Vulnerabilities of protected lands in the face of climate and human footprint changes

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: March 12, 2021

Protected areas (PAs) play a pivotal role in maintaining viable populations of species and minimizing their habitat loss. Globally, there are currently over 200,000 PAs that cover approximately 15% land area. The post-2020 global biodiversity framework aims to expand this coverage 30% by 2030. However, focusing only on the percentage without evaluating effectiveness may fail achieve conservation goals. Here, we use multidimensional approach incorporating species, climate anthropogenic vulnerabilities assess threat levels 2500 China. We identify nearly 10% as most threatened China about one-fifth hotspots vulnerabilities. also find high instability vulnerability hotspots, suggesting an elevated likelihood species' extirpation therein. Our could be useful assessing resiliency protected lands selecting near optimal for future expansion.

Language: Английский

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The genomic and functional landscapes of developmental plasticity in the American cockroach

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: March 2, 2018

Abstract Many cockroach species have adapted to urban environments, and some been serious pests of public health in the tropics subtropics. Here, we present 3.38-Gb genome a consensus gene set American cockroach, Periplaneta americana . We report insights from both genomic functional investigations into underlying basis its adaptation environments developmental plasticity. In comparison with other insects, expansions families P. exist for most core likely associated environmental adaptation, such as chemoreception detoxification. Multiple pathways regulating metamorphic development are well conserved, RNAi experiments inform on key roles 20-hydroxyecdysone, juvenile hormone, insulin, decapentaplegic signals Our analyses reveal high level sequence identity genes between two termite species, advancing it valuable model study evolutionary relationships cockroaches termites.

Language: Английский

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Research Priorities to Support Effective Manta and Devil Ray Conservation

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Sept. 18, 2018

Manta and devil rays are filter-feeding elasmobranchs that found circumglobally in tropical subtropical waters. Although relatively understudied for most of the 20th century, public awareness scientific research on these species has increased dramatically recent years. Much this attention been response to targeted fisheries, international trade mobulid products, a growing concern over fate exploited populations. Despite progress research, major knowledge gaps still exist, hindering development effective management conservation strategies. We assembled 30 leaders emerging experts fields biology, ecology identify pressing must be filled facilitate improved science-based vulnerable species. highlight focal topics subject areas taxonomy diversity, life history, reproduction nursery areas, population trends, bycatch spatial dynamics movements, foraging diving, pollution contaminants, sub-lethal impacts. Mobulid remain poorly studied group, therefore our list important is extensive. However, we hope identification high priority will stimulate focus future research.

Language: Английский

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Olfactory receptor pseudo-pseudogenes

Nature, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 539(7627), P. 93 - 97

Published: Oct. 21, 2016

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity conservation should be a core value of China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 2(3), P. 408 - 409

Published: Jan. 12, 2018

Language: Английский

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A survey of methods and tools to detect recent and strong positive selection

Journal of Biological Research - Thessaloniki, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: April 8, 2017

Positive selection occurs when an allele is favored by natural selection. The frequency of the increases in population and due to genetic hitchhiking neighboring linked variation diminishes, creating so-called selective sweeps. Detecting traces positive genomes achieved searching for signatures introduced sweeps, such as regions reduced variation, a specific shift site spectrum, particular LD patterns region. A variety methods tools can be used detecting ranging from simple implementations that compute summary statistics Tajima's D, more advanced statistical approaches use combinations statistics, maximum likelihood, machine learning etc. In this survey, we present discuss software tools, classify them based on sweep signature they detect, i.e., SFS-based vs. LD-based, well their capacity analyze whole or just subgenomic regions. Additionally, summarize results comparisons among four open-source releases (SweeD, SweepFinder, SweepFinder2, OmegaPlus) regarding sensitivity, specificity, execution times. equilibrium neutral models mild bottlenecks, both SFS- LD-based are able detect sweeps accurately. Methods rely exhibit higher true rates than ones under model single recurrent hitchhiking. However, false rate elevated misspecified demographic represent null hypothesis. When correct (or similar correct) instead, considerably reduced. accuracy target decreased bottleneck scenarios. terms time, typically faster methods, nature required arithmetic.

Language: Английский

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Moving beyond belief: A narrative review of potential biomarkers for transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation

Psychophysiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 57(6)

Published: March 23, 2020

Abstract Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a non‐invasive neurostimulation technique that currently being tested as potential treatment for myriad of neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the working mechanisms underlying tVNS are poorly understood it remains unclear whether activates every participant. Finding biological marker imperative, can help guide research on clinical applications inform researchers optimal sites parameters to further optimize efficacy. In this narrative review, we discuss five biomarkers review available evidence these markers both invasive tVNS. While some hold promise from theoretical perspective, none provide clear definitive indications increases vagal activity or augments in locus coeruleus‐noradrenaline network. We conclude by providing several recommendations how tackle challenges opportunities when researching effects

Language: Английский

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Aridity drives plant biogeographical sub regions in the Caatinga, the largest tropical dry forest and woodland block in South America

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 13(4), P. e0196130 - e0196130

Published: April 27, 2018

Our aims were to quantify and map the plant sub regions of Caatinga, that covers 844,453 km2 is largest block seasonally dry forest in South America. We performed spatial analyses dataset woody distributions this region assembled date (of 2,666 shrub tree species; 260 localities), compared these with current phytogeographic regionalizations, investigated potential environmental drivers floristic patterns regions. Phytogeographical identified using quantitative species turnover calculated as Simpson dissimilarity index. applied an interpolation method NMDS axes compositional variation over entire extent then classified according number biogeographical a priori k-means analysis. used multinomial logistic regression models investigate influence contemporary climatic productivity, topographic complexity, soil characteristics, climate stability since last glacial maximum, human footprint explaining nine spatially cohesive Current indicated by aridity index, was only explanatory variable retained best model, nearly half variability between The highest rates endemism within Caatinga Core Periphery Chapada Diamantina findings suggest variation, act on at local scales not determinants broad patterns. lack effect maximum probably results from fact single measure does adequately capture highly dynamic shifts suffered during Pleistocene. There limited overlap our previous classifications.

Language: Английский

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Nanoscale interfacial engineering enables highly stable and efficient perovskite photovoltaics

Energy & Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 14(10), P. 5552 - 5562

Published: Jan. 1, 2021

We present a facile molecular-level interface engineering strategy to augment the long-term operational and thermal stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by tailoring between hole transporting layer (HTL) with multifunctional ligand 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid. The exhibited high (maximum powering point tracking at one sun illumination) stabilized TS80 (the time over which device efficiency reduces 80% after initial burn-in) ≈5950 h 40 °C power conversion (PCE) 23%. origin performance is correlated nano/sub-nanoscale molecular level interactions layer, further corroborated comprehensive multiscale characterization. These results provide insights into modulation grain boundaries, local density states, surface bandgap, interfacial recombination. Chemical analysis aged devices showed that passivation suppresses ion diffusion inhibits photoinduced I2 release irreversibly degrades perovskite. strategies enabled ligands can expedite path towards stable PSCs.

Language: Английский

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Detecting signatures of positive selection in non-model species using genomic data

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 184(2), P. 528 - 583

Published: Feb. 22, 2018

Understanding how natural selection shapes genetic variation in populations is of paramount importance evolutionary biology. Affordable high-throughput sequencing now allows the generation genome-wide data for non-model species, thereby stimulating research aimed at determining genomic basis adaptation to local environmental conditions. However, although these adaptive loci show characteristic signatures positive selection, several other processes can lead similar patterns, rendering search outlier a challenging task. Given that all methods rely on different explicit (data requirements) or implicit (underlying population models) assumptions, they have limitations often remain unknown non-population geneticists. Simply applying tests generated yield unreliable results include many false positives and negatives, therefore concealing true history. In this review, tailored biologists with standard background mathematics entering field genomics, we explain emerge describe principles state-of-the-art programs detect signatures. We highlight promises pitfalls approaches provide practical recommendations based simulation studies as well various case from animals.

Language: Английский

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