European beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)forests can have a high variability in plant species richness and abundance,from monospecific stands to highly species-rich communities.To understand what causes the low plant diversi...European beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)forests can have a high variability in plant species richness and abundance,from monospecific stands to highly species-rich communities.To understand what causes the low plant diversity observed in some beech forests,we analyzed the drivers of plant community completeness in 155 vegetation plots.Data were collected in mature,closed-canopy beech forests in Tuscany,central Italy.Site-specific species pools were estimated based on species co-occurrences.We used Generalized Least Squares linear modeling to assess the effects of anthropogenic and environmental drivers on the community completeness of whole communities and on the set of specialist species of beech forests.We also tested the response of the total cover of the herb layer to the selected predictors and related both the predictive and response variables to species composition in a Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling ordination.The community completeness of whole communities and that of beech forest specialists were negatively affected by total beech cover and positively influenced by slope.Moreover,the community completeness of whole communities was negatively impacted by elevation and positively influenced by disturbance frequency.The cover of the herb layer decreased with increasing beech cover,elevation,and precipitation.High community completeness and high cover of the herb layer were associated with the presence of thermophilic species of mixed deciduous woods in low-elevation beech forests.Our results suggest that a low plant community completeness and a low cover of the herb layer are mainly due to the competition by beech itself when it forms pure forests in its ecological optimum.Such competition is better exerted at upper elevations and in sites with low slopes,where beech litter accumulation is a limiting factor for understory species.Such evidence suggests that species absence in mature beech forests is mainly due to natural drivers and should therefore not be considered an indicator of ecological degradation of the forest.展开更多
The consequences of climate change continue to threaten European forests,particularly for species located at the edges of their latitudinal and altitudinal ranges.While extensively studied in Central Europe,European b...The consequences of climate change continue to threaten European forests,particularly for species located at the edges of their latitudinal and altitudinal ranges.While extensively studied in Central Europe,European beech forests require further investigation to understand how climate change will affect these ecosystems in Mediterranean areas.Proposed silvicultural options increasingly aim at sustainable management to reduce biotic and abiotic stresses and enhance these forest ecosystems'resistance and resilience mechanisms.Process-based models(PBMs)can help us to simulate such phenomena and capture early stress signals while considering the effect of different management approaches.In this study,we focus on estimating sensitivity of two state-of-the-art PBMs forest models by simulating carbon and water fluxes at the stand level to assess productivity changes and feedback resulting from different climatic forcings as well as different management regimes.We applied the 3D-CMCC-FEM and MEDFATE forest models for carbon(C)and water(H_(2)O)fluxes in two sites of the Italian peninsula,Cansiglio in the north and Mongiana in the south,under managed vs.unmanaged scenarios and under current climate and different climatic scenarios(RCP4.5 and RCP8.5).To ensure confidence in the models’results,we preliminary evaluated their performance in simulating C and H_(2)O flux in three additional beech forests of the FLUXNET network along a latitudinal gradient spanning from Denmark to central Italy.The 3D-CMCC-FEM model achieved R^(2)values of 0.83 and 0.86 with RMSEs of 2.53 and 2.05 for C and H_(2)O fluxes,respectively.MEDFATE showed R^(2)values of 0.76 and 0.69 with RMSEs of 2.54 and 3.01.At the Cansiglio site in northern Italy,both models simulated a general increase in C and H_(2)O fluxes under the RCP8.5 climate scenario compared to the current climate.Still,no benefit in managed plots compared to unmanaged ones,as the site does not have water availability limitations,and thus,competition for water is low.At the Mongiana site in southern Italy,both models predict a decrease in C and H_(2)O fluxes and sensitivity to the different climatic forcing compared to the current climate;and an increase in C and H_(2)O fluxes when considering specific management regimes compared to unmanaged scenarios.Conversely,under unmanaged scenarios plots are simulated to experience first signals of mortality prematurely due to water stress(MEDFATE)and carbon starvation(3D-CMCC-FEM)scenarios.In conclusion,while management interventions may be considered a viable solution for the conservation of beech forests under future climate conditions at moister sites like Cansiglio,in drier sites like Mongiana conservation may not lie in management interventions alone.展开更多
The Eurasian beaver(Castor fiber Linnaeus,1758)can be considered a hydrological ecosystem engineer as it shapes environmental characteristics through its building activities and feeding behaviour.Even if several studi...The Eurasian beaver(Castor fiber Linnaeus,1758)can be considered a hydrological ecosystem engineer as it shapes environmental characteristics through its building activities and feeding behaviour.Even if several studies have so far reported beaver impact on multi-taxon biodiversity and forest regeneration,there is a lack of research on forest stand structure evolution following beaver direct activity on trees.This represents a pivotal topic for predicting restoration outcomes and reccommending sound silvicultural and management practices to maintain specific forest conditions.Specifically,the study aims at investigating forest stand structure and tree species diversity changes considering river variability,distance from the riverbank and beaver's gnawing activity intensity.The Eurasian beaver is only recently recolonising the three analysed Mediterranean rivers,but stand structure seems to be already significantly impacted by the species.The number of trees was reduced,increasing mean diameter at breast height at stand level,as most of the youngest and/or smaller trees are entirely cut down.Strongest structural variations can be detected in intensively impacted stands and in the forest portions closer to the riverbank.The absence of a significant effect on most of the diversity indices is likely due to the initially homogeneous composition of the tree layer in each stand and to the limited variety of beaver's diet within the sites.Future resprouting of secondary tree shoots,as well as beaver gnawing activity changes in intensity over time and space,can further produce variations in structural parameters and woody species diversity in the medium-and long-term period.Therefore,it will be crucial to further monitor the long-term effects,as structural shifts can produce significant effects on riparian ecosystem functions.展开更多
The estimate of flow resistance in vegetated channels is a challenging topic for programming riparian vegetation management,controlling channel conveyance and flooding propensity,for designing soil bioengineering prac...The estimate of flow resistance in vegetated channels is a challenging topic for programming riparian vegetation management,controlling channel conveyance and flooding propensity,for designing soil bioengineering practices.In this paper,measurements collected by Gualtieri et al.(2018),in a flume where rigid cylinders were set in two arrangements(staggered,aligned)at high submergence ratios(ratio between the water depth and the vegetation height greater than 5),were used to study the effect of rigid submerged vegetation on estimating flow resistance.The theoretical flow resistance equation,obtained by integrating the power flow velocity distribution,was first summarized.Then,this flow resistance equation was calibrated and tested by measurements of Gualtieri et al.(2018).In particular,a relationship between theΓfunction of the power velocity distribution,the channel slope,the flow Froude number,and the submergence ratio was established by using the available measurements carried out for the two arrangements with different stem concentrations.The calibration of this relationship was carried out by(i)distinguishing measurements corresponding to different vegetation arrangements(staggered,aligned),(ii)joining all available data,and(iii)using only a scale factor representing the effect of vegetation arrangements.For the cases(ii)and(iii),the analysis demonstrated that the theoretical flow resistance equation allows an accurate estimate of the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor,which is characterized by errors that are always less than 5%and less than or equal to 2.5%for 88%of the investigated cases.展开更多
Prey adjust their antipredator behavioral tactics to minimize the risk of an encounter with predators.Spatiotemporal responses of prey to pred-ators have been reported,but the nature of antipredator response is not ub...Prey adjust their antipredator behavioral tactics to minimize the risk of an encounter with predators.Spatiotemporal responses of prey to pred-ators have been reported,but the nature of antipredator response is not ubiquitous and it is the object of increasing interest,especially consid-ering the recent recovery of large carnivores in Europe,and the potential for behavioral antipredator responses to elicit consequences at the ecosystem level.We have tested multiple antipredator responses by fallow deer Dama dama to wolf Canis lupus in a Mediterranean protected area recently recolonized by this apex predator.Through intensive camera trapping,we tested for temporal and spatial association between predator and prey,and we have also studied deer vigilance in forest habitats where focal observations are usually impossible.Wolf detection rates were spatially associated with those of fallow deer.Accordingly,no evidence was found for fallow deer avoiding sites with higher predator detection rates.Temporal activity patterns were significantly different between the 2 species,with the wolf being mainly nocturnal whereas fallow deer was active especially during daylight.A comparison with a preliminary study strongly suggests an increase in the diurnal activity of fallow deer along with the stabilization of wolf presence in the area.Both the rate and the duration of vigilance of female fallow deer increased with the local frequency of wolf activity.We suggest an antipredator response based on temporalrather than spatialavoidance,as well as increasedvigilance.展开更多
Physcomitrium eurystomum Sendtn.is a very rare European ephemeral funaroid moss.The entire European population of this species is considered threatened and it is red-listed in many regions and countries.In addition to...Physcomitrium eurystomum Sendtn.is a very rare European ephemeral funaroid moss.The entire European population of this species is considered threatened and it is red-listed in many regions and countries.In addition to being recognized as threatened and included in nature conservation legislation,it also requires active protec-tion measures.This study aims to contribute to effective conservation practices for P.eurystomum.Different con-servation physiology tests were carried out to propagate this species to achieve a reliable procedure for biomass production and the potential reintroduction of germplasm.Ex situ tests,both in vitro and ex vitro,were carried out to determine the optimal method for spore production under laboratory conditions,considering that the spores are the best propagules for the reintroduction of the species.An important outcome of this research is a deeper understanding of the role of the spore bank of this species for its survival in a variable environment.Some additional characterizations of the biology of this ephemeral moss species are also discussed,such as the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus of the vegetative vs.sexual phases to clarify the transition to the reproductive phase.It is proposed that both types of sporophytes be used in conservation practices due to viable spore bank self-sustainability in rapidly changing environmental conditions.展开更多
Agroforestry has many benefits suited to mountain agricultural systems.This paper seeks to understand and quantify the mitigation potential of multifunctional agroforestry systems,and the potential for increased tree ...Agroforestry has many benefits suited to mountain agricultural systems.This paper seeks to understand and quantify the mitigation potential of multifunctional agroforestry systems,and the potential for increased tree cover in mountains.The potential of agroforestry approaches for protecting irrecoverable carbon in mountains providing alternative,sustainable,and biodiversity-friendly livelihood options for local mountain communities is explored.A substantial portion(29%)of global'irrecoverable carbon'is found in mountains,representing irreplaceable ecosystems,biodiversity,and globally significant ecosystem services,under unprecedented environmental and demographic pressures,and rapidly changing climatic conditions.This'premium'mountain carbon supports high levels of biodiversity,including many of the last remaining large mammal species on the planet.Increasing tree cover within agricultural landscapes in mountains can provide sustainable,biodiversity-friendly development options that support environmental and biodiversity conservation.Estimates of existing and decadal change of above-and below-ground biomass on agricultural land within mountainous regions are modeled based up IPCC Tier 1 estimates.Two scenarios are evaluated to estimate carbon sequestration potential of increasing tree cover on agricultural land:1)incremental change and 2)a systemic change to agroforestry.Estimates of above-and below ground biomass carbon were combined with the tree cover analysis to estimate the change in biomass.Global increases(0.5−0.7 PgC for incremental change;1.1−2.7 PgC for systematic change)highlight the mitigation potential within mountain agricultural systems.A 10%increase in tree cover on all agricultural land within mountain regions is estimated to sequester 3 PgC.展开更多
Microhabitat heterogeneity results in significant variations in the thermal environment on a small spatial scale,leading to different intensities of cold stress during extreme low-temperature events.Investigating vari...Microhabitat heterogeneity results in significant variations in the thermal environment on a small spatial scale,leading to different intensities of cold stress during extreme low-temperature events.Investigating variations in body temperature and metabolomic responses of organisms inhabiting different microhabitats emerges as an important task for understanding how organisms respond to more frequent extreme low-temperature events in the face of climate change.In the present study,we measured substrate temperature,air temperature,wind speed,light intensity,and body temperature to evaluate the relative importance of drivers that affect body temperature in different microhabitats,and determined the metabolomic responses of intertidal snails Littorina brevicula and limpets Cellana toreuma from different microhabitats(snail:exposed vs.shaded rock;limpet,rock vs.tidal pool)during extreme low-temperature event in winter.Results showed that microhabitat type,substrate temperature,air temperature,wind speed,and light intensity contribute notably to the body temperatures.During extreme low-temperature events,mollusks collected from different microhabitats exhibited microhabitat-specific metabolomic responses that are associated with cellular stress response,energy metabolism,immune response,nucleotide metabolism,and osmoregulation.These metabolic pathways were highly induced in the more exposed areas(exposed rock for snails and rocky environment for limpets).Notably,in different microhabitats,the metabolites enriched from these pathways showed significant correlations with microclimate environmental variables(i.e.,substrate temperature,wind speed,and body tem-perature).Overall,these findings highlight the importance of microhabitat heterogeneity for intertidal species surviving extreme cold events and are essential for understanding cold adaptation of intertidal species in the context of climate change.展开更多
Understanding the interaction mechanisms of engineered nanomaterials(ENMs)with plant membranes is crucial for their effective use in various applications.While passive transport of smaller ENMs is well-documented,the ...Understanding the interaction mechanisms of engineered nanomaterials(ENMs)with plant membranes is crucial for their effective use in various applications.While passive transport of smaller ENMs is well-documented,the mechanisms underlying active transport of larger ENMs remain poorly understood.This study systematically investigates the active transport and subcellular distribution of ENMs(100-1000 nm)within protoplasts using optical ratiometric silica pH sensors for localization.Highly monodispersed ratiometric pH sensors,based on silica particles modified with fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate(FITC)and cyanine3 NHS ester(CY3)dyes,were employed to elucidate internalization mechanisms.Protoplasts from Nicotiana tabacum L.leaves successfully internalized the sensors.3D segmentation of protoplasts revealed distinct pH gradients,indicating vacuole accumulation.Colocalization analysis and cellular compartments staining further confirmed sensor distribution.High-throughput imaging flow cytometry showed efficient internalization rates,which decreased after cell wall regeneration.Notably,inhibition experiments with the salicylic acid(SA)and Tyrphostin A23(TyrA23)inhibitors confirmed clathrin-mediated endocytosis in particle uptake.This study establishes rational design principles for controlling active ENM uptake and subcellular localization via optical pH sensing in protoplasts.The findings enhance our understanding of plant cell trafficking mechanisms and hold promise for targeted delivery and applications in plant biology research.展开更多
The path tortuosity t is an indicator of rill morphology accounting for the deviation of the thalweg from a straight alignment.The effect of t on flow resistance has been little investigated for rills.This paper repor...The path tortuosity t is an indicator of rill morphology accounting for the deviation of the thalweg from a straight alignment.The effect of t on flow resistance has been little investigated for rills.This paper reports the results of a plot investigation aimed to establish the suitable accuracy of the rill thalweg measurement to determine the tortuosity parameter and to test the reliability of a theoretical flow resistance law.Four rills were incised in clay soil(CS)and clay-loam soil(LS)and shaped by a clear flow discharge.The three-dimensional Digital Terrain Models were created by the Structure from Motion technique.For rills on LS,an approximate thalweg was tracked by photo-interpretation,and a specific calculation routine was applied to identify the cross sections with a constant spacing d.The actual rill thalweg was obtained as the line joining the lowest points of these cross-sections.Among the different tested d values,d=0.075 m was chosen to determine t.For both CS and LS,the Darcy-Weisbach friction factorffeatured a non-monotonic relation with t,which was explained as the result of three additive components due to bed roughness,sediment transport,and localized energy losses due to curves.The effect of the former two components onff contrasts that of the third,resulting in a linearly decreasing f-t relationship and constant flow velocity for the three lowest tortuosity values,and an increased friction factor and reduced flow velocity for the highest tortuosity value.The flow resistance law was positively tested,and the predicted friction factor was dependent on t.展开更多
Blister beetles(Coleoptera:Meloidae)are currently subdivided into three subfamilies:Eleticinae(a basal group),Nemognathinae,and Meloinae.These are all characterized by the endogenous production of the defensive terpen...Blister beetles(Coleoptera:Meloidae)are currently subdivided into three subfamilies:Eleticinae(a basal group),Nemognathinae,and Meloinae.These are all characterized by the endogenous production of the defensive terpene cantharidin(CA),whereas the two most derived subfamilies show a hypermetamorphic larval development.Here,we provide novel draft genome assemblies of five species sampled across the three blister beetle subfamilies(Iselma pallidipennis,Stenodera caucasica,Zonitis immaculata,Lydus trimaculatus,and Mylabris variabilis)and performed a comparative analysis with other available Meloidae genomes and the closely-related canthariphilous species(Pyrochroa serraticornis)to disclose adaptations at a molecular level.Our results highlighted the expansion and selection of genes potentially responsible for CA production and metabolism,as well as its mobilization and vesicular compartmentalization.Furthermore,we observed adaptive selection patterns and gain of genes devoted to epigenetic regulation,development,and morphogenesis,possibly related to hypermetamorphosis.We hypothesize that most genetic adaptations occurred to support both CA biosynthesis and hypermetamorphosis,two crucial aspects of Meloidae biology that likely contributed to their evolutionary success.展开更多
Correlative species distribution models(SDMs)are important tools to estimate species’geographic distribution across space and time,but their reliability heavily relies on the availability and quality of occurrence da...Correlative species distribution models(SDMs)are important tools to estimate species’geographic distribution across space and time,but their reliability heavily relies on the availability and quality of occurrence data.Estimations can be biased when occurrences do not fully represent the environmental requirement of a species.We tested to what extent species’physiological knowledge might influence SDM estimations.Focusing on the Japanese sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus within the coastal ocean of East Asia,we compiled a comprehensive dataset of occurrence records.We then explored the importance of incorporating physiological knowledge into SDMs by calibrating two types of correlative SDMs:a naïve model that solely depends on environmental correlates,and a physiologically informed model that further incorporates physiological information as priors.We further tested the models’sensitivity to calibration area choices by fitting them with different buffered areas around known presences.Compared with naïve models,the physiologically informed models successfully captured the negative influence of high temperature on A.japonicus and were less sensitive to the choice of calibration area.The naïve models resulted in more optimistic prediction of the changes of potential distributions under climate change(i.e.,larger range expansion and less contraction)than the physiologically informed models.Our findings highlight benefits from incorporating physiological information into correlative SDMs,namely mitigating the uncertainties associated with the choice of calibration area.Given these promising features,we encourage future SDM studies to consider species physi-ological information where available.展开更多
基金funded by the Tuscany region(project Nat-NET)Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan(NRRP),Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4-Call for tender No.3138 of 16 December 2021,rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union-NextGenerationEUProject code CN_00000033,Concession Decree No.1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research,CUP B63C22000650007,Project title“National Biodiversity Future Center-NBFC”.
文摘European beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)forests can have a high variability in plant species richness and abundance,from monospecific stands to highly species-rich communities.To understand what causes the low plant diversity observed in some beech forests,we analyzed the drivers of plant community completeness in 155 vegetation plots.Data were collected in mature,closed-canopy beech forests in Tuscany,central Italy.Site-specific species pools were estimated based on species co-occurrences.We used Generalized Least Squares linear modeling to assess the effects of anthropogenic and environmental drivers on the community completeness of whole communities and on the set of specialist species of beech forests.We also tested the response of the total cover of the herb layer to the selected predictors and related both the predictive and response variables to species composition in a Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling ordination.The community completeness of whole communities and that of beech forest specialists were negatively affected by total beech cover and positively influenced by slope.Moreover,the community completeness of whole communities was negatively impacted by elevation and positively influenced by disturbance frequency.The cover of the herb layer decreased with increasing beech cover,elevation,and precipitation.High community completeness and high cover of the herb layer were associated with the presence of thermophilic species of mixed deciduous woods in low-elevation beech forests.Our results suggest that a low plant community completeness and a low cover of the herb layer are mainly due to the competition by beech itself when it forms pure forests in its ecological optimum.Such competition is better exerted at upper elevations and in sites with low slopes,where beech litter accumulation is a limiting factor for understory species.Such evidence suggests that species absence in mature beech forests is mainly due to natural drivers and should therefore not be considered an indicator of ecological degradation of the forest.
基金the Institute Research Centre for Ecological and Forestry Applications (CREAF) of Barcelona that supported the research by the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacio'n”(MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033) (grant agreement No. PID 2021-126679OBI00)partially supported by MIUR Project (PRIN 2020) between WATER and carbon cycles during droug“Unraveling interactionsht and their impact on water resources and forest and grassland ecosySTEMs in the Mediterranean climate (WATERSTEM)”(Project number: 20202WF53Z),“WAFER”at CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche)+3 种基金Priwitzer et al. (2014) (cod. 2020E52THS)-Research Projects of National Relevance funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research entitled: “Multi-scale observations to predict Forest response to pollution and climate change”(MULTIFOR, project number: 2020E52THS)funding by the project OptForEU Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101060554the project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4-Call for tender No. 3138 of December 16, 2021, rectified by Decree n.3175 of December 18, 2021 of Italian Ministry of UniversityResearch funded by the European UnionationEU under award Number: Project code CN_00000033–Next Gener, Concession Decree No. 1034 of June 17, 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP B83C22002930006, Project title“National Biodiversity Future Centre-NBFC”
文摘The consequences of climate change continue to threaten European forests,particularly for species located at the edges of their latitudinal and altitudinal ranges.While extensively studied in Central Europe,European beech forests require further investigation to understand how climate change will affect these ecosystems in Mediterranean areas.Proposed silvicultural options increasingly aim at sustainable management to reduce biotic and abiotic stresses and enhance these forest ecosystems'resistance and resilience mechanisms.Process-based models(PBMs)can help us to simulate such phenomena and capture early stress signals while considering the effect of different management approaches.In this study,we focus on estimating sensitivity of two state-of-the-art PBMs forest models by simulating carbon and water fluxes at the stand level to assess productivity changes and feedback resulting from different climatic forcings as well as different management regimes.We applied the 3D-CMCC-FEM and MEDFATE forest models for carbon(C)and water(H_(2)O)fluxes in two sites of the Italian peninsula,Cansiglio in the north and Mongiana in the south,under managed vs.unmanaged scenarios and under current climate and different climatic scenarios(RCP4.5 and RCP8.5).To ensure confidence in the models’results,we preliminary evaluated their performance in simulating C and H_(2)O flux in three additional beech forests of the FLUXNET network along a latitudinal gradient spanning from Denmark to central Italy.The 3D-CMCC-FEM model achieved R^(2)values of 0.83 and 0.86 with RMSEs of 2.53 and 2.05 for C and H_(2)O fluxes,respectively.MEDFATE showed R^(2)values of 0.76 and 0.69 with RMSEs of 2.54 and 3.01.At the Cansiglio site in northern Italy,both models simulated a general increase in C and H_(2)O fluxes under the RCP8.5 climate scenario compared to the current climate.Still,no benefit in managed plots compared to unmanaged ones,as the site does not have water availability limitations,and thus,competition for water is low.At the Mongiana site in southern Italy,both models predict a decrease in C and H_(2)O fluxes and sensitivity to the different climatic forcing compared to the current climate;and an increase in C and H_(2)O fluxes when considering specific management regimes compared to unmanaged scenarios.Conversely,under unmanaged scenarios plots are simulated to experience first signals of mortality prematurely due to water stress(MEDFATE)and carbon starvation(3D-CMCC-FEM)scenarios.In conclusion,while management interventions may be considered a viable solution for the conservation of beech forests under future climate conditions at moister sites like Cansiglio,in drier sites like Mongiana conservation may not lie in management interventions alone.
基金support of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) to the University of Padova,the Research Centre for Plant ProtectionCertification (CREA),and the National Research Council (CNR),funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)+2 种基金Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4-Call for tender No.3138 of 16 December 2021,rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union–NextGenerationEUProject code CN_00000033,Concession Decree No.1034 of 17 June 2022adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research,CUP:C93C22002810006,CUP:B83D21014060006,CUP:B83C22002930006,Project title“National Biodiversity Future CenterNBFC”support by Beaver Trust,grant number:1185451
文摘The Eurasian beaver(Castor fiber Linnaeus,1758)can be considered a hydrological ecosystem engineer as it shapes environmental characteristics through its building activities and feeding behaviour.Even if several studies have so far reported beaver impact on multi-taxon biodiversity and forest regeneration,there is a lack of research on forest stand structure evolution following beaver direct activity on trees.This represents a pivotal topic for predicting restoration outcomes and reccommending sound silvicultural and management practices to maintain specific forest conditions.Specifically,the study aims at investigating forest stand structure and tree species diversity changes considering river variability,distance from the riverbank and beaver's gnawing activity intensity.The Eurasian beaver is only recently recolonising the three analysed Mediterranean rivers,but stand structure seems to be already significantly impacted by the species.The number of trees was reduced,increasing mean diameter at breast height at stand level,as most of the youngest and/or smaller trees are entirely cut down.Strongest structural variations can be detected in intensively impacted stands and in the forest portions closer to the riverbank.The absence of a significant effect on most of the diversity indices is likely due to the initially homogeneous composition of the tree layer in each stand and to the limited variety of beaver's diet within the sites.Future resprouting of secondary tree shoots,as well as beaver gnawing activity changes in intensity over time and space,can further produce variations in structural parameters and woody species diversity in the medium-and long-term period.Therefore,it will be crucial to further monitor the long-term effects,as structural shifts can produce significant effects on riparian ecosystem functions.
文摘The estimate of flow resistance in vegetated channels is a challenging topic for programming riparian vegetation management,controlling channel conveyance and flooding propensity,for designing soil bioengineering practices.In this paper,measurements collected by Gualtieri et al.(2018),in a flume where rigid cylinders were set in two arrangements(staggered,aligned)at high submergence ratios(ratio between the water depth and the vegetation height greater than 5),were used to study the effect of rigid submerged vegetation on estimating flow resistance.The theoretical flow resistance equation,obtained by integrating the power flow velocity distribution,was first summarized.Then,this flow resistance equation was calibrated and tested by measurements of Gualtieri et al.(2018).In particular,a relationship between theΓfunction of the power velocity distribution,the channel slope,the flow Froude number,and the submergence ratio was established by using the available measurements carried out for the two arrangements with different stem concentrations.The calibration of this relationship was carried out by(i)distinguishing measurements corresponding to different vegetation arrangements(staggered,aligned),(ii)joining all available data,and(iii)using only a scale factor representing the effect of vegetation arrangements.For the cases(ii)and(iii),the analysis demonstrated that the theoretical flow resistance equation allows an accurate estimate of the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor,which is characterized by errors that are always less than 5%and less than or equal to 2.5%for 88%of the investigated cases.
基金supported by the Maremma Regional Park Agency.Additional financial support was provided by the German Society for Mammalian Biology(DGS Project Funding 2018)BE was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic(Institutional support MZE-RO0718)and by an Erasmus+scholarship from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
文摘Prey adjust their antipredator behavioral tactics to minimize the risk of an encounter with predators.Spatiotemporal responses of prey to pred-ators have been reported,but the nature of antipredator response is not ubiquitous and it is the object of increasing interest,especially consid-ering the recent recovery of large carnivores in Europe,and the potential for behavioral antipredator responses to elicit consequences at the ecosystem level.We have tested multiple antipredator responses by fallow deer Dama dama to wolf Canis lupus in a Mediterranean protected area recently recolonized by this apex predator.Through intensive camera trapping,we tested for temporal and spatial association between predator and prey,and we have also studied deer vigilance in forest habitats where focal observations are usually impossible.Wolf detection rates were spatially associated with those of fallow deer.Accordingly,no evidence was found for fallow deer avoiding sites with higher predator detection rates.Temporal activity patterns were significantly different between the 2 species,with the wolf being mainly nocturnal whereas fallow deer was active especially during daylight.A comparison with a preliminary study strongly suggests an increase in the diurnal activity of fallow deer along with the stabilization of wolf presence in the area.Both the rate and the duration of vigilance of female fallow deer increased with the local frequency of wolf activity.We suggest an antipredator response based on temporalrather than spatialavoidance,as well as increasedvigilance.
基金The project is supported by the Serbian Ministry of Science,Technological Development and Innovations,Contract Nos.451-03-65/2024-03/200178 and 451-03-66/2024-03/200178.
文摘Physcomitrium eurystomum Sendtn.is a very rare European ephemeral funaroid moss.The entire European population of this species is considered threatened and it is red-listed in many regions and countries.In addition to being recognized as threatened and included in nature conservation legislation,it also requires active protec-tion measures.This study aims to contribute to effective conservation practices for P.eurystomum.Different con-servation physiology tests were carried out to propagate this species to achieve a reliable procedure for biomass production and the potential reintroduction of germplasm.Ex situ tests,both in vitro and ex vitro,were carried out to determine the optimal method for spore production under laboratory conditions,considering that the spores are the best propagules for the reintroduction of the species.An important outcome of this research is a deeper understanding of the role of the spore bank of this species for its survival in a variable environment.Some additional characterizations of the biology of this ephemeral moss species are also discussed,such as the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus of the vegetative vs.sexual phases to clarify the transition to the reproductive phase.It is proposed that both types of sporophytes be used in conservation practices due to viable spore bank self-sustainability in rapidly changing environmental conditions.
基金supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2014CB954100)National Science Foundation China(Grant No.31270524)+1 种基金the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme(Grant No.101003881 NEXOGENESIS)the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by Next Generation EU(Grant No.CN_00000033 NBFC).
文摘Agroforestry has many benefits suited to mountain agricultural systems.This paper seeks to understand and quantify the mitigation potential of multifunctional agroforestry systems,and the potential for increased tree cover in mountains.The potential of agroforestry approaches for protecting irrecoverable carbon in mountains providing alternative,sustainable,and biodiversity-friendly livelihood options for local mountain communities is explored.A substantial portion(29%)of global'irrecoverable carbon'is found in mountains,representing irreplaceable ecosystems,biodiversity,and globally significant ecosystem services,under unprecedented environmental and demographic pressures,and rapidly changing climatic conditions.This'premium'mountain carbon supports high levels of biodiversity,including many of the last remaining large mammal species on the planet.Increasing tree cover within agricultural landscapes in mountains can provide sustainable,biodiversity-friendly development options that support environmental and biodiversity conservation.Estimates of existing and decadal change of above-and below-ground biomass on agricultural land within mountainous regions are modeled based up IPCC Tier 1 estimates.Two scenarios are evaluated to estimate carbon sequestration potential of increasing tree cover on agricultural land:1)incremental change and 2)a systemic change to agroforestry.Estimates of above-and below ground biomass carbon were combined with the tree cover analysis to estimate the change in biomass.Global increases(0.5−0.7 PgC for incremental change;1.1−2.7 PgC for systematic change)highlight the mitigation potential within mountain agricultural systems.A 10%increase in tree cover on all agricultural land within mountain regions is estimated to sequester 3 PgC.
基金supported by the National Natu-ral Science Foundation of China(42025604)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of the Ocean University of China.
文摘Microhabitat heterogeneity results in significant variations in the thermal environment on a small spatial scale,leading to different intensities of cold stress during extreme low-temperature events.Investigating variations in body temperature and metabolomic responses of organisms inhabiting different microhabitats emerges as an important task for understanding how organisms respond to more frequent extreme low-temperature events in the face of climate change.In the present study,we measured substrate temperature,air temperature,wind speed,light intensity,and body temperature to evaluate the relative importance of drivers that affect body temperature in different microhabitats,and determined the metabolomic responses of intertidal snails Littorina brevicula and limpets Cellana toreuma from different microhabitats(snail:exposed vs.shaded rock;limpet,rock vs.tidal pool)during extreme low-temperature event in winter.Results showed that microhabitat type,substrate temperature,air temperature,wind speed,and light intensity contribute notably to the body temperatures.During extreme low-temperature events,mollusks collected from different microhabitats exhibited microhabitat-specific metabolomic responses that are associated with cellular stress response,energy metabolism,immune response,nucleotide metabolism,and osmoregulation.These metabolic pathways were highly induced in the more exposed areas(exposed rock for snails and rocky environment for limpets).Notably,in different microhabitats,the metabolites enriched from these pathways showed significant correlations with microclimate environmental variables(i.e.,substrate temperature,wind speed,and body tem-perature).Overall,these findings highlight the importance of microhabitat heterogeneity for intertidal species surviving extreme cold events and are essential for understanding cold adaptation of intertidal species in the context of climate change.
基金supported by the European Research Council(ERC)under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program ERC Starting Grant“INTERCELLMED”(Nr.759959)the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca contro il Cancro(AIRC)(MFAG-2019,Nr.22902)+4 种基金the PRIN 2022(Nr.2022CRFNCP_PE11_PRIN2022 and PRIN 2022-SAPPHIRE(CUP 2022MWK7Y7)funded by European Union-Next Generation EU,the“Tecnopolo per la medicina di precisione”(TecnoMed Puglia)-Regione Puglia:DGR n.2117 of 21/11/2018,CUP B84I18000540002)the Italian Ministry of Research(MUR)in the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan(NRRP),“NFFA-DI”Grant(CUP B53C22004310006)“I-PHOQS”Grant(CUP B53C22001750006)under the complementary actions to the NRRP funded by NextGenerationEU,“Fit4MedRob”Grant(PNC0000007,CUP B53C22006960001).
文摘Understanding the interaction mechanisms of engineered nanomaterials(ENMs)with plant membranes is crucial for their effective use in various applications.While passive transport of smaller ENMs is well-documented,the mechanisms underlying active transport of larger ENMs remain poorly understood.This study systematically investigates the active transport and subcellular distribution of ENMs(100-1000 nm)within protoplasts using optical ratiometric silica pH sensors for localization.Highly monodispersed ratiometric pH sensors,based on silica particles modified with fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate(FITC)and cyanine3 NHS ester(CY3)dyes,were employed to elucidate internalization mechanisms.Protoplasts from Nicotiana tabacum L.leaves successfully internalized the sensors.3D segmentation of protoplasts revealed distinct pH gradients,indicating vacuole accumulation.Colocalization analysis and cellular compartments staining further confirmed sensor distribution.High-throughput imaging flow cytometry showed efficient internalization rates,which decreased after cell wall regeneration.Notably,inhibition experiments with the salicylic acid(SA)and Tyrphostin A23(TyrA23)inhibitors confirmed clathrin-mediated endocytosis in particle uptake.This study establishes rational design principles for controlling active ENM uptake and subcellular localization via optical pH sensing in protoplasts.The findings enhance our understanding of plant cell trafficking mechanisms and hold promise for targeted delivery and applications in plant biology research.
文摘The path tortuosity t is an indicator of rill morphology accounting for the deviation of the thalweg from a straight alignment.The effect of t on flow resistance has been little investigated for rills.This paper reports the results of a plot investigation aimed to establish the suitable accuracy of the rill thalweg measurement to determine the tortuosity parameter and to test the reliability of a theoretical flow resistance law.Four rills were incised in clay soil(CS)and clay-loam soil(LS)and shaped by a clear flow discharge.The three-dimensional Digital Terrain Models were created by the Structure from Motion technique.For rills on LS,an approximate thalweg was tracked by photo-interpretation,and a specific calculation routine was applied to identify the cross sections with a constant spacing d.The actual rill thalweg was obtained as the line joining the lowest points of these cross-sections.Among the different tested d values,d=0.075 m was chosen to determine t.For both CS and LS,the Darcy-Weisbach friction factorffeatured a non-monotonic relation with t,which was explained as the result of three additive components due to bed roughness,sediment transport,and localized energy losses due to curves.The effect of the former two components onff contrasts that of the third,resulting in a linearly decreasing f-t relationship and constant flow velocity for the three lowest tortuosity values,and an increased friction factor and reduced flow velocity for the highest tortuosity value.The flow resistance law was positively tested,and the predicted friction factor was dependent on t.
基金funded by the project“NOCLOT—NuOvi farmaCi anticoaguLanti dalla biOdiversiTàdei meloidi”financed by Regione Lazio(grant nos.A0375-2020-36555 and CUP F85F21003680009)co-funded by MIUR-Italy Grants of Departments of Excellence—L.232/2016—art.1 cc.314–337 awarded to the Department of Science of Roma Tre University(2018–2022 and 2023–2027)+3 种基金supported by the project PON—Ricerca e Innovazione(MURProject Code:999900_PON_RTD_A7-G-15023_SCIENZE)support of NBFC to the University of Roma Tre—Department of Science and Sapienza University—Department of Biology and Biotechnologies,“Charles Darwin”,funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research,PNRR,Missione 4 Componente 2,“Dalla ricerca all’impresa”,Investimento 1.4(Project CN00000033)supported also by Rome Technopole,PNRR grant M-4C-2Inv.1.5 CUP F832B22000040006 to MAB.
文摘Blister beetles(Coleoptera:Meloidae)are currently subdivided into three subfamilies:Eleticinae(a basal group),Nemognathinae,and Meloinae.These are all characterized by the endogenous production of the defensive terpene cantharidin(CA),whereas the two most derived subfamilies show a hypermetamorphic larval development.Here,we provide novel draft genome assemblies of five species sampled across the three blister beetle subfamilies(Iselma pallidipennis,Stenodera caucasica,Zonitis immaculata,Lydus trimaculatus,and Mylabris variabilis)and performed a comparative analysis with other available Meloidae genomes and the closely-related canthariphilous species(Pyrochroa serraticornis)to disclose adaptations at a molecular level.Our results highlighted the expansion and selection of genes potentially responsible for CA production and metabolism,as well as its mobilization and vesicular compartmentalization.Furthermore,we observed adaptive selection patterns and gain of genes devoted to epigenetic regulation,development,and morphogenesis,possibly related to hypermetamorphosis.We hypothesize that most genetic adaptations occurred to support both CA biosynthesis and hypermetamorphosis,two crucial aspects of Meloidae biology that likely contributed to their evolutionary success.
基金support from the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFC3102403)the Stra-tegic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB42030204)+5 种基金Science and Technology Planning Project of Guang-dong Province,China(2023B1212060047)development fund of South China Sea Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(SCSIO202208)supported by JST SICORP Grant Number JPMJSC20E5,Japanthe Portuguese National Funds from FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology through projects UIDB/04326/2020,UIDP/04326/2020,LA/P/0101/2020,PTDC/BIA-CBI/6515/2020(https://doi.org/10.54499/PTDC/BIA-CBI/6515/2020)the Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus 2022.00861.CEECINDsupported by the National Multidisciplinary Laboratory for Climate Change(NKFIH-471-3/2021,RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00014).
文摘Correlative species distribution models(SDMs)are important tools to estimate species’geographic distribution across space and time,but their reliability heavily relies on the availability and quality of occurrence data.Estimations can be biased when occurrences do not fully represent the environmental requirement of a species.We tested to what extent species’physiological knowledge might influence SDM estimations.Focusing on the Japanese sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus within the coastal ocean of East Asia,we compiled a comprehensive dataset of occurrence records.We then explored the importance of incorporating physiological knowledge into SDMs by calibrating two types of correlative SDMs:a naïve model that solely depends on environmental correlates,and a physiologically informed model that further incorporates physiological information as priors.We further tested the models’sensitivity to calibration area choices by fitting them with different buffered areas around known presences.Compared with naïve models,the physiologically informed models successfully captured the negative influence of high temperature on A.japonicus and were less sensitive to the choice of calibration area.The naïve models resulted in more optimistic prediction of the changes of potential distributions under climate change(i.e.,larger range expansion and less contraction)than the physiologically informed models.Our findings highlight benefits from incorporating physiological information into correlative SDMs,namely mitigating the uncertainties associated with the choice of calibration area.Given these promising features,we encourage future SDM studies to consider species physi-ological information where available.
