Comparison of productive performance of Marandi, White Leghorn, and Marandi-White Leghorn crossbred chickens.

BACKGROUND: Recently, efforts like crossbreeding, strain crossing, and inbred hybridization have been performed to improve productive performance in native chickens. This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of crossbreeding on the improvement of the productivity of a native chicken. The White Leghorn exotic chicken (WL) as dam line and the Marandi indigenous chicken (MA) as sire line were used to generate the crossbreds (MA × WL). Body weight and egg production traits were measured in the three groups. RESULTS: There are significant performance differences between WL and MA, with WL exhibiting superior body weight and egg production compared to MA (P < 0.05). Crossbreeding between WL and MA significantly improved most traits, with MA × WL outperforming MA. Negative heterosis was observed for body weight showing similarities between MA and MA × WL. Notably, MA × WL showed a closer resemblance to WL than MA in hen-day egg production at 40 and 44 weeks (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results derived from this study show that the economic performance of native chickens can be enhanced through crossbreeding with exotic chickens. Using the crossbred chickens in rural areas can be more efficient than the native chickens. In addition, the resilience of the native chickens to the local environment can be transmitted genetically to the crossbred which should be investigated in further studies.

First report of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in urban hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) in Colombia.

Chagas disease (CD) is a zoonotic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting over seven million people worldwide. T. cruzi can infect more than 100 species of wild mammals, including opossums, armadillos, bats, carnivores, rodents, and primates, as well as domestic animals like dogs, cats, and exotic pets. This is the first report of T. cruzi infection in an "exotic pet" African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), in an endemic area for CD in Colombia. After the patient underwent euthanasia due to worsening clinical signs including diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and hemiplegia, anatomopathological and histopathological examinations were conducted. Simultaneously, molecular diagnosis and genotyping of T. cruzi were performed using qPCR and Next Generation sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene, respectively. Anatomopathological examination revealed significant changes across various systems, including ulcerative hemorrhagic enteritis, left ventricular hypertrophy, lymphadenitis and diffuse meningeal edema. The main histopathological findings included mononuclear inflammatory reaction, congestion and hemorrhages in several organs, accompanied of amastigote cysts in cardiomyocytes. qPCR confirmed the presence of T. cruzi in heart, lymph node, brain, salivary gland, blood, and spleen. Regarding genotyping analyses, all organs were positive for TcI. This case confirms the susceptibility of A. albiventris to infection with T. cruzi and suggest a potential role for these pets as disseminators of T. cruzi infection in endemic areas. The ecological and epidemiological implications of these findings are discussed here.

Report of Giardia duodenalis in a non-captive chital Axis axis (Erxleben 1777) in Santa Catarina, South of Brazil.

Giardiasis is an infection of the small intestine by protozoa of the genus Giardia, which has a wide range of susceptible hosts, including domestic and wild animals and humans. Giardia is a zoonotic agent and represents one of the main human parasites, with high prevalence and great importance in public health. This report aims to describe the parasitism of a non-captive Chital deer (Axis axis) by Giardia duodenalis. The animal, after being rescued by soldiers from the 2nd Platoon of the 2nd Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Environmental Military Police of the State of Santa Catarina, was sent to the Wildlife Studies Center (NEVS) of the University of Western Santa Catarina (UNOESC). During clinical care, an exposed fracture in the left pelvic limb and signs of acute respiratory failure were found. Fecal samples were collected for later parasitological diagnosis. Two techniques were applied: centrifugal flotation with zinc sulfate, to diagnose parasites of the gastrointestinal system, and Baermann, to search for parasitism in the respiratory tract. The investigation revealed the presence of Giardia duodenalis. The animal died on the same day of its arrival due to a cardiorespiratory arrest. The presence of this parasite in an invasive exotic deer species highlights its epidemiological importance, as it can act as a source of infection and spread the disease to humans and other animals.

Giardíase é uma infecção do intestino delgado por protozoários do gênero Giardia, o qual apresenta uma ampla variedade de hospedeiros suscetíveis, incluindo animais domésticos, selvagens e também humanos. Giardia é um agente zoonótico, e representa um dos principais parasitas de humanos, com alta prevalência e grande importância em saúde pública. Este relato tem como objetivo descrever o parasitismo de um indivíduo de cervo Chital (Axis axis) de vida livre por Giardia duodenalis. O animal, após ser resgatado por soldados do 2º Pelotão da 2ª Companhia do 2º Batalhão da Polícia Militar Ambiental do Estado de Santa Catarina, foi encaminhado ao Núcleo de Estudos em Vida Selvagem (NEVS) da Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina (UNOESC). Durante o atendimento clínico foi constatada fratura exposta no membro pélvico esquerdo e sinais de insuficiência respiratória aguda. Amostras de fezes foram coletadas para posterior diagnóstico parasitológico. Para isso, foram usadas duas técnicas: centrífugo-flutuação em sulfato de zinco, com o objetivo de diagnosticar parasitas do sistema gastrointestinal, e Baermann, com o objetivo de pesquisar parasitas do trato respiratório. Os achados revelaram presença de cistos de Giardia duodenalis. O animal morreu no mesmo dia de sua chegada, devido a uma parada cardiorrespiratória. A presença desse parasito em uma espécie de cervídeo exótico invasor destaca sua importância epidemiológica, pois o mesmo pode atuar como fonte de infecção e de disseminação da doença para o ser humano e/ou outros animais.

Determinants of exotic poultry breeds adoption by smallholder farmers in Gibe district, Hadiya zone, Ethiopia.

This study aimed to analyze farmers' opinions, its role to household welfare, and the factors that influence the likelihood and intensity of exotic poultry adoption among rural chicken producers. To attain this, 155 households were targeted for interview. To this end, a multistage sampling procedure was administered to select households. Accordingly, quantitative data was backed by the qualitative data so as to bolster its credibility. Thus, the qualitative data was obtained through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The result revealed that for enhanced market demand of chickens and egg production capacity among other allied factors farmers were interested with its production though exposure to disease and predators, absence of rural vaccination services, and the need for more care were also identified as challenges of production. Furthermore, exotic poultry producers' get advantage over their non-exotic poultry producers as a result of the sale of eggs and a live chicken. The producers improved their diets notably for egg and chicken meat. This also implies that exotic poultry producers were better at food diversification than their counter part using the days recall method. The model output, on the other hand, showed that household size, farming experience, farm size, sex, off/non-farm income, livestock holding, distance to market, and access to credit service were all statistically significant at 1 %. The study suggests that focusing on key factors influencing the adoption and use of exotic poultry will help maintain and increase their adoption rates.

Floating plastics as a potential dispersal vector for rafting marine non-native species.

Marine species raft on floating litter, including various plastics, potentially spreading non-native species and threatening global marine habitats. Despite limited attention, Didemnum vexillum, an invasive colonial tunicate in Europe, colonised coasts of southwest Scotland (2009) and northeast Ireland (2012), likely transported via rafting. We studied D. vexillum survival and performance on three plastic types (Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Polystyrene) finding high survival rates over 42 days, with colonies thriving best on PS. Using these data, hydrodynamic and particle tracking models simulated dispersal from existing Irish Sea colonies, projecting potential rafting distances of up to ∼150 km for surface particles influenced by tide and wind, and half that for neutrally-buoyant mid-depth particles driven by tidal currents alone. Hence, the modelling supports the potential for dispersion of this species within the Irish Sea via rafting. This study highlights marine plastics as a vector that may facilitate widespread dispersal of non-native species.

Non-native plants tend to be phylogenetically distant but functionally similar to native plants under intense disturbance at the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.

Darwin's two opposing hypotheses, proposing that non-native species closely or distantly related to native species are more likely to succeed, are known as 'Darwin's Naturalization Conundrum'. Recently, invasion ecologists have sought to unravel these hypotheses. Studies that incorporate rich observational data in disturbed ecosystems that integrate phylogenetic and functional perspectives have potential to shed light on the conundrum. Using 313 invaded plant communities including 46 invasive plant species and 531 native plant species across the Three Gorges Reservoir Area in China, we aim to evaluate the coexistence mechanisms of invasive and native plants by integrating phylogenetic and functional dimensions at spatial and temporal scales. Our findings revealed that invasive plants tended to co-occur more frequently with native plant species that were phylogenetically distant but functionally similar in the reservoir riparian zone. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that the filtering of flood-dry-flood cycles played a significant role in deepening functional similarities of native communities and invasive-native species over time. Our study highlights the contrasting effects of phylogenetic relatedness and functional similarity between invasive and native species in highly flood-disturbed habitats, providing new sights into Darwin's Naturalization Conundrum.

Scale of unregulated international trade in Australian reptiles and amphibians.

Reptiles and amphibians are popular in the exotic pet trade, where Australian species are valued for their rarity and uniqueness. Despite a near-complete ban on the export of Australian wildlife, smuggling and subsequent international trade frequently occur in an unregulated and unmonitored manner. In 2022, Australia listed over 100 squamates in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to better monitor this trade. We investigated current trade and assessed the value of this Australian CITES listing using web-scraping methods to monitor the online pet trade in Australian reptiles and amphibians, with additional data from published papers, trade databases, and seizure records. Despite the export ban, we identified 170 endemic herpetofauna (reptile and amphibian) species in international trade, 33 of which were not recorded previously in the international market, including 6 newly recorded genera. Ninety-two traded species were included in CITES appendices (59 added in 2022), but at least 78 other traded species remained unregulated. Among these, 5 of the 10 traded threatened species were unlisted, and we recommend they be considered for inclusion in CITES Appendix III. We also recommend the listing of all Diplodactylidae genera in Appendix III. Despite this family representing the greatest number of Australian species in trade, only one genus (of 7 traded) was included in the recent CITES amendments. Overall, a large number of Australian reptile and amphibian species are traded internationally and, although we acknowledge the value of Australia's recent CITES listing, we recommend the consideration of other taxa for similar inclusion in CITES.

Escala del mercado internacional no regulado de reptiles y anfibios australianos Resumen Los reptiles y anfibios son populares en el comercio de mascotas exóticas, en el que las especies australianas son valoradas por su rareza y singularidad. A pesar de la prohibición casi total de la exportación de fauna silvestre australiana, el contrabando y el comercio internacional posterior se producen con frecuencia de forma no regulada y no supervisada. En 2022, Australia incluyó más de 100 escamosos en el apéndice III de la Convención sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas de Fauna y Flora Silvestres (CITES) para controlar mejor este comercio. Investigamos el comercio actual y evaluamos el valor de esta inclusión en CITES con métodos de raspado web para monitorear el comercio virtual de reptiles y anfibios australianos como mascotas, con datos adicionales de artículos publicados, bases de datos comerciales y registros de incautaciones. A pesar de la prohibición de las exportaciones, identificamos 170 especies endémicas de herpetofauna (reptiles y anfibios) en el comercio internacional, 33 de las cuales no se habían registrado previamente en el mercado internacional, incluidos 6 géneros registrados recientemente. Noventa y dos especies comercializadas se incluyeron en los apéndices de CITES (59 añadidas en 2022), pero al menos otras 78 especies comercializadas permanecieron sin regular. Entre ellas, cinco de las diez especies amenazadas comercializadas no estaban incluidas y recomendamos que se considere su inclusión en el apéndice III de CITES. También recomendamos la inclusión de todos los géneros de Diplodactylidae en el apéndice III. A pesar de que esta familia representa el mayor número de especies australianas en el comercio, sólo un género (de 7 comercializados) fue incluido en las recientes enmiendas de CITES. En general, un gran número de especies de reptiles y anfibios australianos son objeto de comercio internacional y, aunque reconocemos el valor de la reciente inclusión de Australia en CITES, recomendamos que se consideren otros taxones para su similar inclusión.

A review of commercial captive breeding of parrots as a supply-side intervention to address unsustainable trade.

The volume and scale of commercial captive breeding of parrots have grown dramatically in recent decades. Although it has been proposed, and is often assumed, that captive breeding can reduce pressure on wild populations, there has been little scrutiny of the scale, viability, or impacts of captive breeding to prevent overexploitation among parrots, compared with similar approaches in other threatened taxa, such as pangolins or tigers. We reviewed the primary and gray literature to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate evidence concerning 5 criteria, established a priori, for commercial captive breeding of parrots as an effective supply-side intervention. We focused on a sample of 16 threatened parrot species that are heavily traded or for which unsustainable trade has been a factor in the decline of wild populations, representing a range of taxonomic groups, life histories, and native regions. We identified multiple major gaps in knowledge of the extent to which these criteria are met, including a lack of quantitative data on breeding productivity under current commercial breeding practices, the scale and scope of commercial breeding practices in growing parrot markets, particularly in the Middle East and Asia, and the lack of financial viability of captive breeding under effective regulation to prevent laundering or use of wild-sourced specimens as breeding stock. The capacity for captive breeding to displace demand for wild-sourced parrots varied between species, and complex interactions between trade in different species and contexts sometimes made consequences of commercial production difficult to predict. Decision makers and regulatory authorities should approach commercial captive breeding of parrots with caution and take into account knowledge gaps and cross-linkages between trade in different species to avoid unanticipated consequences from stimulating and facilitating unsustainable trade in wild-sourced parrots.

Una revisión de la cría comercial de loros en cautiverio como una intervención en la oferta para abordar el comercio no sustentable Resumen El volumen y la escala de la cría comercial de loros en cautiverio ha crecido de gran manera en las últimas décadas. Aunque se ha propuesto, y a menudo se asume, que la cría en cautiverio puede reducir la presión sobre las poblaciones silvestres, apenas se ha analizado la escala, viabilidad o impacto de este método para evitar la sobreexplotación de los loros, en comparación con enfoques similares en otros taxones amenazados, como pangolines o tigres. Revisamos la bibliografía primaria y gris para evaluar cuantitativa y cualitativamente las pruebas relativas a cinco criterios, establecidos a priori, para la cría comercial de loros en cautiverio como una intervención eficaz del lado de la oferta. Usamos una muestra de 16 especies amenazadas de loros que son objeto de intenso comercio o para las que el comercio no sustentable ha sido un factor en el declive de las poblaciones silvestre para representar una gama de grupos taxonómicos, historias de vida y regiones nativas. Identificamos múltiples vacíos importantes en el conocimiento de la medida en que se cumplen estos criterios, incluida la falta de datos cuantitativos sobre la productividad de la cría en las actuales prácticas de cría comercial, la escala y el alcance de las prácticas de cría comercial en los mercados de loros en crecimiento, especialmente en Medio Oriente y Asia, y la falta de viabilidad financiera de la cría en cautiverio bajo una regulación eficaz para evitar el lavado o el uso de especímenes de origen silvestre como plantel reproductor. La capacidad de la cría en cautiverio para desplazar la demanda de loros de origen silvestre varió según las especies y las complejas interacciones entre el comercio de diferentes especies y contextos dificultaron a veces la predicción de las consecuencias de la producción comercial. Los responsables de la toma de decisiones y las autoridades reguladoras deben abordar la cría comercial de loros en cautiverio con cautela y tener en cuenta los vacíos de conocimiento y los nexos cruzados entre el comercio de diferentes especies para evitar consecuencias imprevistas derivadas de estimular y facilitar el comercio no sustentable de loros de origen silvestre.

Use of consumer insights to inform behavior change interventions aimed at illegal pet turtle trade in China.

Illegal poaching and overexploitation for the international pet trade are among the greatest threats to freshwater turtles in Southeast Asia. Expanding consumer research in China is crucial to filling knowledge gaps about the scale and structure of illegal trade and developing audience-targeted and relevant interventions that may reduce demand for illegal turtles as pets. We applied mixed methods to provide a detailed understanding of the consumer side of the illegal pet turtle trade in China. We conducted 30 interviews with key stakeholders and online surveys (n = 2456) of turtle keepers via community forums. From these, we identified 3 core consumer groups based on their prior turtle-keeping experience, species exposure, and potential for future purchases. We conducted a thematic qualitative analysis of concepts related to the capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior (COM-B) model to determine the factors influencing the illegal pet turtle trade and to identify barriers to illegal purchases. Specifically, we identified purchasers' capabilities, opportunities, and motivations in the context of legality, enforcement risk, captive breeding, and impacts on wild population. We developed consumer journey maps (i.e., visual representations of customer's experiences throughout their buying journey) for core consumer groups. These maps illustrate the sequential behaviors and processes that consumers undertake when purchasing turtles, from initial exposure to sourcing, keeping, and providing a new home. Key factors influencing illegal purchases included convenient purchase channels, misguided cognition and motivations for pet keeping, and weak law enforcement. Effective interventions included messages focusing on shifting cognition and beliefs, increasing legal risk perception, and emphasizing stringent law enforcement, primarily delivered through online channels. Our results underscore the necessity for adaptable, audience-tailored interventions to reduce consumer demand for illegal wildlife products. The mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data, provided a comprehensive understanding of the target behavior and can inform the development of effective intervention strategies.

Uso de las percepciones del consumidor para guiar las intervenciones de cambio conductual enfocadas en el mercado ilegal de tortugas en China Resumen La caza furtiva y la sobreexplotación por el comercio internacional de mascotas son algunas de las mayores amenazas para las tortugas de agua dulce del sudeste asiático. Es esencial conocer más sobre los consumidores en China para llenar los vacíos en el conocimiento sobre la escala y la estructura del comercio ilegal y desarrollar intervenciones pertinentes y dirigidas al público que puedan reducir la demanda de tortugas como mascotas ilegales. Aplicamos métodos mixtos para conocer en detalle la percepción del consumidor del comercio ilegal de tortugas como mascotas en China. Realizamos 30 entrevistas a actores clave y encuestas en línea (n=2456) a cuidadores de tortugas a través de foros comunitarios. A partir de ellas, identificamos tres grupos principales de consumidores en función de su experiencia previa en la cría de tortugas, su exposición a las especies y su potencial para futuras compras. Realizamos un análisis cualitativo temático de conceptos relacionados con el modelo de capacidad, oportunidad, motivación y comportamiento (COM­B) para determinar los factores que influyen en el comercio ilegal de tortugas e identificar las barreras para las compras ilegales. En concreto, identificamos las capacidades, oportunidades y motivaciones de los compradores en el contexto de la legalidad, el riesgo de aplicación de la ley, la cría en cautiverio y el impacto sobre la población silvestre. Elaboramos mapas de viaje del consumidor (representaciones visuales de las experiencias del cliente a lo largo de su compra) para los principales grupos de consumidores. Estos mapas ilustran los comportamientos y procesos secuenciales que llevan a cabo los consumidores cuando compran tortugas, desde la exposición inicial hasta la adquisición, el mantenimiento y la asignación de un nuevo hogar. Entre los factores clave que influyen en las compras ilegales se encuentran la conveniencia de los canales de compra, los conocimientos y motivaciones erróneos para mantener mascotas y la debilidad de la aplicación de la ley. Las intervenciones eficaces incluyeron mensajes centrados en cambiar los conocimientos y las creencias, aumentar la percepción del riesgo legal y hacer hincapié en la aplicación rigurosa de la ley, principalmente a través de canales virtuales. Nuestros resultados destacan la necesidad de intervenciones adaptables y adaptadas al público para reducir la demanda de productos ilegales de fauna silvestre por parte de los consumidores. El enfoque de métodos mixtos, que combina datos cuantitativos y cualitativos, proporcionó una comprensión exhaustiva del comportamiento objetivo y puede servir de base para el desarrollo de estrategias de intervención eficaces.

Nutrient Allocation and Growth Responses of Senegalia polyphylla under Varied Fertilizer Regimes for Effective Forest Recovery.

To restore invaded areas, planting fast-growing native species such as Senegalia polyphylla (DC.) Britton & Rose (Fabaceae) is widely used. However, invasive grasses reduce light availability, alter fire regimes, and compete for water and nutrients, hindering the growth of native trees. Fertilization practices influence the competition dynamics between natives and invasives by altering soil fertility. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of mineral and organic fertilization on the nutritional status and growth of S. polyphylla cultivated during the first 120 days after transplanting. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design comprising five treatments and four replications, along with the unfertilized control (0-0%) as an additional treatment. Dystrophic red latosol and different proportions of mineral and organic fertilizers were used. The variables evaluated included dry mass of aboveground parts and roots, nutrient content in leaves, and nutrient use efficiency. The results showed that fertilizations with high nutrient concentrations (100-0% and 75-25%) resulted in greater accumulation of N, P, and K in the leaves, while balanced fertilization (50-50% and 25-75%) led to greater root dry mass. These results emphasize the importance of strategically choosing fertilizer formulations to promote the healthy development of seedlings in areas subject to interference from invasive grasses.

Invasive plant species support each other's growth in low-nutrient conditions but compete when nutrients are abundant.

Globally, numerous ecosystems have been co-invaded by multiple exotic plant species that can have competitive or facilitative interactions with each other and with native plants. Invaded ecosystems often exhibit spatial heterogeneity in soil moisture and nutrient levels, with some habitats having more nutrient-rich and moist soils than others. The stress-gradient hypothesis predicts that plants are likely to engage in facilitative interactions when growing in stressful environments, such as nutrient-deficient or water-deficient soils. In contrast, when resources are abundant, competitive interactions between plants should prevail. The invasional meltdown hypothesis proposes that facilitative interactions between invasive species can enhance their establishment and amplify their ecological impact. Considering both hypotheses can offer insights into the complex interactions among invasive and native plants across environmental gradients. However, experimental tests of the effects of soil moisture and nutrient co-limitation on interactions between invasive and native plants at both interspecific and intraspecific levels in light of these hypotheses are lacking. We performed a greenhouse pot experiment in which we cultivated individual focal plants from five congeneric pairs of invasive and native species. Each focal plant was subjected to one of three levels of plant-plant interactions: (1) intraspecific, in which the focal plant was grown with another individual of the same species; (2) interspecific, involving a native and an invasive plant; and (3) interspecific, involving two native or invasive individuals. These plant-plant interaction treatments were fully crossed with two levels of water availability (drought vs. well-watered) and two levels of nutrient supply (low vs. high). Consistent with the stress-gradient and invasional meltdown hypotheses, our findings show that under low-nutrient conditions, the biomass production of invasive focal plants was facilitated by invasive interspecific neighbors. However, under high-nutrient conditions, the biomass production of invasive focal plants was suppressed by invasive interspecific neighbors. When competing with native interspecific neighbors, high-nutrient conditions similarly enhanced the biomass production of both invasive and native focal plants. Invasive and native focal plants were neither competitively suppressed nor facilitated by conspecific neighbors. Taken together, these results suggest that co-occurring invasive exotic plant species may facilitate each other in low-nutrient habitats but compete in high-nutrient habitats.

Landscape change and alien invasions drive shifts in native lady beetle communities over a century.

Understanding causes of insect population declines is essential for the development of successful conservation plans, but data limitations restrict assessment across spatial and temporal scales. Museum records represent a source of historical data that can be leveraged to investigate temporal trends in insect communities. Native lady beetle decline has been attributed to competition with established alien species and landscape change, but the relative importance of these drivers is difficult to measure with short-term field-based studies. We assessed distribution patterns for native lady beetles over 12 decades using museum records, and evaluated the relative importance of alien species and landscape change as factors contributing to changes in communities. We compiled occurrence records for 28 lady beetle species collected in Ohio, USA, from 1900 to 2018. Taxonomic beta-diversity was used to evaluate changes in lady beetle community composition over time. To evaluate the relative influence of temporal, spatial, landscape, and community factors on the captures of native species, we constructed negative binomial generalized additive models. We report evidence of declines in captures for several native species. Importantly, the timing, severity, and drivers of these documented declines were species-specific. Land cover change was associated with declines in captures, particularly for Coccinella novemnotata which declined prior to the arrival of alien species. Following the establishment and spread of alien lady beetles, processes of species loss/gain and turnover shifted communities toward the dominance of a few alien species beginning in the 1980s. Because factors associated with declines in captures were highly species-specific, this emphasizes that mechanisms driving population losses cannot be generalized even among closely related native species. These findings also indicate the importance of museum holdings and the analysis of species-level data when studying temporal trends in insect populations.

New insight into the exotic states strongly coupled with the DD‾∗ from the Tcc.

We have investigated the internal structure of the open- and hidden-charmed (DD∗/D¯D∗) molecules in the unified framework. We first fit the experimental lineshape of the Tcc+ state and extract the DD∗ interaction, from which the Tcc+ is assumed to arise solely. Then we obtain the DD‾∗ interaction by charge conjugation. Our results show that the DD‾∗ interaction is attractive but insufficient to form X(3872) as a bound state. Instead, its formation requires the crucial involvement of the coupled channel effect between the DD¯∗ and cc¯ components, although the cc¯ accounts for approximately 1% only. Besides X(3872), we have obtained a higher-energy state around 3957.9 MeV with a width of 16.7 MeV, which may be a potential candidate for the X(3940). In JPC=1+- sector, we have found two states related to the iso-scalar X̃(3872) and hc(2P), respectively. Our combined study provides valuable insights into the nature of these DD∗/DD¯∗ exotic states.

Unlocking rivers' hidden diversity and ecological status using DNA metabarcoding in Northwest Spain.

Rivers are crucial ecosystems supporting biodiversity and human well-being, yet they face increasing degradation globally. Traditional river biomonitoring methods based on morphological identification of macroinvertebrates present challenges in terms of taxonomic resolution and scalability. This study explores the application of DNA metabarcoding analysis in both bulk and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples for comprehensive assessment of macrozoobenthic biodiversity, detection of invasive and endangered species, and evaluation of river ecological status in northwestern Spain. DNA metabarcoding of homogenized bulk samples and water eDNA revealed a mean of 100 and 87 macrozoobenthos species per sample respectively. However, the specific composition was significantly different with only 27.3% of the total species being shared. It was not possible to identify all the OTUs to species level; only 17.43% and 49.4% of the OTUs generated could be identified to species level in the bulk and eDNA samples, respectively. Additionally, a total of 11 exotic species (two first records for the Iberian Peninsula and another three first records for Asturias region) and one endangered species were detected by molecular tools. Molecular methods showed significant correlations with morphological identification for EQR values (Ecological Quality Ratio) of IBMWP index, yet differences in inferred river ecological status were noted, with bulk samples tending to indicate higher status. Overall, DNA metabarcoding offers a promising approach for river biomonitoring, providing insights into biodiversity, invasive species, and ecological status within a single analysis. Further optimization and intercalibration are required for its implementation in routine biomonitoring programmes, but its scalability and multi-tasking capabilities position it as a valuable tool for integrated monitoring of river ecosystems.

Exploring the Bioactive Potential of Exotic Fruits from Sri Lanka: A Treasure Trove of Medicinal Properties.

Tropical fruits are often studied to determine their content of bioactive compounds that contain health-enhancing properties and are often identified to hold a rich nutritional composition. Their bioactive compounds are classified through their phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant properties, while some tropical fruits are known to have other properties such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity. Sri Lanka is an island with abundant resources. One such resource is exotic fruits. Exotic fruits are known as edible fruits, which are not necessarily native but consist of a unique flavor profile, fragrance, shape, or appearance. Exotic fruits are usually consumed on their own or consumed as beverages, pickles, jams, salads, and desserts. The market-friendly tropical fruits in Sri Lanka include a vast number, and some of them are mango, Ceylon olives, durian, jackfruit, rambutan, soursop, passion fruit, and star fruit. These fruits contribute to the rice culinary heritage of Sri Lanka, and most of them are exported worldwide. At present, the traditional medicine system is quite popular among the public due to its less toxic nature and easy access. This review is aimed at evaluating the antioxidant, cytotoxic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties of eight selected exotic fruits mentioned above and their traditional usage, which is based on the literature of various scientific studies conducted on these tropical fruits.

Genetic analysis of popping quality traits and development of superior quality popcorn hybrids for a sustainable popcorn breeding program in India.

BACKGROUND: Popcorn is the most popular specialty maize and it makes a significant contribution to the Indian and global economies. Despite perfect exploration of heterosis in field corn, progress in popcorn breeding remains constrained due to its narrow genetic base, leading to a significant dependence on imports. In this study, 15 landrace- and population-derived inbreds from temperate and tropical germplasm were crossed with five testers, which are the parents of superior popcorn hybrids, in a line × tester mating design. RESULTS: Significant variation was observed in popping quality and agronomic traits among crosses evaluated across three locations representing diverse maize-based agro-climatic zones in India. Additive genetic variance governed the traits related to popping quality, whereas dominance variance was responsible for the agronomic traits. In addition to significant heterosis specific to certain traits, we identified promising crosses that exhibited superior performance in both popping quality and grain yield (GY). The genotype + genotype × environment (GGE) biplot methodology identified PMI-PC-104 and PMI-PC-101 as the best discriminating testers for popping quality traits and Dpcl-15-90 for GY. Lines PMI-PC-205, PMI-PC-207, and PMI-PC-209 were the best general combiners for popping quality traits and GY. The heterotic groups identified based on GGE-biplots and the magnitude, direction and stability of combining ability effects would serve in the development of competitive popcorn hybrids for a sustainable popcorn market. CONCLUSION: Using the additive nature of popping quality traits and the dominant nature of GY, recurrent intrapopulation selection can be employed to derive desirable popping quality inbreds with high GY for genetic enhancement. Desirable popping quality alleles from novel germplasm can thus be combined with high-yielding domestic elite inbreds to establish a sustainable popcorn breeding program. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Anthropogenic forests simplify seed- but not pollen-dispersal networks.

Natural native forests are rapidly being replaced by anthropogenic forests often with a strong presence of invasive alien plant species. Eucalypt species are widely planted worldwide, with Eucalyptus globulus plantations being particularly expressive in Portugal. Poor forestry practices often lead to the associated expansion of invasive species, such as Acacia dealbata. However, we still know relatively little about the functioning of anthropogenic forests, such as seed and pollen dispersal services. Here, we compared bird abundance and richness and the seed and pollen dispersal networks in both forest types. Anthropogenic forests presented lower bird abundance, and smaller, more simplified, and more random (abundance-based) seed dispersal services than those of natural forests. Interestingly, the pollen dispersal network was more similar than the seed dispersal network for both forest types and dominated by opportunistic and neutral processes, given the absence of specialized nectarivorous. The proportion of birds transporting seeds decreased, while those carrying pollen significantly increased in the anthropogenic forest compared to the native forest. Our work highlights the impact of anthropogenic forests on bird abundance, with consequences for seed dispersal services and forest regeneration.

Ten years of directing seeding restoration in the Brazilian savanna: Lessons learned and the way forward.

Savannas and grasslands have lost almost 50% of their original cover worldwide. Therefore, the development of methods and information on open-canopy ecosystem restoration is urgent for the inclusion of these ecosystems into global and regional priorities. In the Brazilian savanna, the most diverse savanna in the world, restoration efforts focused on open ecosystems have been virtually absent, but have increased in the last 10 years. Such efforts are frequently threatened by invasive exotic grasses (IEG) that invade and dominate areas excluding native species, oftentimes aided by altered soil conditions. Long-term studies of savanna restoration trajectories are rare. In this study, we surveyed 22 savanna restoration areas established two to ten years before the study with similar restoration methods to assess their current status. We show that the current restoration methods are successful in establishing native species and allowing species turnover but they are threatened by IEG. Restoration success varies and is affected by soil conditions, IEG landscape cover and post-sowing weeding. Despite that, the simultaneous introduction of different plant functional groups allows turnover from fast to slow-growing plants. Establishing savanna native species is possible at an operational scale with current knowledge and techniques. However, native species establishment fails to prevent IEG reinfestation, which needs to be managed in restoration efforts in the Brazilian savanna.

Exotic plants introduction changed soil nutrient cycle and symbiotic relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in wetland ecological projects.

In the process of applying exotic plants to wetland ecological restoration, insufficiently evaluated alien species may exhibit strong competitiveness and fecundity. Once introduced, they can displace native flora, disrupt the original ecological balance, diminish biodiversity, and even induce ecosystem dysfunction. Furthermore, exotic plants have the potential to alter soil microbial community structure, including the composition and activity of beneficial symbiotic microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), thereby impacting soil nutrient cycling and interplant nutrient competition. Here, we conducted three consecutive years of sampling experiments to investigate the succession of AMF communities associated with the invasive plant Spartina alterniflora along an initial introduction chronosequence, and to identify the key environmental factors influencing its response to S. alterniflora invasion. Our findings reveal that early-stage invasion by S. alterniflora alters the composition of soil AMF communities with unclassified_c__Glomeromycetes and Glomus-viscosum-VTX00063 consistently dominating. Additionally, as the duration of introduction increases, the diversity of rhizosphere soil AMF significantly decreases, while its evenness remains relatively stable. It's indicated that soil ω, AN, AK and N/P ratio were the main influencing factors of the integral AMF community. Notably, soil available phosphorus (AP) emerges as a positive influence on the important AMF taxa. The results confirm the mutual feedback effect between the invasion of the perennial herb S. alterniflora and AMF, in which specific AMF assist in nutrient absorption to promote S. alterniflora growth, potentially facilitating its rapid and successful invasion of new habitats. Given the likely differential effects of AMF communities on various plant species, our findings could contribute to anticipating future AMF-mediated effects during the introduction of alien plants.

Infectious diseases and discrimination: Sicily's Lampedusa migrants.

Lampedusa, a picturesque Italian island in the Mediterranean, serves as a gateway for migrants from Africa and Asia to Europe. Despite populist rhetoric portraying migrants as carriers of disease, epidemiological data reveal very low levels of communicable diseases among migrants, challenging false narratives and xenophobic sentiments propagated by populist governments.