Search Results (275)

Land desertification poses a major ecological challenge and threatens agricultural productivity. This study investigated the seed endophytic microbiomes of desert plants as a potential resource for mitigating salt stress in crops. Using high-throughput sequencing, we characterized the bacterial and fungal communities within seeds of 12 desert plant species. Dominant taxa included Firmicutes (particularly Bacillus), Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. Culturable bacteria were subsequently isolated from Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A.Mey.) Bunge (HB) and Hedysarum scoparium Fisch. & C.A.Mey. (HSA) seeds. These isolates were screened for plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and tolerance to salt (NaCl) and alkali (NaHCO₃). Selected strains, including the high indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-producing Bacillus sp. HB-4, were used to inoculate wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under 150 mM NaCl or 150 mM NaHCO₃ stress. Inoculation with strain HB-4 significantly improved wheat growth under stress. This improvement was associated with increased chlorophyll and proline content, enhanced activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and peroxidase, and reduced levels of malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative damage. Our results demonstrate that desert plant seeds harbor taxonomically distinct and functionally resilient endophytes. The successful application of a desert-adapted Bacillus strain to alleviate salt stress in wheat highlights the potential of such microbiomes as a novel source of inoculants for sustainable agriculture in saline-affected regions. Full article

Picea schrenkiana is a keystone species in Central Asian ecosystems currently threatened by climate-driven disease outbreaks. Here, we investigated the causal agent of needle blight and characterized the associated microbial dynamics. By integrating tissue isolation, Koch’s postulates, and high-throughput amplicon sequencing across a disease severity level, we confirmed Lirula macrospora as the etiological agent. Community analysis revealed that disease severity is the primary driver of succession, with alpha diversity peaks at the moderate infection stage. Notably, the abundance of Lirula surged from 2.56% in healthy needles to 65.10% in severe cases, displacing the core endophyte Phaeococcomyces, while potentially beneficial bacteria like Sphingomonas showed only transient enrichment. Furthermore, cross-kingdom co-occurrence network analysis revealed marked topological restructuring whereby the system reached a complex ecological “tipping point” during moderate stage before undergoing significant simplification. As the disease progressed, L. macrospora shifted from a peripheral node to a central hub, effectively dismantling the native microbial network. We conclude that L. macrospora infection triggers a cascading collapse of the needle microbiome, driving a phase shift from a healthy homeostasis to a pathogen-dominated state. These findings elucidate the critical mechanisms of pathogen-microbiome interactions and provide a theoretical basis for the ecological management of P. schrenkiana forests. Full article

Wetlands characterized by the presence of rare and endangered reed plant communities are seriously threatened by hydrological changes and pollution caused by human activity, e.g., drainage, river regulation, and conversion to agricultural land. Despite numerous studies of wetland communities, the “volume of ecological niche” based on Ellenberg indices, i.e., the ecological preferences of vascular plant species, has rarely been analyzed at the level of entire plant communities. Properly defined indicators of microclimatic and habitat factors (ranges of environmental conditions), appropriate for individual rush and sedge communities (specific communities), are very important for the sustainable management of ecosystems and potential restoration processes in renaturation activities. Therefore, a comprehensive floristic and habitat assessment of wetland communities of the Phragmitetea class was conducted in a Natura 2000 site in southeastern Poland (name and number of the Natura 2000 site—Wolica Valley PLH060058), located within the East European Lowland. The communities were analyzed in the context of the variability of individual Ellenberg indices and designated ecological hypervolumes. These were typical rush communities occurring in wet and fertile soils with a neutral or alkaline pH. The microclimatic conditions were typical for these habitats. The studied communities differ in terms of the variability of Ellenberg ecological indices. Some of them are characterized by low ecological niches, while others are characterized by larger ones. The volume of determined multidimensional hypervolumes allowed us to distinguish two communities (Phragmitetum australis and Caricetum rostratae) to have greater generality compared to the others. They can occur in a greater variety of environmental conditions than other communities that require more specific conditions. Other phytocenoses with low hypervolume values (hypervolumes more than 10 times smaller than mentioned before) were distinguished by high habitat specialization. In turn, the analysis of the overlapping of hypervolumes allowed us to group communities into four clusters with similar ranges of Ellenberg indices’ values: (1) Caricetum distichae and Caricetum gracilis; (2) Glycerietum maximae, Iridetum pseudoacori, Caricetum appropinquatae, and Phalaridetum arundinaceae; (3) Phragmitetum australis and Caricetum rostratae; and (4) Caricetum acutiformis, Caricetum vesicariae, and Caricetum elatae. Full article

Outside their native habitat, goldenrods (Solidago spp.) threaten ecosystem biodiversity through aggressive vegetative reproduction and by establishing dense stands. Climate-driven fire risks and illegal grassland burning increase exposure to smoke-derived compounds such as karrikins (KARs), which are known to regulate germination and development in many species but have never been studied in goldenrods. Understanding KARs’ effects on seeds and rhizomes is essential for predicting invasion dynamics and designing effective management strategies. This study aimed to determine whether karrikin 1 (KAR1) influences seed germination and rhizome bud development in Solidago gigantea, thereby affecting its invasiveness and offering a potential method of control. Two geographically isolated populations were analyzed using seeds, soil, above-ground plant biomass and rhizomes. Germination tests evaluated whether KAR mimics light and gibberellic acid (GA), a known germination stimulant. Greenhouse trials assessed rhizome response, while field experiments monitored whole-plant performance over two years. KAR stimulated seed germination comparably to light and GA and promoted seedling emergence from the seed bank, but it inhibited rhizome sprouting by about 15%. It also enhanced the emergence of other species, suggesting broad physiological activity and the potential to influence early-season plant community dynamics. These findings highlight KAR’s potential as a management tool for invasive goldenrod and provide new insights into smoke-derived compounds as ecological regulators. Full article

Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Pyricularia oryzae, remains one of the most destructive diseases threatening global rice production. Although the deployment of resistant cultivars is widely regarded as the most effective and sustainable control strategy, resistance based solely on host genetics often has limited durability due to the rapid adaptation of the pathogen. Increasing evidence suggests that plant-associated microbial communities contribute to host health and disease resistance, yet the role of seed-associated microbiota in shaping rice blast resistance remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated seed endophytic bacterial communities across multiple indica–japonica hybrid rice varieties from the Yongyou series that exhibit contrasting levels of resistance to rice blast. By integrating amplicon sequencing, we identified distinct seed bacterial assemblages associated with blast-resistant and blast-susceptible varieties were identified. Notably, the microbial communities in blast-resistant varieties exhibited significantly higher Shannon index, with a median value of 3.478 compared to 2.654 in susceptible varieties (p < 0.001), indicating a greater diversity and more balanced community structure compared to those in susceptible varieties. Several bacterial taxa consistently enriched in resistant varieties showed negative ecological associations with P. oryzae, both at the local scale and across publicly available global metagenomic datasets. These findings indicate that seed endophytic bacterial communities are non-randomly structured in relation to host resistance phenotypes and may contribute to rice blast resistance through persistent ecological interactions with the pathogen. This work highlights the potential importance of seed-associated microbiota as intrinsic components of varietal resistance and provides a microbial perspective for improving durable disease resistance in rice breeding programs. Full article

As population aging accelerates, the mounting burden on informal family caregivers in areas lacking formal care systems threatens the sustainability of elder care. This study aims at evaluating how the rural living environment and external connectivity jointly alleviate caregiver burden and exploring whether regional accessibility serves as a substitute for local infrastructure deficits. Guided by Ecological Systems Theory, we analyzed a cross-sectional dataset of 327 matched caregiver-recipient dyads from rural China using multivariate regression and mediation models. Results indicate that a favorable local environment reduces burden both directly and indirectly through improved recipient health. Crucially, county-level accessibility moderates this relationship via a substitution effect, where the marginal relief from local environmental improvements is most potent in isolated areas but diminishes where external access is convenient. Dimension-specific analyses show that developmental and physical strains are particularly sensitive to these factors. We conclude that sustaining informal care requires a dual-pathway strategy: prioritizing local “soft” assets like community safety and cultural activities while enhancing regional connectivity to service hubs. Ultimately, this research provides empirical evidence and a theoretical framework for enhancing rural informal care sustainability through environmental optimization, thereby advancing Sustainable Development Goals regarding health, reduced inequalities, and sustainable communities. Full article

Climate change poses a threat to global rice production by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The widespread cultivation of genetically uniform modern varieties has narrowed the genetic base of rice, increasing its vulnerability to these increased pressures. Rice landraces are traditional rice varieties that have been cultivated by farming communities for centuries and are considered crucial resources of genetic diversity. These landraces are adapted to a wide range of agro-ecological environments and exhibit valuable traits that provide tolerance to various biotic stresses, including drought, salinity, nutrient-deficient soils, and the increasing severity of climate-related temperature extremes. In addition, many landraces possess diverse alleles associated with resistance to biotic stresses, including pests and diseases. In addition, rice landraces exhibit great grain quality characters including high levels of essential amino acids, antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins, and micronutrients. Hence, their preservation is vital for maintaining agricultural biodiversity and enhancing nutritional security, especially in vulnerable and resource-limited regions. However, rice landraces are increasingly threatened by genetic erosion due to widespread adoption of modern high-yielding varieties, habitat loss, and changing farming practices. This review discusses the roles of rice landraces in developing resilient and climate-smart rice cultivars. Moreover, the Pantiange Heigu landrace, cultivated at one of the highest altitudes globally in Yunnan Province, China, has been used as a case study for integrated conservation by demonstrating the successful combination of in situ and ex situ strategies, community engagement, policy support, and value-added development to sustainably preserve genetic diversity under challenging environmental and socio-economic challenges. Finally, this study explores the importance of employing advanced genomic technologies with supportive policies and economic encouragements to enhance conservation and sustainable development of rice landraces as a strategic imperative for global food security. By preserving and enhancing the utilization of rice landraces, the agricultural community can strengthen the genetic base of rice, improve crop resilience, and contribute substantially to global food security and sustainable agricultural development in the face of environmental and socio-economic challenges. Full article

Seed endophytic microbiota are crucial for plant early development and stress resistance. Pinus massoniana is a key ecological and economic tree species in China, yet it is severely threatened by pine wilt disease (PWD). However, the community composition of P. massoniana seed endophytic microbiota and the persistent symbiosis formed via vertical transmission in seeds remain unclear. We analyzed the endophytic bacterial and fungal microbiota of P. massoniana seeds from four geographic regions using high-throughput 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing to characterize community structure, diversity, and functional potential, providing a basis for endophytic microbiota-based strategies to enhance resistance to PWD. Results showed that both alpha and beta diversity analyses indicated that seed endophytic microbial communities of P. massoniana differed among regions. Bacterial communities were dominated by Pseudomonadota (phylum), Gammaproteobacteria (class), and the genera Klebsiella, norank_f_Pectobacteriaceae, and Lactobacillus. Fungal communities were primarily composed of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota (phylum), Sordariomycetes (class), and the genera Rosellinia, Aspergillus, and Coniophora. Correlation network analysis revealed that fungal networks were characterized by a higher proportion of positive correlations, whereas bacterial networks were more complex. Notably, several genera detected in seeds, including Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Trichoderma, have also been reported in mature P. massoniana tissues, indicating a potential for putative vertical transmission from mother plants. Functional prediction further suggested that these taxa were enriched in pathways related to terpenoid and polyketide metabolism and saprotrophic functions, which have been implicated in PWD resistance and have been previously reported to exert nematode-suppressive or plant growth-promoting effects. Overall, this study elucidates the community structure and ecological characteristics of seed endophytic microbiota in P. massoniana and identifies potentially beneficial microbial taxa, providing potential support for the future utilization of P. massoniana endophytic microbiota in PWD research. Full article

Anthropogenic stressors increasingly threaten freshwater biodiversity, with fish communities particularly sensitive to habitat modification. This study evaluates how river morphological alterations influence fish assemblage structure in 114 mountain rivers of the Southern Carpathians, assessing whether such changes cause species loss or drive shifts toward disturbance-tolerant communities. Using a multi-scale analytical framework integrating non-metric multidimensional scaling, redundancy analysis, and variance partitioning, we quantified the contributions of spatial, catchment, and local habitat variables to community patterns. Spatial- and catchment-scale factors explained the largest variance in fish assemblages (12% in adults and 17% in small-bodied fish). However, morphological pressures proved significant in shaping community structure with clear ecological consequences. Weirs and embankments reduced abundances of rheophilic species (flow-dependent) by 27–38%, potamodromous by 23–42%, invertivorous by 26–49%, benthic by 40–46% and lithophilic taxa by 27–41%, indicating the loss of habitat specialists. In contrast, limnophilic taxa (preferring slow or still water) increased 25 times, phytophilic spawners by 17–41%, and tolerant species by 10%, reflecting biotic homogenization. By integrating a trait-based approach, this study highlights functional shifts that may be overlooked in species-level assessments. It underscores the need to couple local habitat restoration with catchment-scale management to conserve fish biodiversity and maintain natural ecological gradients in mountain river systems. Full article

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pollution, hydromorphological alteration, invasive species, and loss of ecological connectivity, complicating the monitoring and conservation of native fish communities. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a sensitive, non-invasive, and cost-effective tool for detecting species, including rare or low-abundance taxa, overcoming several limitations of traditional methods. However, its rapid expansion has generated methodological dispersion and heterogeneity in protocols. This systematic review and bibliometric analysis synthesize 131 articles published between 2020 and 2025 on the use of eDNA in freshwater fish conservation. Due to the strong methodological heterogeneity among studies, the evidence was synthesized through a structured qualitative approach under PRISMA standards. Results show rapid growth in scientific output since 2023. eDNA has proven highly effective in identifying key ecological patterns such as migration and spawning, detecting critical habitats, and supporting temporal and spatial assessments. It has also facilitated early detection of invasive species including Oreochromis niloticus, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, and Chitala ornata, and improved monitoring of threatened native species, reinforcing conservation decision-making. Despite advances, challenges persist, including variability in eDNA persistence and transport, gaps in genetic reference databases, and a lack of methodological standardization. Future perspectives include detecting parasites, advancing trophic analyses, and integrating eDNA with ecological modeling and remote sensing. Full article

Artificial freshwater bodies receive elemental inputs and face environmental stressors, posing a risk of wetland pollution that could threaten ecological health. In such an inland backwater, its microbial diversity and functional potentials remain uncharacterized. Here, shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on environmental DNA samples collected from the Atoud Dam reservoir in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The taxonomic assignments of the sequencing reads identified Pseudomonadota and Actinomycetota as the dominant phyla, while the most prevalent species was Microcystis aeruginosa. Binning assembled contigs recovered 30 metagenome-assembled genomes representing 11 phyla, suggesting potentially novel bacterial taxa and metabolic functions. Functional analysis of gene-coding sequences identified genes associated with mobile genetic elements and xenobiotic biodegradation pathways as the main factors driving the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Additionally, a community-wide analysis of enzyme-encoding genes involved in regulating the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles revealed significant annotation of denitrification and thiosulfate oxidation pathways under anoxic conditions, suggesting early signs of eutrophication and a potential risk of algal blooms. Overall, our study provides detailed insights into the genomic capabilities of the microbial community in this previously understudied ecosystem and establishes baseline data for future assessments of microbial biodiversity in other, less-explored ecosystems, thereby facilitating more effective biomonitoring and discovery. Full article

The development of China’s manganese (Mn) industries has caused severe water and soil pollution, threatening ecological and human health. Microbes are usually regarded as an important indicator of environmental pollution assessment. However, the current understanding of microbial community characteristics and their formation mechanisms in Mn production areas remains limited. In order to address this, soil properties and microbial structural characteristics across different functional zones in a typical Mn electrolysis plant in China’s “Manganese Triangle” were investigated via metagenomic sequencing. Results showed soil Mn levels significantly exceeded background values, indicating high environmental risk. Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria were dominant phyla. Microbial abundance was lowest in the adjacent natural reservoir, whereas diversity was highest in the sewage treatment plant. Correlation analyses identified Mn, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, pH, and moisture as key environmental drivers, with Mn being the primary one. Metagenomic analysis revealed abundant Mn resistance genes, enabling microbial survival under high Mn stress. This study demonstrated that excessive Mn exposure enriched Mn-resistant genes, thereby shaping unique microbial communities dominated by Mn-resistant bacteria. These findings clarified the structural characteristics and adaptive mechanisms of soil microbial communities in Mn-contaminated areas, providing a theoretical basis for ecological risk management and bioremediation. Full article

Human life expectancy has risen dramatically in the last century, but this demographic triumph has come at the cost of an explosion of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), threatening the sustainability of healthcare systems in aging, low-fertility societies. Evolutionary medicine provides a framework to understand, at least in part, this paradox. Many vulnerabilities to disease are not failures of design but the predictable outcomes of evolutionary trade-offs, constraints, and mismatches. Evolutionary mismatch theory explains how traits once advantageous in ancestral environments become maladaptive in modern contexts of abundance, sedentarism, and urbanization. The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) concept describes how epigenetic plasticity in early life can buffer or amplify these mismatches, depending on whether adult environments align with developmental forecasts. Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, even if still debated in humans, may further influence phenotypic plasticity, increasing or mitigating the mismatch. In evolutionary terms, the theories of mutation accumulation, antagonistic pleiotropy, and the disposable soma explain why longer lifespans, and ecological and social conditions profoundly different from those in which we developed, increase the likelihood that these costs are expressed clinically. Because most NCDs can be prevented and effectively controlled but not cured, efforts should prioritize quality of life for people, families, and communities. At the individual level, aligning lifestyles with evolved biology can mitigate risk, but the greatest leverage lies in population-level interventions. Urban health strategies represent a forward-looking attempt to realign modern environments with human biology. In this way, the concept of the evolutionary misfit becomes not just a diagnosis of maladaptation, but a guide for building healthier, more sustainable societies. Full article

Altitudinal gradients offer powerful natural frameworks to investigate how environmental factors shape biodiversity, especially on young oceanic volcanic islands where short spatial distances encompass sharp climatic transitions. This study documents bryophyte diversity and examines how elevation, substrate, and environmental variables influence the structure of bryophyte communities on Flores Island (Azores). Across five sites and 385 microplots, 89 species from 37 families were recorded, with liverworts predominating (liverwort-to-moss ratio of 1.41). Species richness and abundance followed a unimodal pattern, peaking at mid-elevations (400–600 m a.s.l.), where humid and thermally stable conditions favor the coexistence of lowland and montane taxa. Even modest altitudinal shifts corresponded to pronounced turnover in community composition, revealing strong ecological filtering along the gradient. Substrate type further influenced diversity patterns, with liverworts dominating epiphytic and lignicolous habitats, while mosses were more diverse on terricolous and rupicolous substrates. The presence of several Azorean and Macaronesian endemics, including threatened taxa, highlights the conservation importance of mid-elevation habitats. Overall, these results show that fine-scale altitudinal variation generates substantial ecological differentiation, underscoring the role of montane forests as refugia for hygrophilous and endemic bryophytes and as sensitive indicators of environmental change in island ecosystems. Full article

Urban densification threatens biodiversity, yet conventional greenspace expansion is constrained by limited land availability. Living wall systems (LWS) offer potential biodiversity enhancement through vertical green infrastructure, though their ecological value remains underexplored. This study evaluated the biodiversity performance of three LWS in Plymouth, UK, using multi-taxa surveys to assess invertebrate communities, bird assemblages, and bat activity. A scoping review of 2638 publications revealed limited research on LWS biodiversity, with only 27% of biodiversity-focused papers referencing specific species. Field surveys employed standardised protocols including flower-visiting pollinator observations, spider assessments, soil invertebrate extraction using Tullgren funnels, acoustic bird monitoring, and bat emergence surveys across soil-based and hydroponic systems. Results demonstrated that soil-based LWS supported significantly higher invertebrate diversity than hydroponic systems, with 481 soil invertebrates recorded across 19 families. Plant species composition strongly influenced biodiversity outcomes, with Hedera helix, Erigeron karvinskianus, and Lonicera japonica attracting the most pollinator species (5 each). Bird abundance was significantly higher at LWS sites compared to control areas, with confirmed breeding by three species. However, current UK Biodiversity Net Gain frameworks undervalue LWS contributions due to their classification as artificial habitats. These findings indicate that appropriately designed soil-based LWS can deliver meaningful urban biodiversity benefits when integrated with strategic plant selection and species-based valuation approaches. Full article