Mallard Hybridization With Domesticated Lineages Alters Spring Migration Behavior and Timing.

Introgressive hybridization, the interbreeding and gene flow between different species, has become increasingly common in the Anthropocene, where human-induced ecological changes and the introduction of captively reared individuals are increasing secondary contact among closely related species, leading to gene flow between wild and domesticated lineages. As a result, domesticated-wild hybridization may potentially affect individual fitness, leading to maladaptive effects such as shifts in behavior or life-history decisions (e.g.

Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals Substantial Genetic Structure and Evidence of Local Adaptation in Alaskan Red King Crab.

High-latitude ocean basins are the most productive on earth, supporting high diversity and biomass of economically and socially important species. A long tradition of responsible fisheries management has sustained these species for generations, but modern threats from climate change, habitat loss, and new fishing technologies threaten their ecosystems and the human communities that depend on them. Among these species, Alaska's most charismatic megafaunal invertebrate, the red king crab, faces all three of these threats and has declined substantially in many parts of its distribution.

Data-driven guidelines for phylogenomic analyses using SNP data.

Premise: There is a general lack of consensus on the best practices for filtering of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and whether it is better to use SNPs or include flanking regions (full "locus") in phylogenomic analyses and subsequent comparative methods.

Methods: Using genotyping-by-sequencing data from 22 species, we assessed the effects of SNP vs. locus usage and SNP retention stringency.

Forecasting the Effects of Global Change on a Bee Biodiversity Hotspot.

The Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, recognized as a global hotspot for bee biodiversity, are experiencing habitat degradation from urbanization, utility-scale solar energy (USSE) development, and climate change. In this study, we evaluated the current and future distribution of bee diversity, assessed how protected areas safeguard bee species richness, and predicted how global change may affect bees across the region. Using Joint Species Distribution Models (JSDMs) of 148 bee species, we project changes in species distributions, occurrence area, and richness under four global change scenarios between 1971 and 2050.

Effect of artificial lung fiber bundle geometric design on micro- and macro-scale clot formation.

The hollow fiber membrane bundle is the functional component of artificial lungs, transferring oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the blood. It is also the primary location of blood clot formation and propagation in these devices. The geometric design of fiber bundles is defined by a narrow set of parameters that determine gas exchange efficiency and blood flow resistance, principally: fiber packing density, path length, and frontal area.

Modeling the acceptance of vegetarian diets to promote sustainable food systems.

With increasing concerns about health, animal welfare, and the environment, changes in dietary patterns are emerging, as evidenced by the gradual shift toward plant-rich diets. To appropriately plan vegetarian meals with high consumer satisfaction that would help promote this dietary pattern and ultimately improve the sustainability of food systems, meal acceptability testing would be crucial. The present work aims to investigate the influence of individual food components' acceptability on the overall meal acceptability in vegetarian diets.

Spatially Varying Frequencies Reveal the Invasion Origin of an Agricultural Pest Recently Introduced From Europe to North America.

The introduction of non-native species across the world represents a major global challenge. Retracing invasion origin is an important first step in understanding the invasion process, often requiring detailed sampling within the native range. Insect species frequently host , a widespread endosymbiotic bacterium that manipulates host reproduction to increase infected female fitness.

Mitonuclear and phenotypic discordance in an Atlantic Forest frog hybrid zone.

Discordance between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA is common among animals and can be the result of a number of evolutionary processes, including incomplete lineage sorting and introgression. Particularly relevant in contact zones, mitonuclear discordance is expected because the mitochondrial genome is haploid and primarily uniparentally inherited, whereas nuclear loci are evolving at slower rates. In addition, when closely related taxa come together in hybrid zones, the distribution of diagnostic phenotypic characters and their concordance with the mitochondrial or nuclear lineages can also inform on historical and ongoing dynamics within hybrid zones.

Symbiosis between the Javan rhinoceros and slender-billed crow: A novel inferred cleaning mutualism.

Over the past century, the Javan rhinoceroses' () secluded nature and low population size have led to a gap in knowledge of their ecology. With fewer than 80 individuals surviving in a single population in West Java, Indonesia, the Javan rhinoceros is one of the most critically endangered mammals in the world. As part of a pilot bioacoustics study of the Javan rhinoceros in 2019, we systematically reviewed camera trap footage from the core Javan rhinoceros range in Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP).

Simulating atmospheric drought: Silica gel packets dehumidify mesocosm microclimates.

As global temperatures rise, droughts are becoming more frequent and severe. To predict how drought might affect plant communities, ecologists have traditionally designed drought experiments with controlled watering regimes and rainout shelters. Both treatments have proven effective for simulating soil drought.

Influence of tree size on the scaling relationships of lamina and petiole traits: A case study using Decne.

There is a lack of research on whether tree size affects lamina and petiole biomass allocation patterns, whereas the trade-off between leaf biomass allocated to the lamina and the petiole is of significance when considering the hydraulic and mechanical function of the leaf as a whole. Here, Decne was selected for study because of the availability of trees differing in size growing under the same conditions. A total of 600 leaves for two tree size groups and 300 leaves per group differing in height and trunk diameter were collected.

Scaling relationships between the total number of leaves and the total leaf area per culm of two dwarf bamboo species.

Total leaf area per plant is an important measure of the photosynthetic capacity of an individual plant that together with plant density drives the canopy leaf area index, that is, the total leaf area per unit ground area. Because the total number of leaves per plant (or per shoot) varies among conspecifics and among mixed species communities, this variation can affect the total leaf area per plant and per canopy but has been little studied. Previous studies have shown a strong linear relationship between the total leaf area per plant (or per shoot) ( ) and the total number of leaves per plant (or per shoot) ( ) on a log-log scale for several growth forms.

Using de novo transcriptomes to decipher the relationships in cutthroat trout subspecies ().

For almost 200 years, the taxonomy of cutthroat trout (), a salmonid native to Western North America, has been in flux as ichthyologists and fisheries biologists have tried to describe the diversity within these fishes. Starting in the 1950s, Robert Behnke reexamined the cutthroat trout and identified 14 subspecies based on morphological traits, Pleistocene events, and modern geographic ranges. His designations became instrumental in recognizing and preserving the remaining diversity of cutthroat trout.

Psychological treatments for mental health symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection: A scoping review.

The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize published studies and ongoing clinical trials of psychological interventions for mental health problems associated with COVID-19 infection. The study protocol was developed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews. We conducted systematic searches for studies published or registered between January 2020 and October 2022 using eight scientific databases and clinical trial registries, which identified 40 complete published studies and 53 ongoing clinical trials.

Duplex-forming oligocarbamates with tunable nonbonding sites.

In biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids, monomer sequence encodes for highly specific intra- and intermolecular interactions that direct self-assembly into complex architectures with high fidelity. This remarkable structural control translates into precise control over the properties of the biopolymer. Polymer scientists have sought to achieve similarly precise control over the structure and function of synthetic assemblies.

Consequences of domestication in eastern oyster: Insights from whole genomic analyses.

Selective breeding for production traits has yielded relatively rapid successes with high-fecundity aquaculture species. Discovering the genetic changes associated with selection is an important goal for understanding adaptation and can also facilitate better predictions about the likely fitness of selected strains if they escape aquaculture farms. Here, we hypothesize domestication as a genetic change induced by inadvertent selection in culture.

Heterogeneity in breeding productivity is driven largely by factors affecting nestlings and young fledglings in an imperiled migratory passerine.

Identifying factors that drive variation in vital rates among populations is a prerequisite to understanding a species' population biology and, ultimately, to developing effective conservation strategies. This is especially true for imperiled species like the golden-winged warbler () that exhibit strong spatial heterogeneity in demography and responds variably to conservation interventions. Habitat management actions recommended for breeding grounds conservation include timber harvest, shrub shearing, and prescribed fire that maintain or create early successional woody communities.

An exploration of knowledge-organizing technologies to advance transdisciplinary back pain research.

Chronic low back pain (LBP) is influenced by a broad spectrum of patient-specific factors as codified in domains of the biopsychosocial model (BSM). Operationalizing the BSM into research and clinical care is challenging because most investigators work in silos that concentrate on only one or two BSM domains. Furthermore, the expanding, multidisciplinary nature of BSM research creates practical limitations as to how individual investigators integrate current data into their processes of generating impactful hypotheses.

Finite element modeling to predict the influence of anatomic variation and implant placement on performance of biological intervertebral disc implants.

Background: Tissue-engineered intervertebral disc (TE-IVD) constructs are an attractive therapy for treating degenerative disc disease and have previously been investigated in vivo in both large and small animal models. The mechanical environment of the spine is notably challenging, in part due to its complex anatomy, and implants may require additional mechanical support to avoid failure in the early stages of implantation. As such, the design of suitable support implants requires rigorous validation.