BIOREpository (Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade)
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A species-level multi-trophic metaweb for Switzerland
No full textUnderstanding how species interact within ecological networks is essential for predicting the consequences of environmental change, from trophic cascades to broader changes in species distributions and ecosystem functioning across large spatial scales. To facilitate such explorations, we constructed trophiCH: a country-level trophic meta-food web (henceforth "metaweb") that includes vertebrates, invertebrates, and vascular plants within Switzerland, based on literature published between 1862 and 2023. Our comprehensive dataset catalogues 1,112,073 trophic interactions involving 23,151 species and 125 feeding guilds (e.g., fungivores). Thirty percent of species-level interactions were empirically documented. Additional species-level interactions were inferred by resolving coarser taxonomic records (e.g., inferring links from "species A feeds on genus B") based on habitat co-occurrences. While explorations of large-scale food webs have often relied on modelling approaches due to data gaps, this empirically based metaweb paves the way for data-driven studies of real-world food webs across space and time. By integrating the metaweb with local species assemblages knowledge, future studies can gain insights into broad patterns of food web structure across spatial scales.M21a+50.5116412
Land-use effects on aphid-parasitoid-hyperparasitoid food web structure and function
No full textUnderstanding the impact of land-use intensity on aphid-parasitoid food web structure and biological control services is crucial for managing landscapes in a way that supports natural pest regulation. However, few studies have directly linked the structure of these food webs to actual pest control outcomes. In this study, we analyzed how the structure of aphid-parasitoid food webs and the ecosystem services they provide varied across a land-use intensity gradient in 24 alfalfa fields during three years in China. Beta diversity result indicates that the regional species pools play a key role in local food web assembly. Species in plain regions (intensive agricultural areas) were subsets of those found in mountainous region (more diverse landscapes), indicating that land-use intensity filtered out species from the broader regional pool rather than creating unique local assemblages. Land-use intensity, particularly mowing and insecticide application, negatively impacted both primary parasitoid and hyperparasitoid richness and abundance. Conversely, noncrop areas positively influenced primary parasitoid richness. Food web structures varied across regions and sampling dates. Hyperparasitism was significantly correlated with food web structural metrics, showing a negative relationship with modularity and a positive relationship with nestedness in primary-hyperparasitoid food webs. It suggests that hyperparasitoids may be more effective in suppressing primary parasitoids and thereby aphid biocontrol in less modular and more interconnected food webs. These findings highlight the importance of food web structure in shaping parasitoid dynamics and emphasize the need for landscape management strategies that promote biodiversity and ecosystem functions.M21a6.410969938
Ion channels in plasma membrane of filamentous fungi - methodology and advances in Mucoromycota
No full textStrana 93M3
Procena uticaja male hidroelektrane na diverzitet i sastav zajednice silikatnih algi (Bacillariophyceae) Orovičke reke (zapadna Srbija)
No full textM6
Wing skin depigmentation in bats: histological and ultrastructural study
No full textBook of abstracts pp. 191M3
A veszélyeztetett Palingenia longicauda fajelterjedése és helyzete Szerbiában
No full textpp. 213-215M1
Range Dynamics of the Moss Pohlia cruda in Italy Under Different Climate Change Scenarios
No full textPohlia cruda (Hedw.) Lindb. is a cryophilous moss species with a boreo-arctic montane distribution. As global temperatures continue to rise, high-mountain plant species are increasingly forced to migrate to higher elevations to remain within their ecological and physiological tolerance limits. In this study, we applied ensemble species-distribution modeling (SDM) to evaluate the future niche availability of P. cruda in Italy under two greenhouse gas-emission scenarios and two time periods (2050 and 2090). Projections under the intermediate emission scenario (SSP2-4.5) indicate a habitat loss ranging from −24.1% to −46.7%, whereas predictions under the very high emission of greenhouse gases (SSP5-8.5) suggest even greater losses, between −28.1% and −59.9%. These findings point to a substantial reduction, fragmentation, and potential disappearance of suitable habitats for P. cruda in the coming decades. This study represents a pioneering application of bryophyte-distribution modeling for the territory of Italy and provides a foundation for integrating such approaches into conservation decisions aimed at preserving biodiversity.M214,13640142
Expression dynamics of hsa-miR-18a-5p and hsa-miR-135b-5p are associated with pathological tumor stage and lymph node status in locally advanced rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
No full textLocally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is characterized by tumor invasion into surrounding tissues and frequent lymph node involvement, often requiring neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgical resection. LARC presents a significant therapeutic challenge because it is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage and shows variable responses to standard nCRT, highlighting the need for predictive biomarkers. microRNAs are considered valuable biomarker candidates due to their biological characteristics. We investigated the expression dynamics of hsa-miR-18a-5p and hsa-miR-135b-5p and their predictive potential for response to nCRT. We demonstrate a significant post-nCRT decrease in tumor expression of hsa-miR-18a-5p. High pre-treatment hsa-miR-18a-5p expression was significantly associated with lower post-treatment pathological stage and absence of lymph node metastasis, indicating potential predictive value. The expression of hsa-miR-135b-5p after therapy was associated with advanced disease stage and positive lymph node status, indicating it may be linked to more aggressive disease after the treatment. Despite these associations with tumor characteristics, neither miRNA showed a significant association with therapy response. Our findings suggest that while hsa-miR-18a-5p and hsa-miR-135b-5p are not predictive of nCRT response, their expression patterns before and after therapy may reflect underlying tumor biology and hold potential for LARC patient stratification.M220.833330
Morphological Divergence in Marbled and Pygmy Newts: A Skull Shape Perspective
No full textThe vertebrate skull integrates vital functions such as feeding, brain protection and sensory perception, making it a key structure for studying morphological evolution. Using micro-computed tomography and geometric morphometrics, we examined skull shape variation in the salamander genus Triturus, focusing on five (sub)species within the recently revised T. marmoratus species group (marbled and pygmy newts). Results were compared with the sister T. cristatus species group (crested newts) which comprises eight species, including a recent diversification within T. carnifex documented by molecular data. The two groups, which diverged approximately 28 million years ago, take opposite positions over a shape gradient, from broad skulls with posteriorly positioned jaws to narrower, elongated skulls with more anteriorly positioned jaw articulations, respectively. Both groups exhibit comparable levels of morphological variation (disparity) in skull shape. In the T. cristatus species group, skull shape changes are paralleled by changes in axial morphology (with a vertebral count ranging from 13 to 17) whereas species of the T. marmoratus group have a uniform count of 12 trunk vertebrae. The subspecies Triturus m. marmoratus stands out from other taxa in its group in jaw articulation and pterygoid placement, and vomerine tooth row lengths - features that suggest functional differences in feeding mechanics or diet. Further research on the function morphology of feeding, feeding regimes and phenology of taxa may help to uncover drivers of morphological divergence.M21a2.411