Systematics of the avian family Alaudidae using multilocus and genomic data

The family Alaudidae,larks,comprises 93-100 species(depending on taxonomy)that are widely distributed across Africa and Eurasia,with single species extending their ranges to North and northernmost South America and Australia.A decade-old molecular phylogeny,comprising~80%of the species,revealed multiple cases of parallel evolution and large variation in rates of morphological evolution,which had misled taxonomists into creating many non-monophyletic genera.Here,we reconstruct the phylogeny of the larks,using a dataset covering one mitochondrial and 16 nuclear loci and comprising all except one of the currently recognised species as well as several recently proposed new species(in total 133 taxa;not all loci available for all species).We provide additional support using genome-wide markers to infer a genus-level phylogeny based on near-complete generic sampling(in total 51 samples of 44 taxa across 40 species).Our results confirm the previous findings of rampant morphological convergence and divergence,and reveal new cases of paraphyletic genera.We propose a new subfamily classification,and also that the genus Mirafra is divided into four genera to produce a more balanced generic classification of the Alaudidae.Our study supports recently proposed species splits as well as some recent lumps,while also questioning some of the latter.This comprehensive phylogeny will form an important basis for future studies,such as comparative studies of lark natural history,ecology,evolution and conservation.

Biometric Analysis on Genetic Divergence between Parental and Regenerated Accessions in Tall Coconut Palms (Cocos nucifera L.) from International Genebank for Africa and the Indian Ocean

This study endeavour assesses agromorphological likeness between initial introductions and regenerated accessions at the International Coconut Genebank for Africa and the Indian Ocean (ICG-AIO) based in C?te d’Ivoire. Ten couples of parental (G0) and regenerated (G1) accessions of Tall coconut palms were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) from 26 agromorphological characters. The main results showed a relative decrease in the expression of the phenotypical traits concerning the component of the fruit, height and vigor of the stem and yield of bunches and fruits after one regeneration cycle. But, a high proportion (69%) of studied characters from leaf, inflorescence and nut components showed likeness between G0 and G1 accessions. After one regeneration cycle, the controlled pollination method guarantees significant conservation of the expression of the majority of agromorphological traits. Consequently, regenerated accessions of Tall coconut palms can be used to pursue research and development programs in C?te d’Ivoire.

作物生产系统中的植物多样性与生态集约化

生态集约化是指通过强化生态系统服务实现以补充或替代人为输入来维持或增加产量的目标。生态集约化具有提高农业环境可持续性的潜力,例如通过降低对环境不利的管理活动而又维持产量。生态集约化基于生态过程,而这些过程受到生物多样性的影响。本文综述了多空间尺度下生物多样性,特别是维管植物多样性如何调节与生态集约化相关的生态过程。在植物个体基因型水平上,功能性状的互补性直接影响生产力;在田块内种群水平上,作物混合类型具有抗灾能力,以减少病虫害的发生和传播的风险;尺度转换到田间水平,非作物植物类型(如杂草)的多样性为田块内的功能过程提供了必要的资源,包括地下(碳输入、分解)和地上(传粉媒介和天敌的资源连续性)。在景观尺度上,半自然和管理的植被嵌合体通过减轻洪涝和干旱风险、改善气候和调节虫害种群,为抵御极端事件提供缓冲。总体而言,上述强调了尺度异质性在农田维持生态系统功能的重要性。本综述的主要研究挑战包括:1)将植物功能多样性(从性状到栖息地尺度)更好地整合到种植系统设计中;2)量化植物多样性相对于其他管理选项对有效生态集约化的可能互动贡献,3)并通过有针对性的管理优化生物多样性的系统功能优势,以实现具有弹性、高效和高产的农业生态系统。

Reproductive biology of Gazella arabica: Predictors of offspring weight and short- and long-term offspring survival

Reproductive traits are central to organismal fitness,and so the factors influencing patterns of reproduction and offspring survival are at the heart of biology.Making use of breeding data collected over 16 years at the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre in Saudi Arabia,we investigated the reproductive biology of Arabian gazelles Gazella arabica.Offspring survival was mainly a function of birth weight,with heavier offspring having higher survival rates than lighter offspring.However,while sons were heavier than daughters,daughters had higher survival rates.We could not find evidence that giving birth to sons negatively impacts offspring weight in the following year.We uncovered large narrow-sense heritability(h2)in offspring weight at birth,while maternal effects(m2)on birth weight were of lesser importance.However,maternal effects on offspring survival were strong until weaning age,while paternal effects dominated survival to sexual maturity and first reproduction.We propose that variation in maternal postnatal care might overshadow the effects of maternal inheritance of birth weights,while the overall strong heritability of weight at birth and the paternal effects on survival llustrates strong variance in sire fitness based on genetic quality,suggesting a role for sexual selectionbyfemalemate choiceinwildpopulations.

The contribution of fungi to the global economy

Fungi provide ecological and environmental services to humans, as well as health and nutritional benefits, and are vital to numerousindustries. Fermented food and beverage products from fungi are circulating in the market, generating billions of USD.However, the highest potential monetary value of fungi is their role in blue carbon trading because of their ability to sequesterlarge amounts of carbon in the soil. There are no conclusive estimates available on the global monetary value of fungi, primarilybecause there are limited data for extrapolation. This study outlines the contribution of fungi to the global economy and providesa first attempt at quantifying the global monetary value of fungi. Our estimate of USD 54.57 trillion provides a starting point thatcan be analysed and improved, highlighting the significance of fungi and providing an appreciation of their value. This paperidentifies the different economically valuable products and services provided by fungi. By giving a monetary value to all importantfungal products, services, and industrial applications underscores their significance in biodiversity and conservation. Furthermore,if the value of fungi is well established, they will be considered in future policies for effective ecosystem management.

Medicinal mushrooms in prevention and control of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a life-threatening chronic metabolic disease caused by lack of insulin and/or insulin dysfunction,characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood(hyperglycemia).Millions worldwide suffer from diabetes and its complications.Significantly,it has been recognized that type 2 diabetes is an important preventable disease and can be avoided or delayed by lifestyle intervention.Presently,there are many chemical and biochemical hypoglycemic agents(synthetic drugs),that are used in treating diabetes and are effective in controlling hyperglycemia.However,as they may have harmful side-effects and fail to significantly alter the course of diabetic complications,natural anti-diabetic drugs from medicinal plants have attracted a great deal of attention.Medicinal mushrooms have been valued as a traditional source of natural bioactive compounds over many centuries and have been targeted as potential hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic agents.Bioactive metabolites including polysaccharides,proteins,dietary fibres,and many other biomolecules isolated from medicinal mushrooms and their cultured mycelia have been shown to be successful in diabetes treatment as biological antihyperglycemic agents.In this review we discuss the biological nature of diabetes and,in particular,explore some promising mushrooms that have experimental anti-diabetic properties,preventing or reducing the development of diabetes mellitus.The importance of medicinal mushrooms as agents of medical nutrition therapy and how their metabolites can be used as supportive candidates for prevention and control of diabetes is explored.Future prospects for this field of study and the difficulties and constraints that might affect the development of rational drug products from medicinal mushrooms are discussed.

两型结实豆科植物种子休眠和萌发的差异:空间和时间上多样性的两头下注策略

通过休眠而实现的在空间或时间上的传播是生物体对它们所经历的环境施加影响的主要过程之一。在植物中,由于这两种传播都是通过种子进行的,而且两者在适应性方面发挥的作用也是类似的,因此预测它们之间存在较强的进化相关性。在本研究中,我们使用了两型结实的植株来研究这些进化相关性,这类植株能同时产生具有高度空间传播力的种子以及不会传播的地下种子。我们对经不同组合的休眠过程破坏处理(即干燥后熟、冷积层和物理划伤)后的种子的萌发百分比进行了评估,以研究两种两型结实豆科植物——野豌豆(Vicia amphicarpa L.)和山黧豆(Lathyrus amphicarpos L.),以及同它们亲缘关系很近的两种单型结实类群——救荒野豌豆(Vicia sativa L.)和红山黧豆(Lathyrus cicera L.)的飞播种子和地下种子在休眠和萌发方面的变化情况。研究结果表明,空间传播和时间传播之间存在着复杂的相互作用。在刚完成传播时,空播种子比地下种子更具休眠性,但当种子经后熟处理而开始物理休眠时,这种趋势也随之逆转。单型结实植株种子的萌发百分比高于其两型结实的同属植株,并在后熟处理后都同样失去了休眠性。相反,两型结实植株的种子则表现出同时受生理休眠和物理休眠调节的不同休眠性策略,预计这可能使出苗时间发生变化,从而提供了多层次多样化的两头下注策略(bet-hedging)。这一策略能够使植株依赖于丰产季中的历史有利区域而不阻碍空间和时间上的迁移,从而有可能在不可预测性很高的条件下具有适应性。

Early dynamics in plant community trait responses to a novel, more extreme hydrological gradient

Aims For temperate regions such as Northern Europe,predicted climate change patterns include an increase in winter precipitation causing increased risk of flooding,whereas periods of droughts will become more frequent in summer.The aim of this study is to explore vari-ations in plant functional trait distributions along a hydrological gradient spanning from recurrent drought events to recurrent flood-ing-mimicking future precipitation patterns.Methods The experiment was conducted in a controlled grassland experi-ment over a period of 3 years.A novel and more extreme hydro-logical regime was achieved by manipulating the flow of a nearby stream thereby creating a continuous hydrological gradient from flooding during winter to drought during summer.Plant commu-nity responses were recorded along this hydrological gradient.Community-weighted trait distribution changes along the gradient were described using null models.Six functional traits were con-sidered:seed mass,leaf dry matter content(LDMC),leaf area,leaf thickness,specific leaf area(SLA)and height.Important findings Over time,responses in plant functional traits changed at the community level.Over the study period consistent changes occurred in the mean trait value of several traits.Communities in relatively dry plots became dominated by species with water-conserving life strategies,represented by high seed mass and thick leaves.In contrast,disturbance-resistant species(high leaf dry matter content)became dominant in flooded plots,indicating that persistence to flooding was the most important factor control-ling the functional structure in those communities.Furthermore,a high abundance of small-seeded species in flooded plots likely indicates higher frequency of species with higher dispersal ability through hydrochory.In conclusion,plant traits are useful for predicting responses to climate change,but abrupt and extreme climate event may cause unexpected responses because they have no analog to previously more stable conditions.We suggest that traits related to dispersal and resistance to disturbance are useful in describing responses to flooding and that these traits should be included in future inves-tigations of plant community responses to extreme hydrological events.

Medicinal mushrooms in supportive cancer therapies:an approach to anti-cancer effects and putative mechanisms of action

Medicinal mushrooms have been valued as natural sources of bioactive compounds since times immemorial and have been recognized as potential immunomodulating and anti-cancer agents.Their consumption has consistently been shown to have beneficial effects on human health.Cancer is a generic term for several types of diseases that can be chronic and are responsible for a large number of deaths worldwide.Although there has been considerable progress in modern cancer therapy research,difficulties in understanding the molecular behavior of various types of cancers and the numerous side effects experienced by patients from treatments means that this whole subject area is still problematic.Thus,biological immunotherapy using natural bioactive compounds as supportive treatments in conventional cancer therapies has become in vogue.Bioactive metabolites isolated from medicinal mushrooms have shown potential successes in cancer treatment as biological immunotherapeutic agents that stimulate the immune system against cancer cells.They also act as an effective source of anti-cancer agents,capable of interfering with cellular signal transduction pathways linked to cancer development and progression.In this review we compile available data on the characteristics of medicinal mushrooms that appear to be particularly effective as biological immunotherapeutic agents.Major consideration is given to biological constituents and the putative mechanisms of action by which bioactive compounds act on the human body.Consideration is also given to the benefits that have been claimed for the use of mushrooms in treating cancer and the future prospects of using medicinal mushrooms as potent supportive candidate bioagents for treatment of cancers is discussed.

Bioactive metabolites from macrofungi: ethnopharmacology, biological activities and chemistry

Exploration of natural sources for novel bioactive compounds has been an emerging field of medicine over the past decades,providing drugs or lead compounds of considerable therapeutic potential.This research has provided exciting evidence on the isolation of microbe-derived metabolites having prospective biological activities.Mushrooms have been valued as traditional sources of natural bioactive compounds for many centuries and have been targeted as promising therapeutic agents.Many novel biologically active compounds have been reported as a result of research on medicinal mushrooms.In this review,we compile the information on bioactive structure-elucidated metabolites from macrofungi discovered over the last decade and highlight their unique chemical diversity and potential benefits to novel drug discovery.The main emphasis is on their anti-Alzheimer,antidiabetic,anti-malarial,anti-microbial,anti-oxidant,antitumor,anti-viral and hypocholesterolemic activities which are important medicinal targets in terms of drug discovery today.Moreover,the reader’s attention is brought to focus on mushroom products and food supplements available in the market with claimed biological activities and potential human health benefits.

Size fractions of organic matter pools influence their stability: Application of the Rock-Eval® analysis to beech forest soils

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a complex heterogeneous mixture formed through decomposition and organo-mineral interactions, and characterization of its composition and biogeochemical stability is challenging. From this perspective, Rock-Eval® is a rapid and efficient thermal analytical method that combines the quantitative and qualitative information of SOM, including several parameters related to thermal stability. This approach has already been used to monitor changes in organic matter (OM) properties at the landscape, cropland, and soil profile scales. This study was aimed to assess the stability of SOM pools by characterizing the grain size fractions from forest litters and topsoils using Rock-Eval® thermal analysis. Litter (organic) and topsoil samples were collected from a beech forest in Normandy (France), whose management in the last 200 years has been documented. Fractionation by wet sieving was used to separate large debris (> 2 000 μm) and coarse (200–2 000 μm) and fine particulate OM (POM) (50–200 μm) in the organic samples as well as coarse (200–2 000 μm), medium (50–200 μm), and fine (< 50 μm) fractions of the topsoil samples. Rock-Eval® was able to provide thermal parameters sensitive enough to study fine-scale soil processes. In the organic layers, quantitative and qualitative changes were explained by the progressive decomposition of labile organic compounds from plant debris to the finest organic particles. Meanwhile, the grain size fractions of topsoils presented different characteristics. The coarse organo-mineral fractions showed higher C contents, albeit with a different composition, higher thermal stability, and greater decomposition degree than the plant debris forming the organic layer. These results are consistent with those of previous studies that microbial activity is more effective in this fraction. The finest fractions of topsoils showed low C contents, the highest thermal stability, and low decomposition degree, which can be explained by the stronger interactions with the mineral matrix. Therefore, it is suggested that the dynamics of OM in the different size fractions be interpreted in the light of a plant-microbe-soil continuum. Finally, three distinct thermostable C pools were highlighted through the grain size heterogeneity of SOM: free coarse OM (large debris and coarse and fine particles), weakly protected OM in (bio)aggregates (coarse fraction of topsoil), and stabilized OM in the fine fractions of topsoil, which resulted from the interactions within organo-mineral complexes. Therefore, Rock-Eval® thermal parameters can be used to empirically illustrate the conceptual models emphasizing the roles of drivers played by the gradual decomposition and protection of the most thermally labile organic constituents.

Effect of Geogenic Lead on Fungal and Collembolan Communities in Garden Topsoil

Geogenic lead (Pb) is considered to be less bioavailable than anthropogenic Pb and exerts less effect on the soil fauna. However,Pb contamination in vegetables has been reported in the case of geogenic anomalies, even at moderate concentrations (around 170 mgkg^(-1)). In this study, we investigated collembolan communities using both taxonomic- and trait-based approaches and observed fungal communities to assess the effects of a moderate geogenic Pb anomaly on collembolans and fungi in an urban vegetable garden soil.Results indicated that geogenic Pb indeed modified fungi communities and altered the functional structure of collembolan communities in garden soils. Although geogenic Pb presented low bioavailability, it affected soil fauna and vegetables similar to anthropogenic Pb.

The amazing potential of fungi:50 ways we can exploit fungi industrially

Fungi are an understudied,biotechnologically valuable group of organisms.Due to the immense range of habitats that fungi inhabit,and the consequent need to compete against a diverse array of other fungi,bacteria,and animals,fungi have developed numerous survival mechanisms.The unique attributes of fungi thus herald great promise for their application in biotechnology and industry.Moreover,fungi can be grown with relative ease,making production at scale viable.The search for fungal biodiversity,and the construction of a living fungi collection,both have incredible economic potential in locating organisms with novel industrial uses that will lead to novel products.This manuscript reviews fifty ways in which fungi can potentially be utilized as biotechnology.We provide notes and examples for each potential exploitation and give examples from our own work and the work of other notable researchers.We also provide a flow chart that can be used to convince funding bodies of the importance of fungi for biotechnological research and as potential products.Fungi have provided the world with penicillin,lovastatin,and other globally significant medicines,and they remain an untapped resource with enormous industrial potential.

Fungal diversity notes 1512–1610: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa

This article is the 14th in the Fungal Diversity Notes series,wherein we report 98 taxa distributed in two phyla,seven classes,26 orders and 50 families which are described and illustrated.Taxa in this study were collected from Australia,Brazil,Burkina Faso,Chile,China,Cyprus,Egypt,France,French Guiana,India,Indonesia,Italy,Laos,Mexico,Russia,Sri Lanka,Thailand,and Vietnam.There are 59 new taxa,39 new hosts and new geographical distributions with one new combination.The 59 new species comprise Angustimassarina kunmingense,Asterina lopi,Asterina brigadeirensis,Bartalinia bidenticola,Bartalinia caryotae,Buellia pruinocalcarea,Coltricia insularis,Colletotrichum fexuosum,Colletotrichum thasutense,Coniochaeta caraganae,Coniothyrium yuccicola,Dematipyriforma aquatic,Dematipyriforma globispora,Dematipyriforma nilotica,Distoseptispora bambusicola,Fulvifomes jawadhuvensis,Fulvifomes malaiyanurensis,Fulvifomes thiruvannamalaiensis,Fusarium purpurea,Gerronema atrovirens,Gerronema favum,Gerronema keralense,Gerronema kuruvense,Grammothele taiwanensis,Hongkongmyces changchunensis,Hypoxylon inaequale,Kirschsteiniothelia acutisporum,Kirschsteiniothelia crustaceum,Kirschsteiniothelia extensum,Kirschsteiniothelia septemseptatum,Kirschsteiniothelia spatiosum,Lecanora immersocalcarea,Lepiota subthailandica,Lindgomyces guizhouensis,Marthe asmius pallidoaurantiacus,Marasmius tangerinus,Neovaginatispora mangiferae,Pararamichloridium aquisubtropicum,Pestalotiopsis piraubensis,Phacidium chinaum,Phaeoisaria goiasensis,Phaeoseptum thailandicum,Pleurothecium aquisubtropicum,Pseudocercospora vernoniae,Pyrenophora verruculosa,Rhachomyces cruralis,Rhachomyces hyperommae,Rhachomyces magrinii,Rhachomyces platyprosophi,Rhizomarasmius cunninghamietorum,Skeletocutis cangshanensis,Skeletocutis subchrysella,Sporisorium anadelphiae-leptocomae,Tetraploa dashaoensis,Tomentella exiguelata,Tomentella fuscoaraneosa,Tricholomopsis lechatii,Vaginatispora favispora and Wetmoreana blastidiocalcarea.The new combination is Torula sundara.The 39 new records on hosts and geographical distribution comprise Apiospora guiyangensis,Aplosporella artocarpi,Ascochyta medicaginicola,Astrocystis bambusicola,Athelia rolfsii,Bambusicola bambusae,Bipolaris luttrellii,Botryosphaeria dothidea,Chlorophyllum squamulosum,Colletotrichum aeschynomenes,Colletotrichum pandanicola,Coprinopsis cinerea,Corylicola italica,Curvularia alcornii,Curvularia senegalensis,Diaporthe foeniculina,Diaporthe longicolla,Diaporthe phaseolorum,Diatrypella quercina,Fusarium brachygibbosum,Helicoma aquaticum,Lepiota metulispora,Lepiota pongduadensis,Lepiota subvenenata,Melanconiella meridionalis,Monotosporella erecta,Nodulosphaeria digitalis,Palmiascoma gregariascomum,Periconia byssoides,Periconia cortaderiae,Pleopunctum ellipsoideum,Psilocybe keralensis,Scedosporium apiospermum,Scedosporium dehoogii,Scedosporium marina,Spegazzinia deightonii,Torula fci,Wiesneriomyces laurinus and Xylaria venosula.All these taxa are supported by morphological and multigene phylogenetic analyses.This article allows the researchers to publish fungal collections which areimportant for future studies.An updated,accurate and timely report of fungus-host and fungus-geography is important.We also provide an updated list of fungal taxa published in the previous fungal diversity notes.In this list,erroneous taxa and synonyms are marked and corrected accordingly.