Effects of heavy metals on variation in bacterial communities in farmland soil of tailing dam collapse area.

Heavy metals are commonly present in polluted soil in mining areas. In this study, we investigated 10 sites of farmland soil in the heavy metal tailing dam collapse area (TDCA) with the dominant phyla Acidobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Planctomycetes. The heavy metal dam collapse area is a composite contamination area of multiple heavy metals, with Cd, Pb and Zn being the most severely contaminated, and the levels of Hg and Cu exceeding the screening values at some of the sites.

Genomes of two indigenous clams Anomalocardia flexuosa (Linnaeus, 1767) and Meretrix petechialis (Lamarck, 1818).

Clam digging has a long history in Hong Kong, but unregulated clam digging activities depletes clam populations and threatens the ecosystem. Population genomics is useful to unravel the connectivity of clams at different geographical locations and to provide necessary conservation measures; and yet, only limited number of clams in Hong Kong have genomic resources. Here, we present chromosomal-level genome assemblies for two clams commonly found in Hong Kong, Anomalocardia flexuosa and Meretrix petechialis, using a combination of PacBio HiFi and Omni-C reads.

Explosive growth of secondary roads is linked to widespread tropical deforestation.

In the tropics and beyond, roads are key proximate drivers of environmental impacts, including forest fragmentation, fires, mining, and land clearing. Such impacts may be amplified for the initial roads constructed in intact forests-which we term "first-cut roads"-which often promote a rash of associated secondary roads branching off the new infrastructure. These secondary roads in turn can dramatically elevate forest and biodiversity losses.

Effects of micro-magnetite on anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge and slaughterhouse waste: Microbial community and metabolism analyses.

Micro-magnetite has been widely applied to improve anaerobic digestion (AD) performance, while comprehensive investigation of microbial community succession, metabolic pathway and magnetite fate remains unclear. In the current study, the effects of micro-magnetite (FeO) on anaerobic co-digestion (AcD) of waste activated sludge and slaughterhouse waste were investigated. Experimental results indicated that the cumulative methane production was significantly increased from 484.

Bioaccumulation of PCBs and OCPs in Antarctic phytoplankton and zooplankton: Insights into bioconcentration and biomagnification in Fildes Bay.

This study was conducted at Fildes Bay, King George Island, Antarctica, from November 30th, 2019, to January 30th, 2020. We determined the concentrations of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in phytoplankton, and zooplankton. The most abundant compounds found were hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in phytoplankton and γ-HCH in zooplankton.

The impact of microcystin on antibiotic resistance genes and microbial communities in Yangtze River sediments.

The escalating of water pollution associated with microcystins (MCs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) poses a significant environmental challenge. As one of China's most crucial water systems, the Yangtze River's ecological health is not only vital for regional ecosystems but also carries global environmental significance. While the concentration of MCs detected in the Yangtze River sediments is moderate, the impact of exogenous MCs on ARGs and microbial communities within these sediments remains poorly understood.

Differential DNA methylation in response to host environment changes in Drosophila gouveai.

Organisms with a single genotype can express different phenotypes in response to rapid environmental changes, an event known as phenotypic plasticity, although the molecular basis is poorly understood. Epigenetic modifications mediate genotype-to-phenotype transitions and are related to phenotypic plasticity. Drosophila gouveai, a cactophilic species found in South America, exhibits morphological changes and differential methylation in its genome during the development; however the phenotypic plasticity is not yet elucidated.

Southern Islands Vascular Flora (SIVFLORA) dataset: A global plant database from Southern Ocean islands.

The Southern Islands Vascular Flora (SIVFLORA) dataset is a globally significant, open-access resource that compiles essential biodiversity data on vascular plants from islands across the Southern Ocean. The SIVFLORA dataset was generated through five steps: study area delimitation, compiling the dataset, validating and harmonizing taxonomy, structuring dataset attributes, and establishing file format and open access. Covering major taxonomic divisions, SIVFLORA offers a comprehensive overview of plant occurrences, comprising 14,589 records representing 886 species, 95 families, and 42 orders.

Citizen science reveals litter trends in the UK: Population density effects on coastal and inland regions.

There is limited understanding of how litter abundance, particularly plastic items, varies between coastal and inland regions with different population densities. The absence of standardised data collection methods further complicates comparisons. Moreover, the lack of data for inland areas hampers efforts to identify potential litter sources, pathways, and interventions.

Human tau promotes Warburg effect-like glycolytic metabolism under acute hyperglycemia conditions.

The neurofilaments formed by hyperphosphorylated tau is a hallmark of tauopathies. However, the biological functions of tau and the physiological significance of its phosphorylation are still not fully understood. By using human tau (441 a.

Over-expression of AeWRKY2 promotes oleanolic acid and hederagenin accumulation in Aralia elata.

Oleanolic acid (OA) and hederagenin from Aralia elata have important medicinal value due to their anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Transcription factors (TFs) can affect the production of active substances by regulating the expression of genes in metabolic pathways. In this study, a transcription factor AeWRKY2 was cloned and overexpressed in A.

Dissolved organic matter mitigates the toxicity of silver nanoparticles to freshwater algae: Effects on oxidative stress and membrane function.

The mechanisms underlying the destruction of cell membranes by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) remain unclear despite extensive studies on the toxicity of AgNPs to the cell membranes of aquatic organisms. This study investigated the impact of dissolved humic acid (DHA) on the toxicity of AgNPs and silver ions (Ag) to Chlorella vulgaris cell membranes. Specifically, this research examined the alterations in membrane lipid peroxidation, cell membrane permeability, fatty acid (FA) profiles, membrane fluidity, and ultrastructural changes in algal cells resulting from Ag and AgNPs, both in the absence and presence of DHA, as well as the potential cytoprotective effect of DHA.

Weak salinization alleviates the harmful impact of cyanobacteria on water fleas.

Climate change and anthropogenic activities are driving dramatic changes in aquatic ecosystems. In this context, cyanobacterial blooms and freshwater salinization have recently received much attention, however, the comprehensive effects of these stressors on aquatic organisms are complex and have yet to be accurately clarified. This study tested the harmful effects of cyanobacteria and increasing salinity on zooplankton by characterizing the life-history traits and gut microbiota composition in the large-bodied Daphnia pulex and small-bodied Simocephalus vetulus.

Assessing heavy metal pollution levels and associated ecological risks in peatland areas in the Mekong Delta region.

Heavy metal (HM) pollution in soils and sediment is a significant concern, yet its levels and ecological risks in peatland areas remain unexplored. This study evaluates these aspects in three peatland regions of the Long An province in Vietnam. Comparisons of HM concentrations in peatland sediments from Tan Thanh, Thanh Hoa, and Duc Hue provinces in the study locations revealed highest values in the Tan Thanh region.

Spatial partitioning of floral volatiles provides a "chemosensory roadmap" for bumblebee pollinators.

How do plants with structurally complex flowers promote effective pollination? From the pollinator's perspective, complex flowers can be reimagined as mechanical puzzles that require the manipulation of a 3D object in search of a concealed reward. The spatial partitioning of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within flowers may help flower-naive pollinators to successfully complete such puzzles, thereby increasing their foraging proficiency and, from the plant's perspective, promoting flower constancy and pollination efficiency. Here, we construct "chemosensory roadmaps" for Impatiens capensis and I.

Evolution and genetic adaptation of fishes to the deep sea.

The deep sea, especially hadal zones, characterized by high-hydrostatic pressure, low temperatures, and near-total darkness, present some of the most challenging environments for life on Earth. However, teleost fish have successfully colonized these extreme habitats through complex adaptations. We generated genome assemblies of 12 species, including 11 deep-sea fishes.

The amphipod genome reveals population dynamics and adaptations to hadal environment.

The amphipod Hirondellea gigas is a dominant species inhabiting the deepest part of the ocean (∼6,800-11,000 m), but little is known about its genetic adaptation and population dynamics. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome of H. gigas, characterized by a large genome size of 13.

Microbial ecosystems and ecological driving forces in the deepest ocean sediments.

Systematic exploration of the hadal zone, Earth's deepest oceanic realm, has historically faced technical limitations. Here, we collected 1,648 sediment samples at 6-11 km in the Mariana Trench, Yap Trench, and Philippine Basin for the Mariana Trench Environment and Ecology Research (MEER) project. Metagenomic and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing generated the 92-Tbp MEER dataset, comprising 7,564 species (89.

MEER: Extraordinary flourishing ecosystem in the deepest ocean.

Here, we introduce the Mariana Trench Environment and Ecology Research (MEER) project, which provides the first systematic view of the ecosystem in the hadal zone.

Using spatially explicit individual-based models to prioritize conservation strategies: A case study on the little bustard.

Steppe birds are among the most threatened terrestrial birds worldwide, requiring urgent, well-planned, and cost-effective conservation strategies to halt population declines. The little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) is one of those species that has experienced sharp population declines across its western range, yet the effectiveness of different management interventions remains poorly understood. Predictive models, such as Individual-Based Models (IBM), provide powerful tools to anticipate and assess the effectiveness of conservation scenarios for endangered species, supporting evidence-based management decisions.

Habitat-Dependent DNA viral communities in atmospheric aerosols: Insights from terrestrial and marine ecosystems in East Asia.

The transmission of viruses through aerosols is of growing public health concern, yet research on aerosol-associated viral communities lags behind that of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Here, DNA viral diversity in natural aerosols from both over land and ocean in the East Asia region was examined. The results showed that atmospheric environments harbor a distinct viral community that differs from those present in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Microplastic occurrence in the digestive system and health status assessment in a commercially important cephalopod species, Sepia officinalis from the Gulf of Patti (southern Tyrrhenian Sea).

Cephalopods are ecologically and economically important species and play a key role in marine ecosystems. However, knowledge about the presence and effects of microplastic (MP) ingestion in this taxonomic group is still limited. The present research aimed to explore plastic ingestion and health status in the cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, from the Gulf of Patti in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, for the first time.

Ecological impacts, efficacy and economic feasibility of algal mat removal from temperate intertidal mudflats under blue nitrogen trading schemes.

Driven by eutrophic conditions, AM (algal mat) proliferation is now ubiquitous in coastal areas generating significant ecological and economic impacts. The need to mitigate negative effects has prompted the exploration of removal methods, but neither the success nor the impacts on intertidal mudflats have been assessed. Limited success using a specially-adapted vessel, prompted a shift to manual removal by hand-rake at two UK (Portsmouth and Poole) and two French study sites (Brittany and Normandy).

Microplastic aging and adsorption in the atmosphere, and their associated impacts on various spheres of the earth: A review.

Microplastic (MPs, size <5 mm) is an emerging category of contaminants with detrimental effects on human health, climate, and ecology. The atmospheric pathway is a crucial transport route for the migration of MPs from source to receptor locations. This long-range transport leads to the ubiquitous presence of MPs across all environmental matrices and constrains the source-transport pathway-sink interaction.