Filetype
Bees often focus their foraging effort on a few or even a single flower species, even if other equally rewarding flower species are present. Although this phenomenon-called flower constancy-has been widely documented during single foraging trips, it is largely unknown if the behavior persists over longer time periods, especially under field conditions with large temporal variations of resources. W
Remediation of soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) is critical for tobacco production. Silicon (Si) fertilizer can relieve heavy metal stress and promote plant growth, however, it remains unknown whether fertilization with Si can mitigate the effects of Cd and Pb on tobacco growth and alter microbial community composition in polluted soils. Here we assessed the effect of two organic
Temperature is a major determinant of biological process rates, and microorganisms are key regulators of ecosystem carbon (C) dynamics. Temperature controls microbial rates of decomposition, and thus warming can stimulate C loss, creating positive feedback to climate change. If trait distributions that define temperature relationships of microbial communities can adapt to altered temperatures, the
Extreme environmental conditions make soils of the hyper-arid Atacama Desert one of the most hostile habitats for life on the planet. During the short intervals of moisture availability that occur, it remains unresolved how soil microorganisms physiologically respond to such dramatic environmental changes. Therefore, we simulated a precipitation event – without (H2O) and with (H2O + C) labile carb
Soil microbes perceive drying and rewetting (DRW) events as more or less harsh depending on the previous soil moisture history. If a DRW event is not perceived as harsh, microbial growth recovers rapidly after rewetting (referred to as ‘type 1’ response), while a harsh DRW will be followed by a delayed growth recovery (‘type 2’ response). Predicting these responses based on pedoclimatic factors is
In this article, we examine how climate adaptation policies can operate as mechanisms of dispossession, displacing marginalized communities under the guise of environmental protection. We introduce the concept of ‘adaptation by dispossession’ to describe how interventions framed as responses to climate-related hazards justify forced removal, exclusion and the reallocation of land and resources. Dr
Project Psyche is a transnational initiative to generate and study chromosome-level reference genomes of all ~11 000 species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) found in Europe. Here, we describe the decentralised network of collection and sequencing hubs that has enabled rapid progress, the standardised protocols for sampling and sequencing, and the collaborative framework for data analysis. W
Soil erosion poses a significant environmental challenge in Dehradun due to its complex, steep terrain, heavy rainfall, and rapid urbanization. This study employed a Google Earth Engine-based approach to assess the average soil loss annually using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The analysis used various factors, including rainfall-runoff erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slop
Evolutionary changes in geographic distribution and larval host plants may promote the rapid diversification of montane insects, but this scenario has been rarely investigated. We studied the rapid radiation of the butterfly genus Colias, which has diversified in mountain ecosystems in Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas. Based on a data set of 150 nuclear protein-coding genetic loci and mitochondri
Comparative analyses of gene birth–death dynamics have the potential to reveal gene families that played an important role in the evolution of morphological, behavioral, or physiological variation. Here, we used whole genomes of 30 species of butterflies and moths to identify gene birth–death dynamics among the Lepidoptera that are associated with specialist or generalist feeding strategies. Our w
Many organisms reproduce through noncanonical modes such as parthenogenesis or hybridogenesis (clonal transmission of one parent’s chromosomes), but whether these arise abruptly or stepwise from each other remains unclear. We address this in the stick-insect genus Bacillus, which harbors several hybrid lineages with diverse reproductive modes. From haplotype-resolved phylogenies of >500 wild-caugh
The volume and complexity of scientific literature are expanding rapidly, making it increasingly difficult to extract and synthesize information across studies. This challenge is particularly acute in the biological sciences, where evidence spans multiple levels of organization and heterogeneous experimental designs. Large Language Model (LLM) pipelines offer a scalable route to evidence synthesis
The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the current debate concerning the removal of the statutory audit for SMEs in Sweden. In order to fulfill the thesis purpose a qualitative research approach was used along with triangulation methods. As the basis of the thesis lies in the government report SOU 2008:32 and the official comments to this report, interviews were held with key persons which
The Neotropical butterfly genus Adelpha Hübner exhibits remarkable species diversity and striking convergence in wing colour patterns potentially explained by mimicry, making it an exceptional model for exploring trait evolution and its relationship with speciation. To date, unresolved phylogenetic relationships hinder a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary biology of the genus. Using a
A new genus and species of emperor butterfly (Nymphalidae, Apaturinae) is described based on an exceptionally well-preserved specimen from the "Calcaire de Campagne Calavon" limestone of southern France (early Oligocene age, approximately 34–28 Mya). Most parts of the right wings and upper parts of the left wings are visible, with complete venation and even wing patterns. The head and thorax are c
Sundaland, a subcontinent situated in the Indo-Malay Archipelago, is characterized by a dynamic climatic, geological, and geographical history and a correspondingly diverse biota. The distribution of this biota follows complex biogeographical patterns, with high levels of local endemism and frequent instances of hidden diversity—greater genetic differentiation than expected based on phenotype. Bio
