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Large-scale network analysis of invertebrate communities across >500 arable farms in the United Kingdom reveals that genetic modification for herbicide tolerance has little influence on overall network structure, which is largely shaped by crop type.
Lineage tracking of barcoded Saccharomyces cerevisiae growing in nutrient-limited conditions finds that a predictable increase in genetic diversity through single-mutant lineages is followed by a crash in diversity, owing to the success of highly fit double mutants.
A restoration prioritization approach applied to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot considers 362 scenarios for synergies and trade-offs between ecological and economic costs, benefits and scales.
Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses and imaging of integumentary structures in two anurognathid pterosaurs reveal that their integuments were more like feathers (as seen in maniraptoran dinosaurs) than fur, as was previously supposed.
Analysing a global database of >40,000 tundra plant phenological observations monitored for up to 20 years, the authors show that community-level flowering has been contracting in response to recent warming, in contrast to findings from lower latitudes.
Genome sequencing of the fall webworm, a destructive pest in Europe and Asia, suggests changes in carbohydrate metabolism, gustatory receptors and silk-yielding associated with its rapid spread.
A compilation of distribution, phylogenetic, trait and risk data for more than 10,000 species of terrestrial vertebrates finds that conservation plans that target species diversity are typically also representative of phylogenetic and functional diversity.
Changes in the fur microbiome of Egyptian fruit bats are synchronized through time at the level of whole colonies, together with fur volatile compounds. This contrasts with their gut microbiome profiles, which change at the level of the individual.
Male túngara frogs living in urban environments have adjusted their mating calls in response to differing sexual and natural selection pressures. Males have more conspicuous calls, experience lower predation risk and attract more females than forest-dwelling conspecifics.
European whitefish evolved a greater range in the number of gill rakers to utilize a broader ecological niche following the restoration of Lake Constance after anthropogenic eutrophication.
An analysis of 25,000 human seasonal influenza virus sequences reveals no distinguishable mutational patterns across individuals with different immune histories, suggesting a limited role of individual immune positive selection in the evolution these viruses.
The cnidarian moon jellyfish Aurelia has a medusa life stage with a complex neural system. By comparing the Aurelia genome and transcriptomes from different life stages with those of other cnidarians, the authors show that life cycle complexity is not associated with increased number of genes.
Slower-growing yeast clones at the colony edge have their fitness disadvantage masked by the collective motion of neighbouring cells, reducing the rate at which costly mutations are selected against.
The genomes of two long-lived giant tortoises, including Lonesome George, reveal candidate genes and pathways associated with their development, gigantism and longevity.
Studying the asymmetry in the pattern of Neanderthal introgression in modern human genomes between individuals of East Asian and European ancestry, the authors show recurrent gene flow from Neanderthals into modern humans.
Large-scale phylogenetic analysis of coral reef fish species shows that functional traits evolve fastest in those at high and low trophic levels with narrow diet breadth.
Radiocarbon dates, stable isotope data and DNA sequencing indicate an Elasmotheriinae/Rhinocerotinae split by the Eocene period, and the extinction of Elasmotherium sibiricum no later than 39,000 years ago, to which its specialized diet was probably a contributing factor.
Analysis of embryonic bird skulls reveals dinosaur-like modular ossification patterns, which underpins the re-organization of skull architecture during bird evolution.
Although plant functional trait combinations reflect ecological trade-offs at the species level, little is known about how this translates to whole communities. Here, the authors show that global trait composition is captured by two main dimensions that are only weakly related to macro-environmental drivers.
Pseudomonas fluorescens is subjected to two stressors: the predatory thermophile Tetrahymena and sublethal antibiotic treatment. The interaction slows adaptation and destabilizes ecological dynamics.