@article {pmid39391103,
year = {2024},
author = {Erratt, KJ and Nwaishi, F and Lee, TS and Allison, A and Carney, VA and Bartlett, K and Creed, IF},
title = {Aquatic Condition Index: optimization of a rapid wetland assessment tool for evaluating urban wetland health.},
journal = {Urban ecosystems},
volume = {27},
number = {6},
pages = {2299-2307},
pmid = {39391103},
issn = {1083-8155},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Urbanization poses significant threats to wetland ecosystems, leading to habitat loss, hydrological alterations, and the introduction of invasive species that adversely affect essential ecosystem services. This widespread threat underscores the need to develop a robust management tool for gauging urban wetland health. The Aquatic Condition Index (ACI) was developed as a diagnostic tool for monitoring urban wetland health in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ACI evaluates wetland health by incorporating functional indicators (i.e., hydrological, ecological, and water quality functions) chosen by scientific experts to provide municipal wetlands with relative condition scores that can inform citywide habitat management budgeting and prioritization. Gathering the data necessary to generate wetland indicators for the ACI requires substantial financial resources, time, and a high degree of analytical expertise for data collection (e.g., field surveys). This investigation aimed to enhance the widespread applicability and cost-efficiency of wetland monitoring by optimizing the ACI. This optimization entailed a sensitivity-driven indicator reduction, which strategically minimizes the number of indicators essential for ACI calculations. Our findings demonstrate that the refined selection of indicators produces comparable results to the original ACI. This highlights the potential of transitioning to more rapid and cost-efficient monitoring methods, creating a streamlined approach to enhance the efficiency of monitoring and assessment processes. Ultimately, this approach can facilitate long-term urban wetland assessments and promote the sustainability and management of these vital urban features .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11252-024-01596-0.},
}

@article {pmid39390368,
year = {2024},
author = {Waheed, M and Haq, SM and Arshad, F and Vitasović-Kosić, I and Bussmann, RW and Hashem, A and Abd-Allah, EF},
title = {Xanthium strumarium L., an invasive species in the subtropics: prediction of potential distribution areas and climate adaptability in Pakistan.},
journal = {BMC ecology and evolution},
volume = {24},
number = {1},
pages = {124},
pmid = {39390368},
issn = {2730-7182},
mesh = {Pakistan ; *Introduced Species ; *Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; *Xanthium ; Models, Biological ; },
abstract = {Invasive species such as Xanthium strumarium L., can disrupt ecosystems, reduce crop yields, and degrade pastures, leading to economic losses and jeopardizing food security and biodiversity. To address the challenges posed by invasive species such as X. strumarium, this study uses species distribution modeling (SDM) to map its potential distribution in Pakistan and assess how it might respond to climate change. This addresses the urgent need for proactive conservation and management strategies amidst escalating ecological threats. SDM forecasts a species' potential dispersion across various geographies in both space and time by correlating known species occurrences to environmental variables. SDMs have the potential to help address the challenges posed by invasive species by predicting the future habitat suitability of species distributions and identifying the environmental factors influencing these distributions. Our study shows that seasonal temperature dependence, mean temperature of wettest quarter and total nitrogen content of soil are important climatic factors influencing habitat suitability of X. strumarium. The potential habitat of this invasive species is likely to expand beyond the areas it currently colonizes, with a notable presence in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions. These areas are particularly vulnerable due to threats to agriculture and biodiversity. Under current conditions, an estimated 21% of Pakistan's land area is infested by X. strumarium, mainly in upper Punjab, central Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The range is expected to expand in most regions except Sindh. The central and northeastern parts of the country are proving to be particularly suitable habitats for X. strumarium. Effective strategies are crucial to contain the spread of X. strumarium. The MaxEnt modeling approach generates invasion risk maps by identifying potential risk zones based on a species' climate adaptability. These maps can aid in early detection, allowing authorities to prioritize surveillance and management strategies for controlling the spread of invasive species in suitable habitats. However, further research is recommended to understand the adaptability of species to unexplored environments.},
}

Pakistan
*Introduced Species
*Climate Change
*Ecosystem
*Xanthium
Models, Biological

@article {pmid39389770,
year = {2024},
author = {Xu, Y and Yan, Y and Zhou, T and Lu, Y and Yang, X and Tang, K and Liu, F},
title = {Synergy between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities Increases the Utilization of Insoluble Phosphorus and Potassium in the Soil by Maize.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.4c07428},
pmid = {39389770},
issn = {1520-5118},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance plant uptake of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), but it is not yet clear whether rhizosphere bacteria can enhance the ability of AM fungi to acquire insoluble P and K from the soil. Here, pot experiments confirmed that AM fungus-promoted insoluble P and K uptake by plants requires rhizosphere bacteria. The changes of rhizosphere bacterial communities associated with AM fungi were explored by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and metagenomic sequencing. Five core bacteria genera identified were involved in P and K cycles. Synthetic community (SynCom) inoculation revealed that SynCom increased soil available P and K and its coinoculation with AM fungi increased P and K concentration in the plants. This study revealed that AM fungi interact with rhizosphere bacteria and promote insoluble P and K acquisition, which provided a foundation for the application of AM fungal-bacterial biofertilizers and was beneficial for the sustainable development of agriculture.},
}

@article {pmid39389206,
year = {2024},
author = {Shantal Rodríguez-Flores, M and Lopes, AR and Dieguez-Antón, A and Carmen Seijo, M and Alice Pinto, M},
title = {Honey bee viruses in the yellow-legged hornet Vespa velutina (Lepelieter 1836): Prevalence, loads, and detection of replicative DWV and LSV forms.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108215},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2024.108215},
pmid = {39389206},
issn = {1096-0805},
abstract = {Apiaries in Galicia, northwestern Spain, are currently facing the invasive alien species Vespa velutina, which is well established in the region. The pressure on honey bee colonies is high, resulting in both economic and ecological losses. Honey bee colonies also face the challenge of viruses, which are becoming increasingly diverse. In recent years, honey bee viruses have been spreading across taxonomic groups beyond Apoidea, infecting the Vespoidea superfamily. This cross-species spillover has raised concerns in the scientific community due to the potential risk of viruses spreading in ecosystems. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge on this topic, and further research is needed to address this issue. This study employed qPCR and sequencing to investigate the prevalence, loads, and presence of replicative forms of important honey bee viruses in V. velutina individuals collected from 11 apiaries in Galicia. All V. velutina individuals tested positive for DWV, BQCV, AKI complex (ABPV, KBV, and IAPV), or LSV but not for CBPV. DWV showed the highest prevalence (97.0 %) and loads, with both DWV-A (67.4 %) and DWV-B (32.6 %) being detected. The AKI complex (46.3 %) and LSV (43.3 %) were also common, whereas BQCV (11.9 %) was rarer. LSV is detected for the first time in V. velutina. LSV-2 was the dominant strain (82.1 %), and two less frequent (17.9 %) unknown strains were also detected. All 44 screened V. velutina samples carried the replicative form of DWV, and six of these also carried the replicative form of LSV, raising for the first time the possibility of co-infection in the hornet. The detection of honey bee viruses in V. velutina, and the ability of these viruses to spread to other species, may indicate a potential risk of spillover in the apiaries.},
}

@article {pmid39345363,
year = {2024},
author = {Gamba, D and Vahsen, ML and Maxwell, TM and Pirtel, N and Romero, S and Ee, JJV and Penn, A and Das, A and Ben-Zeev, R and Baughman, O and Blaney, CS and Bodkins, R and Budha-Magar, S and Copeland, SM and Davis-Foust, SL and Diamond, A and Donnelly, RC and Dunwiddie, PW and Ensing, DJ and Everest, TA and Hoitink, H and Holdrege, MC and Hufbauer, RA and Juzėnas, S and Kalwij, JM and Kashirina, E and Kim, S and Klisz, M and Klyueva, A and Langeveld, M and Lutfy, S and Martin, D and Merkord, CL and Morgan, JW and Nagy, DU and Ott, JP and Puchalka, R and Pyle, LA and Rasran, L and Rector, BG and Rosche, C and Sadykova, M and Shriver, RK and Stanislavschi, A and Starzomski, BM and Stone, RL and Turner, KG and Urza, AK and VanWallendael, A and Wegenschimmel, CA and Zweck, J and Brown, CS and Leger, EA and Blumenthal, DM and Germino, MJ and Porensky, LM and Hooten, MB and Adler, PB and Lasky, JR},
title = {Local adaptation to climate facilitates a global invasion.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {39345363},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {R35 GM138300/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Local adaptation may facilitate range expansion during invasions, but the mechanisms promoting destructive invasions remain unclear. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), native to Eurasia and Africa, has invaded globally, with particularly severe impacts in western North America. We sequenced 307 genotypes and conducted controlled experiments. We found that diverse lineages invaded North America, where long-distance gene flow is common. Ancestry and phenotypic clines in the native range predicted those in the invaded range, indicating pre-adapted genotypes colonized different regions. Common gardens showed directional selection on flowering time that reversed between warm and cold sites, potentially maintaining clines. In the Great Basin, genomic predictions of strong local adaptation identified sites where cheatgrass is most dominant. Preventing new introductions that may fuel adaptation is critical for managing ongoing invasions.},
}

@article {pmid39386550,
year = {2024},
author = {Erickson, PA and Bangerter, A and Gunter, A and Polizos, NT and Bergland, AO},
title = {Limited population structure but signals of recent selection in introduced African Fig Fly (Zaprionus indianus) in North America.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2024.09.20.614190},
pmid = {39386550},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: 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 recolonization, 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 recurrent recolonization events. Although we find limited signals of genome-wide spatial or temporal population structure, we identify haplotypes on the X chromosome that are repeatedly differentiated between Virginia and Florida populations. These haplotypes show signatures of natural selection and are not found in African populations. We also find evidence for several large structural polymorphisms segregating within North America populations and show X chromosome evolution in invasive populations is strikingly different from the autosomes. 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.

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Invasive species (organisms that have been moved outside their natural range by human activities) can cause problems for both humans and the environment. We studied the genomes of over 200 individuals of a newly invasive fruit fly in North America, the African Fig Fly. We found genetic evidence that these recently introduced flies may be evolving in their new environments, which could make them stronger competitors and more likely to become pests.},
}

@article {pmid39385842,
year = {2024},
author = {Ackland, SJ and Richardson, DM and Robinson, TB},
title = {A Method for Conveying Confidence in iNaturalist Observations: A Case Study Using Non-Native Marine Species.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {e70376},
pmid = {39385842},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Concerns and limitations relating to data quality, reliability and accuracy hamper the use of citizen science initiatives in research and conservation. Valued for their cost-effective and large data acquisition potential, citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist have been highlighted as beneficial tools to supplement monitoring using traditional data sources. However, intrinsic uncertainties in unverified observations stem from the nature of species being identified, the quality of uploaded media and georeferencing; these factors can limit the value of the data as they can result in inaccurate records. Verification of data prior to use is critical. This process can, however, be laborious and time-consuming, with bias associated with the individual responsible for the task. To address this challenge this study developed a protocol for assigning confidence in iNaturalist observations, using marine alien and cryptogenic species observations from South Africa as a case study. A positive relationship was found between the accuracy of observations and confidence score. The inherent data quality assessment in iNaturalist, termed quality grade, was found to be an inadequate proxy for accuracy. The results of this study highlight the importance of the expert verification phase when using citizen science data. The confidence score facilitates a streamlined approach to the verification process by reducing the time taken to validate records, while assessing the three levels of uncertainty within observations and reducing researcher bias. It is recommended that this confidence score be used as an essential tool when using citizen science derived data.},
}

@article {pmid39385443,
year = {2024},
author = {Küçük, F and Bahrioğlu, E and Güçlü, SS and Nazıroğlu, M and Gülle, İ and Kabadayı Yıldırım, SÖ},
title = {Spatio-temporal variation in reproductive characteristics of invasive fish Pseudorasbora parva (Temmick & Schlegel, 1846) in the lakes region of Türkiye.},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.15932},
pmid = {39385443},
issn = {1095-8649},
support = {2020-BTAP2-0085//Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit/ ; },
abstract = {Invasive species present a serious peril to aquatic ecosystems worldwide, thus it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the reproductive dynamics, spreading characteristics, and biological properties of these species in order to effectively manage their population structure and mitigate both the ecological damage and economic loss they can cause. For this reason, we delved into the reproductive dynamics of Pseudorasbora parva, an invasive species of inland water fish found in Türkiye. We focused on three populations inhabiting Beyşehir (Konya, Isparta) and Eğirdir Lakes (Isparta) and Onaç Reservoir (Burdur). Sampling was carried out on a monthly basis from March 2021 to June 2022, utilizing a variety of tools such as multimesh nets, seine nets, and electrofishing. The developmental stages of gonads and reproductive cells were determined through morphological and microscopic examinations. A total of 1186 P. parva individuals were captured from all three lakes. Our results showed that the Beyşehir Lake population spawned from March to July, while the Eğirdir Lake population did so between May and October, and the Onaç Reservoir population laid their eggs from June to August. Female individuals in Beyşehir Lake, Eğirdir Lake, and Onaç Reservoir had initial breeding lengths of 3.49, 4.89, and 5.35 cm, respectively. In comparison, male individuals measured 5.56, 4.80, and 5.40 cm. Interestingly, the Beyşehir Lake population exhibited the highest egg fecundity, with each individual at 2 years producing a remarkable 2949 eggs. The present findings provide valuable information for us to further understand the reproductive biology and dynamics of P. parva, which could be useful in managing and preventing the spread of this invasive species in inland aquatic ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid39385072,
year = {2024},
author = {Yainna, S and Hilliou, F and Haenniger, S and d'Alençon, E and Brévault, T and Nam, K},
title = {Adaptive evolution of invasive fall armyworms to maize with potential involvement of Cytochrome P450 genes.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {949},
pmid = {39385072},
issn = {1471-2164},
mesh = {*Zea mays/genetics/parasitology ; Animals ; *Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics ; *Spodoptera/genetics ; *Introduced Species ; Evolution, Molecular ; Larva/genetics ; Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Transcriptome ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: An invasion occurs when introduced species establish and maintain stable populations in areas outside of their native habitat. Adaptive evolution has been proposed to contribute to this process. The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is one of the major pest insects infesting maize in both invaded and native areas. The invasion of this species was reported from West Africa in 2016, followed by spreading across the Old World. We tested adaptive evolution to maize using 56 native samples from the USA and 59 invasive samples from Senegal, based on genomic and transcriptomic analyses.

RESULTS: Principal component analysis revealed that the Senegalese population originated from corn strain. Three genetic loci were identified as targets of selective sweeps in the Senegalese population. These loci include four Cytochrome P450 genes (CYP321B1, CYP321B3, CYP321B4, and CYP337B5), as well as 12 genes of which the function is unclear. Transcriptomic analysis showed an overexpression of CYP321B1 and CYP321B3 genes in sfC samples compared to sfR samples. Additionally, these two genes were overexpressed when corn strain samples were exposed to maize. In larval feeding assays, the Senegalese population exhibited higher survival rates than a Floridan population across all four tested maize varieties.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the analyzed Senegalese population experienced adaptive evolution involving loci containing CYP genes, potentially associated with an increase in the survival rates on maize. We argue that the invasive success of the fall armyworm is contributed by stabilizing selection to maize.},
}

*Zea mays/genetics/parasitology
Animals
*Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics
*Spodoptera/genetics
*Introduced Species
Evolution, Molecular
Larva/genetics
Adaptation, Physiological/genetics
Transcriptome

@article {pmid39384860,
year = {2024},
author = {Gibson, VL and Dedloff, A and Miller, LJ and Smith, CM},
title = {Integrated physiological response by four species of Rhodophyta to submarine groundwater discharge reveals complex patterns among closely-related species.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {23547},
pmid = {39384860},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {*Groundwater ; *Rhodophyta/physiology ; *Photosynthesis/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Introduced Species ; Coral Reefs ; Species Specificity ; },
abstract = {Algal physiological ecology on submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) influenced reefs is likely shaped by intermittent, tidally-driven estuarine conditions that occur with SGD fluxes of fresh-to-brackish groundwater from the subterranean estuary to reef ecosystems. SGD is a common inconspicuous feature worldwide on reefs of basaltic high islands and continental margins. Yet, SGD-driven dynamics of algal physiology are not well understood. To understand how invasive species have physiologically outcompeted native species on many SGD-influenced reefs, physiology in tissue water potential (TWP) regulation, photosynthesis, nitrogen storage, and cellular anatomy were measured across a gradient of SGD-influence, for four Rhodophyte species. Compared with non-SGD conditions, SGD was associated with higher TWP, larger medulla cells with thinner walls, and thinner cortical cell walls for two invasives, Gracilaria salicornia and Acanthophora spicifera, higher photosynthetic rates in G. salicornia, greater nitrogen concentration for A. spicifera and G. salicornia, and increased δ [15]N ratios for A. spicifera, G. salicornia, and native Laurencia dendroidea. Distinct physiological strategies were measured for the two invasive species across the gradient of SGD-influence, and for L. dendroidea and Gracilaria perplexa offshore. This study illuminates species-specific physiological response, and how introduced opportunistic species may outcompete native species under conditions of SGD.},
}

*Groundwater
*Rhodophyta/physiology
*Photosynthesis/physiology
Nitrogen/metabolism
Ecosystem
Introduced Species
Coral Reefs
Species Specificity

@article {pmid39383952,
year = {2024},
author = {Li, XD and Chen, Y and Zhang, CL and Wang, J and Song, XJ and Zhang, XR and Zhu, ZH and Liu, G},
title = {Assessing the climatic niche changes and global invasion risk of Solanum elaeagnifolium in relation to human activities.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {176723},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176723},
pmid = {39383952},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {As an invasive plant, Solanum elaeagnifolium has posed a serious threat to agriculture and natural ecosystems worldwide. In order to better manage and limit its spread, we established niche models by combining distribution information and climate data from the native and invasive ranges of S. elaeagnifolium to analyze its niche changes during its colonization. Additionally, we evaluated its global invasion risk. Our results showed that the distribution of S. elaeagnifolium is affected by temperature, precipitation, altitude, and human activities. Solanum elaeagnifolium exhibits different degrees of niche conservatism and niche shift in different invasion ranges. During the global invasion of S. elaeagnifolium, both the niche shift and conservatism were observed, however, niche shift was particularly significant due to the presence of unoccupied niches (niche unfilling). Solanum elaeagnifolium generally occupied a relatively stable niche. However, a notable expansion was observed primarily in Europe and China. In Australia and Africa, its niche largely remains a subset of its native niche. Compared to the niche observed in its native range, its realized niche in China and Europe has shifted toward lower temperature and higher precipitation levels. Conversely, in Africa, the niche has shifted toward lower precipitation levels, while in Australia, it has shifted toward higher temperature. Our model predicted that S. elaeagnifolium has high invasion potential in many countries and regions. The populations of S. elaeagnifolium in China and Africa have reached the adapted stage, while the populations in Australia and Europe are currently in the stabilization stage. In addition, our research suggests that the potential distribution of S. elaeagnifolium will expand further in the future as the climate warms. All in all, our study suggests that S. elaeagnifolium has high potential to invade globally. Due to its high invasive potential, global surveillance and preventive measures are necessary to address its spread.},
}

@article {pmid39381897,
year = {2024},
author = {Aidoo, OF and Amaro, GC and Souza, PGC and Picanço, MC and Awuah-Mensah, KA and Silva, RSD},
title = {Climate change impacts on worldwide ecological niche and invasive potential of Sternochetus mangiferae.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.8465},
pmid = {39381897},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001/ ; //Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)/ ; //Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Present climate studies on invasive species imply that climate change will alter the habitat suitability of invasive pests, especially given the projected rise in average global temperatures by the end of 2100. However, globally, limited information exists on the habitat suitability of the mango stone weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae Fabricius, which impedes the development of early detection and preventive measures. Herein, we used the MaxEnt model to estimate the potential global geographical distribution of S. mangiferae.

RESULTS: Our results revealed that thermal conditions played a significant role in explaining the invasion risk of S. mangiferae. Habitat suitability was found in all continents, except Antarctica. Under the present condition, habitat suitability covered 5.67 × 10[7] km[2]. For ssp126, habitat suitability will decrease from the 2060s (5.58 × 10[7] km[2]) and 2080s (5.57 × 10[7] km[2]). Similarly, under ssp585, suitable areas will decrease from 5.62 × 10[7] to 5.51 × 10[7] km[2] for the 2060s and 2080s, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Our study has estimated variability in the habitat suitability of S. mangiferae which establishes a foundation for determining global risk assessment and response plans for the pest. This study also identifies areas where the pest is inherently more vulnerable to the impacts of changing climates and enables forecasting of its potential distribution in a dynamic world. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid39381194,
year = {2024},
author = {Zhang, FX and Li, HL and Wan, JZ},
title = {An Invasion Risk Assessment of Alien Woody Species in Potential National Park Sites in Xinjiang, China, Under Climate Change.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {e70394},
pmid = {39381194},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {The invasion of alien woody species may have broad ecological, economic, and health impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity under climate change. Previous studies showed that disrupting the biodiversity conservation mechanisms in protected areas can seriously threaten natural ecosystems and the protection of rare and endangered species in such protected areas. However, there is currently no standard for evaluating the invasion risk of woody plants under climate change when establishing national parks in China. Therefore, we used a species distribution model to evaluate the invasion risk of 250 invasive alien woody species in potential national park sites in Xinjiang under climate change. The results indicated that the probability of forest invasion in the potential Altai Kanas National Park was determined to be significantly higher than that of the average level in Xinjiang nature reserves, both under current and future climate conditions. At the same time, the probability of invasive woody species invading coniferous forests, broad-leaved forests, and grassland ecosystems is higher in the Altai Kanas and Tianshan potential national parks. We found that Acer negundo, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Amorpha fruticose in potential parks in Xinjiang have higher invasion potential and thus require heightened vigilance to stop their spread. This study contributes to the monitoring and management of national parks and provides an actionable foundation for protecting ecosystem functions and minimizing the potential risk of invasive alien species under climate change.},
}

@article {pmid39378918,
year = {2024},
author = {Wang, Z and Wang, R and Sang, Y and Wang, T and Su, Y and Liao, W},
title = {Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes of invasive weed Mikania micrantha and its indigenous congener Mikania cordata.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {281},
number = {Pt 1},
pages = {136357},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.136357},
pmid = {39378918},
issn = {1879-0003},
abstract = {Mikania micrantha and Mikania cordata are two distinct species in China. The former is notorious as one of the top 100 worst invasive species, whereas the latter is an indigenous species harmless to native plants or the environment. They form an ideal congener pair for comparative studies aimed at deeply understanding the invasion mechanisms of the exotic weed. In this study, we have assembled and annotated the mitogenomes of both species using Illumina and PacBio sequencing data and compared their characteristic differences. The complete mitogenome of M. micrantha is a double-stranded DNA with a length of 336,564 bp, while the mitogenome of M. cordata exhibits a branching structure, consisting of two small circular molecules and six linear molecules, with a combined length totaling 335,444 bp. Compared to M. cordata, M. micrantha has less SSRs, tandem repeats, dispersed repeats, mitochondrial protein coding genes (PCGs). The two plants show similar codon usage patterns. This comparative study has revealed the structure and function of the mitogenomes of the two species and laid a solid foundation for investigating the effects of gene loss and duplication on the development of invasive traits in M. micrantha.},
}

@article {pmid39377428,
year = {2024},
author = {Pei, J and Fang, C and Li, B and Nie, M and Li, J},
title = {Direct Evidence for Microbial Regulation of the Temperature Sensitivity of Soil Carbon Decomposition.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {30},
number = {10},
pages = {e17523},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.17523},
pmid = {39377428},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {2023FY100100//Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; 23DZ1202700//Science and Technology Plan Project of Shanghai/ ; 32101336//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32101377//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 92251305//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 23ZR1404400//the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai/ ; //The University of Sydney-Fudan University Ignition Grants/ ; },
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Carbon/metabolism/analysis ; *Temperature ; *Fungi/physiology/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Soil physicochemical protection, substrates, and microorganisms are thought to modulate the temperature sensitivity of soil carbon decomposition (Q10), but their regulatory roles have yet to be distinguished because of the confounding effects of concurrent changes of them. Here, we sought to differentiate these effects through microorganism reciprocal transplant and aggregate disruption experiments using soils collected from seven sites along a 5000-km latitudinal transect encompassing a wide range of climatic conditions and from a 4-year laboratory incubation experiment. We found direct microbial regulation of Q10, with a higher Q10 being associated with greater fungal:bacterial ratios. However, no significant direct effects of physicochemical protection and substrate were observed on the variation in Q10 along the latitudinal transect or among different incubation time points. These findings highlight that we should move forward from physicochemical protection and substrate to microbial mechanisms regulating soil carbon decomposition temperature sensitivity to understand and better predict soil carbon-climate feedback.},
}

*Soil Microbiology
*Soil/chemistry
*Carbon/metabolism/analysis
*Temperature
*Fungi/physiology/metabolism
Bacteria/metabolism

@article {pmid39376476,
year = {2024},
author = {Bhattarai, D and Lamichhane, S and Regmi, AR and Joshi, KP and Pandeya, P and Dhami, B and Gautam, AP and Adhikari, H},
title = {Impact of invasive alien plants on the resident floral diversity in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {e70316},
pmid = {39376476},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Invasive alien plant species (IAPS) pose a serious threat to overall plant biodiversity across the globe. Nepal's national parks and protected areas are not devoid of the impact of IAPS. Unfortunately, there is a substantial gap in knowledge regarding the extent and impact of invasion in protected areas of Nepal. This study assessed the impact of invasive alien plant species on the resident plant species of the Koshi Tapu wildlife reserve. After a preliminary field observation, we selected five major IAPS in the area, Mesosphaerum suaveolens, Chromolaena odorata, Ipomoea carnea, Lantana camara, and Mikania micrantha for this study. Ten pairs of adjacent plots sized 4 m × 4 m were surveyed for each invasive species, comprising diverse vegetation types. Each pair consisted of one "invaded plot" where the invasive species was dominant with cover greater than 50%, and another "uninvaded plot" laid out in an adjacent area with similar site conditions but without the invasive species. We calculated the Sørensen Index of Similarity for each paired plot. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was employed to compare ecological parameters between invaded and uninvaded plots for various plant species. Similarly, the difference in impact between each of the five invasive species was assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Species richness varied significantly between invaded and uninvaded plots for C. odorata and I. carnea. The most significant impact on species composition of invaded communities (39.6%) was observed for C. odorata. The cover of the other dominant species varied significantly between invaded and uninvaded plots for all five species studied. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant difference in the impact caused by the five studied invasive species on Species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, species evenness, and height of dominant species. However, a significant difference was observed between the impacts of five studied invasive species and the cover of other dominant species. The crown cover of dominant species decreased much more in the invaded plots of L. camara and M. micrantha than in other species. Specialized management efforts are required to control highly invasive species, such as C. odorata and I. carnea, alongside proactive measures to prevent further spread in ecologically sensitive areas.},
}

@article {pmid39374447,
year = {2024},
author = {Berndt, R and Otálora, MAG and Angulo, M and Zamora, JC},
title = {First European records of Puccinia modiolae and P. platyspora, two native South American rust fungi, and new observations on their life cycle and morphology.},
journal = {Mycologia},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-21},
doi = {10.1080/00275514.2024.2395697},
pmid = {39374447},
issn = {1557-2536},
abstract = {This paper reports the South American rust fungi Puccinia modiolae and P. platyspora (Pucciniales/Uredinales) as new alien species of the European rust funga. Puccinia modiolae is presently known from Switzerland and Germany, P. platyspora from Switzerland, Germany, and France. The records of P. platyspora are the first ones from outside South America. The specimens were identified by teliospore characters and sequences of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (internal transcribed spacer 2 and domains D1-D2 of the nuclear ribosomal large subunit) and the mitochondrial CO3 (cytochrome c oxidase III) gene. Puccinia modiolae and P. platyspora have been recorded so far in Europe on members of the genera Alcea, predominantly on Alcea rosea, Althaea, and Malva of the Malvaceae, subfam. Malvoideae. Alcea rosea is host of both species and shared also with the common mallow rust, P. malvacearum, allowing for mixed infections. The plant is commonly grown as an ornamental and may play a major role for the spread of the alien Malvaceae rust fungi. It was observed for the first time that P. platyspora can produce spermogonia and aecidium-type aecia, suggesting phenotypic plasticity regarding the formation of spore states. The observed spermogonia mainly remained closed and did not liberate spermatia. They produced telio- and aeciospores besides spermatia in their cavity and eventually converted entirely into telia or, rarely, into aecidium-like sori. Small clusters of aeciospores and peridial cells were commonly found hidden in the telial plectenchyma, and well-developed aecidium-type aecia provided with a peridium developed rarely in the center of mature telia. Spermogonia belonging to group V type 4 were found in P. malvacearum, which is generally supposed to lack spermogonia. Some spermogonia produced only spermatia in their cavity; others formed spermatia and teliospores, and some eventually converted into telia.},
}

@article {pmid39373309,
year = {2024},
author = {Parker, DG and Cameron, M and Gordon, CE and Letnic, M},
title = {Habitat structure and an introduced predator limit the abundance of an endangered ground-nesting bird.},
journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e3046},
doi = {10.1002/eap.3046},
pmid = {39373309},
issn = {1051-0761},
support = {//New South Wales Government/ ; },
abstract = {Understanding the factors that limit the abundance of threatened species is critical for the development of effective conservation strategies. However, gaining such knowledge from monitoring programs and using it to inform decision-making for rare species can be difficult due to methodological issues posed by the problems of distinguishing true absences from false absences and the analysis of datasets dominated by zero counts. The plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) is a critically endangered ground-nesting bird that occurs in grasslands of southeastern Australia. Decline of the plains-wanderer has been attributed to habitat modification but little emphasis has been placed on the role of introduced predators, such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), which have had a devastating effect on small ground-dwelling vertebrates in dryland regions of Australia. Here, we use a 9-year time series of spotlight counts to investigate the impact of vegetation structure and fox presence on plains-wanderer occupancy and abundance. We used distance sampling to determine the effective strip width for sighting plains-wanderers during spotlight surveys. We then used a hurdle model approach whereby binomial generalized additive models were fitted to presence/absence data within the effective strip-width across all sites and negative-binomial models were fitted to an index of abundance at sites where plains-wanderers were observed. Plains-wanderer occupancy and abundance fluctuated markedly through time. Where foxes were absent, occupancy (but not abundance) of plains-wanderers showed a humped relationship with grass height with an optimal height between 50 and 150 mm. Where foxes were present however, this relationship broke down and plains-wanderers were rarely recorded. Our results suggest that plains-wanderers should benefit from management strategies that maintain grass height at optimal levels and exclude foxes or effectively suppress their populations. A key message from this study is that if statistical analyses of data generated by monitoring programs for rare species are intended to inform management decisions by identifying relationships between threatened species and drivers of their abundance, there should be consideration of analytic approaches that account for true and false zeroes, high prevalence of zeroes, and the possibility of nonlinear responses.},
}

@article {pmid39372907,
year = {2024},
author = {Bernos, TA and Lajbner, Z and Kotlík, P and Hill, JM and Marková, S and Yick, J and Mandrak, NE and Jeffries, KM},
title = {Assessing the Impacts of Adaptation to Native-Range Habitats and Contemporary Founder Effects on Genetic Diversity in an Invasive Fish.},
journal = {Evolutionary applications},
volume = {17},
number = {10},
pages = {e70006},
pmid = {39372907},
issn = {1752-4571},
abstract = {Species invading non-native habitats can cause irreversible environmental damage and economic harm. Yet, how introduced species become widespread invaders remains poorly understood. Adaptation within native-range habitats and rapid adaptation to new environments may both influence invasion success. Here, we examine these hypotheses using 7058 SNPs from 36 native, 40 introduced and 19 farmed populations of tench, a fish native to Eurasia. We examined genetic structure among these populations and accounted for long-term evolutionary history within the native range to assess whether introduced populations exhibited lower genetic diversity than native populations. Subsequent to infer genotype-environment correlations within native-range habitats, we assessed whether adaptation to native environments may have shaped the success of some introduced populations. At the broad scale, two glacial refugia contributed to the ancestry and genomic diversity of tench. However, native, introduced and farmed populations of admixed origin exhibited up to 10-fold more genetic diversity (i.e., observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity and allelic richness) compared to populations with predominantly single-source ancestry. The effects of introduction to a new location were also apparent as introduced populations exhibited fewer private alleles (mean = 9.9 and 18.9 private alleles in introduced and native populations, respectively) and higher population-specific Fst compared to native populations, highlighting their distinctiveness relative to the pool of allelic frequencies across tench populations. Finally, introduced populations with varying levels of genetic variation and similar genetic compositions have become established and persisted under strikingly different climatic and ecological conditions. Our results suggest that lack of prior adaptation and low genetic variation may not consistently hinder the success of introduced populations for species with a demonstrated ability to expand their native range.},
}

@article {pmid39048359,
year = {2024},
author = {Stakėnas, S and Gregory, SD and Britton, JR and Marsh, JE and Tarkan, AS and Zięba, G and Wesley, KJ and Copp, GH},
title = {Tracking the invasive and euryhaline pikeperch Sander lucioperca in the lower River Thames using acoustic telemetry indicates no movements into areas of relatively high salinity.},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {105},
number = {4},
pages = {1200-1211},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.15882},
pmid = {39048359},
issn = {1095-8649},
support = {//UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)/ ; //European Commission/ ; //Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Telemetry ; *Introduced Species ; *Rivers ; *Salinity ; England ; *Perches/physiology ; Estuaries ; Animal Migration ; },
abstract = {Native to Central and Eastern Europe, the euryhaline pikeperch Sander lucioperca can acclimatize to elevated salinity levels (e.g., up to 30‰), but it remains unknown whether their invasive populations use this ability to inhabit and/or disperse through brackish waters, such as estuaries and inshore areas. To test whether invasive pikeperch show a propensity to move into areas of relatively high salinity, their spatial use and movement patterns (e.g., home range, distances moved, and movement rates) were assessed using acoustic telemetry in the upper River Thames estuary, southeast England. Analyses revealed that individual pikeperch were capable of moving relatively long distances in a short time (e.g., speeds up to 70 m min[-1]), with movement patterns associated more with tidal state and elevation at the water surface (both assumed to relate to changes in salinity) than diurnal changes. There were no recorded movements of any pikeperch into the more saline, downstream waters of the estuary where salinity levels were recorded to over 40‰, with the mean salinity in the most downstream area where pikeperch were detected being 1.39‰ (range of logger: 1.22-1.71). The results suggest that these pikeperch did not use high salinity waters when less saline waters were available, and thus the risk that they will use to move through high salinity areas to expand their invasive range appears low. Accordingly, efforts to minimize risks of the further dispersal of invasive pikeperch populations can focus on control and containment programmes within fresh waters.},
}

Animals
*Telemetry
*Introduced Species
*Rivers
*Salinity
England
*Perches/physiology
Estuaries
Animal Migration

@article {pmid39370724,
year = {2024},
author = {Reeb, RA and Kuebbing, SE},
title = {Phenology mediates direct and indirect interactions among co-occurring invasive plant species.},
journal = {Ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e4446},
doi = {10.1002/ecy.4446},
pmid = {39370724},
issn = {1939-9170},
support = {Botany in Action Fellowship//Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens/ ; 1936960//NSF/ ; 1747452//NSF Graduate Research Fellowship/ ; },
abstract = {Why nonnative invasive plant species commonly co-occur, despite their competitive superiority and propensity to displace native species, remains a paradox in invasion biology. Negative interactions among competitively dominant invaders are potentially alleviated by two understudied mechanisms: seasonal priority effects, where phenological separation weakens the effect of competition on species with early phenology; and indirect facilitation, where competition between two species is mitigated by a third species. Although phenological separation has been speculated as a mechanism for explaining co-occurrence patterns of invasive plants, it has never been directly tested. In a greenhouse experiment, we tested the effect of phenological separation on direct and indirect interactions between three co-occurring invasive plant species found in the riparian forests of North America. These species have distinct natural phenological separation with reproduction in early spring (Ficaria verna), mid-spring (Alliaria petiolata), and late summer (Microstegium vimineum). When phenology was experimentally synchronized, direct pairwise interactions among invasive species were overwhelmingly negative, asymmetric, and unlikely to promote co-occurrence. However, increasing phenological separation generated seasonal priority effects, which weakened the effect of competition on species with early phenology. Furthermore, the addition of a third species generated indirect facilitative effects, which balanced competitive outcomes among the two weakest competitors. Based on these findings, we conclude that phenological separation modulates the strength of both seasonal priority effects and indirect facilitation within species interaction networks and may promote the co-occurrence of three common invasive species within this study system. We articulate how future studies can test the external validity of these findings in more complex environmental conditions and with a larger range of invasive plants.},
}

@article {pmid39368169,
year = {2024},
author = {Piquet, JC and Maestresalas, B and López-Darias, M},
title = {Temperature as an effective biosecurity tool against invasive snakes.},
journal = {Journal of thermal biology},
volume = {125},
number = {},
pages = {103978},
doi = {10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103978},
pmid = {39368169},
issn = {0306-4565},
abstract = {The application of thermal treatments could serve as a biosecurity tool to avert snake introduction, which often leads to irreversible ecological impacts. Here, we tested the applicability of conductive heating and thermal fumigation to prevent the spread of the California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae), a damaging species established on the island of Gran Canaria, likely to reach other vulnerable regions, and included among the most concerning invasive species of the European Union. We exposed 24 individuals to a thermal gradient to determine species selected temperatures, range of preferred temperatures and voluntary thermal maximum and used other 24 individuals to analyse their response to conductive heating, thermal fumigation and control (no heat) treatments. Lampropeltis californiae selected temperatures of 27.80 ± 1.05 °C (ranging 26.86 °C ± 1.21 °C to 28.68 °C ± 1.25 °C) and a voluntary thermal maximum of 32.50 ± 3.69 °C. Conductive heating and thermal fumigation performed equally well, inducing the exit of 83.33% and 91.67% of all individuals after 14.36 ± 9.25 min and 11.13 ± 8.60 min of exposition, and at a body temperature of 35.66 ± 3.53 °C and 35.57 ± 2.41 °C, respectively. Control treatments produced the exit of 29.17% of all individuals, which came out of the box in 24.80 ± 8.83 min and at a body temperature of 28.60 ± 1.38 °C. Thermal treatments could serve as an effective tool to prevent the inadvertent transportation of L. californiae and other invasive snakes threatening numerous regions around the globe.},
}

@article {pmid39166333,
year = {2024},
author = {Gakuya, F and Kock, R and Lekolool, I and Mihok, S},
title = {Trypanosomiasis in Introduced Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) Gifts to Ex Situ Habitat in Aitong, Kenya.},
journal = {Journal of wildlife diseases},
volume = {60},
number = {4},
pages = {886-902},
doi = {10.7589/JWD-D-24-00026},
pmid = {39166333},
issn = {1943-3700},
mesh = {Animals ; *Perissodactyla ; Kenya/epidemiology ; Introduced Species ; Ecosystem ; Trypanosomiasis/veterinary/epidemiology ; Male ; },
abstract = {During the opening of diplomatic relations in the 1990s, South Africa gifted 20 southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) to Kenya. The species is not indigenous to Kenya, and management of the introduction was not clearly addressed in the legislation. Responsibility was left to the private sector and local authorities. Ten of the animals were introduced to land contiguous with the Maasai Mara National Reserve, an area with tsetse-trypanosomiasis challenges, and with rare cases of human sleeping sickness. Mortalities had been previously documented when indigenous naïve black rhinoceros were introduced to areas with tsetse; hence there was no consensus on the management of this introduction. Feasibility was only explored once before with the introduction of two animals in a monitored and managed translocation from Lewa Downs, Laikipia in 1992-1994. Ultimately, Kenyan experts were co-opted to address risk after trypanosomiasis occurred in many animals. Unfortunately, this finding was followed by gradual mortalities of most rhinoceros with only a few being saved by removal to highland private sanctuaries. This event was complicated by many factors. Samples were only sporadically collected, and mainly from sick animals. With no clear responsibility by government agencies, a collaboration between veterinarians and researchers resulted in characterization of the disease challenge, and when invited, assessment of health status. Laboratory diagnostics revealed common and sometimes severe infections with Trypanosoma brucei, a normally infrequent trypanosome. Infection was associated with disturbances in erythropoiesis, especially anemia. Symptoms varied from sudden death associated with intestinal atony, to a semiparalyzed animal that was partially responsive to treatment for trypanosomes. This event should be used as a caution to future movements of this species that are planned or ongoing in Africa, for conservation or other purposes.},
}

Animals
*Perissodactyla
Kenya/epidemiology
Introduced Species
Ecosystem
Trypanosomiasis/veterinary/epidemiology
Male

@article {pmid39087755,
year = {2024},
author = {Yao, F and Chen, Y and Liu, J and Zhang, J and Xiao, Z and Shi, Z and Chen, Q and Qin, Z},
title = {Strategies of invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata during hibernation in rice fields of south China: effects of body size, sex, and soil depth.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {80},
number = {11},
pages = {5929-5940},
doi = {10.1002/ps.8327},
pmid = {39087755},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {41871034//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31870525//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022 KJ134//Guangdong Modern Agricultural Technology Innovation Team Construction Project/ ; 2023 KJ134//Guangdong Modern Agricultural Technology Innovation Team Construction Project/ ; 2023 KJ105//Guangdong Modern Agricultural Technology Innovation Team Construction Project/ ; NT2021010//Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Project/ ; GDKL-AAI-202//The Open Project of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Artificial Intelligence/ ; 2019B030301007//Guangdong Science and Technology program/ ; 2021A1515012507//Guangdong Science and Technology program/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Snails/physiology ; *Hibernation/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Oryza/physiology/growth & development ; Female ; China ; Male ; *Body Size ; Sex Factors ; Seasons ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The invasive freshwater snail Pomacea canaliculata is an agricultural pest with a certain level of tolerance to abiotic stress. After the harvest of late rice, the snails usually burrow themselves into the soil surface layers to overwinter and pose a renewed threat to rice production in the following year. Revealing the response of snails to environmental stresses is crucial for developing countermeasures to control their damage and spread.

RESULTS: In this study, we conducted a 120-day in situ experiment during the winter to investigate the survival and physiological changes of hibernating snails in 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil depths, aiming to explore their overwintering strategies. Our results showed that 73.61%, 87.50%, and 90.28% of male, female, and juvenile snails survived after hibernation for 120 days in 0-10 cm soil depth, respectively. The differences in survival rates based on sex and size of snails potentially reflect the countermeasures of snails to rapidly reproduce after hibernation. Simultaneously, the hibernating snails exhibited the ability to maintain a certain level of body weight. During this period, the snails increased their antioxidant enzyme activities to cope with oxidative stress, and enhanced their lipid storage. The hibernation survival of snails was not significantly affected by different soil depths, indicating that they have the potential to hibernate into deeper soils. Furthermore, snails were capable of increasing their contents of bound water and glycerol to cope with sudden cold spells during hibernation.

CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the adaptive changes of P. canaliculata snails overwintering in paddy soils. In future studies, the vulnerabilities of P. canaliculata during hibernation (e.g. shell characteristics, nutrient reserves, and dehydration tolerance, etc.,) should be investigated to develop effective control methods for this period. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

Animals
*Snails/physiology
*Hibernation/physiology
*Introduced Species
*Soil/chemistry
*Oryza/physiology/growth & development
Female
China
Male
*Body Size
Sex Factors
Seasons

@article {pmid39054884,
year = {2024},
author = {Cilia, G and Caringi, V and Zavatta, L and Bortolotti, L},
title = {Pathogen occurrence in different developmental stages of the invasive Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Buysson, 1905).},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {80},
number = {11},
pages = {5909-5917},
doi = {10.1002/ps.8325},
pmid = {39054884},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {2021/2115//Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Wasps/virology/physiology/growth & development ; *Introduced Species ; Nosema/physiology ; Bees/virology ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Larva/virology/growth & development ; Italy ; RNA Viruses/physiology/genetics ; Pupa/virology/growth & development ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) is a predatory species native to South-East Asia. The hornet is invasive in Europe, spreading to several countries and becoming a pest for Apis mellifera due to its behaviour of preying in front of apiaries. The aim of this study was (i) to investigate the presence of honey bee pathogens within the developmental stages of V. velutina after neutralizing a nest in Bologna province (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) and (ii) to analyze the mitochondrial DNA to determine if the population derived from the population initially introduced in Europe.

RESULTS: The results indicated that deformed wing virus (82.76%) and Nosema ceranae (67.28%) were the most prevalent pathogens. Deformed wing virus, N. ceranae and sacbrood virus were found in all investigated stages, while chronic bee paralysis virus and Kashmir bee virus were exclusively found in foraging adults. All detected viruses were found to be replicative, highlighting active infection in the hosts. The mtDNA analysis demonstrated that the origin derived from the invasive population arrived in France.

CONCLUSION: This study underscores the importance of further research to understand the effect of interspecific transmission, especially concerning the potential role of these pathogens as a biocontrol for the invasive V. velutina nigrithorax. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

Animals
*Wasps/virology/physiology/growth & development
*Introduced Species
Nosema/physiology
Bees/virology
DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics
Larva/virology/growth & development
Italy
RNA Viruses/physiology/genetics
Pupa/virology/growth & development

@article {pmid39012615,
year = {2024},
author = {de la Vega, GJ and Corley, JC},
title = {Social Inclusion and Pest Management: a Route for Improved Food Production and well-being in the Global South.},
journal = {Neotropical entomology},
volume = {53},
number = {5},
pages = {1009-1012},
pmid = {39012615},
issn = {1678-8052},
mesh = {Animals ; *Pest Control ; *Drosophila ; Agriculture ; Introduced Species ; Food Security ; },
abstract = {World trade has facilitated the spread of non-native pest species, presenting new challenges for food production. In the Global South, linking worker social protection programs with invasive pest management can, at the same time, contribute to food security and empower workers. The spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) (SWD) recent invasion in the Global South case study illustrates how science-based policies integrated with agricultural worker-based social organizations can contribute toward economic and environmental sustainability.},
}

Animals
*Pest Control
*Drosophila
Agriculture
Introduced Species
Food Security

@article {pmid38031300,
year = {2024},
author = {Mahamat, AB and Groud, K and Djibrine, SI and Soro, SD and Fourel, I and Rached, A and Chatron, N and Benoit, E and Lattard, V},
title = {Exposure and resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in invasive and endemic Chadian urban rodent species to develop a rational management strategy.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {80},
number = {11},
pages = {5500-5509},
doi = {10.1002/ps.7911},
pmid = {38031300},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; },
mesh = {*Rodenticides/pharmacology ; Animals ; *Rodent Control ; *Anticoagulants ; *Drug Resistance/genetics ; *Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases/genetics ; Chad ; Introduced Species ; Murinae/genetics ; Cities ; Rodentia/genetics ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Rodent management involves the use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs). This use has resulted in the selection of numerous resistance alleles in the Vkorc1 gene, encoding the target enzyme of ARs. In Africa, although rodents are a major problem as a consequence of their transport and transmission of zoonotic pathogens, and damage to crops, the use of ARs and the spread of resistance alleles are poorly documented. We attempted to address both issues in Chad which is one of the largest countries in Africa. Owing to its location at the crossroads of central and northern Africa, Chad is representative of many African countries.

METHODS: Using a sampling of nearly 300 rodents composed of invasive and endemic rodents collected in six of Chad's largest cities, exposure to ARs was analyzed by their quantification in the liver; the spread of AR resistance alleles was analyzed by Vkorc1 sequencing.

RESULTS: We demonstrate the use of both ARs generations in Chadian cities and report the total sequencing of the Vkorc1 for 44 Mastomys natalensis with detection of two different haplotypes, the sequencing of the Vkorc1 for two other endemic rodent species, M. kollmannspergeri and Arvicanthis niloticus, and finally the detection of three new missense mutations - V29E, V69E and D127V - in R. rattus, potentially associated with resistance to ARs.

DISCUSSION: These results should argue for the implementation of a reasoned management of rodent populations in Africa to avoid the spread of ARs resistance alleles. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

*Rodenticides/pharmacology
Animals
*Rodent Control
*Anticoagulants
*Drug Resistance/genetics
*Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases/genetics
Chad
Introduced Species
Murinae/genetics
Cities
Rodentia/genetics

@article {pmid39366547,
year = {2024},
author = {Messina, S and Prüter, H and Czirják, GÁ and Costantini, D},
title = {Lower adaptive immunity in invasive Egyptian geese compared to sympatric native waterfowls.},
journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {111752},
doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111752},
pmid = {39366547},
issn = {1531-4332},
abstract = {Successful invasive species increase their spreading success by trading-off nutritional and metabolic resources allocated to reproduction and range expansion with other costly body functions. One proposed mechanism for the reallocation of resources is a trade-off with the immune function and the regulation of oxidative status. Relying on a panel of blood-based markers of immune function and oxidative status quantified in an invasive species (Egyptian goose) and two native competing species (mallard and mute swan) in Germany, we tested the hypothesis that the invasive species would have (i) lower investment in immune function, (ii) lower levels of oxidative damage, and (iii) no higher antioxidant defences compared to the native species. We found lower levels of adaptive immune markers (lymphocytes and immunoglobulin Y), in the invasive species compared to the two native species. Innate immune profile was generally similar between Egyptian geese and mallards. By contrast, mute swans showed higher levels of heterophils and lysozymes, and lower levels of bacteria killing ability compared to both Egyptian geese and mallards. Mute swans also showed higher levels of haemolysis and haemagglutination, but lower levels of monocytes and haematocrit compared to Egyptian geese. Reactive oxygen metabolites, a marker of oxidative damage, were higher in mallards and lower in Egyptian geese compared to the other waterfowl species, while levels of antioxidants were generally similar among the three species. Our results point to a reduced investment in adaptive immune function in the invasive species as a possible resources-saving immunological strategy due to the loss of co-evolved parasites in the new colonised habitats, as observed in a previous study. A lower investment in immune function may benefit other energy-demanding activities, such as reproduction, dispersal, and territoriality, while maintaining relatively higher innate immunity is beneficial since invasive species mainly encounter novel pathogens. Results pointed out also other important species-specific differences in baseline immune status, supporting previous findings on the relationship between species' body mass and immune profile.},
}

@article {pmid39364798,
year = {2024},
author = {Hoddle, MS and Hoddle, CD and Milosavljević, I and Estrada-Venegas, EG and Equihua-Martínez, A},
title = {Oviposition biology, behavior, and avocado cultivar preferences of Heilipus lauri Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).},
journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)},
volume = {24},
number = {5},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jisesa/ieae099},
pmid = {39364798},
issn = {1536-2442},
support = {//California Department of Food and Agriculture/ ; //Office of Pesticide Consultation/ ; 19-1002-000-SG//Analysis Proactive IPM Solutions Program/ ; 65129-00-000//California Avocado Commission/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Oviposition ; *Persea ; Female ; *Weevils/physiology ; Fruit ; Mexico ; California ; },
abstract = {Heilipus lauri is a specialist avocado seed feeding weevil native to parts of México and is an invasive pest in Colombia. This weevil is considered an incursion risk because possible unintended introductions into areas outside of its native range can result in establishment, which threatens avocado production in invaded regions. Despite being a well-recognized pest of avocados, relatively little is known about oviposition biology, behavior, and cultivar preferences of this weevil. Field studies in commercial Hass avocado orchards in México and laboratory studies in a quarantine facility in California (USA) indicated that H. lauri prefers to oviposit into middle and bottom thirds of fruit. In the laboratory, an average of 1.7 eggs (range 1-6 eggs) are laid over a 24-h period in oviposition chambers by individual females. Conspecifics add eggs to these clutches, with up to 17 eggs being recorded in 1 oviposition chamber. This finding suggests that H. lauri does not use an oviposition deterring pheromone. Female weevils readily oviposit in artificial holes representing mechanical wounds on fruit. In comparison to the commercially dominant Hass variety, fruit from Lamb Hass and G22, a native Guatemalan variety, and to a lesser extent Gem, may be less preferred for oviposition when females have a choice of fruit in which to oviposit. Videography studies indicated that H. lauri exhibits predominantly diurnal activity with respect to oviposition behaviors, feeding, and walking.},
}

Animals
*Oviposition
*Persea
Female
*Weevils/physiology
Fruit
Mexico
California

@article {pmid39364359,
year = {2024},
author = {Wittwer, C and Sharif, C and Schöck, I and Klimpel, S},
title = {Mosquitoes on a chip-environmental DNA-based detection of invasive mosquito species using high-throughput real-time PCR.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {e17782},
pmid = {39364359},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {Animals ; *Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; *DNA, Environmental/analysis/genetics ; *Introduced Species ; *Aedes/genetics ; Pilot Projects ; Mosquito Vectors/genetics ; Environmental Monitoring/methods/instrumentation ; },
abstract = {The monitoring of mosquitoes is of great importance due to their vector competence for a variety of pathogens, which have the potential to imperil human and animal health. Until now mosquito occurrence data is mainly obtained with conventional monitoring methods including active and passive approaches, which can be time- and cost-consuming. New monitoring methods based on environmental DNA (eDNA) could serve as a fast and robust complementary detection system for mosquitoes. In this pilot study already existing marker systems targeting the three invasive mosquito species Aedes (Ae.) albopictus, Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus were used to detect these species from water samples via microfluidic array technology. We compared the performance of the high-throughput real-time PCR (HT-qPCR) system Biomark HD with real-time PCR (qPCR) and also tested the effect of different filter media (Sterivex[®] 0.45 µm, Nylon 0.22 µm, PES 1.2 µm) on eDNA detectability. By using a universal qPCR protocol and only 6-FAM-MGB probes we successfully transferred these marker systems on the HT-qPCR platform. All tested marker systems detected the target species at most sites, where their presence was previously confirmed. Filter media properties, the final filtration volume and observed qPCR inhibition did not affect measured Ct values via qPCR or HT-qPCR. The Ct values obtained from HT-qPCR were significantly lower as Ct values measured by qPCR due to the previous preamplification step, still these values were highly correlated. Observed incongruities in eDNA detection probability, as manifested by non-reproducible results and false positive detections, could be the result of methodological aspects, such as sensitivity and specificity issues of the used assays, or ecological factors such as varying eDNA release patterns. In this study, we show the suitability of eDNA-based detection of mosquito species from water samples using a microfluidic HT-qPCR platform. HT-qPCR platforms such as Biomark HD allow for massive upscaling of tested species-specific assays and sampling sites with low time- and cost-effort, thus this methodology could serve as basis for large-scale mosquito monitoring attempts. The main goal in the future is to develop a robust (semi)-quantitative microfluidic-based eDNA mosquito chip targeting all haematophagous culicid species occurring in Western Europe. This chip would enable large-scale eDNA-based screenings to assess mosquito diversity, to monitor species with confirmed or suspected vector competence, to assess the invasion progress of invasive mosquito species and could be used in pathogen surveillance, when disease agents are incorporated.},
}

Animals
*Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
*DNA, Environmental/analysis/genetics
*Introduced Species
*Aedes/genetics
Pilot Projects
Mosquito Vectors/genetics
Environmental Monitoring/methods/instrumentation

@article {pmid39364038,
year = {2024},
author = {Fang, M and Yu, F and Shu, L and Wei, H and Mu, X and Wang, X and Xu, M and Gu, D},
title = {Structural and functional differences of gut microbiota in Pomacea canaliculata from different geographical locations and habitats.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {e70283},
pmid = {39364038},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Gut microbiota is related to host fitness, and influenced by geographical locations and habitats. Pomacea canaliculata is a malignant invasive alien snail that threatens agricultural production and ecosystem functions worldwide. Clarifying the general rules of the gut microbial community structure and function of the snails in different geographical locations and habitats is of great significance for understanding their invasion at different spatial scales. This study used high-throughput sequencing technology to compare and analyze the differences in community structure and function of gut microbiota in P. canaliculata from five geographical locations (Liuzhou, Yulin, Nanning, Wuzhou, and Hezhou) and three different habitats (pond, paddy field, and ditch) in Guangxi Province. The results showed that intestinal microbial alpha diversity of P. canaliculata was higher in Liuzhou, Yulin, lower in Nanning, Wuzhou, Hezhou, and higher in ponds compared with paddy fields and ditches. The dominant phyla of gut microbiota in snails were Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and the dominant genus was Lactococcus. The community structure of gut microbiota in snails varied significantly across different geographical locations and habitats, and the phyla Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria had significantly higher relative abundance in snails collected from Nanning and Yulin, respectively. Moreover, the relative abundance of gut functional microbiota associated with human disease in P. canaliculata was significantly affected by geographical locations and habitats, and with the highest abundance in ponds. However, the relative abundance of functional microbiota related to metabolism, genetic information processing, organizational system, environmental information processing, and cellular processes were only significantly affected by geographical locations. Collectively, geographical locations and habitats had significantly different effects on the community structure and function of gut microbiota in P. canaliculata, and the greater differences were caused by geographical locations rather than by habitats.},
}

@article {pmid39363921,
year = {2024},
author = {Zheng, H and Mao, X and Lin, Y and Fu, K and Qi, Z and Wu, Y},
title = {Reconstructing the biological invasion of noxious invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus and invasion risk assessment in China.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1430576},
pmid = {39363921},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Invasive alien plants (IAPs) present a severe threat to native ecosystems and biodiversity. Comprehending the potential distribution patterns of these plant invaders and their responses to climate change is essential. Parthenium hysterophorus, native to the Americas, has become an aggressively invasive species since its introduction to China in the 1930s. This study aims to collect and reconstruct the historical occurrence and invasion of P. hysterophorus. Using the optimal MaxEnt model, the potential geographical distributions of P. hysterophorus were predicted based on screened species occurrences and environmental variables under the current and three future scenarios in the 2030s, 2050s, and 2070s (i.e., SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5), and the invasion risk of P. hysterophorus in Chinese cities, croplands, forests, and grasslands was assessed. The results show that: (1) The species initially invaded highly suitable areas and further spread to regions with non-analogous climate conditions. (2) Under the current climatic conditions, the overall potential distribution of P. hysterophorus is characterized by more in the southeast and less in the northwest. Climate variables, including mean annual temperature (bio1), precipitation in the wettest month (bio13), isothermality (bio3), and temperature seasonality (bio4), are the primary factors influencing its distribution. (3) The potential distribution of P. hysterophorus will expand further under future climate scenarios, particularly toward higher latitudes. (4) Forests and crop lands are the areas with the most serious potential invasion risk of P. hysterophorus. Therefore, we suggest that the government should strengthen the monitoring and management of P. hysterophorus to prevent its spread and protect agro-ecosystems and human habitats. Depending on the potential risk areas, measures such as quarantine, removal, and publicity should be taken to mitigate the threat of P. hysterophorus invasion and to raise awareness of P. hysterophorus invasion prevention.},
}

@article {pmid39363331,
year = {2024},
author = {Garamszegi, LZ},
title = {Host diversity of Aedes albopictus in relation to invasion history: a meta-analysis of blood-feeding studies.},
journal = {Parasites & vectors},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {411},
pmid = {39363331},
issn = {1756-3305},
support = {K-135841//National Research, Development and Innovation Office/ ; },
mesh = {*Aedes/physiology/classification ; Animals ; *Feeding Behavior ; *Introduced Species ; *Mosquito Vectors/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Diet ; Biodiversity ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus is a major concern for human and animal health given its high potential to spread over large geographical distances, adapt to various habitats and food sources, and act as a vector for pathogens. It is crucial to understand how this species establishes ecological relationships at different locations, as it determines its role in transmission of diseases.

METHODS: Based on published blood meal surveys, a meta-analysis was performed to investigate how host diversity changes along the process of invasion at a large scale. For 48 independent localities, the Shannon diversity index was calculated and was then assessed against several moderator variables describing invasion status, habitat type, methodology, survey year and the year of introduction for invasive populations.

RESULTS: Diet diversity was higher in the invasive than in the native populations when the strong habitat effects were held constant. Furthermore, the year of introduction also had a significant role, as invasive populations that had been established earlier had wider diet diversity than more recent populations.

CONCLUSIONS: Invasive Ae. albopictus has considerable ecological flexibility. The species' ability to adapt to various food sources goes hand in hand with its successful worldwide dispersion, which has strong implications for its role in pathogen transmission.},
}

*Aedes/physiology/classification
Animals
*Feeding Behavior
*Introduced Species
*Mosquito Vectors/physiology
Ecosystem
Humans
Diet
Biodiversity

@article {pmid39363033,
year = {2024},
author = {Wei, Z and Wang, Y and Zheng, K and Wang, Z and Liu, R and Wang, P and Li, Y and Gao, P and Akbari, OS and Yang, X},
title = {Loss-of-function in testis-specific serine/threonine protein kinase triggers male infertility in an invasive moth.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {1256},
pmid = {39363033},
issn = {2399-3642},
mesh = {Male ; Animals ; *Moths/genetics ; *Infertility, Male/genetics ; *Testis/metabolism ; *Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Introduced Species ; Loss of Function Mutation ; Spermatogenesis/genetics ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; },
abstract = {Genetic biocontrol technologies present promising and eco-friendly strategies for the management of pest and insect-transmitted diseases. Although considerable advancements achieve in gene drive applications targeting mosquitoes, endeavors to combat agricultural pests have been somewhat restricted. Here, we identify that the testis-specific serine/threonine kinases (TSSKs) family is uniquely expressed in the testes of Cydia pomonella, a prominent global invasive species. We further generated male moths with disrupted the expression of TSSKs and those with TSSKs disrupted using RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 genetic editing techniques, resulting in significant disruptions in spermiogenesis, decreased sperm motility, and hindered development of eggs. Further explorations into the underlying post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms reveales the involvement of lnc117962 as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-3960, thereby regulating TSSKs. Notably, orchard trials demonstrates that the release of male strains can effectively suppress population growth. Our findings indicate that targeting TSSKs could serve as a feasible avenue for managing C. pomonella populations, offering significant insights and potential strategies for controlling invasive pests through genetic sterile insect technique (gSIT) technology.},
}

Male
Animals
*Moths/genetics
*Infertility, Male/genetics
*Testis/metabolism
*Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/metabolism
Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Introduced Species
Loss of Function Mutation
Spermatogenesis/genetics
CRISPR-Cas Systems

@article {pmid39360126,
year = {2024},
author = {Klarl, M and Pander, J and Geist, J},
title = {Characterization of the reproductive strategy of invasive Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in the Upper Danube River.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {e70349},
pmid = {39360126},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Originating from the Black and Caspian seas, the Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) has become one of the most successful invaders of freshwater ecosystems. In this study, we provide a characterization of the reproductive strategy of an established population of Round Gobies in the Upper Danube river including sex ratio, fluctuations of gonadosomatic index (GSI), analysis of timing of spawning as well as of clutch and egg size. We compare these results to other studies from the native and invaded range. In the Danube, the Round Goby population was found to be female dominated, however fluctuations in magnitude of female bias were observed between months. Monitoring of the population across 1.5 years revealed that GSI was highest from April to June, while lowest values were observed in August and September. Using time-series analysis, a delayed effect of temperature on GSI was found for females and males, while a quicker response of GSI levels to photoperiod and discharge was observed for females. GSI increased with body size for females and eggs were found to be significantly larger in May, however clutch sizes did not differ between months. Results of a literature review revealed great differences in timing and length of spawning season as well as sex ratio between populations throughout the distribution range, which can probably be explained by climatic and photoperiodic conditions together with the time since invasion and the high plasticity of Round Gobies.},
}

@article {pmid39358047,
year = {2024},
author = {Novoa, A and Jarić, I and Pipek, P and Pyšek, P},
title = {Culturomics and iEcology provide novel opportunities to study human and social dimensions of alien species introductions.},
journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2024.08.012},
pmid = {39358047},
issn = {1872-8383},
abstract = {Invasive alien species negatively impact ecosystems, biodiversity, human societies, and economies. To prevent future invasions, it is crucial to understand both the ecological and the human and social factors determining whether a species is picked up, transported, and introduced beyond their native range. However, we often have little or no information on key human and social factors. Here, we explore how alien species introductions are shaped by a combination of ecological and human and social factors and highlight the potential of the emerging fields of conservation culturomics and iEcology for disentangling their relative importance. We argue that quantifying and assessing the relative importance of the human and social dimensions of alien species introductions can substantially improve our understanding of the invasion process.},
}

@article {pmid39354186,
year = {2024},
author = {das Neves Lopes, M and Pinheiro-Silva, L and Ribolli, J and Ávila-Simas, S and Lopes, C and Cardoso, GF and Guereschi, R and Kavaguichi-Leite, N and Petrucio, MM and de Oliveira Nuñer, AP},
title = {Density of Limnoperna fortunei larval stages in a cascade of subtropical reservoirs: spatiotemporal variation and environmental influences.},
journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment},
volume = {196},
number = {10},
pages = {998},
pmid = {39354186},
issn = {1573-2959},
mesh = {Animals ; *Larva/growth & development ; *Environmental Monitoring ; *Rivers/chemistry ; Mytilidae/growth & development ; Uruguay ; Ecosystem ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Seasons ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; Introduced Species ; },
abstract = {The golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) is an invasive bivalve that has established itself in several South American river systems, impacting ecosystem functioning. Reservoir cascades provide their larvae with the means of rapid dispersal, but the relationship between environmental variables and larval stage structure remains unclear. In this study, the density of three L. fortunei larval stages and quantitative detection using DNA are analyzed in a cascade of five reservoirs in the upper Uruguay River Basin and associated with spatiotemporal variation in environmental parameters. The analysis of L. fortunei eDNA presence and absence in freshwater systems appears to be a valuable mapping tool; however, no significant link was found between the eDNA magnitude and the overall larval density. The increase in larval density was related to the fluctuation of environmental parameters over a year, with the highest average larval densities observed in the CN and ITA reservoirs, though no significant difference was observed between the five reservoirs, where D-shaped larvae predominated. During winter, larval density decreased significantly, however, other variables also contribute to species activity and development in the upper Uruguay River Basin reservoirs and may be considered limiting factors. The relationships between environmental parameters were evaluated using a multivariate model. The interaction between reservoir area and precipitation, water temperature, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen had a significant effect on larval density but showed specific influences on each larval stage. Any increase in density was regulated by dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity content at all larval stages. Furthermore, total phosphorus affected the density of F1 and F3 larvae. The interaction between reservoir area and precipitation, nitrate content, phosphate concentrations, and water temperature had the most influence on the density of F2 and F3 larval stages; the F1 stage was mainly affected by calcium concentrations. The isolated effect of precipitation also contributed to the density of F2 and F3 larvae. Our findings shed light on the interaction between different phases of golden mussel larvae and the main nutrients found in reservoirs, which may be a determining factor in the rise in density of the non-native species in these systems.},
}

Animals
*Larva/growth & development
*Environmental Monitoring
*Rivers/chemistry
Mytilidae/growth & development
Uruguay
Ecosystem
Spatio-Temporal Analysis
Seasons
Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis
Introduced Species

@article {pmid39353820,
year = {2024},
author = {Fusco, EJ and Falk, BG and Heimowitz, PJ and Lieurance, D and Parsons, EW and Rottler, CM and Thurman, LL and Evans, AE},
title = {The emerging invasive species and climate-change lexicon.},
journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2024.08.005},
pmid = {39353820},
issn = {1872-8383},
abstract = {The rapid diversification of terminology associated with invasion ecology is a known barrier to effective communication and management. These challenges are magnified by the addition of terms and concepts related to climate-induced range-shifting taxa and/or changes to impacts. Further, institutional policies and terminologies for invasive species introduce new ambiguities when considering climate change. To alleviate communication and application challenges, we introduce a conceptual framework that organizes climate-related invasion terms, revealing ambiguities and gaps. Additionally, we illustrate how these ambiguities can affect management with four case studies and consider situations where resolution can improve policy and management outcomes. The framework can help users avoid inconsistent use of terminology, and prioritize when to address management and policy consequences related to associated terminological ambiguity.},
}

@article {pmid39353622,
year = {2024},
author = {Pfadenhauer, WG and Bradley, BA},
title = {Quantifying vulnerability to plant invasion across global ecosystems.},
journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e3031},
doi = {10.1002/eap.3031},
pmid = {39353622},
issn = {1051-0761},
support = {//Lotta Crabtree Trust/ ; G19AC00091//U.S. Geological Survey Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center graduate fellowship/ ; },
abstract = {The widely referenced "tens rule" in invasion ecology suggests that approximately 10% of established, non-native species will become invasive. However, the accuracy of this estimate has been questioned, as the original analysis focused on small groups of plant species in Great Britain and Australia. Using a novel database of 9501 established plants and 2924 invasive plants, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the tens rule and the first empirical analysis of how invasion rates vary across spatial scales, islands/mainlands, and climate zones. We found that invasion rates (the percentage of established species with negative impacts) are highly variable across the globe. Well-sampled environments (those with at least 2000 total non-native species recorded) had invasion rates that ranged from 7.2% to 33.8%. Invasion rates were strongly scale-dependent, averaging 17% at the country scale and 25% at the continental scale. We found significantly higher invasion rates on islands when compared with mainlands, regardless of scale. Tropical ecosystems are often considered to be resistant to invasion; however, our results showed significantly higher invasion rates on both tropical islands and mainlands, suggesting unexpectedly high vulnerability of these species-rich ecosystems. We conclude that the tens rule is a poor general estimate of invasion rates for plants, as calculated invasion rates vary widely and are frequently much higher than 10%. Most locations would be better served by using invasion rates that vary based on the recipient environment. Our updated estimates of invasion rates should be highly relevant for invasive species management strategies, including weed risk assessments, which can be adjusted to identify more species as high-risk in areas where invasion rates are higher. Assuming that 10% of established species will become invasive is likely to substantially underestimate invasion rates in most geographies.},
}

@article {pmid39353489,
year = {2024},
author = {Mudavanhu, A and Goossens, E and Schols, R and Manyangadze, T and Nhiwatiwa, T and Lemmens, P and Huyse, T and Brendonck, L},
title = {Ecosystem links: Anthropogenic activities, environmental variables, and macrophytes structure snail preferences in man-made waterbodies.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {176394},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176394},
pmid = {39353489},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Freshwater snails act as obligate intermediate hosts for trematode parasites that cause trematodiases threatening public and veterinary health, and biodiversity conservation. While interest in snail control for trematodiases has re-emerged, their ecology remains poorly understood. We examined the relationship between ecosystem indicators - such as environmental variables, macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, and land use - and their correlation with snail abundance, diversity, and infection prevalence in 19 man-made ponds in eastern Zimbabwe. In total, 926 freshwater snails from 10 species were collected, with 547 individuals belonging to five schistosome-competent species: Bulinus tropicus, Bulinus truncatus, Bulinus globosus, Bulinus forskalii, and Biomphalaria pfeifferi. The remaining 379 snails comprised Radix natalensis, Gyraulus sp., and the exotic invasive species Melanoides tuberculata, Pseudosuccinea columella, and Physella acuta. Six cercarial types - mammalian schistosomes, avian schistosomes, longifurcate pharyngeates, echinostomes, amphistomes, and xiphidiocercariae - were isolated from 104 out of 926 snails (11.2 %). PCR revealed a significantly higher infection rate, with 70.2 % of snails testing positive for trematodes. Snail taxon diversity and infection rate significantly varied across land use types, with the lowest values observed in the commercial tobacco farm section, highlighting the potential adverse effects of agriculture on biodiversity. Ponds with extensive Lagarosiphon major (oxygen weed) coverage appeared to facilitate the presence and abundance of P. acuta and P. columella. Schistosome-competent snails such as B. truncatus and B. tropicus seemed to favor shallow water depths and more eutrophic sites characterized by high levels of nitrates, phytoplankton biomass, turbidity, and phycocyanin. These ponds were predominantly associated with the emergent macrophyte Cladium mariscus, revealing a potential association with important intermediate snail hosts. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the complex interplay among environmental factors, macrophyte composition, land use, and the abundance, diversity, and infection prevalence of freshwater snails, offering insights into potential strategies for targeted snail control and disease management in man-made waterbodies.},
}

@article {pmid39352838,
year = {2024},
author = {Qi, G and Li, L and Li, H and Liu, Y and Xie, T and Guo, H and Ma, Z and Wu, J and Li, B and Ma, J},
title = {Ecological Effects of the Huge Invasive Species Removal Project in Coastal China.},
journal = {Environmental science & technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.4c05253},
pmid = {39352838},
issn = {1520-5851},
abstract = {Saltmarsh wetlands are recognized as some of the most ecologically valuable yet vulnerable ecosystems globally. However, since the 1970s, saltmarsh wetlands in coastal China have been seriously threatened by the invasive Spartina alterniflora. Although the Chinese government has initiated a nationwide S. alterniflora removal project, the potential benefits and risks of this project remain unknown. Here, we focus on the Yangtze River Estuary Saltmarsh Wetland (YRESW) and simulate its future ecosystem structure, function, and quality under three scenarios based on remote sensing and field investigation data. The simulation scenarios include the absence of a removal project, natural regeneration postproject (NRP), and planted restoration postproject. The results show that the removal project will reverse the escalating invasion trend of S. alterniflora in the YRESW. Compared to the baseline year of 2022, there is a remarkable increase in ecosystem structure (composition: +107%, configuration: +27%) and ecosystem quality (+10.5%) under the NRP scenario. Although blue carbon storage sharply decreases under both scenarios involving project implementation, planted restoration can restore YRESW's carbon sequestration capacity to 0.19 Tg C per year, achieving 87% of the carbon storage present before the project. This study underscores the necessity of comprehensive and detailed risk assessments in ecological projects, particularly when dominant species are involved. Our findings hold significant implications for stabilizing coastal wetland ecosystems and promoting sustainable development in coastal areas.},
}

@article {pmid39357711,
year = {2024},
author = {Lv, B and Teng, D and Huang, X and Liu, X and Liu, D and Khashaveh, A and Pan, H and Zhang, Y},
title = {Functional characterization of a novel terpene synthase GaTPS1 involved in (E)-α-bergamotene biosynthesis in Gossypium arboreum.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {136081},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.136081},
pmid = {39357711},
issn = {1879-0003},
abstract = {Terpenoids in plants are mainly synthesized by terpene synthases (TPSs), which play an important role in plant-environment interactions. Gossypium arboreum is one of the important cotton cultivars with excellent pest resistance, however, the biosynthesis of most terpenoids in this plant remains unknown. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of leaves from intact and Helicoverpa armigera-infested cotton plants. The results showed that the H. armigera infestation mainly induced the JA signaling pathway, ten TPS genes were differentially expressed in G. arboreum leaves. Among them, a novel terpene synthase, GaTPS1, was heterologously expressed and functionally characterized in vitro. The enzymatic reaction indicated that recombinant GaTPS1 was primarily responsible for the production of (E)-α-bergamotene. Moreover, molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis analysis demonstrated that two amino acid residues, A412L and Y535F, distinctly influenced the catalytic activities and product specificity of GaTPS1. The mutants GaTPS1-A412L and GaTPS1-Y535F resulted in a decrease in the proportion of products (E)-α-bergamotene and of d-limonene, while an increase in the proportion of products (E)-β-farnesene, α-pinene and β-myrcene. Our findings provide valuable insights into understanding the molecular basis of terpenoid diversity in G. arboreum, with potential applications in plant metabolism regulation and the improvement of resistant cotton cultivars.},
}

@article {pmid39357646,
year = {2024},
author = {Wang, X and Du, Z and Duan, Y and Liu, S and Liu, J and Li, B and Ma, L and Wu, Y and Tian, L and Song, F and Cai, W and Li, H},
title = {Population genomics analyses reveal the role of hybridization in the rapid invasion of fall armyworm.},
journal = {Journal of advanced research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.jare.2024.09.028},
pmid = {39357646},
issn = {2090-1224},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Invasive species pose a major threat to global biodiversity and agricultural productivity, yet the genomic mechanisms driving their rapid expansion into new habitats are not fully understood. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, originally from the Americas, has expanded its reach across the Old World, causing substantial reduction in crop yield. Although the hybridization between two genetically distinct strains has been well-documented, the role of such hybridization in enhancing the species' invasive capabilities remains largely unexplored.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the contributions of hybridization and natural selection to the rapid invasion of the fall armyworm.

METHODS: We analyzed the whole-genome resequencing data from 432 individuals spanning its global distribution. We identified the genomic signatures of selection associated with invasion and explored their linkage with the Tpi gene indicating strain differentiation. Furthermore, we detected signatures of balancing selection in native populations for candidate genes that underwent selective sweeps during the invasion process.

RESULTS: Our analysis revealed pronounced genomic differentiation between native and invasive populations. Invasive populations displayed a uniform genomic structure distinctly different from that of native populations, indicating hybridization between the strains during invasion. This hybridization likely contributes to maintaining high genetic diversity in invasive regions, which is crucial for survival and adaptation. Additionally, polymorphisms on genes under selection during invasion were possibly preserved through balancing selection in their native environments.

CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal the genomic basis of the fall armyworm's successful invasion and rapid adaptation to new environments, highlighting the important role of hybridization in the dynamics of invasive species.},
}

@article {pmid39354910,
year = {2024},
author = {Tao, Z and Zhang, K and Callaway, RM and Siemann, E and Liu, Y and Huang, W},
title = {Native Plant Diversity Generates Microbial Legacies That Either Promote or Suppress Non-Natives, Depending on Drought History.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {27},
number = {9},
pages = {e14504},
doi = {10.1111/ele.14504},
pmid = {39354910},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {OIA-1757351//National Science Foundation EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement/ ; //Knowledge Innovation Program of Wuhan-Shuguang Project/ ; 31822007//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32071660//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32301471//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Droughts ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; *Introduced Species ; Plants/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Diverse native plant communities resist non-native plants more than species-poor communities, in part through resource competition. The role of soil biota in diversity-invasibility relationships is poorly understood, although non-native plants interact with soil biota during invasions. We tested the responses of non-native plants to soil biota generated by different native plant diversities. We applied well-watered and drought treatments in both conditioning and response phases to explore the effects of 'historical' and 'contemporary' environmental stresses. When generated in well-watered soils, the microbial legacies from higher native diversity inhibited non-native growth in well-watered conditions. In contrast, when generated in drought-treated soils, the microbial legacies from higher native diversity facilitated non-native growth in well-watered conditions. Contemporary drought eliminated microbial legacy effects on non-native growth. We provide a new understanding of mechanisms behind diversity-invasibility relationships and demonstrate that temporal variation in environmental stress shapes relationships among native plant diversity, soil biota and non-native plants.},
}

*Droughts
*Soil Microbiology
*Biodiversity
*Introduced Species
Plants/microbiology

@article {pmid39354906,
year = {2024},
author = {Byers, JE and Pringle, JM},
title = {Variation in Oceanographic Resistance of the World's Coastlines to Invasion by Species With Planktonic Dispersal.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {27},
number = {9},
pages = {e14520},
doi = {10.1111/ele.14520},
pmid = {39354906},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {OCE-1947884//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; OCE-1947954//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Introduced Species ; *Larva/physiology/growth & development ; *Plankton/physiology ; Animal Distribution ; Oceans and Seas ; Water Movements ; Models, Biological ; Life History Traits ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {For marine species with planktonic dispersal, invasion of open ocean coastlines is impaired by the physical adversity of ocean currents moving larvae downstream and offshore. The extent species are affected by physical adversity depends on interactions of the currents with larval life history traits such as planktonic duration, depth and seasonality. Ecologists have struggled to understand how these traits expose species to adverse ocean currents and affect their ability to persist when introduced to novel habitat. We use a high-resolution global ocean model to isolate the role of ocean currents on the persistence of a larval-producing species introduced to every open coastline of the world. We find physical adversity to invasion varies globally by several orders of magnitude. Larval duration is the most influential life history trait because increased duration prolongs species' exposure to ocean currents. Furthermore, variation of physical adversity with life history elucidates how trade-offs between dispersal traits vary globally.},
}

Animals
*Introduced Species
*Larva/physiology/growth & development
*Plankton/physiology
Animal Distribution
Oceans and Seas
Water Movements
Models, Biological
Life History Traits
Ecosystem

@article {pmid39354873,
year = {2024},
author = {Wang, Z and Zhuo, Z and Peng, Y and Xu, D},
title = {Predicting the geographical potential distribution of species Opisina arenosella Walker in China under different climate scenarios based on the MaxEnt model.},
journal = {Bulletin of entomological research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-9},
doi = {10.1017/S0007485324000464},
pmid = {39354873},
issn = {1475-2670},
abstract = {As global warming increases with the frequency of extreme weather, the distribution of species is inevitably affected. Among them, highly damaging invasive species are of particular concern. Being able to effectively predict the geographic distribution of invasive species and future distribution trends is a key entry point for their control. Opisina arenosella Walker is an invasive species, and its ability to live on the backs of foliage and generate canals to hide adds to the difficulty of control. In this paper, the current and future distributions of O. arenosella under three typical emission scenarios in 2050 and 2090 are projected based on the MaxEnt model combining 19 bioclimatic variables. Filter through the variables to find the four key environment variables: BIO 1, BIO 6, BIO 11 and BIO 4. The results show that O. arenosella is distributed only in the eight provinces of Tibet, Yunnan, Fujian, Guangxi, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Hainan in the southeastern region. Its high suitability area is concentrated in Taiwan and Hainan. In the long run, highly suitable areas will continue to increase in size, while moderately suitable areas and poorly suitable areas will decrease to varying degrees. This paper aims to provide theoretical references for the control of O. arenosella.},
}

@article {pmid39354746,
year = {2024},
author = {Marciniak, B and Peroni, N and Traveset, A and de Sá Dechoum, M},
title = {Effects of the control of an invasive tree on the structure of a plant-frugivore network.},
journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e3037},
doi = {10.1002/eap.3037},
pmid = {39354746},
issn = {1051-0761},
support = {14/2012//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; 302880/2022-4//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; 001//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; },
abstract = {Invasive non-native species are one of the main causes of degradation of ecosystems worldwide. The control of invasive species is key to reducing threats to ecosystem viability in the long term. Observations of structural changes in ecological interaction networks following invasive species suppression can be useful to monitor the success of ecological restoration initiatives. We evaluated the structure of plant-bird frugivory interaction networks in a plant community invaded by the guava tree (Psidium guajava L.) by comparing network metrics before and after control actions. Psidium guajava was relevant in all metrics for the unmanaged network in this study, with high degree centrality and high nestedness contribution. Based on the asymmetry of species interactions, we found that birds were highly dependent on the invasive plant before suppression. Once P. guajava trees were eliminated, bird and plant species richness, total number of interactions, and modularity increased, whereas nestedness and interaction strength asymmetry decreased. The diet of the bird community became more diversified once P. guajava was no longer available and relevant species roles in community structure emerged. Our results corroborate the fact that ecological restoration interventions should include the control of non-native plant species that attract frugivorous animals in order to diversify plant-frugivore interactions and thus maintain biodiversity in natural ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid39354055,
year = {2024},
author = {Wang, C and Liu, L and Yin, M and Eller, F and Brix, H and Wang, T and Salojärvi, J and Guo, W},
title = {Genome-wide analysis tracks the emergence of intraspecific polyploids in Phragmites australis.},
journal = {npj biodiversity},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {29},
pmid = {39354055},
issn = {2731-4243},
support = {No. ZR2021QC119//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; 31800299//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31770361//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 318288,319947//Research Council of Finland/ ; },
abstract = {Polyploidization plays an important role in plant speciation and adaptation. To address the role of polyploidization in grass diversification, we studied Phragmites australis, an invasive species with intraspecific variation in chromosome numbers ranging from 2n = 36 to 144. We utilized a combined analysis of ploidy estimation, phylogeny, population genetics and model simulations to investigate the evolution of P. australis. Using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq), we conducted a genome-wide analysis of 88 individuals sourced from diverse populations worldwide, revealing the presence of six distinct intraspecific lineages with extensive genetic admixture. Each lineage was characterized by a specific ploidy level, predominantly tetraploid or octoploid, indicative of multiple independent polyploidization events. The population size of each lineage has declined moderately in history while remaining large, except for the North American native and the US Land types, which experienced constant population size contraction throughout their history. Our investigation did not identify direct association between polyploidization events and grass invasions. Nonetheless, we observed octoploid and hexaploid lineages at contact zones in Romania, Hungary, and South Africa, suggestively due to genomic conflicts arising from allotetraploid parental lineages.},
}

@article {pmid39351648,
year = {2024},
author = {Zhu, B and Wei, C and Zhou, H and Chen, W and Siemann, E and Lu, X},
title = {Traits estimated when grown alone may underestimate the competitive advantage and invasiveness of exotic species.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.20160},
pmid = {39351648},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {32171585//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32371749//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Functional differences between native and exotic species, estimated when species are grown alone or in mixtures, are often used to predict the invasion risk of exotic species. However, it remains elusive whether the functional differences estimated by the two methods and their ability to predict species invasiveness (e.g. high abundance) are consistent. We compiled data from two common garden experiments, in which specific leaf area, height, and aboveground biomass of 64 common native and exotic invasive species in China were estimated when grown individually (pot) or in mixtures (field). Exotic species accumulated higher aboveground biomass than natives, but only when grown in field mixtures. Moreover, aboveground biomass and functional distinctiveness estimated in mixtures were more predictive of species persistence and relative abundance in the field mixtures in the second year than those estimated when grown alone. These findings suggest that assessing species traits while grown alone may underestimate the competitive advantage for some exotic species, highlighting the importance of trait-by-environment interactions in shaping species invasion. Therefore, we propose that integrating multi-site or multi-year field surveys and manipulative experiments is required to best identify the key trait(s) and environment(s) that interactively shape species invasion and community dynamics.},
}

@article {pmid39259766,
year = {2024},
author = {Iyaloo, DP and Zohdy, S and Carney, RM and Mosawa, VR and Elahee, KB and Munglee, N and Latchooman, N and Puryag, S and Bheecarry, A and Bhoobun, H and Rasamoelina-Andriamanivo, H and Bedja, SA and Spear, J and Baldet, T and Carter, TE},
title = {A regional One Health approach to the risk of invasion by Anopheles stephensi in Mauritius.},
journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases},
volume = {18},
number = {9},
pages = {e0011827},
pmid = {39259766},
issn = {1935-2735},
mesh = {Animals ; *Anopheles/physiology/classification ; Mauritius ; *Mosquito Vectors/physiology/classification ; *Malaria/transmission/prevention & control/epidemiology ; *Mosquito Control/methods ; *One Health ; Humans ; Aedes/physiology/classification ; Ecosystem ; Introduced Species ; Larva/physiology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Anopheles stephensi is an invasive malaria vector in Africa that threatens to put an additional 126 million people at risk of malaria if it continues to spread. The island nation of Mauritius is highly connected to Asia and Africa and is at risk of introduction due to this connectivity. For early detection of An. stephensi, the Vector Biology and Control Division under the Ministry of Health in Mauritius, leveraged a well-established Aedes program, as An. stephensi is known to share Aedes habitats. These efforts triggered multisectoral coordination and cascading benefits of integrated vector and One Health approaches.

METHODS: Beginning June 2021, entomological surveys were conducted at points of entry (seaport, airport) and on ships transporting livestock in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Department, the Mauritian Port Authority and National Veterinary Services. A total of 18, 39, 723 mosquito larval surveys were respectively conducted in the airport, seaport, and other localities in Mauritius while two, 20, and 26 adult mosquito surveys were respectively conducted in the airport, seaport, and twenty-six animal assembly points. Alongside adult mosquito surveys, surveillance of vectors of veterinary importance (e.g.- Culicoides spp.) was also carried out in collaboration with National Parks and Conservation Service and land owners.

RESULTS: A total of 8,428 adult mosquitoes were collected and 1,844 larval habitats were positive for mosquitoes. All collected mosquitoes were morphologically identified and 151 Anopheles and 339 Aedes mosquitoes were also molecularly characterized. Mosquito species detected were Aedes albopictus, Anopheles arabiensis, An. coustani, An. merus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. thalassius and Lutzia tigripes. Anopheles stephensi was not detected. The One Health approach was shared with the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), strengthening collaboration between Mauritius and Réunion Island on vector surveillance at entry points and insecticide resistance monitoring. The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) was also alerted to the risk of An. stephensi, leading to regional efforts supporting trainings and development of a response strategy to An. stephensi bringing together stakeholders from Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion Island and Seychelles.

CONCLUSIONS: Mauritius is a model system showing how existing public health entomology capabilities can be used to enhance vector surveillance and control and create multisectoral networks to respond to any emerging public and veterinary health vector-borne disease threat.},
}

Animals
*Anopheles/physiology/classification
Mauritius
*Mosquito Vectors/physiology/classification
*Malaria/transmission/prevention & control/epidemiology
*Mosquito Control/methods
*One Health
Humans
Aedes/physiology/classification
Ecosystem
Introduced Species
Larva/physiology

@article {pmid39348592,
year = {2024},
author = {Nufer, MI and Coates, BS and Abel, CA and O'Neill, P and McCracken, M and Jain, D and Pierce, CA and Glover, J and Towles, T and Reddy, GVP and Perera, OP},
title = {Anatomy of a pest control failure: introgression of cytochrome P450 337B3 alleles from invasive old-world bollworm into native corn earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).},
journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)},
volume = {24},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jisesa/ieae094},
pmid = {39348592},
issn = {1536-2442},
mesh = {Animals ; *Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics/metabolism ; *Moths/genetics ; *Introduced Species ; Genetic Introgression ; Alleles ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; Pyrethrins ; Insect Control ; },
abstract = {The establishment of invasive species populations can threaten the ecological balance in naïve habitats and impact agricultural production practices. Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (old-world bollworm, OWBW) and Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm, CEW) were geographically separated prior to the 2013 report of OWBW invasion into South America. Introgression of OWBW-specific cytochrome P450 337B3 (CYP337B3) gene into CEW was repeatedly detected across South America and the Caribbean. Two hybrids were documented from Texas in 2019. In this study, screening insects collected in Olathe, CO, USA, where a failure of pyrethroids to control CEW damage to conventional sweetcorn in 2023 detected 28.6% of insects with the OWBW-specific CYP337B3 marker. Nucleotide sequencing of the CYP337B3 gene identified 73.1% and 26.9% of insects carried CYP337B3v2 and CYP337B3v6 alleles, respectively, and 0.15 overall frequency of CYP337B3 alleles. Based on prior data for distinct phylogeographic origins of CYP337B3v2 and v6 alleles, our results indicate Olathe samples were derived from 2 different introductions: An uncertain source of the v6 allele that was initially reported in West Africa and possibly South American or Caribbean origin of the globally distributed v2 allele. One of the 1618 individuals screened also carried a ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer 1 derived from OWBW. Local selection pressures at the Olathe location imposed by repeated pyrethroid exposures are likely attributed to the prevalence of CYP337B3, where control practices hasten the accumulation of phenotypic resistance by adaptive introgression. Pyrethroid and other resistance factors carried by invasive OWBW may continue to impact CEW management tactics across the Americas.},
}

Animals
*Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics/metabolism
*Moths/genetics
*Introduced Species
Genetic Introgression
Alleles
Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Insecticide Resistance/genetics
Pyrethrins
Insect Control

@article {pmid38922989,
year = {2024},
author = {Koski, TM and Zhang, B and Mogouong, J and Wang, H and Chen, Z and Li, H and Bushley, KE and Sun, J},
title = {Distinct metabolites affect the phloem fungal communities in ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) native and nonnative to the highly invasive emerald ash borer (AGRILUS PLANIPENNIS).},
journal = {Plant, cell & environment},
volume = {47},
number = {11},
pages = {4116-4134},
doi = {10.1111/pce.14996},
pmid = {38922989},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {2021PB0024//Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; 32061123002//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32088102//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; C2022201042//Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province/ ; 2030036//National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Fraxinus/microbiology/parasitology ; *Phloem/metabolism/microbiology ; Animals ; *Introduced Species ; *Coleoptera/physiology/microbiology ; Mycobiome ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/physiology ; Trees/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive killer of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America and Europe. Ash species co-evolved with EAB in their native range in Asia are mostly resistant, although the precise mechanism(s) remain unclear. Very little is also known about EAB or ash tree microbiomes. We performed the first joint comparison of phloem mycobiome and metabolites between a native and a nonnative ash species, infested and uninfested with EAB, in conjunction with investigation of larval mycobiome. Phloem mycobiome communities differed between the tree species, but both were unaffected by EAB infestation. Several indicator taxa in the larval gut shared a similarly high relative abundance only with the native host trees. Widely targeted metabolomics revealed 24 distinct metabolites in native trees and 53 metabolites in nonnative trees, respectively, that differed in relative content between infested and uninfested trees only in one species. Interestingly, four metabolites shared a strong relationship with the phloem mycobiomes, majority of which affected only the native trees. Collectively, our results demonstrate a complex interplay between host tree chemistry and mycobiome, and suggest the shared relationships between the mycobiomes of the native host tree and EAB may reflect their shared co-evolution.},
}

*Fraxinus/microbiology/parasitology
*Phloem/metabolism/microbiology
Animals
*Introduced Species
*Coleoptera/physiology/microbiology
Mycobiome
Larva/microbiology/physiology
Fungi/physiology
Trees/microbiology

@article {pmid39348591,
year = {2024},
author = {Shelly, T and Fezza, T and Cook, P and Cook, D},
title = {Attractiveness, longevity, and release rates of multilure wafers for trapping males of the oriental fruit fly and melon fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).},
journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)},
volume = {24},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jisesa/ieae095},
pmid = {39348591},
issn = {1536-2442},
mesh = {Animals ; *Tephritidae/drug effects/physiology ; Male ; *Insect Control/methods/instrumentation ; *Eugenol/pharmacology/analogs & derivatives ; *Longevity/drug effects ; Butanones/pharmacology ; Pheromones/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {Invasive fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) pose a serious threat to the production and export of many commercially important fruits and vegetables. Detection of the agricultural pests Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) relies heavily on traps baited with male-specific attractants. For B. dorsalis, traps are typically baited with liquid methyl eugenol (ME), and for Z. cucurbitae, traps are baited with liquid cue-lure (CL). Operating large-scale trapping networks is costly, consequently, there is much interest in identifying ways to maintain network sensitivity while reducing costs. One cost-cutting approach is the possibility of combining different male lures in the same dispenser, thus reducing the number of traps requiring servicing. The chief objective of this study was to compare captures of B. dorsalis and Z. cucurbitae males in Jackson traps baited with polymeric wafers impregnated with both ME and raspberry ketone (RK, a hydrolyzed form of CL) versus traps baited with liquid ME or CL freshly applied to cotton wicks. Captures were measured when the ME/RK wafers had been weathered for 12, 18, or 24 wk. Captures of B. dorsalis and Z. cucurbitae males were similar between fresh lure and weathered wafers over all trapping periods, with a single exception apparently due to the lessened potency of the associated killing agent. The residual amount and release rate of ME and RK from the wafers were also measured to examine possible relationships between wafer chemistry and trap catch. The possible implications of the present results to area-wide trapping programs are discussed.},
}

Animals
*Tephritidae/drug effects/physiology
Male
*Insect Control/methods/instrumentation
*Eugenol/pharmacology/analogs & derivatives
*Longevity/drug effects
Butanones/pharmacology
Pheromones/pharmacology

@article {pmid39346069,
year = {2024},
author = {Prasai, A and Dhami, B and Saini, A and Thapa, R and Samant, K and Regmi, K and Dhami, RS and Sadadev, BM and Adhikari, H},
title = {Reviving lost shadows: investigating the habitat ecology of the rediscovered hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus) in Nepal.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {e18034},
pmid = {39346069},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Nepal ; *Hares ; Endangered Species ; Parks, Recreational ; Animal Distribution ; },
abstract = {The endangered hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus) is one of the least studied mammal species. The recent rediscovery of hispid hare in Chitwan National Park (CNP) after three decades, necessitated urgent conservation measures. A detailed investigation into the species' ecology is imperative for developing evidence-based conservation strategies to support these efforts. The main objective of this study is to investigate the current distribution pattern and habitat preferences, offering vital insights for the effective preservation and management of the species and its habitat. Between 28 January and 13 February 2023, fifty-two surveys using strip transects were carried out in the potential areas. If any indirect signs of the presence of the hispid hare were identified, the corresponding value is coded as 1 "used plot". In contrast, a value of 0 was assigned if there is an absence of any indirect signs "habitat availability plot". Nine habitat predictors (habitat type, ground cover, distance to water source, distance to roads/path/firelines, ground condition, dominant plant species, presence/absence of (anthropogenic disturbance, predators, and invasive species), were measured from both plot types ("used plot" and "habitat availability plot"). Our research indicates a clumped distribution pattern within the CNP, with the Sukhibhar grassland identified as a key hotspot. Our study reveals the hispid hare's adaptability to diverse grassland conditions, favoring both tall and short grasslands. It is essential to integrate the species' preference for various grassland habitats and critical water sources to enhance conservation strategies. This requires a comprehensive grassland management plan for Chitwan National Park that preserves habitat diversity, safeguards key water sources, and adapts to evolving environmental conditions.},
}

Animals
*Ecosystem
*Conservation of Natural Resources
Nepal
*Hares
Endangered Species
Parks, Recreational
Animal Distribution

@article {pmid39346042,
year = {2024},
author = {Justine, JL and Gastineau, R and Gey, D and Robinson, DG and Bertone, MA and Winsor, L},
title = {A new species of alien land flatworm in the Southern United States.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {e17904},
pmid = {39346042},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {Animals ; *Introduced Species ; Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Platyhelminths/genetics/classification ; North Carolina ; },
abstract = {Specimens of a flat and dark brown land planarian were found in a plant nursery in North Carolina, USA in 2020. On the basis of examination of photographs of the live specimens only, the specimens were considered as belonging to Obama nungara, a species originally from South America, which has now invaded a large part of Europe. Unexpectedly, a molecular analysis revealed that the specimens did not belong to this species, neither to the genus Obama. We then undertook its histological study, which finally confirmed that the species is a member of the genus Amaga: the species is herein described as a new species, Amaga pseudobama n. sp. The species has been found in three locations in North Carolina and some infested plants were from Georgia. We reinvestigated specimens collected in Florida in 2015 and found that they also belong to this species. Citizen science observations suggest its presence in other states. Therefore, it is likely that A. pseudobama has already invaded a part of south-east USA and that the invasion took place more than ten years ago. The complete 14,909 bp long mitochondrial genome was obtained. The mitogenome is colinear with those of other Geoplanidae and it was possible to find and annotate a tRNA-Thr, which has been reported missing in several geoplanids. Amaga pseudobama shares with other Geoplaninae the presence of alternative start codons in three protein-coding genes of its mitogenome. The availability of this new genome helped us to improve our annotations of the ND3 gene, for which an ATT start codon is now suggested. Also, the sequence of the ATP6 gene raised questions concerning the use of genetic code 9 to translate the protein-coding genes of Geoplanidae, as the whole translated protein would not contain a single methionine residue when using this code. Two maximum likelihood phylogenies were obtained from genomic data. The first one was based on concatenated alignments of the partial 28S, Elongation Factor 1-alpha (EF1) and cox1 genes. The second was obtained from a concatenated alignment of the mitochondrial proteins. Both strictly discriminate A. pseudobama from O. nungara and instead associate it with Amaga expatria. We note that the nine species currently accepted within Amaga can be separated into two groups, one with extrabulbar prostatic apparatus, including the type species A. amagensis, and one with intrabulbar prostatic apparatus, including the new species A. pseudobama. This suggests that species of the latter group should be separated from Amaga and constitute a new genus. This finding again illustrates the possible emergence of new invasive species in regions naturally devoid of large land planarians, such as North America. Amaga pseudobama thus deserves to be monitored in the USA, although its superficial resemblance to O. nungara and Geoplana arkalabamensis will complicate the use of photographs obtained from citizen science. Our molecular information provides tools for this monitoring.},
}

Animals
*Introduced Species
Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics
Phylogeny
Platyhelminths/genetics/classification
North Carolina

@article {pmid39344526,
year = {2024},
author = {Soto, I and Macêdo, RL and Carneiro, L and Briski, E and Kouba, A and Cuthbert, RN and Haubrock, PJ},
title = {Divergent temporal responses of native macroinvertebrate communities to biological invasions.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {30},
number = {10},
pages = {e17521},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.17521},
pmid = {39344526},
issn = {1365-2486},
mesh = {*Introduced Species ; *Invertebrates/physiology ; Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Europe ; Ecosystem ; Fresh Water ; Population Dynamics ; Time Factors ; },
abstract = {Biological invasions pose a major threat to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and human well-being. Non-native species can have severe ecological impacts that are transformative, affecting ecosystems across both short-term and long-term timescales. However, few studies have determined the temporal dynamics of impact between these scales, impeding future predictions as invasion rates continue to rise. Our study uses a meta-analytical approach to dissect the changing taxonomic and functional impacts of biological invasions on native macroinvertebrate populations and communities in freshwater ecosystems across Europe, using a recently collated European long-term time series spanning several decades. Our findings reveal a complex temporal pattern: while initial stages of invasions (i.e. five years after the first record of non-native species) often exhibited benign impacts on macroinvertebrate abundance, richness, or functional diversity, the long-term (i.e. the period following the early invasion) effects became predominantly negative. This pattern was consistent between taxonomic and functional metrics for impacts at both the population and species level, with taxonomic metrics initially positively affected by invasions and functional metrics being more stable before also declining. These results suggest that even initially benign or positively perceived impacts could be eventually superseded by negative consequences. Therefore, understanding the magnitude of invasion effects increasingly requires long-term studies spanning several years or decades to offer insights into effective conservation strategies prioritising immediate and future biodiversity protection efforts. These findings also highlight the importance of integrating multiple taxonomic, functional and temporal components to inform adaptive management approaches to mitigate the negative effects of current and future biological invasions.},
}

*Introduced Species
*Invertebrates/physiology
Animals
*Biodiversity
Europe
Ecosystem
Fresh Water
Population Dynamics
Time Factors

@article {pmid39343401,
year = {2024},
author = {Spence, MA and Skelton, J},
title = {Dammed coastal waterways are less diverse, more homogenous, and dominated by non-native species: Comprehensive insights from quantitative analysis of environmental DNA.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {176541},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176541},
pmid = {39343401},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Small dams are commonplace worldwide and impact local and regional aquatic diversity by altering habitats and disrupting dispersal networks. Quantifying the local and regional impacts of dams requires nearly comprehensive species occurrence data. We used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to test theoretical predictions about the impacts of dams on local and regional bony fish diversity within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA. We analyzed eDNA from 465 sampling points within 34 waterbodies documenting the distributions of 61 species. On average, dammed waterbodies had approximately half (48 %) as many species per site as undammed (lower alpha diversity) and more homogenous species composition (lower beta diversity). Native migratory species were less than one tenth (0.08) as likely to be detected at dammed sites than undammed sites, native resident (non-migratory) species were one third (0.34) as likely, whereas introduced species were 2.6 times more likely to be detected. Our sampling and bioinformatics methods were validated by a diverse mock community control. Our results suggest that dams in coastal waterways homogenize fish metacommunities, reduce local biodiversity through dispersal limitation and habitat alteration, and favor the dominance of lentic-adapted introduced species while potentially restricting the spread of introduced catfish. Decisions to construct or decommission dams should consider local and regional impacts on biodiversity.},
}

@article {pmid39342262,
year = {2024},
author = {Bisaglia, B and Castelli, M and Soresinetti, L and Negri, A and Arnoldi, I and Montarsi, F and Gobbo, F and Defilippo, F and Callegari, E and Di Luca, M and Calzolari, M and Mastrantonio, V and Porretta, D and Ficetola, GF and Sassera, D and Gabrieli, P and Bandi, C and Epis, S},
title = {Barcoding of Italian mosquitoes (BITMO): generation and validation of DNA barcoding reference libraries for native and alien species of Culicidae.},
journal = {Parasites & vectors},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {407},
pmid = {39342262},
issn = {1756-3305},
support = {MUSA - Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action - project, funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) Mission 4 Component 2 Investment Line 1.5: Strengthening of research structures and creation of R&D "innovation ecosystems", set up of "territorial leaders in R&D".//Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca/ ; PNRR Project title "National Biodiversity Future Center - NBFC" Project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17 June 2022//Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca/ ; PNRR project PE-13, INF-ACT "One Health Basic and Translational Research Actions addressing Unmet Needs on Emerging Infectious Diseases"//Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca/ ; MUSA - Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action - project, funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) Mission 4 Component 2 Investment Line 1.5: Strengthening of research structures and creation of R&D "innovation ecosystems", set up of "territorial leaders in R&D".//Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; *RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Culicidae/genetics/classification ; Italy ; *Introduced Species ; *Mosquito Vectors/genetics/classification ; *Phylogeny ; Gene Library ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes (Culicidae), as disease vectors, represent a risk for human health worldwide. Repeated introductions of alien mosquito species and the spread of invasive species have been recorded in different countries. Traditionally, identification of mosquitoes relies on morphological observation. However, morphology-based identification is associated with a number of potential disadvantages, such as the high level of specialisation of the operator and its limited applicability to damaged samples. In these cases, species identification is achieved through molecular methods based on DNA amplification. Molecular-based taxonomy has also enabled the development of techniques for the study of environmental DNA (eDNA). Previous studies indicated the 16S mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene as a promising target for this application; however, 16S rRNA sequences are available for only a limited number of mosquito species. In addition, although primers for the 16S rRNA gene were designed years ago, they are based on limited numbers of mosquito sequences. Thus, the aims of this study were to: (i) design pan-mosquito 16S rRNA gene primers; (ii) using these primers, generate a 16S rRNA gene mosquito reference library (with a focus on mosquitoes present in Italy); and (iii) compare the discriminatory power of the 16S rRNA gene with two widely used molecular markers, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene (COI) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2).

METHODS: A total of six mosquito genera (28 mosquito species) were included in this study: Aedes (n = 16 species), Anopheles (5 species), Coquillettidia (1 species), Culex (3 species), Culiseta (2 species) and Uranotaenia (1 species). DNA was extracted from the whole mosquito body, and more than one specimen for each species was included in the analysis. Sanger sequencing was used to generate DNA sequences that were then analysed through the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). Phylogenetic analyses were also performed.

RESULTS: Novel 16S rDNA gene, COI and ITS2 sequences were generated. The 16S rRNA gene was shown to possess sufficient informativeness for the identification of mosquito species, with a discriminatory power equivalent to that of COI.

CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the generation of DNA barcode libraries, focussed on Italian mosquitoes, with a significant increase in the number of 16S rRNA gene sequences. We hope that these novel sequences will provide a resource for studies on the biodiversity, monitoring and metabarcoding of mosquitoes, including eDNA-based approaches.},
}

Animals
*DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
*RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
*Culicidae/genetics/classification
Italy
*Introduced Species
*Mosquito Vectors/genetics/classification
*Phylogeny
Gene Library
Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics

@article {pmid39341940,
year = {2024},
author = {Kwak, H and Lee, Y and Hwai, ATS and Kim, J and Nakano, T and Park, JK},
title = {Multiple origins of freshwater invasion and parental care reflecting ancient vicariances in the bivalve family Cyrenidae (Mollusca).},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {1212},
pmid = {39341940},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {No. 2020R1A2C2005393//National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia/genetics/classification ; *Phylogeny ; *Fresh Water ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Ecosystem ; Biological Evolution ; Introduced Species ; },
abstract = {Habitat transitions in living organisms are key innovations often coupled with species diversification after their successful adaptation to new environment. The Cyrenidae is among the most well-known heterodont bivalve groups that have successfully invaded freshwater systems from brackish water environments and display diverse lineage-specific developmental modes. Phylogenetic and molecular clock-based divergence time analyses using 12 complete mitochondrial genome sequences suggest that Cyrenidae species independently colonized freshwater habitats during three distinct spatial and geological periods: one from the American continents approximately in the Early Jurassic and the two others from Australasian/East Asian continents in the Early/Middle Cretaceous and the Paleogene-Neogene boundary, respectively. This study provides significant insight into the temporal and spatial patterns of multiple freshwater invasions, aligning with ancient vicariance events inferred from different geological timelines of plate tectonics. Additionally, mitogenome phylogeny confirms the earlier hypothesis of the repeated parallel evolution of parental care system within this bivalve group.},
}

Animals
*Bivalvia/genetics/classification
*Phylogeny
*Fresh Water
*Genome, Mitochondrial
Ecosystem
Biological Evolution
Introduced Species

@article {pmid39235460,
year = {2024},
author = {Haubrock, PJ and Kurtul, I and Macêdo, RL and Mammola, S and Franco, ACS and Soto, I},
title = {Competency in invasion science: addressing stagnation challenges by promoting innovation and creative thinking.},
journal = {Environmental management},
volume = {74},
number = {5},
pages = {916-927},
pmid = {39235460},
issn = {1432-1009},
mesh = {*Creativity ; Humans ; Introduced Species ; Thinking ; Professional Competence ; Science ; },
abstract = {In today's ever-evolving scientific landscape, invasion science faces a plethora of challenges, such as terminological inconsistency and the rapidly growing literature corpus with few or incomplete syntheses of knowledge, which may be perceived as a stagnation in scientific progress. We explore the concept of 'competency', which is extensively debated across disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, and linguistics. Traditionally, it is associated with attributes that enable superior performance and continuous ingenuity. We propose that the concept of competency can be applied to invasion science as the ability to creatively and critically engage with global challenges. For example, competency may help develop innovative strategies for understanding and managing the multifaceted, unprecedented challenges posed by the spread and impacts of non-native species, as well as identifying novel avenues of inquiry for management. Despite notable advancements and the exponential increase in scholarly publications, invasion science still encounters obstacles such as insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration paralleled by a lack of groundbreaking or actionable scientific advancements. To enhance competency in invasion science, a paradigm shift is needed. This shift entails fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, nurturing creative and critical thinking, and establishing a stable and supportive environment for early career researchers, thereby promoting the emergence of competency and innovation. Embracing perspectives from practitioners and decision makers, alongside diverse disciplines beyond traditional ecological frameworks, can further add novel insights and innovative methodologies into invasion science. Invasion science must also address the ethical implications of its practices and engage the public in awareness and education programs. Such initiatives can encourage a more holistic understanding of invasions, attracting and cultivating competent minds capable of thinking beyond conventional paradigms and contributing to the advancement of the field in a rapidly changing world.},
}

*Creativity
Humans
Introduced Species
Thinking
Professional Competence
Science

@article {pmid39340887,
year = {2024},
author = {Jochems, L and Brandt, J and Kingdon, C and Schurkamp, SJ and Monks, A and Lishawa, SC},
title = {Active remote sensing data and dispersal processes improve predictions for an invasive aquatic plant during a climatic extreme in Great Lakes coastal wetlands.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {370},
number = {},
pages = {122610},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122610},
pmid = {39340887},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Invasive aquatic plants pose a significant threat to coastal wetlands. Predicting suitable habitat for invasive aquatic plants in uninvaded yet vulnerable wetlands remains a critical task to prevent further harm to these ecosystems. The integration of remote sensing and geospatial data into species distribution models (SDMs) can help predict where new invasions are likely to occur by generating spatial outputs of habitat suitability. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of utilizing active remote sensing datasets (synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) with multispectral imagery and other geospatial data in predicting the potential distribution of an invasive aquatic plant based on its biophysical habitat requirements and dispersal dynamics. We also considered a climatic extreme (lake water levels) during the study period to investigate how these predictions may change between years. We compiled a time series of 1628 field records on the occurrence of Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (European frogbit; EFB) with nine remote sensing and geospatial layers as predictors to train and assess the predictive capacity of random forest models to generate habitat suitability in Great Lakes coastal wetlands in northern Michigan, USA. We found that SAR and LiDAR data were useful as proxies for key biophysical characteristics of EFB habitat (emergent vegetation and water depth), and that a vegetation index calculated from spectral imagery was one of the most important predictors of EFB occurrence. Our SDM using all predictors yielded the highest mean overall accuracy of 88.3% and a true skill statistic of 75.7%. Two of the most important predictors of EFB occurrence were dispersal-related: 1) distance to the nearest known EFB population (m), and 2) distance to nearest public boat launch (m). The area of highly suitable habitat (pixels assigned ≥0.8 probability) was 74% larger during a climatically extreme high water-level year compared to an average year. Our findings demonstrate that active remote sensing can be integrated into SDM workflows as proxies for important drivers of invasive species expansion that are difficult to measure in other ways. Moreover, the importance of a proxy variable for endogenous dispersal (distance to nearest known population) in these SDMs indicates that EFB is currently spreading, and thereby less influenced by within-site dynamics such as interspecific competition. Lastly, we found that extreme climatic conditions can dramatically change this species' niche, and therefore we recommend that future studies include dynamic climate conditions in SDMs to more accurately forecast the spread during early invasion stages.},
}

@article {pmid39339593,
year = {2024},
author = {Aleynova, OA and Ananev, AA and Nityagovsky, NN and Suprun, AR and Zhanbyrshina, NZ and Beresh, AA and Ogneva, ZV and Tyunin, AP and Kiselev, KV},
title = {Endophytic Bacteria and Fungi Associated with Polygonum cuspidatum in the Russian Far East.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {13},
number = {18},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants13182618},
pmid = {39339593},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {22-74-10001//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Polygonum cuspidatum, alternatively known as Fallopia japonica or Reynoutria japonica, is a perennial herb belonging to the Polygonaceae family. Commonly called Japanese knotweed or Asian knotweed, this plant is native to East Asia, particularly in regions such as Korea, China, and Japan. It has successfully adapted to a wide range of habitats, resulting in it being listed as a pest and invasive species in several countries in North America and Europe. This study focuses on analysing the composition of the bacterial and fungal endophytic communities associated with Japanese knotweed growing in the Russian Far East, employing next-generation sequencing (NGS) and a cultivation-based method (microbiological sowing). The NGS analysis showed that the dominant classes of endophytic bacteria were Alphaproteobacteria (28%) and Gammaproteobacteria (28%), Actinobacteria (20%), Bacteroidia (15%), and Bacilli (4%), and fungal classes were Agaricomycetes (40%), Dothideomycetes (24%), Leotiomycetes (10%), Tremellomycetes (9%), Pezizomycetes (5%), Sordariomycetes (3%), and Exobasidiomycetes (3%). The most common genera of endophytic bacteria were Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Parabukholderia, Sphingomonas, Hydrotalea, Methylobacterium-Metylorubrum, Cutibacterium, and Comamonadaceae, and genera of fungal endophytes were Marasmius, Tuber, Microcyclosporella, Schizothyrium, Alternaria, Parastagonospora, Vishniacozyma, and Cladosporium. The present data showed that the roots, leaves, and stems of P. cuspidatum have a greater number and diversity of endophytic bacteria and fungi compared to the flowers and seeds. Thus, the biodiversity of endophytic bacteria and fungi of P. cuspidatum was described and analysed for the first time in this study.},
}

@article {pmid39339581,
year = {2024},
author = {Lillo, G and Calia, C and Cice, D and Petriccione, M and Camposeo, S},
title = {Blooming Phenograms, Pollen Production, and Pollen Quality during Storage of Pistachio Cultivars in New Mediterranean Growing Areas.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {13},
number = {18},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants13182606},
pmid = {39339581},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {J89J21013750001//DAJS (Distretto Agroalimentare di Qualità Jonico Salentino)/ ; },
abstract = {Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a dioecious, anemophilous, and drought-resistant fruit tree species. It is cultivated in new Mediterranean areas, including the regions of southern Italy (Apulia and Basilicata). It has been estimated that over 40,000 ha are suitable for pistachio cultivation in areas infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca. As a newly introduced species, knowledge of its biological reproductive behaviors in its new areas of spreading is essential for appropriate agronomic planning and management. This two-year study (2022 and 2023), carried out in the countryside of Stigliano (MT, Italy), had the objective of evaluating the flowering phenograms, pollen production, and assessing protocols for the conservation and extension of pollen viability, of the most widespread cultivars. A slight delay was observed in the blooming phenograms, compared to other cultivation Mediterranean areas, such as Spain or Sicily. Furthermore, the overlap between female and male phenograms was partial. No significant differences were observed in the polliniferous aptitude of the two male cultivars. Among the different protocols tested, the pollen storage at 33% relative humidity and a temperature of -80 °C maintained the pollen germinability above 50% for up to three weeks. These findings highlight the importance of controlled environmental conditions in preserving pollen viability over extended periods, providing valuable insights for agricultural and botanical research that relies on maintaining pollen viability for breeding and genetic studies.},
}

@article {pmid39337899,
year = {2024},
author = {Locci, C and Azzena, I and Pascale, N and Ciccozzi, A and Deplano, I and Giantsis, IA and Papadopoulos, DK and Lattos, A and Orrù, F and Puzzi, CM and Scarpa, F and Casu, M and Sanna, D},
title = {A Sister Species for the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus? A Tale Revealed by Mitochondrial DNA.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/life14091116},
pmid = {39337899},
issn = {2075-1729},
support = {Legge Regionale n. 17 del 19 dicembre 2023, articolo 8 comma 1 (Codice CUP E78H23000990002)//Regione Autonoma della Sardegna/ ; Investimento 1.4 Project CN00000033 which supported the National Biodiversity Future Center of the University of Sassari//PNRR, Missione 4, Componente 2 "Dalla ricerca all'impresa"./ ; },
abstract = {The Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, is acknowledged as one of the worst invasive alien species in the Mediterranean, impacting biodiversity and human activities. Native to the western Atlantic, it has expanded to European coastal waters since the early 1900s. Despite its ecological and commercial importance, genetic research on this species is limited. Here we show a comprehensive investigation of the genetic variation and evolutionary history in Callinectes sapidus using 667 mitochondrial COI gene sequences. Our dataset encompasses 36 newly generated sequences from previously understudied Mediterranean sites and 631 from worldwide locations obtained from the GenBank public database. Our findings reveal two distinct, but closely related, genetic groups within the species' distribution range, suggesting the occurrence of a potential species complex. Furthermore, in the Mediterranean, low levels of genetic variability were observed except for substantial haplotypic differentiation in Turkish samples. This study depicts the global genetic diversity and evolutionary patterns of Callinectes sapidus, offering new insights into the taxonomic status of the species.},
}

@article {pmid39336653,
year = {2024},
author = {Amaro, FIF and Soares, P and Velo, E and Carvalho, DO and Gomez, M and Balestrino, F and Puggioli, A and Bellini, R and Osório, HC},
title = {Mark-Release-Recapture Trial with Aedes albopictus (Diptera, Culicidae) Irradiated Males: Population Parameters and Climatic Factors.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {15},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects15090685},
pmid = {39336653},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {IAEA-POR5006//International Atomic Energy Agency/ ; },
abstract = {Aedes albopictus is considered one of the major invasive species in the world and can transmit viruses such as dengue, Zika, or chikungunya. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) can be used to suppress the native populations of Ae. albopictus. Mark-release-recapture (MRR) studies are crucial to support the development of the release strategy during the SIT application. Meanwhile, weather conditions can affect the MRR trial's results and it is critical to understand the influence of climatic factors on the results. In October 2022, 84,000 irradiated sterile males were released for three consecutive weeks in Faro, Southern Portugal. Mosquitoes were recaptured by human landing collection (HLC) one, two, four, and six days after release. Generalized linear models with a negative binomial family and log function were used to estimate the factors associated with the number of recaptured mosquitoes, prevalence ratios, and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 84,000 sterile male mosquitoes were released, with 528 recaptured (0.8%) by HLC. The prevalence of recaptured mosquitoes was 23% lower when the wind intensity was moderate. Marked sterile males had an average median distance travelled of 88.7 m. The median probability of daily survival and the average life expectancy were 61.6% and 2.1 days, respectively. The wild male population estimate was 443.33 males/ha. Despite no statistically significant association being found with humidity, temperature, and precipitation, it is important to consider weather conditions during MRR trial analyses to obtain the best determinant estimation and a more efficient application of the SIT in an integrated vector management program.},
}

@article {pmid39336647,
year = {2024},
author = {Li, X and Li, P and Li, D and Cai, X and Gu, S and Zeng, L and Cheng, D and Lu, Y},
title = {Dynamics of Bactrocera dorsalis Resistance to Seven Insecticides in South China.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {15},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects15090679},
pmid = {39336647},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2023YFD1401400//National Key R&D Project of China/ ; 2023KJ134//Guangdong Modern Agriculture Innovation Team Project/ ; 2023B04J0154//Guangzhou Key R&D Project/ ; },
abstract = {Bactrocera dorsalis is a highly invasive and destructive pest distributed worldwide. Chemical insecticides remain the primary measure for their control; however, this species has already developed resistance to several insecticides. In recent years, there have been several reports of monitoring B. dorsalis resistance in China, but continuous monitoring results are lacking and do not even span a decade. In this study, we monitored the dynamics of resistance to seven insecticides among 11 geographically distinct Chinese populations of B. dorsalis (2010-2013; follow-up in 2023). The 11 populations were found to adapt rapidly to antibiotic insecticides (spinosad, emamectin benzoate, and avermectin), reaching high levels of insecticide resistance in several areas. Overall, a decreasing trend in resistance to organophosphorus insecticides (chlorpyrifos and trichlorfon) was observed, whereas pyrethroid (beta-cypermethrin and cyhalothrin) resistance trends were observed to both increase and decrease. The monitoring of field resistance among different B. dorsalis populations over the duration of this study is important for improving the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural pest management, and the results provide a scientific basis for the development of more effective resistance management strategies.},
}

@article {pmid39336097,
year = {2024},
author = {Jareb, C and Pepin, KM and Miller, RS and Sykora, S and Shwiff, SA and McKee, SC},
title = {Agricultural and Ecological Resources Safeguarded by the Prevention of Wild Pig Population Expansion.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {13},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology13090670},
pmid = {39336097},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {N/A//U.S Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Feral Swine Damage Management Program/ ; },
abstract = {Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most destructive invasive species in the US, known for causing extensive damage to agricultural commodities, natural resources, and property, and for transmitting diseases to livestock. Following the establishment of the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program (NFSDMP) in 2014, the expansion of wild pig populations has been successfully slowed. This paper combines two modeling approaches across eight separate models to characterize the expansion of wild pig populations in the absence of intervention by the NFSDMP and forecasts the value of a subset of resources safeguarded from the threat of wild pigs. The results indicate that if wild pigs had continued spreading at pre-program levels, they would have spread extensively across the US, with significant geographic variation across modeling scenarios. Further, by averting the threat of wild pigs, a substantial amount of crops, land, property, and livestock was safeguarded by the NFSDMP. Cumulatively, between 2014 and 2021, wild pig populations were prevented from spreading to an average of 724 counties and an average of USD 40.2 billion in field crops, pasture, grasses, and hay was safeguarded. The results demonstrate that intervention by the NFSDMP has delivered significant ecological and economic benefits that were not previously known.},
}

@article {pmid39335217,
year = {2024},
author = {Baek, HJ and Cheong, E and Kim, Y and Koo, KS and Kim, SH and Park, CD and Yoon, JD},
title = {Geographical Distribution of Mauremys sinensis, Mauremys reevesii, and Their Hybrids in South Korea.},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
volume = {14},
number = {18},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ani14182626},
pmid = {39335217},
issn = {2076-2615},
support = {NIE-A-2024-09//National Institute of Ecology funded by the Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea/ ; },
abstract = {The Chinese striped-necked turtle Mauremys sinensis, introduced into South Korea presumably in 2012, is considered an invasive alien species owing to its devastating impact, including hybridization with the native protected species Reeves' turtle M. reevesii. Recently, the presence of M. sinensis has been confirmed throughout the country, and several sympatric areas with M. reevesii have been reported. Thus, field surveys were conducted at 47 sites across M. sinensis and M. reevesii habitats in South Korea to determine the extent of hybridization. Five sympatric sites were confirmed, and hybrid individuals were identified at four sites. Genetic analyses (COI and R35) of two individuals from Jeju Island confirmed maternal M. reevesii and paternal M. sinensis lineages. Hybridization presumably does not occur under natural conditions, and the hybrids likely originated from captive breeding. This study identifies for the first time the habitats of M. sinensis and its hybrids in the wild of South Korea. The management measures proposed in the current study could be of value for the conservation of the native species; however, our study did not include reproductive monitoring, and there is a need for such surveys as well as for systematic management of non-native turtles introduced into South Korea.},
}

@article {pmid39332739,
year = {2024},
author = {Peng, Y and Hu, B and Zhu, Y and Yin, Z and Fu, B and Yang, H and He, Z and Khim, JS},
title = {Functional traits of macrobenthos substantially indicated habitat change from the invasive saltmarsh to introduced mangrove.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {176536},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176536},
pmid = {39332739},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Mangrove afforestation is usually thought to be beneficial to mitigate the degradation and loss of mangroves. In Southern China, planting mangroves with the introduced Sonneratia apetala is also supportive to remove the invasive Spartina alterniflora. However, the influence of mangrove afforestation dominated by introduced species on macrobenthos, a vital joint of energy flow and nutrient cycling in mangroves, remains unclear. We explored the linkage between the functional traits of macrobenthos and the physicochemical properties of sediments in a coastal continuum including the mudflat (MF), exotic Spartina alterniflora saltmarsh (SL), natural Avicennia marina forest (AM), and introduced S. apetala afforestation (SA) via a seasonal field survey. After removing the S. alterniflora invaded into mudflat via S. apetala afforestation, the sediment C/N ratio decreased compared to that of natural forest, while the concentrations of microphytobenthic chlorophyll-a increased. The macrobenthic inhabiting mode shifted from epifaunal to infaunal as well. The biomass and density of microbenthic community decreased along MF, SL, AM, and SA. SL had greater C/N ratio and smaller functional richness (FR) than MF. AM was characterized by similar functional diversities, and pH value and salinity of sediment to those of MF, and greater microphytobenthic chlorophyll-a was found in AM. Compared to AM, the introduced S. apetala substantially engineered the habitat due to its flourishing above-ground pneumatophore system which caused faster deposition process, subsequently changed the resource utilization strategies of macrobenthos considerably. Overall, the use of Sonneratia afforestation on Spartina removal could not replace the contribution of natural Avicennia forest with respect to the functional traits of macrobenthos. Careful consideration on ecosystem functionalities would be indispensable for conducting saltmarsh eradication and mangrove afforestation in the future.},
}

@article {pmid39332339,
year = {2024},
author = {Gracia C, A and Pacheco-Medina, K and Paternina-Ramos, A and Peña-Granados, I and Rangel-Buitrago, N},
title = {Shell-bearing Bivalvia and Gastropoda from a rocky shore in the Central Caribbean of Colombia.},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin},
volume = {208},
number = {},
pages = {117045},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117045},
pmid = {39332339},
issn = {1879-3363},
abstract = {This study documents the natural accumulation of mollusk shells on an elevated rocky shore carved into the calcareous rocks of the La Popa formation at Punta Roca (Atlántico), covering an estimated area of 0.35 km[2]. Hydrodynamic transport and differential exposure to environmental conditions are the primary factors contributing to shell deposition. A total of 58 mollusk species were identified, including 30 bivalves and 28 gastropods. The Veneridae was the most prominent, with the highest number of species (7) and shells comprising 64.22 % of the total. Key species contributing to the accumulation include the bivalves Anomalocardia cf. flexuosa, Polymesoda cf. arctata, Leukoma pectorina, Tivela mactroides, Crassostrea rhizophorae, and the gastropod Vitta virginea. These species are primarily characteristic of estuarine environments, with the exception of T. mactroides. Notably, the first recorded occurrence of the non-native gastropod Naria turdus (Cypraeidae) on the Colombian Caribbean coast was documented. The accumulations exhibit varying degrees of abrasion, fragmentation, encrustation, and bioerosion, with some shells appearing almost intact, indicating differences in origin and transport mechanisms. The extraction of shells for ornamental purposes poses a significant challenge to this natural accumulation.},
}

@article {pmid39331296,
year = {2024},
author = {Chongloi, V and Phukan, MM and Bora, P},
title = {Miscellaneous prospects of invasive Lantana camara biomass-a standpoint on bioenergy generation and value addition.},
journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {39331296},
issn = {1614-7499},
abstract = {Investigation of Lantana camara biomass for potential bioenergy generation integrates invasive species (IS) management with the unabated demand for bio-energy. In the present investigation, L. camara was used to produce bio-oil by thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis). The resultant product evinced energy yield of 62.58% with 64.95% of elemental carbon (C) content and endorsed the suitability of L. camara bio-oil for biofuel applications and value addition. Thermogravimetric (TG-DTG) analysis revealed a short thermal degradation profile, whereas spectroscopic analyses detected a host of organic compounds such as esters, phenols, ketones, aldehydes, aliphatics, and aromatics. The economic analysis of L. camara biomass conversion technology carried out in this study proved to be commercially competitive and viable versus petroleum refining. Antimicrobial and antioxidant assays with bio-oil evinced highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) against Candida albicans (31.02 mm), and displayed strong antioxidant property (DPPH IC50 value 233.72 ± 0.2 μg/ml). The bio-oil exhibited rheological characteristics of shear thinning and pseudoplastic fluid, particularly at low and intermediate shear rates. The present study highlights the multifaceted advantages of utilizing L. camara biomass, which include environmental remediation via waste management, bioenergy generation, and the feasibility of generating value-added products.},
}

@article {pmid39288692,
year = {2024},
author = {Koken, M and Gastineau, R},
title = {Genomics investigation of the potentially invasive firefly Photinus signaticollis Blanchard 1845: Complete mitochondrial genome, multigene phylogenies and obtention of the luciferase and luciferin-regenerating genes.},
journal = {Arthropod structure & development},
volume = {82},
number = {},
pages = {101384},
doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2024.101384},
pmid = {39288692},
issn = {1873-5495},
mesh = {Animals ; *Fireflies/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Introduced Species ; Genomics ; Firefly Luciferin ; Genome, Insect ; },
abstract = {A genomic investigation of the potentially invasive firefly Photinus signaticollis Blanchard1845 has been performed and led to the obtention of its complete 16,411 bp long mitochondrial genome. The mitogenome encodes 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes and 2 rRNA genes. With other species of the Photinus complex it shares several premature terminations of some protein-coding genes and also an overlap between cox1 and tRNA-Tyr. By data-mining, the complete luciferase and luciferin-regenerating genes were also identified from the contigs file and compared with existing data, in addition to WG and CAD, two genes used in pioneering phylogenetic studies on fireflies. Three maximum likelihood phylogenies were derived from all these data. The multigene phylogeny based on all mitochondrial protein-coding genes strongly associates P. signaticollis with Photinus pyralis Linnaeus, 1758 and the lantern-less daily "winter firefly", Photinus corruscus Linnaeus, 1767. A second phylogeny based on concatenated sequences of the cox1, WG and CAD genes positions P. signaticollis as a sister clade to a large cluster of species containing the 7 sub-groups previously evidenced among the North American species of the Photinus complex. A third phylogeny based on the amino-acid sequence of the luciferase protein associates P. signaticollis to Photinus scintillans. The analysis presented here will most certainly help to come to a better understanding of the very complex inter-relationships in the very large Photinus genus.},
}

Animals
*Fireflies/genetics
*Phylogeny
*Genome, Mitochondrial
Introduced Species
Genomics
Firefly Luciferin
Genome, Insect

@article {pmid39330311,
year = {2024},
author = {Arena, R and Renda, G and Ottaviani Aalmo, G and Debeaufort, F and Messina, CM and Santulli, A},
title = {Valorization of the Invasive Blue Crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in the Mediterranean: Nutritional Value, Bioactive Compounds and Sustainable By-Products Utilization.},
journal = {Marine drugs},
volume = {22},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/md22090430},
pmid = {39330311},
issn = {1660-3397},
mesh = {Animals ; *Nutritive Value ; *Brachyura ; Humans ; Introduced Species ; Shellfish ; Mediterranean Sea ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; },
abstract = {The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), originally from the western Atlantic Ocean, has recently spread to the Mediterranean and is now considered one of the one hundred most invasive species in that region. This opportunistic species, known for its adaptability to different temperatures and salinities, negatively impacts biodiversity and human activities such as fishing and tourism in the Mediterranean. However, the blue crab is gaining interest as a potential food resource due to its high nutritional value and delicate, sweet flavor. Its meat is rich in protein (14% to 30%), omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and other essential nutrients beneficial for human health such as vitamins, and minerals. Utilizing this species in the production of new foods could help mitigate the negative impact of its invasiveness and offer economic opportunities. One challenge with this potential resource is the generation of waste. Approximately 6-8 million tonnes of crab shells are produced worldwide each year, leading to disposal problems and concerns regarding environmental sustainability. To improve economic and environmental sustainability, there is a need to valorize these residues, which are an important source of proteins, lipids, chitin, minerals, and pigments that can be processed into high-value-added products. However, especially in areas with industrial pollution, attention should be paid to the heavy metal (Cd and As) contents of blue crab shells. Studies suggest that blue crab by-products can be used in various sectors, reducing environmental impacts, promoting a circular economy, and creating new industrial opportunities.},
}

Animals
*Nutritive Value
*Brachyura
Humans
Introduced Species
Shellfish
Mediterranean Sea
Conservation of Natural Resources

@article {pmid39329319,
year = {2024},
author = {Struckhoff, MA and Grabner, KW and Albers, JL and Hooper, MJ},
title = {Vegetation community recovery on restored bottomland hardwood forests in northeast Indiana, USA.},
journal = {Integrated environmental assessment and management},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ieam.4993},
pmid = {39329319},
issn = {1551-3793},
support = {//Department of the Interior, Office of Restoration and Damage Assessment/ ; //USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center/ ; },
abstract = {Vegetation communities in restored bottomland hardwood forests in northeast Indiana were studied 6-21 years after restoration to assess progress toward restoration objectives. The study focused on four sites that were restored to compensate for resource injuries after contaminant releases. The restored sites were compared with four reference-site conditions, including crops (prerestoration condition), old field communities representing a no-management alternative, locally sampled second-growth mature forests, and forest community types described by the US National Vegetation Classification (USNVC), which represent ideal or defining conditions of recognized vegetation communities. Fixed-area plots provided data on field-sampled environmental variables, vegetation, soil, and hydrological conditions for crops, old fields, restored areas, and mature forests. The USNVC database provided quantitative data for three historically and geographically relevant reference forest community types for comparison with the sampled communities. Results of nonmetric multidimensional scaling based on species cover revealed clear gradients relating to site age and canopy development. Along those gradients, restored areas demonstrated increasing similarity to mature forest reference communities in terms of floristic composition. Specifically, the floristic quality of restored areas was significantly greater than that of crops and old fields. Furthermore, soil health measurements of physical, chemical, and hydrological conditions indicated significant improvements in restored site soils compared with prerestoration conditions represented by cropland soils. Descriptions and data from the USNVC provided ecological context for restoration target conditions and facilitated the assessment of restoration recovery along a trajectory from starting conditions to those target conditions. Descriptions by USNVC also helped identify deviations from the intended restoration objectives (e.g., invasive species recruitment) and potential adaptive management actions to return sites to their intended trajectories. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-22. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).},
}

@article {pmid39329192,
year = {2024},
author = {Zhou, T and Li, J and Zhang, W and Zeng, Y and Gao, Y and Li, H and Yang, W and Mai, Y and Liu, Q and Hu, C and Wang, C},
title = {Pollution characteristics and risk assessment of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in surface water of national (freshwater) aquatic germplasm resource reserves in Guangdong Province.},
journal = {Environmental science. Processes & impacts},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1039/d4em00425f},
pmid = {39329192},
issn = {2050-7895},
abstract = {The distribution, composition, and risk assessment of 8 EDCs in the surface water of 14 national aquatic germplasm resource reserves (freshwater) were investigated during dry and wet seasons. Bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), and octylphenol (OP) were the main contributors of the 8 EDCs. The concentrations of phenolic pollutants in surface water during the dry season were higher than those in the wet season. However, no significant seasonal differences were found among the steroid hormones. According to the evaluation of estrogenic activity (EEQ > 1.0), E2 and EE2 were the main contributors to estrogenic activity. EDC mixtures posed a higher risk to crustaceans and fish (RQ > 1.0) and a moderate to high risk to algae (RQ > 0.1). Fish were the most sensitive aquatic organisms. In the study areas, EE2, E1, BPA, NP, and E2 had a higher risk than the other three compounds and should be controlled as a priority.},
}

@article {pmid39324107,
year = {2024},
author = {Santoianni, LA and Innangi, M and Varricchione, M and Carboni, M and La Bella, G and Haider, S and Stanisci, A},
title = {Ecological features facilitating spread of alien plants along Mediterranean mountain roads.},
journal = {Biological invasions},
volume = {26},
number = {11},
pages = {3879-3899},
pmid = {39324107},
issn = {1387-3547},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Invasive alien species represent a major threat to global biodiversity and the sustenance of ecosystems. Globally, mountain ecosystems have shown a degree of resistance to invasive species due to their distinctive ecological features. However, in recent times, the construction of linear infrastructure, such as roads, might weaken this resistance, especially in the Mediterranean basin region. Roads, by acting as efficient corridors, facilitate the dispersal of alien species along elevation gradients in mountains. Here, we investigated how the ecological features and road-associated disturbance in native plant communities affected both the occurrence and cover of alien plant species in Central Apennines (Italy). We implemented the MIREN road survey in three mountain transects conducting vegetation sampling in plots located both adjacent to and distant from the roads at intervals of ~ 100 m in elevation. We then used community-weighted means of Ecological Indicator Values for Europe together with Disturbance Indicator Values applied to plant species of native communities as predictors of alien species occurrence and cover in a machine-learning classification and regression framework. Our analyses showed that alien species' occurrence was greater in proximity to the road where high soil disturbance occurred and in warm- and light-adapted native communities. On the other hand, alien species cover was more strongly related to moderate grazing pressure and the occurrence of nitrophilic plant communities. These findings provide a baseline for the current status of alien plant species in this Mediterranean mountain region, offering an ecological perspective to address the challenges associated with their management under global change.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10530-024-03418-y.},
}

@article {pmid39323576,
year = {2024},
author = {Potgieter, LJ and Cadotte, MW and Roets, F and Richardson, DM},
title = {Monitoring urban biological invasions using citizen science: the polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea fornicatus).},
journal = {Journal of pest science},
volume = {97},
number = {4},
pages = {2073-2085},
pmid = {39323576},
issn = {1612-4758},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Benefits provided by urban trees are increasingly threatened by non-native pests and pathogens. Monitoring of these invasions is critical for the effective management and conservation of urban tree populations. However, a shortage of professionally collected species occurrence data is a major impediment to assessments of biological invasions in urban areas. We applied data from iNaturalist to develop a protocol for monitoring urban biological invasions using the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) invasion in two urban areas of South Africa. iNaturalist records for all known PSHB reproductive host species were used together with data on localities of sites for processing plant biomass to map priority monitoring areas for detecting new and expanding PSHB infestations. Priority monitoring areas were also identified using the distribution of Acer negundo, a highly susceptible host that serves as a sentinel species for the detection of PSHB infestations. iNaturalist data provided close to 9000 observations for hosts in which PSHB is known to reproduce in our study area (349 of which were A. negundo). High-priority areas for PSHB monitoring include those with the highest density of PSHB reproductive hosts found close to the 140 plant biomass sites identified. We also identified high-priority roads for visual and baited trap surveys, providing operational guidance for practitioners. The monitoring protocol developed in this study highlights the value of citizen or community science data in informing the management of urban biological invasions. It also advocates for the use of platforms such as iNaturalist as essential tools for conservation monitoring in urban landscapes.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10340-024-01744-7.},
}

@article {pmid39319243,
year = {2024},
author = {Koutsoukos, E and Demetriou, J and Georgiadis, C and Mitroiu, MD and Compton, S and Martinou, AF},
title = {Highlighting overlooked biodiversity through online platforms: The "Chalcid Wasps of Cyprus" website.},
journal = {Biodiversity data journal},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {e129367},
pmid = {39319243},
issn = {1314-2828},
abstract = {Biodiversity data platforms including databases, websites and data repositories underpin conservation efforts by collecting spatiotemporal data of discovered native and alien species and maps of their distributions. Chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) are one of the most diverse insect groups estimated to include half a million species. Being mostly parasitoids of other arthropods, they have been successfully used as biological control agents against serious agricultural pests worldwide. In Cyprus, only 124 species of chalcid wasps have been recorded, with 53 species being alien to the island. Their true biodiversity is predicted to be much larger because the island is both under-sampled and under-researched. A number of biodiversity data platforms focusing on the biodiversity of Cyprus are currently online; however, an online platform dedicated on the chalcid wasps of Cyprus is lacking. In the framework of the Darwin Plus Fellowship (DPLUS202) "Species richness and biological invasions of Chalcid wasps in Akrotiri Peninsula", the "Chalcid wasps of Cyprus" website (https://sites.google.com/view/chalcidwaspscyprus) is presented. This online, dynamic database aims to: (1) raise public awareness regarding a rather neglected and yet ecologically important insect group, (2) provide data on the morphology, ecology and biodiversity of Chalcidoidea on Cyprus, as well as (3) promote conservation needs by setting a baseline for the future assessment of both native and alien chalcid wasp species. This online platform will be regularly revised in order to provide an up-to-date, user-friendly digital environment to the scientific community, policy-makers and citizens.},
}

@article {pmid39318529,
year = {2024},
author = {Fluch, M and Chignola, M and Corretto, E and Wolf, M and Fischnaller, S and Borruso, L and Schuler, H},
title = {What's on the menu? A novel molecular gut content analysis to investigate the feeding behavior of phytophagous insects.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {14},
number = {9},
pages = {e70071},
pmid = {39318529},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {The relationship between phytophagous insects and plants is a central aspect of food webs and ecosystem functioning. The introduction of new species into an environment can have significant impacts on the food web of a native ecosystem. In many cases, there is a lack of knowledge on the biology and feeding behavior of invasive species prior their introduction and in the invaded regions. Gut content analyses of insects have provided valuable information on the host spectrum of insects. However, current approaches are time-consuming and costly. Here, we describe a new molecular gut content analysis (GCA) approach using the Oxford Nanopore (ONT) Flongle sequencing platform to characterize the plant DNA present in the gut of the highly polyphagous insect species Halyomorpha halys. We demonstrate that this technique efficiently amplifies and correctly identifies plant DNA in a mock community. We performed a feeding experiment to determine the sensitivity of this approach and to assess how long the plant DNA can be detected. All plants used in the feeding experiment were correctly identified and detected after 56 days. Surprisingly, we also detected various plant genera that were not included in the feeding experiment and thus were likely ingested months before the experiment. Our study suggests that the GCA using the ONT Flongle sequencing platform represents a rapid and cost-efficient diagnosis of the dietary preferences, host range, and the diversity of consumed plant species of pest insects with high precision.},
}

@article {pmid39318527,
year = {2024},
author = {Barclay, KM and Amos, P and Leighton, LR and Schneider, CL and Baum, JK},
title = {Predation scars provide a new method to distinguish native and invasive crab predation on mollusc prey.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {14},
number = {9},
pages = {e70338},
pmid = {39318527},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Crab species are increasingly important socioeconomic resources that are threatened by human exploitation, climate change, and invasive species, such as European green crabs (Carcinus maenas). However, the continued health of their populations is often uncertain given the limited long-term population data, necessitating alternate approaches to ensure their continued viability. Furthermore, C. maenas are one of the most highly invasive and destructive marine species globally, posing a threat to local ecosystems and species, including socioeconomically important crabs and their mollusc prey. Improved understanding of C. maenas invasions and their impacts on local crab and mollusc resources is therefore vitally important. Here, we present a new method for identifying species-level presence and relative abundances of important crab species, including invasive C. maenas, from the scars they leave on their prey. We conducted controlled manipulative feeding experiments in which individuals of Dungeness crabs (Metacarcinus magister), red rock crabs (Cancer productus), and C. maenas, were allowed to attack snails (Tegula funebralis) and produce sublethal shell damage. Resulting shell damage was photographed and landmarked for geometric morphometric analyses to determine any differences in the shape of shell damage between crab species. There were statistically significant differences between the shape of shell damage created by all three crab species (p < .0001). Shell damage formed a gradient from narrow/deep (C. productus) to shallow/wide (C. maenas) with M. magister as an intermediate form. Our method provides a novel, cost-effective tool for long-term species-specific reconstructions of crab populations and assessing the broader ecological impacts of C. maenas invasions that can inform management and mitigation for these three important crab species.},
}

@article {pmid39317366,
year = {2024},
author = {Sauther, ML and Cuozzo, FP and Youssouf, IAJ and Strinden, M and LaFleur, M and Ness, J and Larsen, RS and Millette, J and O'Mara, T},
title = {Seasons of death: patterns of predation on wild lemurs and other fauna by endemic and introduced predators.},
journal = {Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-24},
doi = {10.1163/14219980-bja10033},
pmid = {39317366},
issn = {1421-9980},
abstract = {Introduced species can negatively impact endemic flora and fauna. Studies have primarily utilized camera trap observations and occupancy modelling to better clarify the presence/absence and temporal overlap of endemic and exotic predators. Longitudinal data from field research sites are important as they can provide a finer understanding of predator dynamics and their effects on endemic species. One such site is the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve, in southern Madagascar. Protected since the 1970s, the local human population around Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve has greatly expanded, leading to habitat disturbance in the surrounding forests and increased contact between local wildlife, people and their livestock and dogs. Here we use a combination of scat sampling, field observations of successful and attempted predations, locations of scat samples with identifiable lemur remains, and camera trap data to better assess the predator ecology at Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve. Our results indicate that forest cats (Felis catus), are effective predators of both adult and infant lemurs and appear to be a constant mammalian predator, utilizing mammal prey more than dogs. Dogs are both predators and scavengers of lemurs. Civets focus on small prey, such as insects and rodents as well as plant material. The fosa, Cryptoprocta ferox, are also present but may not hunt in the area continuously. The killing of an adult ring-tailed lemur by two men from outside the area indicate culturally imposed taboos against lemur killing may no longer be effective given that new arrivals may not share the same local cultural restrictions. Scat sampling of exotic predators is one way to expand our understanding of exotic and endemic predator impact on lemur populations, and long-term studies with multiple assessments of predation can provide a clearer understanding of how non-endemic and endemic predators affect endangered species survival.},
}

@article {pmid39233091,
year = {2024},
author = {Quinlan, GM and Doser, JW and Kammerer, MA and Grozinger, CM},
title = {Estimating genus-specific effects of non-native honey bees and urbanization on wild bee communities: A case study in Maryland, United States.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {953},
number = {},
pages = {175783},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175783},
pmid = {39233091},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {Bees ; Animals ; Maryland ; *Urbanization ; *Introduced Species ; Beekeeping ; },
abstract = {Non-native species have the potential to detrimentally affect native species through resource competition, disease transmission, and other forms of antagonism. The western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is one such species that has been widely introduced beyond its native range for hundreds of years. There are strong concerns in the United States, and other countries, about the strain that high-density, managed honey bee populations could pose to already imperiled wild bee communities. While there is some experimental evidence of honey bees competing with wild bees for resources, few studies have connected landscape-scale honey bee apiary density with down-stream consequences for wild bee communities. Here, using a dataset from Maryland, US and joint species distribution models, we provide the largest scale, most phylogenetically resolved assessment of non-native honey bee density effects on wild bee abundance to date. As beekeeping in Maryland primarily consists of urban beekeeping, we also assessed the relative impact of developed land on wild bee communities. Six of the 33 wild bee genera we assessed showed a high probability (> 90 %) of a negative association with apiary density and/or developed land. These bees were primarily late-season, specialist genera (several long-horned genera represented) or small, ground nesting, season-long foragers (including several sweat bee genera). Conversely, developed land was associated with an increase in relative abundance for some genera including invasive Anthidium and other urban garden-associated genera. We discuss several avenues to ameliorate potentially detrimental effects of beekeeping and urbanization on the most imperiled wild bee groups. We additionally offer methodological insights based on sampling efficiency of different methods (hand netting, pan trapping, vane trapping), highlighting large variation in effect sizes across genera. The magnitude of sampling effect was very high, relative to the observed ecological effects, demonstrating the importance of integrated sampling, particularly for multi-species or community level assessments.},
}

Bees
Animals
Maryland
*Urbanization
*Introduced Species
Beekeeping

@article {pmid39317107,
year = {2024},
author = {Lee, J and Noh, J and Lee, C and Lee, IO and Kwon, I and Kwon, BO and Lee, MJ and Lee, JH and Ryu, J and Kim, J and Kang, H and Ha, HK and Lee, SY and Wang, T and Khim, JS},
title = {Effects of exotic Spartina alterniflora invasion on benthic environments in the Yellow Sea.},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin},
volume = {208},
number = {},
pages = {117017},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117017},
pmid = {39317107},
issn = {1879-3363},
abstract = {For four decades, cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) has invaded salt marshes in the Yellow Sea, altering physical, biogeochemical, and biological processes. Here, we investigated the ecological effects of S. alterniflora invasion on benthic environments compared to native halophytes. S. alterniflora contributed to higher carbon accumulation rates compared with bare tidal flat in sediments (3.4 times), through greater primary production and root biomass, compared to Suaeda japonica (2.5 times) and Phragmites australis (2.4 times) over the given period. The results showed that S. alterniflora eradication treatments inhibited its growth but did not significantly affect the benthic communities. Compared to P. australis and bare tidal flats, S. alterniflora invasion resulted in lower greenhouse gas emission and higher contributions to macrobenthos nutrition, and increased sediment stability and carbon burial. Overall, these multiple lines of evidence provide new insights on S. alterniflora invasion, suggesting that the current eradication policy would be carefully reviewed.},
}

@article {pmid39316744,
year = {2023},
author = {Pringle, JM},
title = {Are Coastal Marine Larvae Dispersed Less Than Would Be Expected by Ocean Currents?.},
journal = {The Biological bulletin},
volume = {245},
number = {3},
pages = {129-138},
doi = {10.1086/732015},
pmid = {39316744},
issn = {1939-8697},
mesh = {Animals ; *Larva/physiology/growth & development ; *Oceans and Seas ; *Animal Distribution ; Water Movements ; Models, Biological ; Introduced Species ; Ecosystem ; Aquatic Organisms/physiology ; },
abstract = {AbstractThe distance that offspring disperse from their parents affects how a species responds to habitat disturbance, climate change, and interspecific interactions. For many benthic species, this dispersal is via planktonic larvae, but the distance these larvae disperse is difficult to observe directly. Dispersal distance has usually been estimated indirectly by combining an observed quantity (e.g., the rate of spread of an invasive organism or genetic similarity between locations) with a model that links that quantity to the dispersal of larvae. The estimates of dispersal distance based on the speed of spread of invasive organisms have led many researchers to conclude that the larvae of most of these organisms disperse much less than would be expected if they were being passively transported by the expected ocean currents (Shanks et al.; Shanks). I argue that the discrepancy is instead caused by the choice of model linking dispersal distance to invasion speed. Their model neglected the impact of life history, population growth, and oceanographic parameters on invasion speed. When dispersal distance is estimated from a more complete model of invasion speed, it is found that larval dispersal distance is not much less than would be expected for larvae drifting in the observed ocean currents.},
}

Animals
*Larva/physiology/growth & development
*Oceans and Seas
*Animal Distribution
Water Movements
Models, Biological
Introduced Species
Ecosystem
Aquatic Organisms/physiology

@article {pmid39316668,
year = {2024},
author = {Quinn, NF and Robertson, RR and Duan, JJ},
title = {Effect of storage conditions on host egg suitability and the reproductive fitness of Oobius agrili (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an egg parasitoid of the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae).},
journal = {Environmental entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ee/nvae081},
pmid = {39316668},
issn = {1938-2936},
abstract = {Oobius agrili Zhang and Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is an important egg parasitoid of the emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Methods for laboratory-rearing O. agrili have been developed but its mass-production depends on the continuous production and storage of freshly laid EAB eggs as well as diapaused parasitoid progeny (inside parasitized EAB eggs). The purpose of this study was to determine optimal environmental conditions for long-term storage of host eggs as well as diapaused parasitoid progeny. Fresh host eggs and diapaused parasitoid progeny were stored at two low storage temperatures (1.7 and 12.8 °C) and three levels of relative humidity (low ~31%, medium ~74%, and high ~99.9%) for various length of time (15-270 days) and then evaluated for host egg suitability and the reproductive fitness of stored parasitoid progeny. EAB eggs were stored for approximately 30 days without significant reduction of their viability and suitability to O. agrili parasitism at low storage temperatures under high and medium relative humidity. Neither storage temperature or humidity had any significant effects on adult parasitoid emergence for storage durations of up to 270 days. When storage durations were over 120 days, however, both adult parasitoid longevity and fecundity declined approximately 20-30% across all temperature and humidity treatments. Relevance of findings to mass-production and storage of O. agrili for biocontrol is discussed.},
}

@article {pmid39315959,
year = {2024},
author = {Day, CA and Trout Fryxell, RT},
title = {Fine-scale associations between land cover composition and the oviposition activity of native and invasive Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) vectors of La Crosse virus.},
journal = {Journal of vector ecology : journal of the Society for Vector Ecology},
volume = {49},
number = {2},
pages = {R27-R38},
doi = {10.52707/1081-1710-49.2.R27},
pmid = {39315959},
issn = {1948-7134},
mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes/physiology/virology ; *La Crosse virus/physiology ; *Oviposition ; *Mosquito Vectors/physiology/virology ; Introduced Species ; Female ; },
abstract = {Land cover is recognized as an important determinant of mosquito community assemblages and pathogen transmission, but few studies have investigated the role of land cover in populations of La Crosse virus (LACV) vectors. La Crosse virus is a zoonotic disease primarily maintained by native Aedes triseriatus, with accessory transmission by invasive vectors Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between land cover composition and the egg abundances of LACV vectors in a city with endemic LACV transmission. Oviposition cups were deployed at sites ranging from recreational forests to urban areas. Mixed-effects regression models were used to test the relationships between land cover composition and species abundances. Sites characterized by large percentages of impervious and built surfaces were dominated by Ae. albopictus, but Ae. triseriatus was the most abundant species in forested areas. Aedes japonicus was rare at all sites, but its presence was associated with higher percentages of forested land. These results indicate that forested areas may allow Ae. triseriatus to maintain large populations near urban areas that are dominated by Ae. albopictus. Further research should explore the potential for these land cover-dependent population dynamics to influence LACV transmission cycles.},
}

Animals
*Aedes/physiology/virology
*La Crosse virus/physiology
*Oviposition
*Mosquito Vectors/physiology/virology
Introduced Species
Female

@article {pmid39314839,
year = {2024},
author = {Poudel, S and Pokhrel, B and Neupane, B and Miya, MS and Kc, N and Basyal, CR and Neupane, A and Dhami, B},
title = {Ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing the Summer habitat use of Bos gaurus and its conservation threats in Chitwan National Park, Nepal.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {e18035},
pmid = {39314839},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {Nepal ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Parks, Recreational/statistics & numerical data ; *Seasons ; *Endangered Species ; Humans ; Anthropogenic Effects ; Climate Change ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gaur (Bos gaurus) is listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List of threatened species due to the rapid population decline caused by human pressures in their habitats. To develop successful conservation plans, it is essential to understand the relationship between Gaur and their habitats. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing Gaur habitat use and identify and rank conservation threats in Chitwan National Park, Nepal.

METHODS: Using line transect surveys, we recorded Gaur's presence via direct sightings and indirect signs (dung, footprints, horns) over an area of 176 km[2] in July and August 2022. We used binary logistic regression models to determine the collected ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing the occurrence of Gaur and the relative whole-site threat ranking method to rank conservation threats.

RESULTS: The results revealed that the probability of Gaur occurrence increases with moderate to high canopy cover, riverine and Shorea robusta dominated forests, and nearest distance to road/path/firelines, while decreasing with the presence of predators. Uncontrolled fire, invasive species, human disturbances, and climate change were ranked as the most prevailing threats to Gaur in our study area. Conservation managers should implement effective habitat management interventions, such as construction of waterhole, firelines maintenance, grassland management, and control of invasive species in the potential habitats, to safeguard and maintain the sustainability of Gaur populations and associated herbivores. Future studies should consider larger geographical settings and multiple seasons, and habitat suitability assessments should be conducted to determine current and future suitable habitat refugia for Gaur and other threatened wildlife species at the landscape level.},
}

Nepal
*Conservation of Natural Resources
Animals
*Ecosystem
*Parks, Recreational/statistics & numerical data
*Seasons
*Endangered Species
Humans
Anthropogenic Effects
Climate Change

@article {pmid39313916,
year = {2024},
author = {Zhu, YX and Zhang, YY and Wang, XY and Yin, Y and Du, YZ},
title = {Wolbachia modify host cell metabolite profiles in response to short-term temperature stress.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {16},
number = {5},
pages = {e70013},
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70013},
pmid = {39313916},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {BK20231330//The Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Wolbachia/metabolism/physiology/genetics ; Animals ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Temperature ; Cell Line ; *Metabolome ; Drosophila/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Diptera/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia are common heritable endosymbionts that influence many aspects of ecology and evolution in various insects, yet Wolbachia-mediated intracellular metabolic responses to temperature stress have been largely overlooked. Here, we introduced the Wolbachia strain wLhui from the invasive Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) into a Drosophila Schneider 2 cell line (S2) and investigated the metabolite profile of wLhui-infected (S2_wLhui) and uninfected cell lines (S2_wu) under short-term exposure to either high (37°C), moderate (27°C), or low (7 and 17°C) temperatures. We find that Wolbachia infection, temperature stress, and their interactions significantly affect cellular metabolic profiles. Most significantly, when comparing the changes in metabolites between S2_wLhui and S2_wu, glycerophospholipids, amino acids, and fatty acids associated with metabolic pathways, microbial metabolism in diverse environments, and other pathways were significantly accumulated at either low or high temperatures. Our findings suggest Wolbachia-induced cellular physiological responses to short-term temperature stress, which may in turn affect the fitness and adaptive ability of its host as an invasive species.},
}

*Wolbachia/metabolism/physiology/genetics
Animals
*Stress, Physiological
*Temperature
Cell Line
*Metabolome
Drosophila/microbiology
Symbiosis
Diptera/microbiology
Fatty Acids/metabolism

@article {pmid39313091,
year = {2024},
author = {Bartolomé, C and Dasilva-Martins, D and Valiñas, R and Gabín-García, LB and Nave, A and García-Pérez, AL and Monceau, K and Thiéry, D and Christie, A and Choi, MB and Sobrino, B and Amigo, J and Maside, X},
title = {Prevalence and population genetic analyses of parasites in invasive Vespa velutina and native Hymenoptera.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108203},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2024.108203},
pmid = {39313091},
issn = {1096-0805},
abstract = {Invasive species pose a threat to the ecological balance of the ecosystems they invade by altering local host-pathogen dynamics. To investigate these relationships and their potential consequences, we examined the prevalence and genetic diversity patterns of Trypanosomatidae, Lipotrophidae, and Nosematidae in a collection of sympatric isolates of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina and local Hymenoptera from two recently colonized areas: Europe and South Korea. Data were gathered through PCR amplification and massive parallel sequencing, and analyses were conducted using population genetics tools. Parasite prevalences showed substantial variation depending on (i) the parasite family (Trypanosomatidae and Nosematidae were the most and less prevalent, respectively), (ii) location (e.g. Galicia displayed the highest pooled values), (iii) the season (highest in spring for Trypanosomatidae and Lipotrophidae), and (iv) the host. V. velutina exhibited significantly lower parasite occurrence than native Hymenoptera across all parasite families (consistent with the enemy release hypothesis), although this difference was less pronounced during the periods of heightened predatory activity, suggestive of trophic transmission. Parasite species displayed significant genetic differentiation between European and South Korean isolates, yet no differentiation was observed across hosts, suggesting that all Hymenoptera are exposed to a common local pathogen population. There was no indication that V. velutina acted as a carrier of foreign parasites to the invaded territories.},
}

@article {pmid39235033,
year = {2024},
author = {Feng, S and DeGrey, SP and Guédot, C and Schoville, SD and Pool, JE},
title = {Genomic Diversity Illuminates the Environmental Adaptation of Drosophila suzukii.},
journal = {Genome biology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {9},
pages = {},
pmid = {39235033},
issn = {1759-6653},
support = {WIS02005//United States Department of Agriculture/ ; R35 GM13630/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Drosophila/genetics ; Animals ; Genome, Insect ; Genetic Variation ; Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Introduced Species ; },
abstract = {Biological invasions carry substantial practical and scientific importance and represent natural evolutionary experiments on contemporary timescales. Here, we investigated genomic diversity and environmental adaptation of the crop pest Drosophila suzukii using whole-genome sequencing data and environmental metadata for 29 population samples from its native and invasive range. Through a multifaceted analysis of this population genomic data, we increase our understanding of the D. suzukii genome, its diversity and its evolution, and we identify an appropriate genotype-environment association pipeline for our dataset. Using this approach, we detect genetic signals of local adaptation associated with nine distinct environmental factors related to altitude, wind speed, precipitation, temperature, and human land use. We uncover unique functional signatures for each environmental variable, such as the prevalence of cuticular genes associated with annual precipitation. We also infer biological commonalities in the adaptation to diverse selective pressures, particularly in terms of the apparent contribution of nervous system evolution to enriched processes (ranging from neuron development to circadian behavior) and to top genes associated with all nine environmental variables. Our findings therefore depict a finer-scale adaptive landscape underlying the rapid invasion success of this agronomically important species.},
}

*Drosophila/genetics
Animals
Genome, Insect
Genetic Variation
Adaptation, Physiological/genetics
Introduced Species

@article {pmid39128963,
year = {2024},
author = {Veselkin, DV and Dubrovin, DI and Rafikova, OS},
title = {Occurrence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Herbs Decreases Selectively in Communities Dominated by Invasive Tree Acer negundo.},
journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections},
volume = {518},
number = {1},
pages = {225-229},
pmid = {39128963},
issn = {1608-3105},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/drug effects ; *Acer/microbiology ; *Introduced Species ; Symbiosis ; Trees/microbiology ; },
abstract = {We tested whether one of the consequences predicted for alien plant invasion by the mutualism disruption hypothesis was true in the case of the ash-leaved maple Acer negundo L. The study aimed to determine whether the occurrences of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal herbs varied similarly or differently in communities with varying degrees of A. negundo dominance. The analysis included the results of 78 vegetation descriptions carried out in Belarusian Polesia, the Middle Volga region, and the Middle Urals. Communities with or without A. negundo dominance were described in each region. The mycorrhizal status of plant species was determined using the FungalRoot Database. Species that are more likely to form arbuscular mycorrhiza were found to occur less frequently in A. negundo thickets. On the contrary, a higher probability of the nonmycorrhizal status was associated with a lower frequency of detection in A. negundo thickets. Therefore, the occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal herbs was found to selectively decrease in communities dominated by A. negundo.},
}

*Mycorrhizae/physiology/drug effects
*Acer/microbiology
*Introduced Species
Symbiosis
Trees/microbiology

@article {pmid39312824,
year = {2024},
author = {Marín-Aragón, R and Veiga, P and Sampaio, L and Guerrero-Meseguer, L and Sousa-Pinto, I and Rubal, M},
title = {The role of environment descriptors and seagrass biometrics in shaping macrobenthic assemblages' structure in intertidal Zostera noltei meadows.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {202},
number = {},
pages = {106756},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106756},
pmid = {39312824},
issn = {1879-0291},
abstract = {The present study describes macroinvertebrate assemblages in three Zostera noltei meadows, following a salinity gradient along the Aveiro lagoon (Portugal). The main environmental descriptors and Z. noltei biometrics were studied to provide a model of the multivariate macroinvertebrate assemblage structure. The macroinvertebrate assemblage structure in the meadow close to the lagoon opening was significantly different. This could be explained by its higher organic matter content and salinity values. Our model highlighted that 72% of the variation on macroinvertebrate assemblage structure was explained by the studied variables, being organic matter, salinity and sediment median grain size the most relevant factors. Moreover, the number of Z. noltei shoots, and cover of the invasive species Agarophyton aff. vermiculophyllum were also significant. The strong relationship between macroinvertebrates, environmental descriptors and Z. noltei biometrics validates the usefulness of macroinvertebrates as indicators of the seagrass condition in intertidal environments. This study provides baseline data that will be crucial to detect anthropogenic disturbances and preserve Z. noltei meadows, including their associated biodiversity. These data will also allow focusing on certain environmental factors and Z. noltei biometrics that have proved shaping the macroinvertebrate assemblages' structure.},
}

@article {pmid39311763,
year = {2024},
author = {Lu, Y and Luo, F and Zhou, A and Yi, C and Chen, H and Li, J and Guo, Y and Xie, Y and Zhang, W and Lin, D and Yang, Y and Wu, Z and Zhang, Y and Xu, S and Hu, W},
title = {Whole-genome sequencing of the invasive golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata from Asia reveals rapid expansion and adaptive evolution.},
journal = {GigaScience},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/gigascience/giae064},
pmid = {39311763},
issn = {2047-217X},
support = {2016YFC1200503//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Snails/genetics ; *Whole Genome Sequencing ; *Introduced Species ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Asia ; Genetic Variation ; Selection, Genetic ; Phylogeny ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {Pomacea canaliculata, an invasive species native to South America, is recognized for its broad geographic distribution and adaptability to a variety of ecological conditions. The details concerning the evolution and adaptation of P. canaliculate remain unclear due to a lack of whole-genome resequencing data. We examined 173 P. canaliculata genomes representing 17 geographic populations in East and Southeast Asia. Interestingly, P. canaliculata showed a higher level of genetic diversity than other mollusks, and our analysis suggested that the dispersal of P. canaliculata could have been driven by climate changes and human activities. Notably, we identified a set of genes associated with low temperature adaptation, including Csde1, a cold shock protein coding gene. Further RNA sequencing analysis and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiments demonstrated the gene's dynamic pattern and biological functions during cold exposure. Moreover, both positive selection and balancing selection are likely to have contributed to the rapid environmental adaptation of P. canaliculata populations. In particular, genes associated with energy metabolism and stress response were undergoing positive selection, while a large number of immune-related genes showed strong signatures of balancing selection. Our study has advanced our understanding of the evolution of P. canaliculata and has provided a valuable resource concerning an invasive species.},
}

Animals
*Snails/genetics
*Whole Genome Sequencing
*Introduced Species
*Adaptation, Physiological/genetics
Evolution, Molecular
Asia
Genetic Variation
Selection, Genetic
Phylogeny
Biological Evolution

@article {pmid39310957,
year = {2024},
author = {Hulme, PE},
title = {Trouble on the horizon: anticipating biological invasions through futures thinking.},
journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/brv.13149},
pmid = {39310957},
issn = {1469-185X},
support = {//Lincoln University/ ; },
abstract = {Anticipating future biosecurity threats to prevent their occurrence is the most cost-effective strategy to manage invasive alien species. Yet, biological invasions are complex, highly uncertain processes. High uncertainty drives decision-making away from strategic preventative measures and towards operational outcomes aimed at post-invasion management. The limited success of preventative measures in curbing biological invasions reflects this short-term mindset and decision-makers should instead apply strategic foresight to imagine futures where biosecurity threats are minimised. Here, four major futures thinking tools (environmental scanning, driver-mapping, horizon scanning, and scenario planning) that describe probable, possible, plausible and preferable futures are assessed in terms of their potential to support both research and policy addressing biological invasions. Environmental scanning involves surveying existing data sources to detect signals of emerging alien species through knowledge of changes in either the likelihood or consequences of biological invasions. Several approaches are widely used for biosecurity including automated scans of digital media, consensus-based expert scoring, and prediction markets. Automated systems can be poor at detecting weak signals because of the large volume of 'noise' they generate while expert scoring relies on prior knowledge and so fails to identify unknown unknowns which is also true of prediction markets that work well for quite specific known risks. Driver-mapping uses expert consensus to identify the political, economic, societal, technological, legislative, and environmental forces shaping the future and is a critical component of strategic foresight that has rarely been applied to biological invasions. Considerable potential exists to extend this approach to develop system maps to identify where biosecurity interventions may be most effective and to explore driver complexes to determine megatrends shaping the future of biological invasions. Horizon scanning is a systematic outlook of potential threats and future developments to detect weak signals of emerging issues that exist at the margins of current thinking. Applications have been strongly focused on emerging issues related to research and technological challenges relevant to biosecurity and invasion science. However, most of these emerging issues are already well known in current-day research. Because horizon scanning is based on expert consensus, it needs to embrace a diversity of cultural, gender, and disciplinary diversity more adequately to ensure participants think intuitively and outside of their own subject boundaries. Scenario planning constructs storylines that describe alternative ways the political, economic, social, technological, legislative, and environmental situation might develop in the future. Biological invasion scenario planning has favoured structured approaches such as standardised archetypes and uncertainty matrices, but scope exists to apply more intuitive thinking by using incasting, backcasting, or causal layered analysis. Futures thinking in biological invasions has not engaged with decision-makers or other stakeholders adequately and thus outcomes have been light on policy and management priorities. To date, strategic foresight addressing biological invasions has applied each approach in isolation. Yet, an integrated approach to futures thinking that involves a diverse set of stakeholders in exploring the probable, possible, plausible, and preferable futures relating to biological invasions is crucial to the delivery of strategic biosecurity foresight at both national and global scales.},
}

@article {pmid39310793,
year = {2024},
author = {Lečić, S and Wolfe, TM and Ghosh, A and Satar, S and Souza Beraldo, C and Smith, E and Dombroskie, JJ and Jernigan, E and Hood, GR and Schuler, H and Stauffer, C},
title = {Spatially Varying Wolbachia Frequencies Reveal the Invasion Origin of an Agricultural Pest Recently Introduced From Europe to North America.},
journal = {Evolutionary applications},
volume = {17},
number = {9},
pages = {e70016},
pmid = {39310793},
issn = {1752-4571},
abstract = {The introduction of non-native species across the world represents a major global challenge. Retracing invasion origin is an important first step in understanding the invasion process, often requiring detailed sampling within the native range. Insect species frequently host Wolbachia, a widespread endosymbiotic bacterium that manipulates host reproduction to increase infected female fitness. Here, we draw on the spatial variation in infection frequencies of an actively spreading Wolbachia strain wCer2 to investigate the invasion origin of the European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi. This pest of cherries was introduced from Europe to North America within the last decade. First, we screen the introduced fly population for the presence of Wolbachia. The introduced populations lack the wCer2 strain and the strongly associated mitochondrial haplotype, suggesting strain absence due to founder effects with invading individuals originating from wCer2-uninfected native population(s). To narrow down geographic regions of invasion origin, we perform spatial interpolation of the wCer2 infection frequency across the native range and predict the infection frequency in unsampled regions. For this, we use an extensive dataset of R. cerasi infection covering 238 populations across Europe over 25 years, complemented with 14 additional populations analyzed for this study. We find that R. cerasi was unlikely introduced from wCer2-infected populations in Central and Western Europe. We propose wCer2-uninfected populations from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region as the most likely candidates for the invasion origin. This work utilizes Wolbachia as an indirect instrument to provide insights into the invasion source of R. cerasi in North America, revealing yet another application for this multifaceted heritable endosymbiont. Given the prevalence of biological invasions, rapidly uncovering invasion origins gives fundamental insights into how invasive species adapt to new environments.},
}

@article {pmid39310707,
year = {2024},
author = {Cerrato, MD and Mir-Rosselló, PM and Cortés-Fernández, I and Ribas-Serra, A and Douthe, C and Cardona, C and Sureda, A and Flexas, J and Gil Vives, L},
title = {Insights on physiological, antioxidant and flowering response to salinity stress of two candidate ornamental species: the native coastal geophytes Pancratium maritimum L. and Eryngium maritimum L.},
journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology},
volume = {30},
number = {9},
pages = {1533-1549},
pmid = {39310707},
issn = {0971-5894},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Increasing seawater influence in coastal areas is an ongoing environmental issue. Gardening is a widespread activity mainly in touristic areas such as the Mediterranean coasts. However, the use of exotic species well adapted to salinity encompasses the risk of invasive species introduction. This study aimed to evaluate salinity tolerance of native geophytes, Pancratium maritimum L. and Eryngium maritimum L., to assess their use as ornamental species in salt affected coastal areas. Experiments were conducted using cultivated plants for flowering response and physiological and enzymatic antioxidant response. Six treatments were applied for two months, exposing plants to seawater (SW) dilutions (Tap-Water, 6.25%SW, 12.5%SW, 25%SW, 50%SW and 100%SW). Taxa decreased inflorescence production being this effect more architectonical in E. maritimum and affecting all inflorescence integrity in P. maritimum. Flowering time was strongly delayed and reduced in P. maritimum, while E. maritimum showed smaller effects among treatments. Physiological and biochemical response showed at moderate salinity levels (1/4SW) variation concomitant with late stress response and senescence in P. maritimum, with decreased water use efficiency, NPQ values, and enzymatic activity, and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In contrast, E. maritimum showed early stress response with steady gas exchange response, increasing NPQ values and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dimutase (SOD) activity, and decreasing MDA levels with salinity. Glutathione enzymes showed limited participation in both species. The results of this study suggest that neither species can be classified as halophytes, but they exhibit tolerance to low and moderate salinity levels, making them suitable for ornamental use.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-024-01502-0.},
}

@article {pmid39309169,
year = {2024},
author = {Jung, S and Kim, S and Shin, S},
title = {Complete mitochondrial genome of Plecialongiforceps Duda, 1933 (Diptera, Bibionidae) and its implications for a phylogeny of the family Bibionidae.},
journal = {ZooKeys},
volume = {1212},
number = {},
pages = {1-15},
pmid = {39309169},
issn = {1313-2989},
abstract = {Over the past decade, the prevalence of mass outbreaks involving non-native insects has sparked concerns about their potential negative impact on human inhabited areas and local environments. Plecialongiforceps Duda, 1933 (Diptera, Bibionidae) was recently recognized as an invasive pest in South Korea, causing public nuisance through mass outbreaks in the Seoul Metropolitan Area during early summer. In this study, we present the first complete mitochondrial genome of Plecialongiforceps, generated from the PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing data. Notably, the length of the circular genome is found to be larger than any annotated reference sequences of mitochondrial genomes for the infraorder Bibionomorpha, which is attributable to an unusually long A+T rich control region. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of Bibionomorpha, focusing specifically on the family Bibionidae, using nearly all available mitochondrial genome data to elucidate relationships among genera within Bibionidae. Our phylogeny of Bibionomorpha recovered a strong monophyly of the family Bibionidae and its three subfamilies: Bibioninae (Bibio + Dilophus), Hesperininae (Hesperinus + Penthetria), and Pleciinae (Plecia), corroborating the recently proposed taxonomic classification system of Bibionidae. Furthermore, we discuss evolutionary trends within Bibionidae based on our well-supported higher relationships of the superfamily Bibionoidea.},
}

@article {pmid39308258,
year = {2024},
author = {López-Collar, D and Cabrero-Sañudo, FJ and Gil-Tapetado, D},
title = {The urban island: climatic suitability of Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the role of cities in the invasion of the Western Palearctic.},
journal = {Integrative zoology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1749-4877.12903},
pmid = {39308258},
issn = {1749-4877},
abstract = {Urban environments often present environmental conditions that facilitate the introduction and establishment of nonnative and invasive species. These can expand their range into areas with unfavorable climates by taking advantage of the ecological and climatic homogenization of cities, bypassing the ecological barriers presented by the surrounding environment. One way to monitor the expansion of these species is using potential distribution models. We used as a model species the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) whose invasion has caused serious consequences for biodiversity and economic losses worldwide. We used the average result of six different algorithms and used climatic variables and population density as a proxy for the urbanization level in the Western Palearctic to build the predictive model. The model indicates this ant prefers to inhabit areas with Mediterranean and Temperate Oceanic climates and that its suitability depends on two main factors: the continentality (temperature annual range) and the degree of urbanization. The species is predicted to be absent in areas with large temperature contrasts throughout the year, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas (i.e. adjacent to urban areas) of inland regions. Conversely, the species has a predilection for coastal and urban areas where environmental conditions are attenuated by the influence of the sea or the "urban heat island" effect in the case of inland cities. In this sense, cities act as "bioclimatic islands" facilitating the establishment of the Argentine ant as a reservoir, enlarging its distribution into climatically nonoptimal areas, and promoting its future expansion in a scenario of global warming and socioeconomic change.},
}

@article {pmid39307090,
year = {2024},
author = {Jeliazkov, A and Martínez-Fernández, V and Altanov, VY and Beisel, JN and Buijse, AD and Consuegra, S and Felin, S and Garcia de Leaniz, C and Graf, W and He, F and Jähnig, SC and Leitner, P and Schmidt-Kloiber, A and Sexton, AN and Staentzel, C and Tales, E and Wantzen, KM and Wolter, C},
title = {A global systematic map of knowledge of inland commercial navigation effects on freshwater ecosystems.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {370},
number = {},
pages = {122474},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122474},
pmid = {39307090},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Inland navigation is one of the most sustainable transport alternatives to help decarbonise the world economy. However, the likely impacts of intensifying inland navigation on freshwater ecosystems are difficult to predict. A global map of knowledge that considers both abiotic and biotic responses to increasing shipping traffic and developing infrastructures is lacking. Deriving general evidence-based assessments is challenging, because most studies on inland navigation impacts are merely descriptive and either consist of local case studies, or address single navigation stressors or specific taxa only. We conducted a systematic mapping of the published literature (1908-2021) to provide a global synthesis of the effects of inland navigation on the biotic and abiotic components of freshwater ecosystems. We show that only half of the reported navigation-related impacts were statistically tested. Navigation itself (vessel operation) had mainly negative effects on native taxa (57%), followed by waterway management (40%), and navigation infrastructures (35%). Navigation has direct negative impacts caused by physical disturbances such as vessel-induced waves, and indirect impacts that facilitate the spread of aquatic invasive species, and altering the abiotic habitat conditions. Thirty percent of the tested relationships showed non-significant impacts on the biotic environment, while in 10% of cases impacts were context-dependent. We identified the main gaps of knowledge, namely (i) impacts of waterway management on communities, (ii) underlying processes of navigation impacts on river ecosystems; and (iii) interactions between multiple navigation factors and cascading effects on multi-taxa responses. These future research directions should improve the diagnosis, mitigate the negative impacts of navigation on rivers and provide guidelines for improving navigated river management.},
}

@article {pmid39306827,
year = {2024},
author = {McAllister, CT and Hnida, JA and Vice, D and Fisher, SR and Fisher, RN},
title = {A new species of Choleoeimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the invasive curious skink, Carlia ailanpalai (Sauria: Scincidae) from Guam, U.S. Territory.},
journal = {Systematic parasitology},
volume = {101},
number = {5},
pages = {63},
pmid = {39306827},
issn = {1573-5192},
mesh = {Animals ; *Lizards/parasitology ; *Species Specificity ; *Eimeriidae/classification/cytology ; Guam ; Introduced Species ; Feces/parasitology ; },
abstract = {The curious skink, Carlia ailanpalai Zug, occurs in the main group of the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea but has also successfully invaded Guam, the Marianas, Yap, and Kosrae. A single coccidian, Eimeria zugi McAllister, Duszynski, Fisher, & Austin, 2013 was described from C. ailanpalai from Papua New Guinea. No additional coccidians are known from this host. Fourteen C. ailanpalai were collected from Cocos Island (Islan Dåno), Guam, U.S. Territory, and their feces examined for coccidians. A single skink (7%) was found to be passing oöcysts of a new species of Choleoeimeria. Oöcysts of Choleoeimeria cocosensis n. sp. are ellipsoidal to ovoidal with a bi-layered wall, measure (L × W) 21.1 × 12.9 µm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.6; a micropyle and an oocyst residuum were absent but fragmented polar granule(s) was present. Sporocysts are ovoidal and measure 8.6 × 6.3 µm, L/W 1.4; Stieda, sub-Stieda, and para-Stieda bodies were absent. Sporocyst residuum was typically a loose aggregate of various-sized granules between and across the sporozoites but sometimes a dense irregular mass between and across the sporozoites. Sporozoites were elongate, with a centrally located nucleus and a large spheroidal to subspheroidal posterior refractile body, but without an anterior refractile body. The new species can be differentiated from all other choleoeimerians from skinks by possessing one of the smallest oöcysts known from the host family. We also provide an updated summation of the choleoeimerians from skinks of the world. This article was registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank) as urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6EFDF027-0A92-43C4-9AD0-E555252E7741.},
}

Animals
*Lizards/parasitology
*Species Specificity
*Eimeriidae/classification/cytology
Guam
Introduced Species
Feces/parasitology