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New host record of Doggerella chasanica (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) as a larval parasitoid of the serious forest pest Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Korea
No full textSouth Korea has been affected by pine wilt disease (PWD), with the vectors Monochamus alternatus Hope, 1842 and M. saltuarius Gebler, 1830 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and PWD has expanded severely in southeastern South Korea since the late 2010s. In the pursuit of environmental-friendly pest management, we searched for potential natural enemies of M. alternatus. In 2019, we reared specimens of M. alternatus and confirmed that members of Doggerella (Lelejobracon) chasanica (Tobias, 2000) eclosed from them, for the first time. The average parasitism rate for D. (L.) chasanica was 4.2%, with a maximum parasitism rate of 5.9% in the sites investigated. Herein, we provide information on how we collected and reared M. alternatus along with a brief biological note, as well as re-description and a brief biological note of the parasitoid D. chasanica
Diversity and host plant utilization of leaf-mining beetles of Chrysomeloidea (Coleoptera) in Japan
No full textThe superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Cerambycidae + Chrysomelidae + Megalopodidae) encompasses a diverse phytophagous beetles, whose larvae exhibit internal or external feeding on leaves, wood, or roots of many plants. Through extensive research on leaf-mining insects in Japan, 64 species of Chrysomeloidea were confirmed to engage in leaf-mining behavior during their larval stages infesting tracheophytes, and comprising 2 Cerambycidae, 9 Megalopodidae, and 53 Chrysomelidae. This study presents an overview of the host plants and mining patterns of these 64 leaf-mining beetle species and describes two new species, Sphaeroderma komiana Kato, sp. nov. and Dactylispa adinae Kato, sp. nov. The leaf-mining beetles demonstrate a broad host range including Equisetales, Polypodiales, Cycadales, and 23 orders of angiosperms. Particularly notable diversification was observed on Polypodiales (within Halticorcus), Ranunculaceae (Argopus and Sphaeroderma), Celastraceae (Zeugophora), and Oleaceae (Argopistes). Host specificity greatly varied among the reported 64 beetle species: 29 spp. species-specific; 12 spp. genus-specific; 16 spp. family-specific; 2 spp. order-specific; 5 spp. non-specific even at order level. The five non-specific species (Argopus punctipennis, Sphaeroderma nigricolle, Dactylispa angulosa, Notosacantha ihai, and N. loochooana) are associated with multiple plant orders while maintaining specificity to a small number of genera belonging to phylogenetically distant plant families. This pattern, termed as extended host specificity, suggests recent host shifts across plant families without substantial expansion of host ranges
Chronic insomnia – beyond the symptom of insufficient sleep
No full textChronic insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, affecting up to 10% of the global population, with more than one-third of the individuals worldwide reporting insufficient sleep as a common complaint. Due to its high prevalence, insomnia frequently co-exists with various somatic and psychiatric disorders, exhibiting a bidirectional relationship in which each condition influences the other. Depression, anxiety, cardiovascular diseases, and malignancies can serve as factors triggering insomnia complaints, according to the behavioral model for insomnia development. Moreover, chronic insomnia increases the risk of these diseases through several pathogenic mechanisms, including activated stress response, altered neurotransmitter signaling, and impaired emotion regulation. This interplay creates a vicious cycle of poor sleep, deteriorated health, and impaired quality of life. Recognizing the relationship between insomnia and overall well-being is essential for adopting optimal treatment methodology, as addressing insomnia can ameliorate associated mental and physical health issues. This review explores the bidirectional association of chronic insomnia with other somatic and mental diseases, illustrating how each can aggravate the other, and emphasizes the importance of effective insomnia management in improving overall health and quality of life
Immunodiagnostic potential of the RANK/RANKL/OPG ratio in gingival crevicular fluid for periodontitis
No full textIntroduction: Periodontitis and apical periodontitis are multifactorial inflammatory diseases involving microbial activity and host responses that lead to tissue destruction. Biomarkers such as receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK), its ligand (RANKL), and the osteoprotegerin (OPG) system in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) have been investigated for their diagnostic and prognostic roles in these conditions. Aim: This study evaluates these biomarkers’ levels to differentiate between stage I and stage III periodontitis, and healthy controls. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 90 participants divided into three groups: stage I periodontitis, stage III periodontitis, and healthy control. GCF samples were collected from all participants in this study to measure the immunomarkers using ELISA. Results: The result revealed significantly higher levels of RANKL and OPG in stage I periodontitis compared to stage III periodontitis and controls. Additionally, we observed a significant difference between the study groups in the RANK/OPG and RANKL/OPG ratios, with stage I periodontitis showing the highest ratios. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK), its ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) can serve as valuable biomarkers for distinguishing between stage I and stage III periodontitis. The results showed a significant increase in RANKL and OPG levels in stage I periodontitis compared to stage III and control groups. Moreover, the RANK/OPG and RANKL/OPG ratios were significantly higher in stage I periodontitis, indicating their potential as diagnostic indicators
New records of bristle flies (Diptera, Tachinidae) from Morocco: Expanding the taxonomic diversity and geographic distribution of the family
No full textThis preprint has been withdrawn by the authors due to numerous errors throughout the manuscript which would substantially impact the scientific validity of the work
The role of microbiomes in animal invasions: a scoping review
No full textDespite increasing evidence for the contribution of microbiomes to host fitness and evolution, their role in the adaptation and successful establishment of invasive animal species remains underexplored. Animal microbiomes can mediate key host phenotypic traits such as energy metabolism, detoxification and disease resistance. Therefore, harbouring a highly functional microbiome may be advantageous in the context of invasion, where small host populations must rapidly adapt to new environmental conditions. We conducted a scoping review of studies focusing on microbiomes and animal invasions to explore the extent and nature of research efforts on this topic and to identify general patterns that may help elucidate the relationship between host microbial communities and invasiveness. The analysis of 147 articles published between 2006 and 2024 showed a steady increase in the research output on the topic, in parallel with growing interest in biological invasions and technical and theoretical advances in microbiome research. However, the application of new analytical approaches that go beyond taxonomic characterisation remains limited and the research output is still heavily biased towards invasive invertebrates. Although most of the reviewed research was descriptive, a more detailed assessment of a subset of 43 studies using a comparative design revealed some recurring patterns. Host microbiomes in the introduction range tend to diverge from those in the native range, but invasive populations generally retain a core of microorganisms involved in key phenotypic traits such as disease resistance. Studies that have examined the microbiomes of invasive species along their invasion pathway highlight how stochastic events, propagule pressure and population mixing are relevant drivers of microbial community assembly during introductions. Comparisons of the microbiomes of invasive species and co-occurring, outcompeted native species often suggest that some of the observed phenotypic differences driving their interactions are microbiome-mediated. However, to date, only a handful of studies have been able to establish the mechanistic link between microbiomes and host invasiveness using an experimental design. While observational studies remain valuable at this early stage, we advocate for a wider use of novel technologies and experimental approaches to generate robust functional and mechanistic information that will strengthen their inferential value. As more system-specific studies become available, meta-analytical approaches may allow us to uncover broader eco-evolutionary patterns and ultimately elucidate the role of microbiomes in animal invasions
New records of domestic dog negative impacts on native vertebrates in the Ecuadorian Andes
No full textDomestic dogs (Canis familiaris) significantly threaten endangered vertebrates worldwide. In this study, we report 11 documented cases of dogs chasing, harassing, competing for food resources, biting, and killing six native vertebrate species in the Ecuadorian Andes: Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque), little red brocket deer (Mazama rufina), Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and Andean tapeti (Sylvilagus andinus). Dog attacks on wildlife can lead to mortality through direct injury and by transmitting diseases, potentially threatening the conservation of globally endangered species such as the Andean condor, mountain tapir, and little red brocket deer. Effective management and conservation of native vertebrates in Andean ecosystems require a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted impacts of dogs on wildlife populations. These impacts include direct attacks, disease transmission, fear-induced behavioral changes, competition for food resources, and conflicts with local farmers, which may inadvertently lead to wildlife poisoning
Hybrid assembly of Penicillium rubens genomes unveils high conservation of genome structural organisation and the presence of Numts in nuclear DNA
No full textThe search for highly accurate chromosomal reference genomes has become a primary objective for the fungal research communities. Various genomic events, including insertions, deletions, inversions and movement of transposable elements, can modify the genomic architecture, resulting in chromosomal rearrangements. Long sequence reads enhance the accuracy and reliability of the assembly procedure, facilitating the study of these genomic characteristics. Here, we have utilised a combination of PacBio and Illumina sequencing technologies to generate hybrid assemblies of Penicillium rubens strains 212 (PO212) and S27. These assemblies were then subjected to a comparative analysis in order to elucidate the chromosomal rearrangements that underpin the observed genomic differences, with a particular focus on their implications in the biocontrol phenotype against phytopathogenic fungi. This approach has enabled us to obtain the assembly of both PO212 and S27 genomes, with each organised into 13 scaffolds. The genomic organisation between these two isolates is highly conserved and the presence of transposable elements between the strains does not reveal major differences. Using the hybrid assemblies, we were able to detect, for the first time in the genus Penicillium, the presence of two nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments (Numts) in the genomes of the PO212 and S27 strains. The differences in biocontrol phenotype displayed by PO212 and S27 strains are independent of their genome organisation. These genomes provide new information for the existing database repositories
Primula longipes subsp. bayburtensis Sefali, Yapar & Demir (Primulaceae): A new taxon from north-eastern Anatolia, Türkiye
No full textThe new taxon, Primula longipes subsp. bayburtensis Sefali, Yapar & Demir, subsp. nov. (Primulaceae) is described and illustrated from Bayburt Province, Türkiye. It is morphologically assigned to Primula sect. Crystallophlomis based on its long scapes, lanceolate and denticulate leaf with long petiole and hairless habit, fruits longer than calyx and covered by farina on the scape. This new taxon is similar to Primula longipes and P. nivalis subsp. turkestanica; it can also be easily distinguished by its calyx divided ratio, thurm flowers (unwidened corolla tube shape and length) and capsules (length) futures
Greenhouse gas flux measurements from agricultural sites within the Swiss FluxNet network
No full textThe Swiss FluxNet provides ecosystem scale flux data for the major land use types in Switzerland. While the current station network includes long-term eddy covariance flux measurements from two forest sites (mixed deciduous forest Lägeren and evergreen spruce forest Davos), three permanent grassland sites (Chamau, Früebüel and Alp Weissenstein) as well as three cropland sites (Oensingen, Tänikon and Forel) complement the network. In addition, the measurements cover an altitude gradient ranging from 393 to 1978 m.a.s.l. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O) fluxes are measured continuously at all sites, while nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) fluxes are also quantified at some sites. Currently, 123 site-years of data are openly shared with FLUXNET.Ancillary meteorological and soil microclimate data are collected continuously as well; plant growth is routinely monitored at all agricultural sites, i.e., grasslands and croplands. Together with the management data, such continuous measurements allow integrated multi-year (Feigenwinter et al. 2023b) and multi-site (Zeeman et al. 2010) comparisons, identification of drivers for greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes (Maier et al. 2022, Feigenwinter et al. 2023a), quantification of C sequestration (Emmel et al. 2018), as well as assessments of management practices towards sustainable agriculture (Fuchs et al. 2018).Here, we will present long-term CO2 fluxes (since 2004) as well as CH4 and N2O fluxes measured at the six agricultural Swiss FluxNet sites, i.e., three permanent grasslands and three croplands with their typical Swiss crop rotation. Moreover, the contribution of abiotic and biotic drivers to intra- and interseasonal variations in GHG fluxes will be discussed, potential trade-offs among climate mitigation goals identified, and the importance of management information emphasized. We encourage other research teams to use the open-access dataset, growing annually, and seek collaboration in integrated flux measurements worldwide