Search Results (351)

Intercropping systems involving sorghum, grasses, and legumes can enhance forage production and improve sustainability under no-tillage systems. In the context of agricultural systems, the effective selection of rotational species is essential, as they contribute to soil system dynamics and provide feed for livestock. In this study, the dry matter production of grain sorghum (GS: cultivar A 9902), forage sorghum (FS: cultivar Volumax), and dual-purpose sorghum (DPS: cultivar Rancheiro) intercropped with Urochloa brizantha and dwarf pigeon pea was evaluated at five sowing densities (0 to 24 seeds m⁻¹) over two growing seasons (2018 and 2019), conducted in a randomized complete block design under autumn growing conditions. Biometric and productive traits of sorghum were assessed, as well as the dry matter production of the companion species, in order to understand interspecific interactions within the system. Sorghum dry matter yield was not affected by pigeon pea density, indicating high stability of the main crop. Grain sorghum (GS) and forage sorghum (FS) showed higher production in the first season (20,428 and 18,210 kg ha⁻¹, respectively), whereas dual-purpose sorghum (DPS) performed best in the second season (25,388 kg ha⁻¹). GS exhibited the highest panicle production, exceeding the other cultivars by up to 55%. Increasing pigeon pea density enhanced its biomass production but reduced Urochloa production by up to 50%; however, Urochloa showed better performance when intercropped with GS and FS. Sorghum morphological traits were not affected, and overall, the intercropping system maintained sorghum productivity while increasing total biomass, demonstrating potential for silage production and pasture establishment. Full article

Marine organisms that episodically aggregate near coastal nuclear power plant water intakes pose a substantial risk to cooling water security. Predicting the spatial distribution of such high-risk species remains challenging because their occurrence is shaped not only by environmental conditions but also by complex trophic interactions. In this study, we model the habitat distribution of three high-risk nektonic species, Dotted gizzard shad (Konosirus punctatus), Japanese swimming crab (Charybdis japonica) and squid (Loligo sp.), in the cooling water intake area of a coastal nuclear power plant in eastern Liaodong Bay using generalized linear models (GLMs) and joint species distribution models (JSDMs). Based on summer surveys conducted in 2024–2025, we explicitly incorporated trophic linkages among target species, their prey, and predators within JSDMs. Model performance was evaluated using cross-validation based on AUC, RMSE, and coefficient of determination (R²). Our results indicate that water depth was the dominant environmental driver for all three species, while chlorophyll-a concentration and distance to the intake exerted species-specific effects. By incorporating interspecific trophic associations and environmental responses, JSDMs showed consistently improved predictive performance relative to GLMs, with approximately 1.5-fold higher R² values and 10–30% lower RMSE, while offering enhanced ecological interpretability. The models revealed strong positive associations between target species and both lower-trophic prey and higher-trophic predators, suggesting that top–down and bottom–up processes jointly regulate aggregation dynamics. This study demonstrates that integrating trophic interactions into species distribution modeling substantially improves predictions of high-risk marine species near coastal infrastructure and provides an ecological basis for proactive management of cooling water intake systems. Full article

Floodplain forests in central Amazonia are structured along a marked flooding gradient that influences species distribution, performance, and survival. This study evaluated the demographic structure, survival, and growth responses of two co-occurring tree species across contrasting várzea environments differing in inundation regimes. Field surveys quantified seedlings, juveniles, and adults in low- and high-floodplain forests, while a field experiment assessed survival and growth under conditions with and without interspecific interaction. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that temporal variation and forest type significantly affected growth parameters, with species-specific responses to flooding intensity. In the field experiment, mortality of Crateva tapia L. differed significantly among treatments (χ² = 24.96, p < 0.001), with the highest mortality observed in high-várzea (up to 75% under interspecific interaction), while Hura crepitans L. showed 100% survival across all treatments. Non-parametric analyses detected no significant treatment effects on selected morphological traits. The results support the stress-gradient hypothesis, suggesting that plant–plant interactions may shift along the flooding gradient, with facilitative processes becoming more relevant under higher stress conditions. Overall, differential flood tolerance appears to be a key driver of habitat preference and population structure in these Amazonian wetlands. Full article

Microbial communities are the fundamental determinants of Nongxiang Daqu quality. In this study, we systematically investigated the assembly and succession mechanisms of microbial communities during Nongxiang Daqu fermentation. Our findings reveal that this ecological succession is primarily driven by deterministic processes, encompassing dynamic environmental variables and interspecific microbial interactions. Significant stage-specific temporal variations in the community structure were observed, and biomarkers identified via a random forest model further corroborated these dynamic successional patterns. Both the neutral community model and Modified Stochasticity Ratio (MST) tests demonstrated that community assembly is dominated by deterministic processes, the influence of which intensifies as fermentation progresses. Notably, the fungal community exhibited a more pronounced response to these deterministic environmental selections than the bacterial community. Furthermore, co-occurrence network analysis, Mantel tests, and redundancy analysis (RDA) collectively illustrated that microbial interactions and environmental factors—specifically temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acidity—synergistically regulate this succession. Crucially, the rates of change in these environmental parameters directly dictated the pace of microbial turnover. Among these, oxygen and acidity had the greatest influence: oxygen accounted for 17.32% and 29.05% of the effects on fungi and bacteria, respectively, while acidity accounted for 16.77% and 25.23%, respectively. Time-series forecasting indicated that community structural assembly and stabilization predominantly conclude within the initial 30 days of fermentation. Ultimately, this study uncovers the ecological driving forces shaping the Nongxiang Daqu microbiome, providing a vital theoretical foundation for the targeted regulation of Daqu microecology and the enhancement of product quality. Full article

The maintenance mechanisms underlying community temporal stability represent a pivotal concern in ecology. However, empirical evidence on how multiple mechanisms independently or synergistically stabilize natural communities, and how their importance responds to external factors and evolves over time, remains limited. Leveraging a 12-year (2007–2018) manipulative experiment involving clipping and fertilization in an alpine meadow, we assessed the relative contributions of four mechanisms, namely, species asynchrony (compensatory dynamics among species), the portfolio effect (statistical averaging of species’ fluctuations), the selection effect (dominance of stable species), and interspecific interactions, across treatments and temporal scales. Stability was quantified as the reciprocal of the coefficient of variation in community coverage. Asynchrony was a ubiquitous foundation of stability across all treatments and time periods. The portfolio effect was a critical positive driver in the initial phase but was suppressed by fertilization over time. In contrast, interspecific interactions and the selection effect emerged as central determinants of long-term stability in later stages. Fertilization amplified the portfolio effect and fostered weak interactions while reducing the fluctuation disparity between dominant and non-dominant species. Clipping enhanced stability mechanisms by preserving species richness and asynchrony. Structural equation modelling revealed that treatments indirectly influenced stability by “reprogramming” the causal pathways among these mechanisms. Our study demonstrates that community stability is upheld by multiple coordinated mechanisms, whose relative importance is contingent on treatment and time scale. Grassland management should therefore move beyond a singular focus on species richness and adopt strategies that promote the synergistic functioning of multiple stability mechanisms. Full article

Habitat destruction is a major driver of biodiversity decline, yet how it reshapes multispecies coexistence by altering interaction structure remains unclear. We adopt a spatially explicit metacommunity model framework under a homogeneity assumption and introduce a tunable parameter controlling intransitive competition. Within this framework, we represent the system using a generalized Lotka–Volterra model to examine how coexistence mechanisms respond to habitat destruction. Our findings demonstrate that (1) coexistence is not driven by a single mechanism: under transitive competition, it highly relies on niche differentiation, whereas in intransitive structures, coexistence can be maintained even with low niche differentiation. (2) Habitat destruction compresses the feasible coexistence space, but regions dominated by different mechanisms respond asymmetrically, with niche-difference-driven coexistence shrinking and intransitive-dominated coexistence expanding under certain conditions. (3) The difference stems from habitat destruction, altering the relative proportions of intraspecific and interspecific competition, driving the community beyond the coexistence threshold. This reduces the probability of coexistence and reshapes the relative importance of several coexistence mechanisms. This finding provides a new theoretical perspective for biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. Full article

The antioxidant activity of Origanum vulgare L. and Mentha aquatica L. has been widely reported; however, interaction effects within and between different plant parts remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant behavior of methanolic extracts from leaves, flowers, and rhizomes of both species and to assess the nature of intraplant and interspecific interactions using combination analysis. Antioxidant activity was determined for individual extracts and their binary mixtures using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. Phytochemical analysis was performed by LC-MS/MS. In O. vulgare, all intraplant mixtures exhibited synergistic effects, suggesting complementary contributions of phenolic acids and flavonoids across plant organs. In contrast, M. aquatica showed more variable responses, with additive to antagonistic interactions, particularly in combinations involving rhizomes with lower phenolic content. Interspecific mixtures further demonstrated that interaction outcomes depended on the qualitative and quantitative composition of phytochemicals: leaf mixtures showed synergism, whereas flower and rhizomes mixtures tended toward antagonism. Comparable interaction trends were observed in both radical scavenging assays. These results indicate that antioxidant activity in plant mixtures is not simply additive but is strongly influenced by phytochemical composition and plant part, highlighting the importance of empirical testing when designing multicomponent plant-based antioxidant formulations. Full article

Latitudinal gradients are widely recognized as a key macro-environmental driver shaping microbial biogeographic patterns; however, the spatial organization of sediment archaeal communities in estuarine ecosystems and the mechanisms underlying their assembly remain insufficiently understood. This study is based on sediment samples collected from three representative estuarine regions spanning distinct latitudes along the Chinese coastline—the North China Sea (NCS), East China Sea (ECS), and South China Sea (SCS). Based on 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, combined with null-model inference and molecular ecological network (MEN) analyses, we characterized latitudinal patterns in archaeal community distributions, assembly processes, and cross-regional interaction architectures. The results showed that archaeal communities exhibited obvious spatial segregation across three regions, with both community richness and network complexity increasing significantly toward lower latitudes. Nitrate (NO₃⁻), ferric iron (Fe³⁺), and dissolved oxygen (DO) were identified as key environmental factors governing archaeal community structure. Notably, archaeal community assembly processes exhibited a clear latitudinal gradient: deterministic processes, particularly environmental filtering, were more obvious at lower latitudes, whereas the contributions of stochastic processes—including dispersal limitation and ecological drift—increased markedly at higher latitudes. A MEN analysis further revealed that archaeal networks at lower latitudes exhibited higher connectivity, modularity, and stability, suggesting that interspecific interactions may enhance ecosystem resistance to environmental disturbance under more stable environmental conditions. Overall, this study demonstrates that macro-environmental gradients jointly shape archaeal biogeographic patterns via multiple pathways, including modulation of environmental filtering, dispersal dynamics, and cross-regional interactions. These findings deepened our understanding of the stable mechanisms governing the diversity and biogeographical distribution of archaea in estuarine systems. Full article

Demodex mites are common commensals of mammalian skin, but under certain conditions, they can cause severe skin diseases. This study analyzed the presence, diversity, and phylogenetic relationships of Demodex species in two wolf subspecies from southern Europe to determine whether species-level differences exist between wild and domestic canids after thousands of years of divergence. A total of 1400 hair samples from 140 wolves were analyzed using a real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting mitochondrial 16S rRNA and nuclear 18S rRNA genes. Overall, 37.1% (52/140; 95% CI: 29.0–45.9%) of wolves were positive for Demodex DNA, with a higher prevalence in Italian (46%) than in Iberian (36%) wolves. The lip and chin areas were the most reliable sampling sites. Four Demodex species were identified in wolves: D. injai and D. canis (associated with dogs), and D. folliculorum and D. brevis (associated with humans). Co-infestations involving multiple Demodex species were recorded for the first time in wild canids. These results challenge the long-held belief of strict host specificity in Demodex mites. The discovery of Demodex species associated with both humans and dogs in wolves supports the idea that host-switching and ecological interactions have occurred throughout the evolution of canids and humans. Such cross-species transfers may have taken place during the early domestication of dogs, representing a plausible scenario compatible with our data. However, given the isolated history of the two southern wolf populations, it is more probable that these findings result from recent interspecific transmission events, likely facilitated by ecological overlap with domestic animals and human environments. Future genomic studies will be essential for clarifying the evolutionary relationships within the genus Demodex and its host associations. Full article

Leveraging fungal consortia to degrade heavy oil is an emerging strategy for mitigating/cleaning up environmental pollution. However, many consortia are predominantly evaluated by measuring the biodegradation efficiency of heavy oil, with insufficient attention paid to the mechanistic underpinnings and metabolic pathways. In this study, heavy oil-degrading fungal consortia were developed for potential application in soil bioremediation. Whole-genome sequencing was used to predict the metabolic pathways and interspecific interactions driving heavy oil biodegradation. Three heavy oil-degrading fungal strains, designated Aspergillus corrugatus FH2, Aspergillus terreus FL4, and Alternaria alstroemeriae FW1, were isolated from oil sludge in the Karamay Oilfield in Xinjiang, China. Four consortia were constructed through the combination of two or three strains. The consortium F13 (FH2 + FW1) achieved 72.0% removal of heavy oil in a simulated bioremediation test over 30 days, which was more efficient than other consortia and single strains (59.5–68.5%). Notably, the mean degradation rate of long-chain alkanes (C₂₄–C₂₈) by F13 reached 95.9%. After F13 treatment, the major fractions of heavy oil showed considerable degradation, 87.4% for saturates, 92.0% for aromatics, 69.5% for resins, and 27.3% for asphaltenes. Genome annotation of FH2, FL4, and FW1 revealed the presence of core genes for degradation of n-alkanes and aromatics, e.g., CYP505, frmA, fadB, hmgA, ALDH, and ACSL. These functional genes encoded cross-lineage enzymes, enabling synergistic catabolism of C₁₃–C₂₈ alkanes and aromatics. Our findings indicated that the fungal consortium of A. corrugatus FH2 and Al. alstroemeriae FW1 has remarkable bioremediation potential for heavy oil-contaminated sites. This study provides molecular evidence for the design of targeted interventions to improve soil remediation efficiency with fungal consortia. Full article

Climate change-driven range expansions are creating novel interspecific interactions that may significantly impact the breeding success of established resident species. This study examines the ecological consequences of competition between Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) and expanding Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) in central and eastern Poland. We monitored 80 Mute Swan breeding pairs across fishpond complexes using UAV-based surveys to assess habitat selection and reproductive output in sites with and without Whooper Swan presence. Mute Swans breeding alongside Whooper Swans selected nest sites deeper within reed vegetation and showed altered habitat preferences compared to pairs breeding without competition from a related species. Significantly, reproductive output was reduced in competitive environments, with pairs breeding in areas without Whooper Swans producing considerably more offspring than those coexisting with the expanding species. These results demonstrate that the expansion of a given species’ range can cause immediate costs to local species, both via direct confrontations and through the impact on the quality of the occupied habitat. The substantial reduction in breeding success suggests that interspecific competition may have population-level consequences for established waterbird communities. Full article

Avian morphology is a product of complex interactions among ecology, behavioral traits, and phylogeny. The wing, as a primary aerodynamic structure, is particularly indicative of these selective pressures, which are especially pronounced in migratory species. This study investigates interspecific variation in wing morphology among three migratory warblers of the family Sylviidae: the Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), and Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis). We combined traditional morphometric measurements (body mass, wing length, primary feather lengths, and wing area) with functional aerodynamic indices (wing loading, aspect ratio, Kipp’s index) and geometric morphometric analysis of wing shape. Data were collected during autumn migration on the Greek island of Antikythera, a key stopover site in the Mediterranean. Our analysis revealed distinct morphological adaptations: Garden Warblers possessed elongated, pointed wings with a high aspect ratio, indicative of selection for long-distance, energy-efficient flight. Conversely, Eurasian Blackcaps exhibited shorter, rounder wings, a morphology associated with high maneuverability and quicker takeoffs in dense habitats. Common Whitethroat displayed an intermediate wing morphology, balancing aerodynamic efficiency with maneuverability. These findings possibly demonstrate how wing morphology reflects a compromise shaped by selective pressures, including migratory distance, habitat structure, foraging behavior and predation risk. Full article

Vegetable grafting is increasingly adopted to stabilize tomato production under Mediterranean conditions, where water scarcity and soil-borne pressures limit crop performance. A factorial rootstock × scion trial was conducted during an organic cold greenhouse cycle in Sicily (2022–2023). Three experimental rootstocks (two interspecific and one intraspecific, developed within the H2020 BRESOV framework) were compared with the commercial rootstock Optifort, along with self-grafted and non-grafted controls. Three commercial F₁ scions (Barbarela, Cherry, Vittorio) were evaluated for vegetative growth, root traits, flowering dynamics, yield components, and fruit quality. Grafting generally enhanced plant vigor compared with self- and non-grafted plants, and significant rootstock × scion interactions were observed for several traits, indicating that performance depended on partner compatibility. Root biomass and yield varied widely among combinations, while fruit soluble solids ranged from 3.63 to 7.10 °Brix, with consistently higher values in Cherry and Vittorio scions. Multivariate analyses highlighted a predominant scion effect on fruit-related traits, whereas rootstocks mainly influenced vegetative growth and root system development. Tomato performance under Mediterranean organic greenhouse conditions strongly depends on rootstock–scion compatibility, confirming grafting as an effective strategy to improve yield stability and fruit quality in sustainable production systems. Full article

Urban contemporary living has increasingly shifted emotional regulation inward, away from wider social networks and into tightly managed daily life. Within this landscape, dogs can become regulatory partners whose presence reshapes human rhythms, attention, and everyday sociability. This review examines how urban conditions—including risk-averse caregiving, dense living, and reduced opportunities for sustained social contact—reconfigure emotional co-regulation within human–dog relationships and, in turn, human emotional environments. Drawing on research from behavioural science, physiology, comparative ethology, psychology, and the social sciences (2010–2025), it treats attachment, synchrony, and social buffering as interconnected processes. Across disciplines, evidence suggests that dogs and humans often settle emotionally together, showing coupled dynamics in behaviour and physiology. Such coupling can support stress buffering and recovery, yet under chronic human stress or heightened control it may stabilise shared vigilance and dependence, concentrating regulatory work within the dyad. These effects are conditional: when dogs lack stable, reciprocal social buffering—especially with conspecifics—the dyad may be less able to support recovery, and synchrony may tilt toward vigilance rather than calm. Seen this way, human–dog bonds function as part of the emotional infrastructure of contemporary cities, shaping how calm, uncertainty, and social contact are organised. Full article

The combined effects of plateau pikas and yak grazing on the distribution or occupancy of endemic passeridae birds on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, China remain largely unknown. To assess habitat selection patterns within the frameworks of niche construction theory and the rivet hypothesis, we measured the occupancy rates of passeridae species along five sample strips of transects established in a treeless ecosystem. Each transect was surveyed three times within each seasonal sampling window (spring, summer, and autumn 2024), and repeated visits were treated as detection occasions for occupancy modeling. We used plateau pika density and yak grazing patterns as key variables to investigate their influence on the occupancy of alpine passeridae birds. We found that the occupancy of both the White-rumped and Rufous-necked Snowfinch was positively associated with proximity to yak bedding sites and high densities of plateau pika burrows. However, the occupancy of both species declined with increasing distance from yak bedding areas. In contrast, the Ground Tit showed no detectable association with these variables. This strong interspecific variation underscores the importance of disentangling mechanistic linkages among large herbivores, ecosystem engineers, and avian niche specialization in this fragile biome. Further research should explore how cross-taxa interactions mediate habitat availability and species resilience under ongoing environmental change. Full article