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.

Biogeochemical patterns in prey species reveal complex mercury exposure pathways from the environment to Aleutian Steller sea lions.

Several wildlife species exhibit marked spatial variation in toxicologically relevant tissue concentrations of mercury across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, most notably the endangered Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). To unravel potential environmental and trophic pathways driving mercury variation in this species of concern, we investigated spatiotemporal and ecological patterns in total mercury concentrations and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen from muscle tissues of twelve mid-trophic level prey species of the region (n = 1461). Dividing samples into island groups explained biogeochemical variation better than larger spatial resolutions, with Amchitka Pass and Buldir Pass acting as strong geographic break points.

Community Synchrony in Seed Production is Associated With Trait Similarity and Climate Across North America.

Mast seeding, the synchronous and highly variable production of seed crops by perennial plants, is a population-level phenomenon and has cascading effects in ecosystems. Mast seeding studies are typically conducted at the population/species level. Much less is known about synchrony in mast seeding between species because the necessary long-term data are rarely available.

Association of structured continuum emission with dynamic aurora.

Patterns of ionospheric luminosity provide a unique window into our complex, coupled space environment. The aurora, for example, indicates plasma processes occurring thousands of km away, depositing immense amounts of energy into our polar ionospheres. Here we show observations of structured continuum emission associated with the dynamic aurora.

Estuarine dispersal of an invasive Holarctic predator (Esox lucius) confirmed in North America.

The capacity for a non-native species to become invasive largely hinges on existing dispersal capacity or adaptation of dispersal in new environments. Here we provide early evidence that invasive Northern Pike (Esox lucius), a Holarctic freshwater top predator, illegally introduced in the late 1950s into Southcentral Alaska, are now dispersing through estuarine corridors. This finding represents the first known documentation of estuary use and dispersal by Northern Pike in North America, exacerbating conservation concerns for already depressed populations of culturally and economically important species such as salmonids.

Draft genome sequences of six high pH adapted strains isolated from Mariana forearc serpentinite mud volcanoes.

Six marine bacterial isolates were obtained from fluid and sediments collected at alkaline serpentinite mud volcanoes of the Mariana forearc to examine life at high pH in a marine environment. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of these six isolates, classified as strains of the species .

Greening of a boreal rich fen driven by CO fertilisation.

Boreal peatlands store vast amounts of soil organic carbon (C) owing to the imbalance between productivity and decay rates. In the recent decades, this carbon stock has been exposed to a warming climate. During the past decade alone, the Arctic has warmed by ∼ 0.

Maternal investment, body condition and calf growth in humpback whales.

Given recent declines in North Pacific humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) reproductive output and calf survival, there is additional urgency to better understand how mother-calf pairs allocate energy resources across their migratory cycle. Here, unoccupied aerial system (UAS; or drone) photogrammetry was used to quantify the body size and condition (BC) of humpback whales on their Hawai'i (HI) breeding and Southeast Alaska (SEAK) feeding grounds. Between 2018 and 2022, we collected 2410 measurements of 1659 individuals.

Co-mast: Harmonized seed production data for woody plants across US long-term research sites.

Plants display a range of temporal patterns of inter-annual reproduction, from relatively constant seed production to "mast seeding," the synchronized and highly variable interannual seed production of plants within a population. Previous efforts have compiled global records of seed production in long-lived plants to gain insight into seed production, forest and animal population dynamics, and the effects of global change on masting. Existing datasets focus on seed production dynamics at the population scale but are limited in their ability to examine community-level mast seeding dynamics across different plant species at the continental scale.

Co-creating a conceptual model of Indigenous relational wellbeing in early childhood: Planting seeds of connectedness.

The purpose of this article is to share our story of conceptualizing Indigenous early relational wellbeing (ERW), specifically reflecting American Indian and Alaska Native worldviews. Our approach is grounded in Indigenous methodologies and guided by a Community of Learning comprised of Indigenous and allied Tribal early childhood community partners, researchers, practitioners, and federal funders. We describe the steps we took to conceptualize caregiver-child relationships from an Indigenous perspective, center Indigenous values of child development, apply an established Indigenous connectedness framework to early childhood, and co-create a conceptual model of Indigenous ERW to guide future practice and research.

Mammoth featured heavily in Western Clovis diet.

Ancient Native American ancestors (Clovis) have been interpreted as either specialized megafauna hunters or generalist foragers. Supporting data are typically indirect (toolkits, associated fauna) or speculative (models, actualistic experiments). Here, we present stable isotope analyses of the only known Clovis individual, the 18-month-old Anzick child, to directly infer maternal protein diet.

Late Pleistocene onset of mutualistic human/canid ( spp.) relationships in subarctic Alaska.

Large canids (wolves, dogs, and coyote) and people form a close relationship in northern (subarctic and arctic) socioecological systems. Here, we document the antiquity of this bond and the multiple ways it manifested in interior Alaska, a region key to understanding the peopling of the Americas and early northern lifeways. We compile original and existing genomic, isotopic, and osteological canid data from archaeological, paleontological, and modern sites.

Permafrost instability negates the positive impact of warming temperatures on boreal radial growth.

Climate warming can alleviate temperature and nutrient constraints on tree growth in boreal regions, potentially enhancing boreal productivity. However, in permafrost environments, warming also disrupts the physical foundation on which trees grow, leading to leaning trees or "drunken" forests. Tree leaning might reduce radial growth, undermining potential benefits of warming.

Effects of hyperthermia and acidosis on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

The intracellular environment of skeletal muscle can develop pronounced hyperthermia and acidosis during strenuous exercise, and these alterations in the typical intracellular conditions have been shown to alter mitochondrial respiration. However, the impact of these conditions on ATP synthesis is poorly understood. We used Thoroughbred racehorses to test the hypothesis that both hyperthermia and acidosis decrease the rate of ATP synthesis, but that athletic conditioning mitigates this loss of phosphorylation capacity.

The Hunger Games: Stable Isotopes Indicate Winter Inter-Guild Competition for Resources by Marine Meso-Predators in the Sub-Arctic North Pacific.

Interspecific competition can significantly impact marine ecosystems by affecting species distributions and abundances. Understanding how sympatric species utilize available food helps identify potential competition and its effects when resources are limited. Here, we applied a suite of analytical methods (diet analysis, stable isotopes, and biomass estimates) to identify potential competitive interactions among North Pacific pelagic predators.

Matrix matters: How extracellular substances shape biofilm structure and mechanical properties.

Biofilms possess unique mechanical properties that are vital to their stability and function. Biofilms are made of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secreted by microorganisms and comprise polysaccharides, proteins, extracellular DNA (eDNA), and lipids. EPS is the primary contributor and driver of the biofilm structure and mechanical properties such as stiffness, cohesion, and adhesion.

Redefining Arctic boundaries in a changing climate: interdisciplinary perspectives on governance strategies.

The Arctic rapidly transforms due to global warming and increased human activities, triggering complex changes at unprecedented speeds that challenge conventional institutional responses. We analyse these changes through the lenses of social, political, and environmental boundaries and investigate their impacts on both inhabitants' livelihoods and the region's political framework. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, we highlight the complexities of understanding the interplay among global, regional, and local dynamics in an era where human and non-human aspects are entwined.

A review of current and proposed behavioral nudge strategies to improve the readiness of the United States military.

This review discusses findings on the use of behavioral nudges in both the Canadian and U.S. military.

Healthy Drinks, Healthy Teeth - Ciunerkaq Tanqigtuq (The Future is Bright): A study protocol for a community-based, non-randomized sociobehavioral trial to reduce added sugar intake in Alaska Native Yup'ik children in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Background: This study protocol describes a community-based intervention that will seek to reduce added sugar intake in Yup'ik Alaska Native children by targeting reductions in sugar-sweetened fruit drinks.

Methods: A two-group non-randomized design will be used to evaluate the intervention in three Yup'ik communities in Alaska focusing on children age 1 to less than age 12 years with a minimum enrollment target of 192 children. Families in the intervention arm will participate in a program consisting of five sessions plus four brief check-ins, all delivered by a Yup'ik Community Health Worker.

HIF1α-regulated glycolysis promotes activation-induced cell death and IFN-γ induction in hypoxic T cells.

Hypoxia is a common feature in various pathophysiological contexts, including tumor microenvironment, and IFN-γ is instrumental for anti-tumor immunity. HIF1α has long been known as a primary regulator of cellular adaptive responses to hypoxia, but its role in IFN-γ induction in hypoxic T cells is unknown. Here, we show that the HIF1α-glycolysis axis controls IFN-γ induction in both human and mouse T cells, activated under hypoxia.