Exploring freshwater soundscapes of tropical marshland habitats in Southeast Asia: insights into auditory sensory adaptation of wild Siamese fighting fish .

While soundscapes shape the structure and function of auditory systems over evolutionary timescales, there is limited information regarding the adaptation of wild fish populations to their natural acoustic environments. This is particularly relevant for freshwater ecosystems, which are extremely diverse and face escalating pressures from human activities and associated noise pollution. The Siamese fighting fish is one of the most important cultured species in the global ornamental fish market and is increasingly recognized as a model organism for genetics and behavioural studies.

Multiple mutations in polyketide synthase led to disruption of Psittacofulvin production across diverse parrot species.

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are crucial multidomain enzymes in diverse natural product biosynthesis. Parrots use a type I PKS to produce a unique pigment called psittacofulvin in their feathers. In domesticated budgerigars and lovebirds, the same amino acid substitution (R644W) within malonyl/acetyltransferase (MAT) domain of this enzyme has been shown to cause the blue phenotype with no psittacofulvin pigmentation, proposing a strong evolutionary constraint on the mechanism.

Exploring the plant-growth promoting bacterium Herbaspirillum seropedicae as catalyst of microbiome remodeling and metabolic changes in wheat plants.

Inoculation with the PGPB Herbaspirillum seropedicae shapes both the structure and putative functions of the wheat microbiome and causes changes in the levels of various plant metabolites described to be involved in plant growth and health. Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) can establish metabolic imprints in their hosts, contributing to the improvement of plant health in different ways. However, while PGPB imprints on plant metabolism have been extensively characterized, much less is known regarding those affecting plant indigenous microbiomes, and hence it remains unknown whether both processes occur simultaneously.

A networked station system for high-resolution wind nowcasting in air traffic operations: A data-augmented deep learning approach.

This study introduces a high-resolution wind nowcasting model designed for aviation applications at Madeira International Airport, a location known for its complex wind patterns. By using data from a network of six meteorological stations and deep learning techniques, the produced model is capable of predicting wind speed and direction up to 30-minute ahead with 1-minute temporal resolution. The optimized architecture demonstrated robust predictive performance across all forecast horizons.

Biodiversity spatial distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages is influenced by anthropogenic disturbances at multiple spatial extents.

Understanding the patterns and mechanisms of biodiversity and its organization in space is essential for developing effective conservation strategies. Zeta diversity is an index of how taxa are shared by several sites, providing information on how ecological filters, including anthropogenic disturbances, influence biodiversity distribution. This study documents how anthropogenic disturbances at multiple spatial extents affect the spatial variation of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in lotic ecosystems.

Microplastics in commercial marine bivalves: Abundance, characterization and main effects of single and combined exposure.

Microplastics (MPs) are persistent and ubiquitous pollutants in marine ecosystems, and they can be ingested and accumulated by marine organisms with economic value to humans, such as marine bivalves, which may pose a threat to the marine food chains and to human health. In this literature review, we summarized the recent findings on the abundance and main characteristics (shape, size, color, polymer) of MPs detected in valuable marine bivalve species. Furthermore, we surveyed the major impacts triggered by MP exposure, alone or in combination with other pollutants, in these organisms.

The impacts of alien species on river bioassessment.

The extent of alien taxa impacts on river ecosystem health is unclear, but their frequency continues to rise. We investigated 1) the prevalence of including alien taxa in common bioindicators used in river bioassessment, 2) the effect of alien taxa on the richness and abundance of natives, and 3) whether including alien taxa in bioassessment tools increased their sensitivity to river degradation. In the 17 countries analyzed fish represented the greatest number of alien species (1726), followed by macrophytes (925), macroinvertebrates (556), and diatoms (7).

Effects of experimental nest treatment with herbs on ectoparasites and body condition of nestlings.

Nest fumigation behavior involves the incorporation of fresh green plant fragments that contain ectoparasite-repellent volatile compounds into birds' nests. This behavior is relatively rare among bird species, and there is ongoing debate about whether it benefits parental breeding success. In this study, we experimentally tested whether the inclusion of aromatic-herbal plant fragments in the nests of great tits affects the physiological condition of nestlings, as indicated by blood levels of hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose, and body condition indices, such as weight and wing length.

Potential backfiring effects of Marine Protected Areas on kelp herbivory.

The management and creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is currently under great focus, with international organisations aiming to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030. The success of MPAs depends on a nuanced understanding of local ecological dynamics and threats, which can significantly influence ecosystem balance. Herbivory can be a stressor for foundation species, namely kelp forests, contributing to their decline in several regions of the globe.

Mitochondrial genomes of the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) reveal Pliocene diversification, extensive gene flow and pervasive purifying selection.

The development of management strategies for the promotion of sustainable fisheries relies on a deep knowledge of ecological and evolutionary processes driving the diversification and genetic variation of marine organisms. Sustainability strategies are especially relevant for marine species such as the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus), a small pelagic fish with high ecological and socioeconomic importance, especially in Southern Europe, whose stock has declined since 2006, possibly due to environmental factors. Here, we generated sequences for 139 mitochondrial genomes from individuals from 19 different geographical locations across most of the species distribution range, which was used to assess genetic diversity, diversification history and genomic signatures of selection.

Biomarkers and Seaweed-Based Nutritional Interventions in Metabolic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a complex, multifactorial condition characterized by risk factors such as abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension, which significantly contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death worldwide. Early identification and effective monitoring of MetS is crucial for preventing serious cardiovascular complications. This article provides a comprehensive overview of various biomarkers associated with MetS, including lipid profile markers (triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 (ApoB/ApoA1) ratio), inflammatory markers (interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin/adiponectin ratio, omentin and fetuin-A/adiponectin ratio), oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxides, protein and nucleic acid oxidation, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), uric acid) and microRNAs (miRNAs) such as miR-15a-5p, miR5-17-5p and miR-24-3p.

Breeding species for resistance to disease in the Iberian Peninsula.

Alders are widely distributed riparian trees in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. Recently, a strong reduction of alder stands has been detected in Europe due to infection by species (Stramenopila kingdom). This infection causes a disease known as alder dieback, characterized by leaf yellowing, dieback of branches, increased fruit production, and bark necrosis in the collar and basal part of the stem.

Use of Lipidic Extracts in the Development of Healthier Pastry Products with Reduced Fat Contents.

Pastry products constitute a significant segment of the food market. However, the high amount of fat used in their production poses a challenge when competing for the attention of modern consumers, who are more conscious of the health problems associated with the consumption of high-fat products. With this in mind, the main objective of this study is the reduction of the total fat and saturated fat contents of two bakery products, brioche-type bread and rice cake, by partial substitution of the main fat source with lipid extracts obtained through non-thermal high-pressure extraction (HPE).

Early-life IL-4 administration induces long-term changes in microglia in the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex.

Microglia are crucial for brain development and their function can be impacted by postnatal insults, such as early-life allergies. These are characterized by an upregulation of interleukin (IL)-4 levels. Allergies share a strong comorbidity with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Purine nucleosides as selective inhibitors of butyrylcholinesterase - a multidisciplinary study.

The computational study of the most relevant interactions of the nanomolar purine nucleoside BuChE selective inhibitor has shown that the benzyl group at position 2 and the purine acetamido group are required for activity. In addition, the synthesis of a 6-iodinated radiolabelled analogue and the study of bioavailability have shown a low percentage of uptake by the brain after 1 hour. These results encouraged the synthesis of a small library of new compounds, focussing on deoxygenation at other positions aiming to access active and more bioavailable structures.

A pioneering longterm experiment on mesophotic macrofouling communities in the North Atlantic.

The mesophotic zone represents one of our planet's largest and least explored biomes. An increasing number of studies evidence the importance of macrofouling species in marine ecosystems, but information on these communities and the factors influencing their structures at mesophotic depths remain poor. This lack of understanding limits our ability to predict anthropogenic impacts or conduct restoration operations in the mesophotic and the lower boundary of the euphotic zones.

Ecological quality assessment of estuarine macrobenthic communities using an integrative approach.

Macrobenthic communities play a crucial role in the functioning of estuarine ecosystems and serve as bioindicators of environmental quality. This study assessed the ecological quality of an estuarine system using the AMBI and M-AMBI indices. The following parameters were considered: (i) environmental factors (total organic matter, organic carbon, grain size, calcium carbonate), (ii) sediment trace metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Hg, Li, As), (iii) species composition (morphological and molecular identification), and (iv) anthropogenic activities.

Molecular investigation of tick-borne pathogens from different regions of Morocco.

Tick-borne pathogens are a worldwide threat to public health that can only be mitigated by knowledge on tick-host associations coupled with surveillance of their infection by pathogenic microorganisms. This information is not equally available throughout tick vector distribution range and is deficient in some geographical areas. In this study we did a molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens associated with different tick species in Morocco.