European pollen reanalysis, 1980-2022, for alder, birch, and olive.

The dataset presents a 43 year-long reanalysis of pollen seasons for three major allergenic genera of trees in Europe: alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), and olive (Olea). Driven by the meteorological reanalysis ERA5, the atmospheric composition model SILAM predicted the flowering period and calculated the Europe-wide dispersion pattern of pollen for the years 1980-2022. The model applied an extended 4-dimensional variational data assimilation of in-situ observations of aerobiological networks in 34 European countries to reproduce the inter-annual variability and trends of pollen production and distribution.

Co-exposure to highly allergenic airborne pollen and fungal spores in Europe.

The study is aimed at determining the potential spatiotemporal risk of the co-occurrence of airborne pollen and fungal spores high concentrations in different bio-climatic zones in Europe. Birch, grass, mugwort, ragweed, olive pollen and Alternaria and Cladosporium fungal spores were investigated at 16 sites in Europe, in 2005-2019. In Central and northern Europe, pollen and fungal spore seasons mainly overlap in June and July, while in South Europe, the highest pollen concentrations occur frequently outside of the spore seasons.

SARS-CoV-2 as a Zooanthroponotic Infection: Spillbacks, Secondary Spillovers, and Their Importance.

In the midst of a persistent pandemic of a probable zoonotic origin, one needs to constantly evaluate the interplay of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2) with animal populations. Animals can get infected from humans, and certain species, including mink and white-tailed deer, exhibit considerable animal-to-animal transmission resulting in potential endemicity, mutation pressure, and possible secondary spillover to humans. We attempt a comprehensive review of the available data on animal species infected by SARS-CoV-2, as presented in the scientific literature and official reports of relevant organizations.

Soil Amendments with Spearmint, Peppermint and Rosemary Enhance the Community of Free-Living Nematodes and Improve Soil Quality, While Having Strikingly Different Effects on Plant Growth.

Sustainable farming practices aim to replace agrochemicals with plant-based alternatives to increase productivity and soil quality. To evaluate the potential use of aromatic plants as soil amendments in tomato seedbeds, in a greenhouse experiment, we used spearmint, peppermint, and rosemary, separately, as soil amendments, in pots sown with tomato, and studied their effect on seedling growth, soil nutrients, and the soil nematode community in terms of trophic and functional structure, metabolic footprint, and genera composition. Non-amended soil was used in the control pots.

Spatiotemporal assessment of aeromycoflora under differing urban green space, sampling height, and meteorological regimes: the atmospheric fungiscape of Thessaloniki, Greece.

We studied the diversity and abundance of the airborne fungal spores in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, for two consecutive years. Air samples were collected at one rooftop station (at 30 m) and six near-ground stations (at 1.5 m) that differed in the size and composition of adjacent green spaces.

Monoterpene Enrichments Have Positive Impacts on Soil Bacterial Communities and the Potential of Application in Bioremediation.

We study here how soil bacterial communities of different ecosystems respond to disturbances caused by enrichments with monoterpenes that are common essential oil constituents. We used fenchone, 1,8-cineol and α-pinene, and soils from phrygana, a typical Mediterranean-type ecosystem where aromatic plants abound, and from another five ecosystem types, focusing on culturable bacteria. Patterns of response were common to all ecosystems, but responses themselves were not always as pronounced in phrygana as in the other ecosystems, suggesting that these enrichments are less of a disturbance there.

SARS-CoV-2 mutational cascades and the risk of hyper-exponential growth.

The emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC), in late 2020, with selective transmission advantage and partial immunity escape potential, has been driving further evolution in the pandemic. The timing of mutational evolution and its limits are thus of paramount importance in preparedness planning. Here, we present a model predicting the pattern of epidemic growth including the emergence of variants through mutation.

Impacts of Decaying Aromatic Plants on the Soil Microbial Community and on Tomato Seedling Growth and Metabolism: Suppression or Stimulation?

This study provides insight into changes in the features of tomato seedlings growing in soils enriched with spearmint, peppermint, or rosemary leaves and into changes in the microbial communities of these soils used as seedbeds; an organic amendment was also applied as a positive control. While the soil microbial community flourished in the presence of all three aromatic plants, tomato growth was inhibited or stimulated depending on the plant that was used. More specifically, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis showed an increase in the total microbial biomass and in the biomass of all the groups examined, except for actinobacteria, and changes in the microbial community structure, with Gram-negative bacteria and fungi being favoured in the mint treatments, in which the microbial biomass was maximized.

Plant biodiversity assessment through pollen DNA metabarcoding in Natura 2000 habitats (Italian Alps).

Monitoring biodiversity is of increasing importance in natural ecosystems. Metabarcoding can be used as a powerful molecular tool to complement traditional biodiversity monitoring, as total environmental DNA can be analyzed from complex samples containing DNA of different origin. The aim of this research was to demonstrate the potential of pollen DNA metabarcoding using the chloroplast trnL partial gene sequencing to characterize plant biodiversity.

Factors Structuring the Epiphytic Archaeal and Fungal Communities in a Semi-arid Mediterranean Ecosystem.

The phyllosphere microbiome exerts a strong effect on plants' productivity, and its composition is determined by various factors. To date, most phyllosphere studies have focused on bacteria, while fungi and especially archaea have been overlooked. We studied the effects of plant host and season on the abundance and diversity of the epiphytic archaeal and fungal communities in a typical semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria isolated from halophytes and drought-tolerant plants: genomic characterisation and exploration of phyto-beneficial traits.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are able to provide cross-protection against multiple stress factors and facilitate growth of their plant symbionts in many ways. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize rhizobacterial strains under natural conditions, associated with naturally occurring representatives of wild plant species and a local tomato cultivar, growing in differently stressed Mediterranean ecosystems. A total of 85 morphologically different rhizospheric strains were isolated; twenty-five exhibited multiple in vitro PGP-associated traits, including phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid production, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity.

Identifying patterns of airborne pollen distribution using a synoptic climatology approach.

Understanding the mechanisms of pollen release and dispersion in the atmosphere is of high importance, not only for getting an insight on the patterns of movement of these biological particles that are necessary for plants' reproduction, but also because exposure to airborne pollen is a major concern for respiratory allergies worldwide. In this work, a synoptic circulation-to-environment classification method was adopted to elucidate the relationship between distinct atmospheric patterns and pollen levels for the 11 most abundant but also allergenic taxa in Thessaloniki, Greece, for the 15-year period 1987-2001. It was found that the NW1 depressional weather type is associated with the "low winter pollen season" and high levels of pollen from Carpinus spp.

Endemic plants of Crete in electronic trade and wildlife tourism: current patterns and implications for conservation.

Background: The island of Crete is a biodiversity hotspot having 223 endemic vascular taxa (species and subspecies) as a result of its long isolation and the wide range of habitats it includes. We explore trends and patterns in the electronic trade of these unique genetic resources and in their involvement in wildlife tourism, the ways these two activities are performed and the associated potential threats on the plants' wild populations, and we also identify priority taxa requiring special attention. The main part of the study was conducted in 2016-2017 using English as a search language; an additional search was conducted in 2019 using German and French.

Metagenomic Characterization Reveals Pronounced Seasonality in the Diversity and Structure of the Phyllosphere Bacterial Community in a Mediterranean Ecosystem.

We explore how the phyllosphere microbial community responds to a very seasonal environment such as the Mediterranean. For this, we studied the epiphytic bacterial community of a Mediterranean ecosystem in summer and winter, expecting to detect seasonal differences at their maximum. With high-throughput sequencing (HTS), we detected the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) present in the phyllosphere and also in the surrounding air.

Temperature-related changes in airborne allergenic pollen abundance and seasonality across the northern hemisphere: a retrospective data analysis.

Background: Ongoing climate change might, through rising temperatures, alter allergenic pollen biology across the northern hemisphere. We aimed to analyse trends in pollen seasonality and pollen load and to establish whether there are specific climate-related links to any observed changes.

Methods: For this retrospective data analysis, we did an extensive search for global datasets with 20 years or more of airborne pollen data that consistently recorded pollen season indices (eg, duration and intensity).

Airborne Alternaria and Cladosporium fungal spores in Europe: Forecasting possibilities and relationships with meteorological parameters.

Airborne fungal spores are prevalent components of bioaerosols with a large impact on ecology, economy and health. Their major socioeconomic effects could be reduced by accurate and timely prediction of airborne spore concentrations. The main aim of this study was to create and evaluate models of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations based on data on a continental scale.

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and essential oil on soil microbial community and N-related enzymes during the fungal early colonization phase.

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the essential oils are both agents of sustainable agriculture, and their independent effects on the community of free-living soil microbes have been explored. In a tomato pot experiment, conducted in a sandy loam mixture, we examined the independent and joint effects of inoculation with the fungus and the addition of essential oil on the structure of the soil microbial community and the activity of soil enzymes involved in the N-cycle, during the pre-symbiosis phase. Plants were grown for 60 days and were inoculated with Then pots were treated with essential oil (OIL) weekly for a period of a month.

Spatial and temporal variations in airborne pollen in Europe.

The European Commission Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action FA1203 "SMARTER" aims to make recommendations for the sustainable management of across Europe and for monitoring its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The goal of the present study is to provide a baseline for spatial and temporal variations in airborne pollen in Europe that can be used for the management and evaluation of this noxious plant. The study covers the full range of L.

populations on Mt. Olympus, Greece: where's the "abundant centre"?

Background: The abundant-centre hypothesis (ACH) assumes that a species becomes more abundant at the centre of its range, where the environmental conditions are most favorable. As we move away from this centre, abundance and occupancy decline. Although this is obvious intuitively, efforts to confirm the hypothesis have often failed.

Dynamics of extinction debt across five taxonomic groups.

Species extinction following habitat loss is well documented. However, these extinctions do not happen immediately. The biodiversity surplus (extinction debt) declines with some delay through the process of relaxation.

Effects of the two carvone enantiomers on soil enzymes involved in the C, P, and N cycles.

Background: Essential oils exert stimulatory or inhibitory effects on the size and activity of the soil microbial communities. Given that microbial biomass is the main source of soil enzymes, in this study, we examined how R-(-)- and S-(+)-carvone affect the activity of dehydrogenase, urease, and alkaline phospho-monoesterase, and the overall microbial activity, as expressed by soil respiration. Enzymatic and microbial activities were recorded every week, for a period of four weeks, during which the two carvone enantiomers were added twice, with a two-week interval, into soil samples.

Geographic and temporal variations in pollen exposure across Europe.

Background: The EC-funded EuroPrevall project examined the prevalence of food allergy across Europe. A well-established factor in the occurrence of food allergy is primary sensitization to pollen.

Objective: To analyse geographic and temporal variations in pollen exposure, allowing the investigation of how these variations influence the prevalence and incidence of food allergies across Europe.

Comment on "Extinction debt and windows of conservation opportunity in the Brazilian Amazon".

A paper by Wearn et al. (Reports, 13 July 2012, p. 228) yields new insights on extinction debt.

Exploring biodiversity in the bacterial community of the Mediterranean phyllosphere and its relationship with airborne bacteria.

We studied the structure and diversity of the phyllosphere bacterial community of a Mediterranean ecosystem, in summer, the most stressful season in this environment. To this aim, we selected nine dominant perennial species, namely Arbutus unedo, Cistus incanus, Lavandula stoechas, Myrtus communis, Phillyrea latifolia, Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus coccifera (woody), Calamintha nepeta, and Melissa officinalis (herbaceous). We also examined the extent to which airborne bacteria resemble the epiphytic ones.