Functional Responses of Phytoplankton Assemblages to Watershed Land Use and Environmental Gradients

Watershed land-use changes have been identified as major threats to lake fauna, subsequently affecting ecosystem functioning. In this study, the functional-based approach was used to examine the effects of land use and environmental changes on phytoplankton communities in four selected lakes in Northeast China. We also identified the sensitive functional traits as indicators of environmental stressors. The integration of RLQ analysis with the fourth-corner approach significantly identified five of 18 functional trait categories, including flagella, filamentous, unicellular, mixotrophic, and chlorophyll c, as potential indicators to changes in watershed land-use intensity and environmental gradients. Significant relationships between traits and land use and water quality highlighted the consequential indirect impact of extensive agricultural and urban development on phytoplankton via allochthonous nutrient inputs and various contaminants. In addition, the functional richness of phytoplankton assemblages generally increased along with surface area and forests, but decreased along with intensive agricultural and urban land use, implying that functional homogenization may cause a reduction in ecosystem productivity and reliability to land-use intensity. Given the superior performance of the functional-based approach, our findings also highlighted the importance of the application of both the biological traits and functional diversity index in monitoring programs for lake ecosystems.

Synergy between an emerging monopartite begomovirus and a DNA-B component

In recent decades, a legion of monopartite begomoviruses transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci has emerged as serious threats to vegetable crops in Africa. Recent studies in Burkina Faso (West Africa) reported the predominance of pepper yellow vein Mali virus (PepYVMLV) and its frequent association with a previously unknown DNA-B component. To understand the role of this DNA-B component in the emergence of PepYVMLV, we assessed biological traits related to virulence, virus accumulation, location in the tissue and transmission. We demonstrate that the DNA-B component is not required for systemic movement and symptom development of PepYVMLV (non-strict association), but that its association produces more severe symptoms including growth arrest and plant death. The increased virulence is associated with a higher viral DNA accumulation in plant tissues, an increase in the number of contaminated nuclei of the phloem parenchyma and in the transmission rate by B. tabaci. Our results suggest that the association of a DNA-B component with the otherwise monopartite PepYVMLV is a key factor of its emergence.

Some biological characteristics of the Far Eastern sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) from the Severnaya Bay of the Slavyanka Gulf (Japan Sea)

Some of biological traits of the Far Eastern sea cucumber from the Severnaya Bay were examined in 2016 and 2017. Body length of sea cucumber individuals varied from 3.6 to 23.4 cm. Dermo-muscular bag weight was higher in 2017 (137.5 g). Individual ages were 1–4 years in 2016 and 1–5 years in 2017. Sex ratio was near 1:1 in 2016 and 2017. During the period of the research gonad index was maximal in June – 10.6%. Spawning began in the 2nd decade of June and finished in the 2nd decade of July.

A Comprehensive Method for the Evaluation of Hermetia illucens Egg Quality Parameters: Implications and Influence Factors

The significant momentum received by Hermetia illucens as a worldwide species is due to its biological traits and large applicability in scientific research, environmental entomoremediation, insect meal production, and for biodiesel yield. The aim of this research is to develop a method for the preparation and precise egg counting of the H. illucens egg clutch, as well as an accurate technique for evaluating egg biometric parameters. The precise proposed method for egg preparation and counting consists in dispersing the eggs clutch under a stereo microscope and counting the eggs on a photographic capture using the Clickmaster software. Five solution types were used to disperse the egg clutches: glycerin 50%, ethanol 70%, ethanol 80%, physiological serum 0.9% and purified water. The efficiency of the estimation method for eggs number evaluation was also tested by using the estimated egg weight as a conversion factor. The biometric parameters of single eggs (length and width) were determined using the free Toupview software. The precise method of egg preparation and counting allows for the registration of the eggs number manually identified by the operator. The appropriate dispersion solutions were glycerin 50% and ethanol 70%. The method has an error of 1.4 eggs for each 500 counted eggs, thus an accuracy of over 99.4%. The eggs number estimation method is not applicable without significant errors, the accuracy being less than 32%, due to egg heterogeneity in the clutch. Biometric parameters (length and width) are positively correlated with egg weight (r = 0.759) and with the number of eggs in the clutch (r = 0.645). In conclusion, the results clearly suggest the method of egg preparation and precise counting for an accurate evaluation of quality parameters of the H. illucens clutches, as well as the technique for evaluating egg biometric parameters.

RESOURCES FOR IMPROVING THE ASSORTMENT OF SWEET CHERRY VARIETIES IN BELARUS

The sweet cherry genetic collection of RUE "Institute of Fruit Growing" is including 273 accessions, which have been studied for the main economic and biological traits. The main features for selection are large-fruited combined with winter hardiness and resistance to cherry leaf spot. After an evaluation of the collection, three large-fruited accessions with tough pulp of the fruit were selected. The Ukrainian early fruit ripening variety ‘Annushka’ was selected among the introduced cherry varieties. This variety has large fruits of excellent taste and is characterized by high winter hardiness. Two Belarusian promising selections ‘84-10/98’ (‘Narodnaya’ o.p.) and ‘94-30/41’ (‘Vityaz’ × ‘Aelita’) were selected on these grounds. Selection ‘84-10/98’ has a medium and ‘94-30/41’ has late fruit ripening terms.

Research on the Computational Prediction of Essential Genes

Genes, the nucleotide sequences that encode a polypeptide chain or functional RNA, are the basic genetic unit controlling biological traits. They are the guarantee of the basic structures and functions in organisms, and they store information related to biological factors and processes such as blood type, gestation, growth, and apoptosis. The environment and genetics jointly affect important physiological processes such as reproduction, cell division, and protein synthesis. Genes are related to a wide range of phenomena including growth, decline, illness, aging, and death. During the evolution of organisms, there is a class of genes that exist in a conserved form in multiple species. These genes are often located on the dominant strand of DNA and tend to have higher expression levels. The protein encoded by it usually either performs very important functions or is responsible for maintaining and repairing these essential functions. Such genes are called persistent genes. Among them, the irreplaceable part of the body’s life activities is the essential gene. For example, when starch is the only source of energy, the genes related to starch digestion are essential genes. Without them, the organism will die because it cannot obtain enough energy to maintain basic functions. The function of the proteins encoded by these genes is thought to be fundamental to life. Nowadays, DNA can be extracted from blood, saliva, or tissue cells for genetic testing, and detailed genetic information can be obtained using the most advanced scientific instruments and technologies. The information gained from genetic testing is useful to assess the potential risks of disease, and to help determine the prognosis and development of diseases. Such information is also useful for developing personalized medication and providing targeted health guidance to improve the quality of life. Therefore, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to identify important and essential genes. In this paper, the research status of essential genes and the essential genome database of bacteria are reviewed, the computational prediction method of essential genes based on communication coding theory is expounded, and the significance and practical application value of essential genes are discussed.

The Plankton Lifeform Extraction Tool: a digital tool to increase the discoverability and usability of plankton time-series data

Plankton form the base of the marine food web and are sensitive indicators of environmental change. Plankton time series are therefore an essential part of monitoring progress towards global biodiversity goals, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity Aichi Targets, and for informing ecosystem-based policy, such as the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Multiple plankton monitoring programmes exist in Europe, but differences in sampling and analysis methods prevent the integration of their data, constraining their utility over large spatio-temporal scales. The Plankton Lifeform Extraction Tool brings together disparate European plankton datasets into a central database from which it extracts abundance time series of plankton functional groups, called “lifeforms”, according to shared biological traits. This tool has been designed to make complex plankton datasets accessible and meaningful for policy, public interest, and scientific discovery. It allows examination of large-scale shifts in lifeform abundance or distribution (for example, holoplankton being partially replaced by meroplankton), providing clues to how the marine environment is changing. The lifeform method enables datasets with different plankton sampling and taxonomic analysis methodologies to be used together to provide insights into the response to multiple stressors and robust policy evidence for decision making. Lifeform time series generated with the Plankton Lifeform Extraction Tool currently inform plankton and food web indicators for the UK's Marine Strategy, the EU's Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and for the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) biodiversity assessments. The Plankton Lifeform Extraction Tool currently integrates 155 000 samples, containing over 44 million plankton records, from nine different plankton datasets within UK and European seas, collected between 1924 and 2017. Additional datasets can be added, and time series can be updated. The Plankton Lifeform Extraction Tool is hosted by The Archive for Marine Species and Habitats Data (DASSH) at https://www.dassh.ac.uk/lifeforms/ (last access: 22 November 2021, Ostle et al., 2021). The lifeform outputs are linked to specific, DOI-ed, versions of the Plankton Lifeform Traits Master List and each underlying dataset.

Determination of functional structure of soft-bottom marine macrobenthic communities of the Samsun Shelf Area using biological traits analysis

Biological Traits Analysis (BTA) was used to investigate the functional structure of marine macrobenthic communities along the Samsun Shelf Area (SSA). Benthic samples were collected seasonally from five different locations and at four different depths using a Van Veen grab sampler. Macrofaunal communities distributed in the SSA were assessed using 10 biological traits to identify characteristic traits for each depth and location. It was found that variability of benthic ecosystem functions in the SSA was driven by biological traits such as maximum size, living habit, sediment position, feeding mode and type of reproductive behavior. Bivalves, polychaetes and crustaceans of small to medium size, biodepositing, burying themselves in the sediment (burrowers) and feeding in suspension were relatively more abundant at depths of 0–60 m. However, the biomass of Amphiura, Abra, Papillicardium and some polychaetes characterized by medium to large sizes, diffusive mixing, free living and feeding on deposit and subsurface deposit showed higher values at depths below 60 m. In general, it is concluded that the functional structure of the benthic infauna in the SSA has adapted to physical disturbance, and communities distributed in this area consist mainly of taxa resistant to mechanical pressure.