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| Open AccessAdopting yield-improving practices to meet maize demand in Sub-Saharan Africa without cropland expansion
Maize demand in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase. Here, the authors use data collected by One Acre Fund on 14,773 smallholder fields in the region and determine that maize production can be increased with minimal cropland expansion by improving management practices.
- Fernando Aramburu-Merlos
- , Fatima A. M. Tenorio
- & Patricio Grassini
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Article
| Open AccessBiodiversity increases resistance of grasslands against plant invasions under multiple environmental changes
Species-rich communities tend to be less vulnerable to species invasions, but whether this is maintained under environmental stress is unclear. This meta-analysis shows that the positive effect of biodiversity on resistance to invasion in grassland plant communities is reduced by drought but increased by warming and multiple global change factors.
- Cai Cheng
- , Zekang Liu
- & Jihua Wu
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Article
| Open AccessPotential decoupling of CO2 and Hg uptake process by global vegetation in the 21st century
The uptake of gaseous elementary mercury by terrestrial vegetation in 2100 is likely to decrease by more than half compared to present-day conditions. This decrease is caused by the reduced stomatal conductance associated with increasing CO2 levels.
- Tengfei Yuan
- , Shaojian Huang
- & Yanxu Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessWhole-soil warming leads to substantial soil carbon emission in an alpine grassland
This study demonstrates that future whole-soil warming has a much stronger effect on soil carbon emission in the alpine grassland ecosystem than what is estimated by previous warming experiments which only warm surface soils mostly.
- Ying Chen
- , Wenkuan Qin
- & Biao Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessEnhanced surface colonisation and competition during bacterial adaptation to a fungus
Bacterial-fungal interactions can stimulate the production of specialised microbial metabolites. Here, Richter et al. use co-culture experimental evolution to show that the presence of a fungus selects for increased surfactin production in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, which inhibits fungal growth and facilitates the competitive success of the bacterium.
- Anne Richter
- , Felix Blei
- & Ákos T. Kovács
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Article
| Open AccessConvergent evolution of fern nectaries facilitated independent recruitment of ant-bodyguards from flowering plants
Some plants use nectar to attract ant bodyguards. Here, the authors use a cross-kingdom phylogenetic approach to find that ferns and angiosperms evolved nectaries in the Cretaceous, coinciding with ant evolution, and that ferns recruited ant-bodyguards from existing ant-angiosperm partnerships.
- Jacob S. Suissa
- , Fay-Wei Li
- & Corrie S. Moreau
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Article
| Open AccessMultispecies deep learning using citizen science data produces more informative plant community models
By modelling the distribution of the entire Swiss flora using deep learning and citizen science data, this study demonstrates a method that predicts flowering phenology and potentially dominant tree species more accurately than commonly used approaches. This approach could enable investigation of understudied aspects of ecology and refine our understanding of plant distributions.
- Philipp Brun
- , Dirk N. Karger
- & Niklaus E. Zimmermann
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Article
| Open AccessThe adaptive value of density-dependent habitat specialization and social network centrality
Social behavior and habitat specialization are often linked through density-dependence and their effects on fitness. Here, the authors show that in caribou, these traits are density-dependent, but only habitat specialization has an effect on fitness.
- Quinn M. R. Webber
- , Michel P. Laforge
- & Eric Vander Wal
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Article
| Open AccessRelative dispersion ratios following fecal microbiota transplant elucidate principles governing microbial migration dynamics
Microbial migration profoundly impacts ecosystems. Here, the authors introduce a statistical approach to explore microbial dispersion following fecal microbiota transplant, uncovering dependencies between colonizing taxa, with insights into community dynamics.
- Yadid M. Algavi
- & Elhanan Borenstein
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Article
| Open AccessPhosphorus deficiency alleviates iron limitation in Synechocystis cyanobacteria through direct PhoB-mediated gene regulation
Iron and phosphorus exist at low concentrations in surface waters and may be co-limiting resources for phytoplankton growth. Here, the authors show that phosphorus deficiency increases the growth of iron-limited cyanobacteria through a PhoB-mediated regulatory network.
- Guo-Wei Qiu
- , Wen-Can Zheng
- & Bao-Sheng Qiu
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Article
| Open AccessAn integrated spatio-temporal view of riverine biodiversity using environmental DNA metabarcoding
Using intensive eDNA sampling in space and time across five rivers in Europe and North America, this study shows that eDNA gives relevant information on freshwater diversity and ecology across broad taxonomic groups, and with limited downstream transport. The findings demonstrate that eDNA is vital for freshwater biodiversity monitoring in a time of anthropogenic change.
- William Bernard Perry
- , Mathew Seymour
- & Simon Creer
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Article
| Open AccessBiodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage
Loss of vegetation carbon from biodiversity loss could rival emissions from other sources such as land-use change. This creates a feedback where climate change increases biodiversity loss, leading to greater emissions and more climate change.
- Sarah R. Weiskopf
- , Forest Isbell
- & Simon Ferrier
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Article
| Open AccessEnvironmental conditions associated with initial northern expansion of anatomically modern humans
Past global human migration was the result of environmental and cultural factors. Here, the authors develop a statistical approach that combines archaeological, genetic, and palaeoclimate data to identify regional environmental conditions facilitating population expansion routes in northern Eurasia and the Americas.
- Frédérik Saltré
- , Joël Chadœuf
- & Corey J. A. Bradshaw
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Article
| Open AccessParental experiences orchestrate locust egg hatching synchrony by regulating nuclear export of precursor miRNA
The parental experience exerts a profound impact on offspring phenotypes. Zhu et al. find that in locusts the population density of parents regulates the hatching synchrony of progeny eggs via the FOXN1-PTBP1/XPO5 pathway, facilitating the nuclear export of precursor miRNA in the oocytes.
- Ya′nan Zhu
- , Jing He
- & Le Kang
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Article
| Open Access3D ocean assessments reveal that fisheries reach deep but marine protection remains shallow
The first three-dimensional spatial analysis of global marine conservation achievements and fisheries footprint reveals 3D conservation gaps and an underrepresentation of high protection levels across all depths while the 3D footprint of fisheries covers all depths.
- Juliette Jacquemont
- , Charles Loiseau
- & Joachim Claudet
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Article
| Open AccessCellular structure of dinosaur scales reveals retention of reptile-type skin during the evolutionary transition to feathers
The evolution of feathers is associated with the evolution of related skin microstructures. Here, the authors demonstrate that Psittacosaurus, a non-avian feathered dinosaur, retained scaled skin like its ancestors in body regions lacking feathers.
- Zixiao Yang
- , Baoyu Jiang
- & Maria E. McNamara
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Review Article
| Open AccessShaping of microbial phenotypes by trade-offs
Trade-offs play a key role in controlling bacterial growth and shaping microbial phenotypes, which further drives the emergence of ecologically relevant phenomena including co-existence, population heterogeneity and oligotrophic/copiotrophic lifestyles.
- Manlu Zhu
- & Xiongfeng Dai
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Article
| Open AccessA systematic review and meta-analysis of unimodal and multimodal predation risk assessment in birds
Animal behavioural response to predation risk could depend on the type and number of cues. This global metaanalysis shows that providing multiple cues of predation risk reduces variance in the behavioural responses of birds.
- Kimberley J. Mathot
- , Josue David Arteaga-Torres
- & Shinichi Nakagawa
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Article
| Open AccessDeepDive: estimating global biodiversity patterns through time using deep learning
Estimates of palaeodiversity are biased by the incompleteness of the fossil record. Here, the authors develop DeepDive, a deep learning approach that infers richness while accounting for record heterogeneity, and test it with two empirical datasets.
- Rebecca B. Cooper
- , Joseph T. Flannery-Sutherland
- & Daniele Silvestro
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Article
| Open AccessGeologically younger ecosystems are more dependent on soil biodiversity for supporting function
This study demonstrates that soil BEF relationships diminish during long-term pedogenesis, highlighting the importance of soil biodiversity in sustaining multiple ecosystem functions in younger, drier soils.
- Jiao Feng
- , Yu-Rong Liu
- & Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
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Article
| Open AccessPhysiological basis for atmospheric methane oxidation and methanotrophic growth on air
Atmospheric methane-oxidizing bacteria constitute the sole biological sink for atmospheric methane. Here, Schmider et al. assess the ability and strategies of seven methanotrophic species to grow with air as sole energy, carbon, and nitrogen source, showing that these bacteria can grow on the trace concentrations of methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen present in air.
- Tilman Schmider
- , Anne Grethe Hestnes
- & Alexander T. Tveit
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Article
| Open AccessMacro-scale relationship between body mass and timing of bird migration
Clarifying migration timing and how it links with underlying drivers is essential to understanding bird migration. This study finds body mass affects the timing of both spring and autumn migration, while environmental factors mainly affect the timing of spring migration.
- Xiaodan Wang
- , Marius Somveille
- & Zhijun Ma
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Article
| Open AccessCarbon storage through China’s planted forest expansion
The dynamics of planted forests in China over the past three decades have contributed ~1198tg of above-ground carbon storage.
- Kai Cheng
- , Haitao Yang
- & Qinghua Guo
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Article
| Open AccessLong-read powered viral metagenomics in the oligotrophic Sargasso Sea
The Sargasso Sea is a natural laboratory for understanding future conditions of warmer oceans and associated nutrient limitation. Here, the authors combined short- and long-read sequencing to survey Sargasso Sea viral communities.
- Joanna Warwick-Dugdale
- , Funing Tian
- & Ben Temperton
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Article
| Open AccessAnalysis of nearly 3000 archaeal genomes from terrestrial geothermal springs sheds light on interconnected biogeochemical processes
Here, Qi et al. assembled ~3000 archaeal genomes from hot springs, capturing temporal dynamics and environmental diversity, and systematically explored functional niches and metabolic handoffs, shedding light on Archaea’s role in biogeochemical cycling.
- Yan-Ling Qi
- , Ya-Ting Chen
- & Zheng-Shuang Hua
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Article
| Open AccessAmmonium-derived nitrous oxide is a global source in streams
NH4+-derived pathways, rather than NO3--derived pathway, are the dominant hyporheic N2O sources in lower-order streams. These findings provide insights into better estimation of N2O emissions in global models of riverine ecosystems and emphasize the importance of managing ammonium.
- Shanyun Wang
- , Bangrui Lan
- & Yong-Guan Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessAlpha-glucans from bacterial necromass indicate an intra-population loop within the marine carbon cycle
Phytoplankton blooms provoke bacterioplankton blooms, from which bacterial biomass (necromass) is released via zooplankton grazing and viral lysis. Here, Beidler et al. show that the bacterial biomass, including alpha-glucan polysaccharides generated from the consumption of algal organic matter, is reused by microbes in vitro and during a diatom-dominated bloom.
- Irena Beidler
- , Nicola Steinke
- & Thomas Schweder
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Article
| Open AccessTemperature alters the predator-prey size relationships and size-selectivity of Southern Ocean fish
Using prey size measurements from ten Southern Ocean lanternfish species sampled across >10° of latitude, this study shows that higher temperatures were associated with smaller fish and an overall decrease in the size of fish relative to their prey. Ocean warming may therefore alter the diversity and size structuring of trophic interactions, reducing the stability of marine ecosystems.
- Patrick Eskuche-Keith
- , Simeon L. Hill
- & Eoin J. O’Gorman
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Article
| Open AccessEffects of management practices on the ecosystem-service multifunctionality of temperate grasslands
Sustainable agricultural policies need to be practically assessed. Here, the authors assess how management practices affect ecosystem services in Swiss agricultural grasslands showing that organic farming has a lesser impact than the eco-scheme and the use as pasture or meadow.
- Franziska J. Richter
- , Matthias Suter
- & Valentin H. Klaus
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Article
| Open AccessContextual and combinatorial structure in sperm whale vocalisations
Sperm whales use sequences of clicks to communicate. Here, the authors show that these vocalizations are significantly more complex than previously believed-the “sperm whale phonetic alphabet" has both combinatorial structure and call modulation dependent on the conversational context.
- Pratyusha Sharma
- , Shane Gero
- & Jacob Andreas
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Article
| Open AccessOzone as an environmental driver of influenza
Temperature and absolute humidity are associated with influenza activity, and recent data from Hong Kong have suggested ozone as an additional environmental driver. Here, the authors investigate the relationship between ozone and influenza transmission using surveillance data from the USA and find evidence for an inhibitory effect.
- Fang Guo
- , Pei Zhang
- & Linwei Tian
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessReply to: Reassessing data quality underlying the recently updated floristic map of the world
- Yunpeng Liu
- , Xiaoting Xu
- & Zhiheng Wang
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessReassessing data quality underlying the recently updated floristic map of the world
- Hong Qian
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Article
| Open AccessGlobally occurring pelagiphage infections create ribosome-deprived cells
SAR11 bacteria and their phages are abundant in the oceans. Here the authors quantify the number of phage-infected SAR11 cells using microscopy techniques and discover phage-infected cells without any detectable ribosomes. They hypothesize that ribosomal RNA may be used for the synthesis of phage genomes.
- Jan D. Brüwer
- , Chandni Sidhu
- & Bernhard M. Fuchs
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Article
| Open AccessSerial founder effects slow range expansion in an invasive social insect
Invasive populations often have low genetic diversity because they originated from a small number of founding individuals. This study shows that in an invasive honey bee, one consequence of low genetic diversity is a reduced rate of population expansion due to serial founder effects at range edges.
- Thomas Hagan
- , Guiling Ding
- & Rosalyn Gloag
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Article
| Open AccessLand conversion to agriculture induces taxonomic homogenization of soil microbial communities globally
Agricultural land-use change affects belowground biodiversity. Here, the authors compare soil microbial communities from natural ecosystems and agricultural systems, finding that agricultural conversion leads to taxonomic and functional homogenisation.
- Ziheng Peng
- , Xun Qian
- & Shuo Jiao
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Article
| Open AccessA global meta-analysis on the drivers of salt marsh planting success and implications for ecosystem services
Salt marsh planting strategies aim to reduce coastal degradation. Here, the authors conduct a global meta-analysis showing that planting enhances coastal wetland ecosystem services although not to the level of natural wetlands.
- Zezheng Liu
- , Sergio Fagherazzi
- & Baoshan Cui
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Article
| Open AccessSulfur oxidation and reduction are coupled to nitrogen fixation in the roots of the salt marsh foundation plant Spartina alterniflora
The mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions in coastal ecosystems are little explored. Here, the authors use multi-omics and biogeochemical measurements to investigate the saltmarsh cordgrass root microbiome and its role in coupling nitrogen fixation and sulfur cycling.
- J. L. Rolando
- , M. Kolton
- & J. E. Kostka
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Article
| Open AccessComposition and metabolism of microbial communities in soil pores
The work proposes the concept of distinct micro-habitats within an intact soil matrix and describes composition and metabolic pathways of their bacterial inhabitants, as a first step towards a generalizable C processing-focused classification of soil micro-environmental conditions.
- Zheng Li
- , Alexandra N. Kravchenko
- & Evgenia Blagodatskaya
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Article
| Open AccessReservoir displacement by an invasive rodent reduces Lassa virus zoonotic spillover risk
Mastomys natalensis is a rodent species native to West Africa that is the primary reservoir host for Lassa virus. Here, the authors investigate whether the invasive rodent Rattus rattus decreases M. natalensis density and could therefore indirectly decrease zoonotic transmission of Lassa virus to humans.
- Evan A. Eskew
- , Brian H. Bird
- & Scott L. Nuismer
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Article
| Open AccessVegetation dieback in the Mississippi River Delta triggered by acute drought and chronic relative sea-level rise
Coastal wetlands are vulnerable to sea-level rise. Here, the authors use 16 years of data to correlate vegetation dieback in the Mississippi River Delta to drought-induced salt water intrusion in the summer of 2012.
- Tracy Elsey-Quirk
- , Austin Lynn
- & Dubravko Justic
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Article
| Open AccessPurines enrich root-associated Pseudomonas and improve wild soybean growth under salt stress
Root-associated microbiota confers benefits to plant in responding to environmental stress. Here, the authors show that wild soybean secretes purines under salt stress, reshapes the microbiota and recruits Pseudomonas.
- Yanfen Zheng
- , Xuwen Cao
- & Cheng-Sheng Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessMetabolic coupling between soil aerobic methanotrophs and denitrifiers in rice paddy fields
Microbial denitrification in rice paddy fields reduces N use efficiency. Here, the authors use field samples from major rice producing areas in China and identify microbial taxa involved in the metabolic couplings between aerobic CH4 oxidation and denitrification in rice paddy fields.
- Kang-Hua Chen
- , Jiao Feng
- & Yu-Rong Liu
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Article
| Open AccessFreshwater genome-reduced bacteria exhibit pervasive episodes of adaptive stasis
Here, by applying evolutionary genomics approaches to metagenomics data of lake microbiomes, the authors reveal that freshwater species with small genomes face extended periods with their niche adaptation capabilities frozen.
- Lucas Serra Moncadas
- , Cyrill Hofer
- & Adrian-Stefan Andrei
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Article
| Open AccessA global meta-analysis on the effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on grasslands and croplands
Inorganic fertilization reduces plant biodiversity. Here, the authors conduct a global meta-analysis on the use of organic and inorganic fertilizer in croplands and grasslands, showing that while both fertilizers increase plant biomass, only organic fertilizer increases biodiversity.
- Ting-Shuai Shi
- , Scott L. Collins
- & Jian-Sheng Ye
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Article
| Open AccessResponses of marine trophic levels to the combined effects of ocean acidification and warming
Marine organisms are increasingly exposed to both ocean acidification and warming. Here, the authors report a meta-analysis of fully factorial experiments with both acidification and warming treatments, finding that synergistic interactions are less common than expected.
- Nan Hu
- , Paul E. Bourdeau
- & Johan Hollander
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Article
| Open AccessEstimating the effects of temperature on transmission of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum
Malaria transmission is affected by temperature but this relationship is not well characterised. Here, the authors experimentally determine the effect of temperature on parasite development in the mosquito and model how it impacts malaria transmission in Kenya under current and future climate scenarios.
- Eunho Suh
- , Isaac J. Stopard
- & Matthew B. Thomas
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Article
| Open AccessSpeed of environmental change frames relative ecological risk in climate change and climate intervention scenarios
Hueholt et al. find that considering how the rate of temperature change contributes to ecosystem risk helps inform future hypothetical design of climate intervention scenarios
- Daniel M. Hueholt
- , Elizabeth A. Barnes
- & Ariel L. Morrison
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Article
| Open AccessTowards establishing a fungal economics spectrum in soil saprobic fungi
Challenges in obtaining empirical trait data hinder the development of trait-based frameworks for soil microbes. Here, the authors analyse traits of saprobic fungal isolates from a grassland site to propose a fungal economics spectrum, suggesting a general trait framework for soil fungi.
- Tessa Camenzind
- , Carlos A. Aguilar-Trigueros
- & Matthias C. Rillig
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