt marshes and is both state and federally endangered in the US and Mexico. By the year 2100, sea level is projected to rise by nearly a meter, which will decrease the biodiversity of salt marshes and lead to changes in plant community assemblages, impacting the narrow ecological niche of C. maritimus. Here, we address how sea level rise will impact the preferred elevation range of C. maritimus, and we examine how these impacts will be compounded by the presence of an invasive perennial plant species, Algerian sea lavender (Limonium ramosissimum; L. ramossisimum). We used LiDAR data, plant distributions, and sea level rise projections for the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve to create simplified species distribution models and map current and future ranges for both species, serving as a case study for future management practices along the California Coast. In our small-scale model, the areas of these ranges and the area of overlap between both species were calculated for 2020, 2050, and 2100 under varying sea level rise scenarios. Although the overlap between the two species' ranges currently exists, C. maritimus inhabits a smaller area at relatively lower elevations than L. ramosissimum. By the year 2100, we project L. ramosissimum will occupy between 200-300% more habitable area than C. maritimus. More than 98% of the projected habitable area for C. maritimus may also be suitable for L. ramosissimum, increasing competition between the two species and highlighting a critical need to strategically control invasive L. ramosissimum in Upper Newport Bay.

RevDate: 2025-07-31
CmpDate: 2025-07-24

Hartshorn JA (2025)

Secondary metabolites of the invasive tree, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), provide support for the empty niche theory of invasion.

PloS one, 20(7):e0327841.

Invasive woody species like Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana Decne.) alter ecosystems directly and indirectly through effects on arthropod communities as well as chemical alterations of the soil. Evidence suggests that the aggressive spread and negative impacts are due to allelopathic chemicals present throughout plant tissues which reduce herbivory and add unique allochthonous inputs to the soil, thereby reducing germination of native species and furthering Callery pear's domination on the landscape. To assess the allelopathic potential of Callery pear, we collected leaf tissue from Callery pear, black cherry (Prunus serotina) as the native comparison, and wild peach (Prunus persica) to serve as a non-native but non-invasive representative. Callery pear leaves contained 32 unique compounds compared to our other two species tested, with 23 of these compounds belonging to the group of compounds called flavones, which are secondary metabolites known to build up in the roots of plants and cause autotoxicity, along with changes to the soil microbial community, including mycorrhizal fungi. While flavones are ubiquitous in nature, their presence in Callery pear suggests downstream effects on native plants and arthropod communities, and provides evidence for the empty niche theory of invasion. Further experiments are needed to confirm flavones in other Callery pear tissues and to assess the mediating chemical pathways that lead to their upregulation.

RevDate: 2025-07-24

Anonymous (2025)

Correction to "Prioritizing the Risk of Multiple Invasive Species in the Semiarid Rangelands of Iran: An Ecological Approach to Multicriteria Decision-Making".

Ecology and evolution, 15(7):e71601 pii:ECE371601.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1002/ece3.71287.].

RevDate: 2025-07-28
CmpDate: 2025-07-23

Zhang E, Wang X, Lei B, et al (2025)

The potential distribution area and dynamic niche variation analysis of an alien invasive plant Senecio vulgaris L.

Scientific reports, 15(1):26742.

Senecio vulgaris L. (Asteraceae), a European-origin invasive plant, has established widespread populations in China since the nineteenth century, posing both ecological and health-related threats due to its herbicide resistance, toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and broad habitat adaptability. Despite being classified as a Level 4 invasive species in China, its potential risk remains underestimated. In this study, we applied an optimized MaxEnt model using occurrence data from both native (Europe) and invasive (China) ranges to predict the species' potential distribution. Our results revealed high environmental suitability in central, eastern, southwestern, and northeastern China, with human activity, temperature, and precipitation as dominant predictors. Niche analysis indicated that S. vulgaris in China occupies environmental conditions largely overlapping with its native niche, demonstrating niche conservatism rather than expansion. These findings suggest that even moderately ranked invasive species can maintain ecological stability while gradually expanding, especially under increasing anthropogenic pressure. Our results underscore the need for targeted monitoring and preemptive management in agriculturally sensitive regions. This study provides a practical framework for assessing and managing adaptable invasive plants beyond those classified as high risk.

RevDate: 2025-07-31
CmpDate: 2025-07-23

Meier ES, Indermaur A, E Knop (2025)

Biodiversity-friendly landscapes: A paradox for conservation?.

Science advances, 11(30):eadt9564.

Human-induced global change may cause the sixth mass extinction of species. The moderate success of patch-scale biodiversity conservation measures has led to the concept of creating biodiversity-friendly landscapes. However, these landscapes potentially present a paradox: They may increase local biodiversity and thereby strengthen biotic resistance of native communities to global change winners, i.e., species that thrive under global change, such as invasive alien species or temperature- or nutrient-tolerant species. However, they may also improve landscape-scale habitat conditions, such as habitat connectivity, which facilitates the dispersal of global change winners, thereby accelerating biodiversity loss. Despite increasing investment in biodiversity-friendly landscapes, this paradox and underlying processes remain largely unquantified. We analyzed 2050 repeated, systematic vegetation surveys across the Swiss farmland and found the hypothesized facilitating and inhibitory effects on global change winners, but, overall, the inhibitory effects were stronger. This supports the call for a shift from patch-scale conservation to landscape-wide strategies to stop the ongoing decline of farmland biodiversity.

RevDate: 2025-07-31
CmpDate: 2025-07-23

Tercel MPTG, Cuff JP, Symondson WOC, et al (2025)

Threatened endemic arthropods and vertebrates partition their diets with non-native ants in an isolated island ecosystem.

Ecology, 106(7):e70158.

The success of non-native species depends on their ability to find food, which may ultimately lead to competition with native species and contribute to biodiversity loss in invaded ecosystems. Understanding which food resources are consumed is therefore crucial for evaluating how non-native species mechanistically fit into native biological communities. Non-native species may be predators or competitors of native species or may be consumed by native species as a novel source of nutrition, for example, and this can occur between both closely and distantly related species. Studies examining competitive interactions between non-native species and distantly related native taxa are relatively rare, largely because it is difficult to compare their diets using traditional methods. However, dietary DNA metabarcoding overcomes these limitations by enabling the construction of highly detailed food webs. Here, we use dietary DNA metabarcoding between two generalist native consumers-a reptile (Telfair's skink) and a Scolopendra centipede (Serpent Island centipede)-and the hyperabundant non-native ant community to test which consumer groups prey upon one another and partition food resources. To determine how non-native ants fit into a native community, we calculated dietary composition, niche overlap, and dietary diversity of ants, centipedes, and skinks on Round Island, a small 2.19-km[2] oceanic island located 22.5 km north-east of Mauritius. We observed distinct partitioning of food resources among the three consumer groups-skinks, centipedes, and ants-and found that the level of predation between these groups varied. Skinks and centipedes frequently consumed non-native ants, which may represent an important nutritional resource for both native consumers. Dietary differences persisted through seasons despite large shifts in the availability of food and concomitant diet composition for all three consumers. We conclude that non-native ants fit into the biological community of Round Island as both prey for native consumers and extreme omnivorous generalists, but not necessarily at the expense of the native consumers because it is unlikely the consumers are competing for food resources. Our results suggest that abundant non-native generalists, which are highly invasive in much of their introduced range, can infiltrate native food webs without exerting strong competitive forces on other common native generalist species.

RevDate: 2025-07-31
CmpDate: 2025-07-22

Ibrahim Danzabarma A, Hima K, Garba M, et al (2025)

Native-to-invasive rodent species turn-over within African cities: The example of Niamey, Niger.

PloS one, 20(7):e0325427.

Expanding transportation infrastructure has facilitated the introduction and proliferation of invasive small mammals, particularly now cosmopolitan rodents like Rattus spp. and Mus musculus, within urban socio-ecosystems where they may severely impact local biodiversity, economy and public health. However, fine-scale dynamics of such biological invasions are still poorly documented, especially in African cities where such biological invasions are still ongoing. We took advantage of a long-term monitoring program of terrestrial small mammal communities of Niamey, the capital city of Niger, to compare rodent and shrew faunas at the same sampling points ten years apart, namely in 2009-2013 and in 2020-2023. We show that Rattus rattus has been expanding significantly in almost all trapping areas across the city, while Mastomys natalensis relative abundance has decreased. This clear trend of native-to-invasive rodent species turnover was particularly marked within the core city, but some notable exceptions exist in peripheral as well as traditionally built zones where the native species still remains dominant. These patterns are discussed, with special attention given to possible human socio-economic and health implications.

RevDate: 2025-07-24

Lean CH (2025)

Open border ecosystems: Against globalised laissez-faire conservation.

Cambridge prisms. Extinction, 3:e10.

Ecosystems are increasingly being represented as marketplaces that produce goods for humanity, and because of this, economic metaphors for increasing efficiency have been introduced into conservation. A powerful model for economic growth is the globalised free market, and some are implicitly deploying it to suggest changes in conservation practice. Ecological globalisation is the position that we should not control the free movement of species and rewilding occurs most efficiently through non-intervention. When species can move and interact with new ecological systems, they create novel ecosystems. These novel arrangements create experimental markets in nature's economy, providing opportunities for the efficient production of goods for humans, also known as ecosystem services. When invasive species supersede local populations, it indicates previous biotic systems were inefficient, which is why they were replaced, and therefore, it is wrong to protect indigenous "losers" from extinction. Those who defend indigenous species are accused of being xenophobic against recent biotic migrants. This position is flawed both empirically and morally as there is a disconnect between these economic and political arguments when applied to human economies and nature's economy.

RevDate: 2025-07-24

Liu Y, Qi L, Ren W, et al (2025)

Changes with time post-restoration in the relationships between soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation in a reclaimed open-pit coal mine.

Scientific reports, 15(1):26373.

The soil seed bank (SSB) is a potential resource for the aboveground vegetation community (AVC) and plays a crucial role in ecological restoration. Studying the succession of the SSB and AVC at different restoration stages provides valuable insights into their temporal dynamics, facilitates comprehensive investigations of the different restoration stages, and enables appropriate recommendations for the subsequent restoration to be provided. Therefore, the SSB and AVC of restored grassland ecosystems were investigated in open-pit coal mine dumping sites in a typical grassland area of Inner Mongolia. This study was therefore conducted in a typical grassland with the same restoration practices (mixed seeding of Gramineae and Leguminosae), and comparisons were made at different periods post-restoration to determine the pattern of changes in the SSB and AVC over time post-restoration. Through non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), a correlation analysis, and structural equation model, the changes in the SSB and AVC in the years following restoration were determined. It was found that the SSB density was 475.00 - 705.00 (plant m[- 2]), and the AVC density was 94 - 192.8 (plant m[- 2]). Notably, a significant shift occurred 17 years post-restoration, indicating a pivotal stage was reached in the overall trajectory of the SSB and AVC. The vegetation in the restored area was found to be transitioning toward natural grassland, with an increase in the proportion of perennial species and a gradual decrease in annual and biannual species. The density of Gramineae and Leguminosae plants was similar to that of natural grasslands 17 years post-restoration. The presence of the invasive species Salsola collina gradually decreased over time. The relationship between soil physicochemical properties and SSB was relatively weak, while the relationship with AVC was relatively strong. With time post-restoration, the resemblance between the SSB and the plant community slowly diminished at the mining dump. The study provides for the prolonged rehabilitation of open-pit coal mine dumping sites.

RevDate: 2025-08-08
CmpDate: 2025-08-08

Byun C, K Singh (2025)

Selective eradication and sowing with diverse native seed mixtures effectively controls invasion and enhances biodiversity.

Journal of environmental management, 391:126632.

Invasive alien species are one of the major threats to biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, therefore, their management is imperative. This study assessed the effectiveness of various mechanical control methods in suppressing the invasive species Solidago altissima and tested the role of sowing native seed mixtures in enhancing native diversity recovery. It was predicted that selective uprooting would be the most effective control method. Additionally, sowing high-functionally diverse seed mixtures was predicted to better suppress reinvasion than less diverse mixtures. A field experiment, containing four main plots that were subjected to non-selective mowing of all vegetation, selective cutting, selective uprooting, and no-treatment control, was conducted to test the above predictions. Each plot was subdivided into four subplots that were left untreated (control) and sown with seed mixtures containing four, eight, and 12 species from one to three functional groups (annual, herbaceous perennial, and woody perennial). Selective uprooting proved the most effective in controlling invasion, preventing reinvasion, and improving native diversity, followed by selective cutting, and non-selective mowing. Mown plots showed no significant increase over control plots in native diversity, highlighting the importance of selective removal. The most effective strategy for restoring biodiversity was uprooting S. altissima in combination with sowing with seed from a high number of functionally-diverse species. Overall, this study showed that selective eradication of an invasive species without disturbing native vegetation, combined with enhancing existing biotic resistance by sowing mixtures of functionally diverse native seeds, prevented reinvasion and improved native biodiversity to the levels comparable with undisturbed reference ecosystems.

RevDate: 2025-07-23

Mbou-Boutambe C, Boundenga L, Degrugillier F, et al (2025)

Rodent malaria parasites detected in the invasive Rattus rattus in Gabon.

International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife, 27:101112.

Invasive species are increasingly recognized for their role in reshaping host-parasite dynamics. This study reports the first molecular detection of Plasmodium yoelii in the invasive black rat (Rattus rattus) in Gabon, based on a systematic molecular screening of 527 rodents captured in rural villages between 2021 and 2022. Two R. rattus individuals tested positive for P. yoelii, with phylogenetic analysis confirming identity with strains previously isolated from native rodents in the region. These findings challenge the traditional view that rodent malaria parasites are restricted to native hosts and highlight R. rattus as a potential, albeit likely incidental, host within local Plasmodium transmission networks. Despite a low infection prevalence (0.38 %), this result raises important questions about the capacity of invasive rodents to integrate into local parasite cycles and influence disease dynamics.

RevDate: 2025-07-23
CmpDate: 2025-07-21

Dickinson S, Nita M, Aviles-Rosa EO, et al (2025)

Evaluating the effectiveness of participatory science dog teams to detect devitalized Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) egg masses.

PeerJ, 13:e19656.

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF) is an invasive planthopper first detected in the United States in 2014, with initial sightings in Pennsylvania. SLF poses a serious threat to agriculture, particularly targeting grapevines, hops, and ornamental plants, resulting in substantial annual economic losses. Due to its life cycle, the early detection and removal of egg masses are the most effective strategies for preventing long-distance dispersal. However, visual detection by humans is time-consuming and inefficient. Detection dogs have demonstrated high accuracy in locating SLF egg masses and differentiating them from environmental distractors. Despite their effectiveness, the number of dogs available through governmental channels is insufficient to meet demand. This study evaluated whether community scientist dog-handler teams could meet standardized detection criteria using SLF egg masses. Teams from across the U.S. were recruited and trained using devitalized egg masses, with oversight provided by local trainers. Following a 3- to 6-month independent training period, team performance was assessed through an odor recognition test and a field trial. Dogs demonstrated a sensitivity of 82% in controlled testing and 58% in field conditions. These results provide proof of concept; community scientist dog teams could play a significant role in protecting their local environments and agriculture from invasive species.

RevDate: 2025-07-21
CmpDate: 2025-07-21

Moreyra S, Gonzalez-Polo M, MN Barrios-Garcia (2025)

Afterlife effects of invasive wasp nests on ecosystem functioning.

Ecology, 106(7):e70140.

Legacy effects, defined as persistent ecological impacts after a species extirpation or cessation of activity, can significantly influence ecosystem structure and function. While extensively studied in plant invasions, legacy effects of invasive animals may differ and remain largely unexplored. We assessed the afterlife effects of subterranean nests built by invasive Vespula social wasps on ecosystem properties in Patagonia, Argentina. We relocated wasp nests ~16 months after the colonies' death and collected soil samples from nest sites and adjacent control areas. In the laboratory, we analyzed soil nutrients, microbial biomass, and enzyme activity. Additionally, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to measure the nests' effect on plant growth. Our results show significant effects on soil properties, including a 1.5-fold increase in total C, 2-fold increase in total N, and 54-fold increase in P compared to control soils. Furthermore, we found a 1.5-fold increase in microbial biomass and a 1.75-fold increase in enzyme activity. These changes enhanced plant performance, with seedlings grown in nest soil showing a 13-fold increase in biomass. Overall, our results show that invasive wasps create lasting legacy effects persisting more than a year after the colony's death, influencing plant growth and potentially increasing spatial heterogeneity within the invaded ecosystem.

RevDate: 2025-07-24
CmpDate: 2025-07-20

Sohrabi S, Gherekhloo J, Hassanpour-Bourkheili S, et al (2025)

Allelopathic potential impact of Senecio angulatus L.F. on native plants.

Plant signaling & behavior, 20(1):2526886.

Urban greening had a significant effect on enhancing the distribution of alien plants, which pose a threat to the native species in new areas. Senecio angulatus L.f. (cape ivy) is one of the naturalized species dominant in urban ecosystems in many regions. This study was conducted to evaluate the allelopathic interference of this alien species on the native plants in these habitats in Iran. The allelopathy impact of aqueous extract of stem, leaf and root of cape ivy was estimated on germination and seedling´s growth of five native plants (Agropyron elongatum, Medicago sativa, Portulaca oleracea, Silybum marianum, and Lactuca sativa as indicator plant). The tested species differed in their susceptibility to allelopathy of cape ivy, in which M. sativa, P. oleracea, and L. sativa were significantly sensitive than other species. The inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts from leaves and stems was stronger than those from belowground parts and it revealed that the presence of higher concentrations of natural substances (phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity) gave it its efficiency in inhibiting the early growth of native plant. Our results imply that reducing the allelopathic impact of this species during habitat restoration requires the removal of the aboveground parts, including fallen leaves. Furthermore, the information obtained helps score cape ivy risk and impact assessment in the introduced regions.

RevDate: 2025-07-19
CmpDate: 2025-07-19

Romero-Weaver AL, Nguyen VT, Bae J, et al (2025)

SURVEY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN USA REVEALS THE NEED FOR IMPROVED INVASIVE MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE.

Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 41(2):77-85.

Invasive mosquito species play an important role in transmitting pathogens that cause diseases in humans and animals around the world. In the last decade, arboviral pathogens transmitted by invasive mosquito species have increased substantially in the southeastern region of the USA ("the Southeast"). Early detection of invasive mosquitoes is an important component of an integrated mosquito management (IMM) plan. To determine the capacity of the southern region of the USA to conduct invasive mosquito surveillance, the Mosquito Biodiversity Enhancement and Control of Non-native Species (BEACONS) working group conducted a survey in 2021 in seven US southern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. A total of 348 mosquito control agencies were contacted, and of those, 90 agencies (26%) responded. Here we report the results about the status of an IMM program and the techniques used for mosquito and pathogen surveillance in the Southeast. Results reveal several gaps in surveillance for invasive mosquito species, compromising the ability for early detection and rapid response. Further, we identified a lack of arbovirus testing, which could result in inadequate arboviral risk assessment and may increase the risk of human and livestock to acquire arboviral infections. This survey data can assist decision makers at the county, regional, and state levels to ameliorate gaps in surveillance capacity in the Southeast.

RevDate: 2025-07-22
CmpDate: 2025-07-18

Harman RR, Morrison WR, Altunç YE, et al (2025)

Increasing global risk of khapra beetle invasion forecasted under projected environmental conditions.

Scientific reports, 15(1):26064.

The khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, is a stored product pest of global concern, readily transported with cargo and reported in over 60 countries, several of which have spent millions in USD to eradicate populations. Despite the profound risk to stored grain commodities, nothing is known about the potential future distribution of species. We utilize MaxEnt and two datasets representing (1) only the historical range and (2) all global locations where it currently is or was established, even if later eradicated, to model areas of suitability under current future climatic conditions under low and high climate change scenarios at close (2040) and distant (2080) time points. The potential distribution using historical data was much reduced compared to the combined model; consequently, all established localities, even if eradicated, change model outcomes and are vitally important when building models. An increase of high potential suitability (> 75% suitable) is projected with greater time and climatic scenarios, primarily in North America and Europe, which have previously eradicated T. granarium. These results call for greater surveillance to prevent T. granarium expansion to inland areas with high grain production and storage where devastating losses would occur.

RevDate: 2025-08-08
CmpDate: 2025-08-08

González-Jaramillo SI, Z Cano-Santana (2025)

Threshold depth for girdling-induced mortality in Eucalyptus camaldulensis: a predictive approach for invasive species management.

Journal of environmental management, 391:126560.

Invasive species, such as Eucalyptus camaldulensis, pose significant ecological challenges in protected areas worldwide due to their environmental impacts and complex management. This study aimed to determine the threshold depth of girdling necessary to induce mortality in E. camaldulensis and to develop a predictive model for its practical application in invasive species management. Two populations of E. camaldulensis girdled in 2010 and 2017, along with a control group, were monitored for survival, decline, and phenological responses over one year. Survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models revealed that girdling depth was the most significant factor affecting tree mortality, with a critical threshold of 6.55 cm. Trees girdled below this depth showed significantly higher survival rates. A positive linear relationship was identified between tree breast height circumference, and the minimum girdling depth required for mortality, enabling the development of a predictive model. Girdled trees exhibited a significant reduction in fruit and young leaf production, along with an increase in mature leaves and tree decline, compared to control trees. These findings provide a science-based and sustainable approach for managing E. camaldulensis populations in protected areas. The proposed model offers a practical tool for estimating the necessary girdling depth based on tree size, minimizing the use of chemical inputs and promoting adaptive management. This approach ensures targeted and efficient control of this invasive species, enhancing the conservation of native ecosystems.

RevDate: 2025-07-18
CmpDate: 2025-07-18

Bhan M, Misher C, Hiremath A, et al (2025)

Restoration maintains high soil carbon stocks in Asia's largest tropical grassland.

Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America, 35(5):e70073.

Land management changes threaten the ecological functionality of grassland ecosystems worldwide, including the ability of these ecosystems to store carbon in their soils. The Banni grasslands in India, Asia's largest tropical grassland, are no different in this regard. Despite being a highly biodiverse ecosystem with an extensive land use history, information on soil carbon stocks in this ecosystem remains conspicuously absent. In this study, we map soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks within the upper 30 cm depth across land use-land cover classes by combining high-resolution satellite imagery with field-based soil carbon data from a network of long-term monitoring sites. We find that Banni currently stores 27.69 million tons of carbon in its soils, with an average SOC density of 119.61 ± 3.50 tons of carbon per hectare (tC/ha, mean ± SE). These estimates compare favorably with arid and semi-arid grasslands as well as seasonally flooded savannas across the tropics. The highest SOC densities are found in restored grasslands (142.72 ± 5.72 tC/ha), reaffirming the potential of carbon recovery from ecological restoration. Tracing 10 years of land change in the region indicates the further expansion of the invasive tree Prosopis juliflora across the landscape, but its impacts on changes in SOC concentration estimates remain varied. Our results indicate the large SOC storage associated with woody encroachment in Banni and point toward the need for the active management of Banni so that carbon benefits can accrue at meaningful timescales for reversing land degradation and contributing to land-based climate action.

RevDate: 2025-07-18

Craig M, Sither C, Mullin M, et al (2025)

IMPROVED SURVEILLANCE OF AEDES TRISERIATUS USING THE BG-PRO TRAP: IMPLICATIONS FOR SAMPLING HOST-SEEKING LA CROSSE VIRUS VECTORS.

Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association [Epub ahead of print].

La Crosse virus (LACV) is responsible for the majority of pediatric arboviral encephalitis in the United States. At present there are limited options for host-seeking surveillance for the primary vector (Aedes triseriatus) and, to a lesser extent, two invasive species (Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus) capable of transmitting LACV. We evaluated four host-seeking trap configurations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] Light trap, BG-Pro with BG lure, and BG-Sentinel 2 with and without BG lure) via two 4 × 4 Latin square field studies. Over the course of 128 trap-days, 436 mosquitoes were collected with the two most common species being Aedes triseriatus (n = 156, 35.8% of total) and Ae. albopictus (n = 182, 41.7% of total). The BG-Pro, on average, collected approximately 3 times more female Ae. triseriatus than the CDC light trap or the BG-Sentinel with BG lure. Similarly, the odds of collecting Ae. triseriatus with the BG-Pro trap were 3.02 times (95% CI: 1.96-4.67) than the CDC light trap; statistically greater than any other trap. There was no statistical difference in the odds of collecting Ae. triseriatus by the BG-Sentinel 2 (irrespective of lure presence) when compared to the CDC light trap as the reference. There was no difference in the odds of collecting Ae. albopictus using the BG-Sentinel 2 (OR: 4.62, 95% CI: 2.76-7.74) or the BG-Pro (3.06, 95% CI: 1.78-5.24) when compared to the CDC light trap as the reference. The limited collection of Ae. japonicus precluded any meaningful comparisons. Taken together, the BG-Pro trap should be considered for the surveillance or collection of the primary LACV vector, Ae. triseriatus.

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In the early 1990's, Robert Robbins was a faculty member at Johns Hopkins, where he directed the informatics core of GDB — the human gene-mapping database of the international human genome project. To share papers with colleagues around the world, he set up a small paper-sharing section on his personal web page. This small project evolved into The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project.

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In 1995, Robbins became the VP/IT of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. Soon after arriving in Seattle, Robbins secured funding, through the ELSI component of the US Human Genome Project, to create the original ESP.ORG web site, with the formal goal of providing free, world-wide access to the literature of classical genetics.

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In reading the early works of classical genetics, one is drawn, almost inexorably, into ever more complex models, until molecular explanations begin to seem both necessary and natural. At that point, the tools for understanding genome research are at hand. Assisting readers reach this point was the original goal of The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project.

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Usage of the site grew rapidly and has remained high. Faculty began to use the site for their assigned readings. Other on-line publishers, ranging from The New York Times to Nature referenced ESP materials in their own publications. Nobel laureates (e.g., Joshua Lederberg) regularly used the site and even wrote to suggest changes and improvements.

ESP Content

When the site began, no journals were making their early content available in digital format. As a result, ESP was obliged to digitize classic literature before it could be made available. For many important papers — such as Mendel's original paper or the first genetic map — ESP had to produce entirely new typeset versions of the works, if they were to be available in a high-quality format.

ESP Help

Early support from the DOE component of the Human Genome Project was critically important for getting the ESP project on a firm foundation. Since that funding ended (nearly 20 years ago), the project has been operated as a purely volunteer effort. Anyone wishing to assist in these efforts should send an email to Robbins.

ESP Plans

With the development of methods for adding typeset side notes to PDF files, the ESP project now plans to add annotated versions of some classical papers to its holdings. We also plan to add new reference and pedagogical material. We have already started providing regularly updated, comprehensive bibliographies to the ESP.ORG site.

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This is a must read book for anyone with an interest in invasion biology. The full title of the book lays out the author's premise — The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Nature's Salvation. Not only is species movement not bad for ecosystems, it is the way that ecosystems respond to perturbation — it is the way ecosystems heal. Even if you are one of those who is absolutely convinced that invasive species are actually "a blight, pollution, an epidemic, or a cancer on nature", you should read this book to clarify your own thinking. True scientific understanding never comes from just interacting with those with whom you already agree. R. Robbins

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E-mail: RJR8222 @ gmail.com

Papers in Classical Genetics

The ESP began as an effort to share a handful of key papers from the early days of classical genetics. Now the collection has grown to include hundreds of papers, in full-text format.

Digital Books

Along with papers on classical genetics, ESP offers a collection of full-text digital books, including many works by Darwin and even a collection of poetry — Chicago Poems by Carl Sandburg.

Timelines

ESP now offers a large collection of user-selected side-by-side timelines (e.g., all science vs. all other categories, or arts and culture vs. world history), designed to provide a comparative context for appreciating world events.

Biographies

Biographical information about many key scientists (e.g., Walter Sutton).

Selected Bibliographies

Bibliographies on several topics of potential interest to the ESP community are automatically maintained and generated on the ESP site.

ESP Picks from Around the Web (updated 28 JUL 2024 )