@article {pmid41671357,
year = {2026},
author = {Capdevila, P and O'Brien, D and Marconi, V and Johnson, TF and Freeman, R and McRae, L and Clements, CF},
title = {Halting predicted vertebrate declines requires tackling multiple drivers of biodiversity loss.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {12},
number = {7},
pages = {eadx7973},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adx7973},
pmid = {41671357},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Animals ; *Vertebrates/physiology ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Climate Change ; Population Dynamics ; Introduced Species ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Conservation policies aiming to halt biodiversity loss often focus on globally prevalent threats like habitat loss and exploitation, yet direct and interactive effects of multiple threats remain poorly quantified. Here, we go beyond prior meta-analyses or species-level studies by providing a global, population-level empirical analysis of threat interactions by examining 3129 vertebrate population time series worldwide with documented exposure to single and multiple threats. Populations affected solely by habitat loss or exploitation do not exhibit the steepest declines; instead, disease, invasive species, pollution, and climate change are associated with faster declines. Interactive threats contribute more to population declines than temporal or spatial variation. Counterfactual analyses reveal that mitigating multiple threats is essential to achieving nonnegative vertebrate population trends and halting biodiversity loss.},
}

*Biodiversity
Animals
*Vertebrates/physiology
*Conservation of Natural Resources
Climate Change
Population Dynamics
Introduced Species
Ecosystem

@article {pmid41671256,
year = {2026},
author = {Cole, JM and Balaguera-Reina, SA and Miller, MA and Cardozo, G and Chiaraviglio, M and Fitzgerald, LA and Naretto, S and Mazzotti, FJ},
title = {Fat reserve and body condition variation in Argentine black and white tegus: native-invasive comparisons and environmental drivers in Florida.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {2},
pages = {e0342916},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0342916},
pmid = {41671256},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Florida ; Argentina ; Animals ; *Introduced Species ; *Adipose Tissue ; Environment ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Seasons ; },
abstract = {Invasive species impose major ecological and economic costs on ecosystems and countries where introduced. To effectively manage Argentine black and white tegus (Salvator merianae) within their invasive range, it is important that management actions are based on species' biology. We estimated tegu percentage fat and body condition in native (Cordoba, Argentina) and non-native (South Florida, United States) populations and identified biological, temporal, and environmental variables that influence tegu body condition in South Florida. Large adult tegus in Cordoba had larger fat reserves than tegus in South Florida. However, body condition values were highly similar between the native and non-native range throughout the year, showing a well-adapted tegu population to South Florida environmental conditions. Generalized additive mixed models (size estimate = 2.67) showed very strong (p-value < 0.001) to moderate (p-value <0.01) evidence of Julian day, minimum temperature, and percentage fat individually affecting tegu body condition in South Florida (deviance explained 37%). The direction and magnitude of univariate effects varied from positive linear relationship (minimum temperature) impacting body condition up to 18% to negative (Julian day) and positive (percentage fat) monomodal relationships impacting body condition up to 24% and 6%, respectively. Our results provide insights as to how adaptable tegus are physiologically to novel environments and their capability to maintain body condition that is similar to, or better than that of native individuals. These findings can inform management in Florida by identifying seasonal windows when tegus' activity and condition may make them more susceptible to targeted removal.},
}

Florida
Argentina
Animals
*Introduced Species
*Adipose Tissue
Environment
Ecosystem
Female
Seasons

@article {pmid41671177,
year = {2026},
author = {Park, SC and Oster, LDS and Golan, J and Myers, J and Pringle, A and Drott, MT and Keller, NP},
title = {Leaderless RiPPs expand the repertoire of fungal secondary metabolites.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {123},
number = {7},
pages = {e2529748123},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2529748123},
pmid = {41671177},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {GM156119-01//HHS | NIH (NIH)/ ; 5062-21220-024-000D//USDA | Agricultural Research Service (ARS)/ ; },
mesh = {*Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; *Secondary Metabolism ; *Amanita/metabolism/genetics ; *Peptides/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; *Ribosomes/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; },
abstract = {Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are secondary metabolites produced by bacteria, plants, animals, and fungi. Canonical fungal RiPP precursors possess a leader sequence cleaved during maturation. The first RiPPs described in fungi were the MSDIN-derived peptides responsible for the toxicity of lethal Amanita mushrooms. In this study, we upend the conventional understanding of fungal RiPPs, discovering a subclass that has diversified and lacks a leader sequence, an empirical example of leaderless RiPPs in fungi. We use a combinatorial analysis of NMR and MS/MS with an updated bioinformatic pipeline to pair MSDIN genes to leaderless peptides in Amanita phalloides, a European species spreading in California. Leaderless MSDIN transcripts are expressed several orders of magnitude more than most canonical MSDINs, with significantly higher expression in invasive populations. Our results redefine the understanding of fungal RiPP architectures and suggest differential regulation of non-canonical RiPPs may contribute to the invasion biology of the world's deadliest mushroom.},
}

*Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry
*Secondary Metabolism
*Amanita/metabolism/genetics
*Peptides/metabolism/genetics/chemistry
*Protein Processing, Post-Translational
*Ribosomes/metabolism
Amino Acid Sequence
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal

@article {pmid41671167,
year = {2026},
author = {Ligocki, IY and Woodley, SS and Burke, SR},
title = {Distinct behavioral patterns across a non-native population of Gambusia affinis.},
journal = {Integrative and comparative biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/icb/icag007},
pmid = {41671167},
issn = {1557-7023},
abstract = {In many species experiencing range expansion resulting from human activity, individuals at the range boundary may be phenotypically distinct from individuals of that species living in longer-established parts of their range. Despite a handful of cases suggesting these differences occur, little is known about how widespread this variation is across diverse invasive species, or whether and how such variation might facilitate the success of introduced species. In the present study, we identified subpopulations of the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, in the lower Susquehanna River watershed in the eastern United States. We collected fish from three sites believed to differ in the time since their establishment. We introduced these fish to a series of behavioral tests on them to investigate variation in exploratory behavior, boldness, activity level, and sociality to determine 1) whether these subpopulations differed in these behaviors, 2) whether variation in any of these behaviors correlated with one another, and 3) whether subpopulations may differ in variation in these correlated behaviors. We found that fish collected from the longest established subpopulation were more active than fish in more recently established subpopulations. We found that high boldness, activity levels, and sociality correlated across subpopulations, but did not differ between them. Collectively, our results indicate that while subpopulations do differ in one behavioral measure, we did not find evidence of variation in correlated behaviors depending on the estimated time since establishment.},
}

@article {pmid41671056,
year = {2026},
author = {Ji, S and MacIsaac, HJ and Ding, C and Li, Y and Wang, J and Vannaphon, A and Lyu, J and Tao, J},
title = {Functional Vulnerability Arises From Unsteady Trait-Based Networks Despite High Redundancy.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {29},
number = {2},
pages = {e70336},
doi = {10.1111/ele.70336},
pmid = {41671056},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {2025YFE0121600//National Key Research & Development Program of China-Intergovernmental International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project/ ; 42271066//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42077447//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202401AS070147//Yunnan Applied Basic Research Projects/ ; //NSERC Discovery/ ; //Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Invasive Species/ ; //Chinese Scholarship Council/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Fishes/physiology ; *Biodiversity ; Rivers ; *Models, Biological ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Asia, Southeastern ; *Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Theoretical models suggest that community functional redundancy buffers functional vulnerability because functions of lost species may be compensated by others, yet empirical evidence demonstrates this buffering effect to be weak. We hypothesised that this weak effect arises from differences in the structural arrangement of redundancy within communities. Therefore, we developed 'community functional structural steadiness', a network-based metric characterising structural arrangements by quantifying variability in the impacts of species loss on community functional structure. We calculated functional redundancy, vulnerability and structural steadiness for fish communities across the Lancang-Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia and analysed their interrelationships using linear regressions, mixed-effects models and piecewise structural equation modelling. Structural steadiness improved predictions of vulnerability beyond redundancy alone, and communities with unsteady structure exhibited high vulnerability despite high redundancy. Conservation efforts should seek to identify structurally unsteady communities and prioritise protection of functionally unique species, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions.},
}

Animals
*Fishes/physiology
*Biodiversity
Rivers
*Models, Biological
Conservation of Natural Resources
Asia, Southeastern
*Ecosystem

@article {pmid41669773,
year = {2026},
author = {Erkinaro, J and Orell, P and Fossøy, F and Kytökorpi, M and Gjelland, K and Johansen, N and Domaas, S and Kuusela, J and Fagard, P and Frøiland, E and Falkegård, M},
title = {Rapid increase in abundance and distribution of invasive pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) within a diverse, large Barents Sea catchment.},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.70348},
pmid = {41669773},
issn = {1095-8649},
support = {//Luonnonvarakeskus/ ; //Norsk institutt for naturforskning/ ; //Miljødirektoratet/ ; //Maa- ja MetsätalousministeriÖ/ ; },
abstract = {Pink salmon originate from the North Pacific area but were introduced into northwest Russia from the late 1950s onwards. Since 2017, the alien species has increased dramatically in abundance and rapidly invaded adjacent areas of the North Atlantic region. In the large Teno River in northernmost Norway and Finland, running to the Barents Sea, various monitoring methods originally designed for assessment of Atlantic salmon populations have been used to observe the development in abundance and distribution of pink salmon in the main stem and in a number of tributaries. In addition, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has enabled monitoring of these trends across an even wider set of tributaries. The first observations of pink salmon were made in the 1960s, and variable but mostly low catches were recorded in the following decades. In recent years, the total number of pink salmon entering the Teno system increased rapidly from c. 5000 in 2017 to c. 180,000 in 2023. Initially, the invading pink salmon were occupying the main stem, large tributaries and headwater rivers of the catchment, even up to a distance of 250-350 km from the sea. However, in recent years, a greater number of smaller tributaries have been occupied as demonstrated by eDNA detections and other observations. The largest spawning aggregations of pink salmon have been observed in the main stem of the Teno River. Future development in the abundance and dispersal of pink salmon in the Teno system depends strongly on the extent and success of the mitigation efforts in intercepting and removing pink salmon by a weir and trap close to the estuary.},
}

@article {pmid41668993,
year = {2026},
author = {Satdichanh, M and Ostertag, R and Harrigan, W and Belcaid, M and Barton, KE},
title = {Plant Litter Trait Variation Between Native and Invasive Species Across Steep Climate Gradients in the Hawaiian Islands.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {e73030},
pmid = {41668993},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Oceanic islands have high biodiversity, which is severely threatened by invasive species. Functional traits serve as a framework to investigate invasive-native dynamics, but most studies investigating native-invasive plant functional trait differences on islands focus on live foliage traits, while litter traits remain understudied. It is hypothesized that invasive species produce higher quality litter (e.g., high nutrient content, low tannins and leaf mass per area) than native species, and furthermore, that this high-quality litter decomposes more rapidly, in turn providing a positive feedback that facilitates their expansion. To investigate native vs. invasive plant litter quality in a highly endemic island flora, we conducted a systematic review to synthesize litter trait data from Hawai'i. To account for the extensive heterogeneity that occurs across the Hawaiian Islands, litter trait variability was synthesized with respect to elevation and climate gradients. Litter quality varies extensively across the Hawaiian Islands in native and invasive species. Although invasive plants have higher quality litter than native species overall, species origin accounts for relatively little trait variance, and native and invasive species overlap considerably in litter multivariate trait space. Moreover, intraspecific variation exceeds interspecific variation, highlighting the important role of environmental heterogeneity for widespread species. Climate influences native and invasive litter quality in distinct ways, leading to a reversal in strategy across climate gradients. When controlling for the full direct effects of climate, native and invasive plant litter traits are not significantly different. Climate heterogeneity, more than plant species origin, plays a key role in shaping plant litter trait variation and resource-use strategies at the landscape or archipelago scale. Litter quality could be more commonly sampled as part of the functional syndrome of plants and for a better understanding of how traits differ between native and invasive plants.},
}

@article {pmid41668659,
year = {2026},
author = {Lesku, JA and Aulsebrook, AE},
title = {Challenges for wildlife seeking sleep in a disturbed world.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental biology},
volume = {229},
number = {Suppl_1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1242/jeb.250835},
pmid = {41668659},
issn = {1477-9145},
mesh = {Animals ; *Sleep/physiology ; *Animals, Wild/physiology ; Noise/adverse effects ; Anthropogenic Effects ; },
abstract = {Sleep serves many functions that enable effective performance of the awake animal. Failure to obtain adequate sleep leads to lapses in motivation, attention and reaction times, coordination, and learning and memory. How do animals living in modified landscapes obtain their daily amount of sleep in the presence of pollution and anthropogenic disturbance? We review a subset of the studies examining if, and how, animals sleep in this disturbed world with a focus on artificial light at night, urban noise, psychoactive pollutants in waterways, agricultural practices, introduced species and a warming world. We highlight gaps in understanding and prescribe areas for future work. Notably, there is limited knowledge on truly wild animals, as well as the functional consequences of disrupted sleep for the efficacy of waking performance, fitness and survival. We close with ideas for mitigation, including tips that are achievable locally, by individuals. Such efforts will make it easier for wildlife to sleep soundly.},
}

Animals
*Sleep/physiology
*Animals, Wild/physiology
Noise/adverse effects
Anthropogenic Effects

@article {pmid41668361,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, G and Liu, M and Zheng, Z and Yang, Z and Liu, Y and Li, C and Smagghe, G},
title = {From plant to predator: glyphosate trophic transfer harms ladybird physiology and reproduction.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70656},
pmid = {41668361},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Program (Natural Science) (QKHJC-ZK[2023]-019)/ ; //the Special Funding of Doctoral Research Startup Fund of Guiyang College [GYU-KY-(2026)]/ ; //the Guizhou Province Science and Technology Basic Project [QKHJC-ZK (2023) 018]/ ; //Guizhou Province High-level Talent Innovation Program (ZKH-GCC) [2023]021/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: With the increasing use of glyphosate, residues have been detected in many organisms, raising concerns about impacts on animal health and ecosystems. The present study addressed the biological question: How does glyphosate exposure, at environmentally relevant and higher concentrations, affect the survival, growth, reproduction, and carbohydrate metabolism of the ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), a key natural enemy of aphid pests? To simulate food chain contamination, aphids were fed glyphosate-sprayed broad bean seedlings and then fed to H. axyridis.

RESULTS: Glyphosate residues were found throughout the broad bean-aphid-ladybird system, with the highest levels in broad bean roots (85 mg/L) and adult ladybirds (74 mg/L). Exposure to glyphosate concentrations ≥ 50 mg/L affects the growth and development of H. axyridis, with higher concentrations having a considerable impact. Concentrations ≥ 100 mg/L significantly decreased oviposition and egg hatching rates. At the molecular level, glyphosate exposure caused down-regulation of the TRE1-1 gene during the fourth instar, pupa, and adult stages, along with decreased trehalase activity and increased trehalose content, indicating disrupted carbohydrate metabolism. Glucose and glycogen levels remained unaffected.

CONCLUSION: This combination of trophic transfer assays and molecular analyses clarifies glyphosate's detrimental effects on a key beneficial predator, emphasizing the importance of cautious herbicide management for preserving natural pest control services and maintaining ecological balance in agricultural ecosystems. This is a measure that can help mitigate the cascading risks of herbicide misuse to field-level biological pest suppression. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid41666268,
year = {2026},
author = {Pardo-Araujo, M and Kotov, E and Alonso, D and Bartumeus, F},
title = {Understanding Mosquito Vector Invasion Pathways: Synergistic Effects of Human Mobility, Climate and Natural Dispersal.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {29},
number = {2},
pages = {e70317},
pmid = {41666268},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {101086640//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; 874735//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; PID2021-127202NB-C21//Spanish Research Ministry (MICIU)/ ; HR19-00336//'la Caixa' Banking Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes/physiology ; Humans ; Spain ; *Mosquito Vectors/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; *Animal Distribution ; Climate Change ; Models, Biological ; Population Dynamics ; Climate ; Dengue/transmission ; },
abstract = {Mosquito-borne diseases are rising globally, driven in part by the expanding range of invasive vector species. However, the mechanisms underlying their spread remain poorly understood, largely due to limited and inconsistent data. Here, we integrate high-resolution human mobility data with a thermo-biologically realistic metapopulation model to investigate the colonisation dynamics of the dengue vector, Aedes albopictus, using 20 years of invasion data from Spain. Our results reveal the dual role of humans: as architects of climate change, making local environments increasingly suitable, and as vehicles of dispersal, inadvertently transporting this vector across regions. The spread occurs through a fragmented human mobility network, while natural dispersal bridges gaps between connected areas, enabling faster and more continuous expansion. These findings underscore the importance of considering the synergistic effects of climate, human movement, and natural dispersal when forecasting future range expansions and designing coordinated, multi-scale vector control strategies in an era of rapid environmental change.},
}

Animals
*Aedes/physiology
Humans
Spain
*Mosquito Vectors/physiology
*Introduced Species
*Animal Distribution
Climate Change
Models, Biological
Population Dynamics
Climate
Dengue/transmission

@article {pmid41559262,
year = {2026},
author = {Akuamoah-Boateng, Y and Machani, MG and Boadu, EN and Mensah, SKE and Eyeson, NAS and Abdulai, A and Afrane, YA},
title = {Immature development time and survivorship of the dengue vectors Aedes aegypti, Aedes vittatus, and the invasive Aedes albopictus in Ghana.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {5811},
pmid = {41559262},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {RO3 AI186018/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; RO3 AI186018/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes/growth & development/virology ; Ghana/epidemiology ; *Mosquito Vectors/growth & development/virology ; *Dengue/transmission/epidemiology ; Larva/growth & development ; Introduced Species ; },
abstract = {Invasion of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the West African sub-region has coincided with multiple outbreaks of dengue fever. Unfortunately, little is known about the biology and ecology of the invasive Aedes albopictus and native vectors Aedes aegypti, Aedes vittatus. This study investigated the immature development time and survivorship of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Aedes vittatus mosquitoes in Ghana. Larval life-tables were conducted under semi-field conditions. Larval development time, pupation rate, and survivorship were recorded daily. Larval development time from L1→L4 was not significantly different among species. The pupation rate (Ae. aegypti: 88.7 ± 6.5, Ae. albopictus: 88 ± 9.6, Ae. vittatus: 82.7 ± 5.5) did not differ significantly. Survivorship of Ae. aegypti (0.83 ± 0.06), Ae. albopictus (0.80 ± 0.05) and Ae. vittatus (0.74 ± 0.04) was not statistically different. In combined microcosms, where all three species were raised together, survivorship of Ae. vittatus was lower (0.76 ± 0.18) compared to Ae. aegypti (0.84 ± 0.21) and Ae. albopictus (0.82 ± 0.18). This study shows that the invasive dengue vector Ae. albopictus exhibits developmental time and survival rates that are close to those of the native Ae. aegypti, indicating successful adaptation to local environments. These findings suggest that, Ae. albopictus could establish, proliferate, and compete with native dengue vectors in Ghana.},
}

Animals
*Aedes/growth & development/virology
Ghana/epidemiology
*Mosquito Vectors/growth & development/virology
*Dengue/transmission/epidemiology
Larva/growth & development
Introduced Species

@article {pmid41660055,
year = {2026},
author = {Brito, LDS and Thomaz, SM and Teixeira, H and Lillebø, AI},
title = {Ex-situ growth protocol for the invasive macrophyte Pontederia crassipes.},
journal = {MethodsX},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {103800},
pmid = {41660055},
issn = {2215-0161},
abstract = {Pontederia crassipes is known for its asexual reproduction and rapid growth. Outside its native range, it has been identified as an environmental threat, while it has also been widely used for ex-situ phytoremediation. To understand both its invasive potential and its phytoremediation capacity, it is necessary to examine the environmental factors that favor its growth beyond those already described in the literature, such as water temperature and nutrient availability. Previous studies also suggest that alkalinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, water depth and pH. These variables help define the species niche and highlight the importance of distinguishing between its fundamental niche, the full set of abiotic conditions that support growth and its realized niche, which reflects biotic interactions and local constraints. However, the scientific literature does not yet provide sufficient description of the ex-situ experimental conditions required for the successful cultivation of this aquatic plant in controlled settings. This protocol therefore reports the results and lessons learned from a series of mesocosm experiments. By standardizing procedures and documenting growth outcomes, the protocol enhances reproducibility, facilitates comparisons across studies and supports both basic and applied research on P. crassipes.},
}

@article {pmid41272314,
year = {2026},
author = {Yang, X and Yang, T and Zhang, Z and Zhang, Y and Mei, X and Gao, Y and Wang, N and Jiang, G and Xu, Y and Shen, Q and Medema, MH and Jousset, A and Wei, Z},
title = {Substrate utilization and cross-feeding synergistically determine microbiome resistance to pathogen invasion.},
journal = {Nature ecology & evolution},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {211-220},
pmid = {41272314},
issn = {2397-334X},
mesh = {*Microbiota ; Introduced Species ; *Plants/microbiology ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Understanding how plant-associated microbiomes resist phytopathogen invasion remains a key challenge in natural ecosystems. Here we combined genome-scale metabolic models with synthetic community experiments, both in vitro and in planta, to unravel the mechanisms driving pathogen suppression. We developed curated genome-scale models for each strain, incorporating 48 common resource utilization profiles to fully capture their metabolic capacities. Trophic interactions inferred from models effectively predicted pathogen invasion outcomes across diverse microbial communities and nutrient environments. Importantly, considering both substrate and metabolite features provided a more holistic understanding of pathogen suppression. In particular, cross-feeding metabolites within the native community emerged as crucial yet often overlooked predictors of community resistance, disproportionally favouring native species over invaders. This study lays the foundation for designing disease-resistant microbiomes, with broad implications for mitigating pathogen exposure in diverse environments.},
}

*Microbiota
Introduced Species
*Plants/microbiology
*Plant Diseases/microbiology

@article {pmid41659964,
year = {2025},
author = {Gethöffer, F and Schöttes, FM and Reuschel, M and Wohlsein, P and Beineke, A and Siebert, U},
title = {Trap-related injuries in coypus (Myocastor coypus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor)-an approach to improve animal welfare in live trapping.},
journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {1752107},
pmid = {41659964},
issn = {2297-1769},
abstract = {Live trapping is a common method in wildlife research and management, yet it poses inherent risks to animal welfare. This study systematically evaluated injury incidence and severity in coypus (Myocastor coypus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) captured using three commercially available live trap types: a standard wooden box trap (WBT), a metallic, sheet metal trap (SMT), and a wire grid trap (WGT). A total of 55 coypus and 45 raccoons were examined following a trap confinement duration of a maximum of six hours. Injuries were assessed using standardized necropsy protocols and categorized by anatomical location, severity, and presumed cause. Results showed species-specific injury patterns, with raccoons exhibiting more frequent and severe injuries than coypus. Raccoons primarily sustained skin lesions and dental trauma, consistent with their manipulative, escape-oriented behavior, while coypu injuries were predominantly localized to the snout and incisors. Although not statistically significant, trap design influenced injury profiles: the WBT was associated with severe injuries in raccoons, particularly to the forelimbs and dentition, while the WGT prompted intense escape behaviors without a proportional increase in trauma. The SMT resulted in fewer external injuries but did present species-specific risks, such as claw-abrasion and tail entrapment. Approximately 93% of raccoons and 55% of coypus exhibited external injuries, including 14 severe cases and 5 confirmed fractures. These findings underscore the importance of species-specific trap assessment and design optimization to mitigate animal suffering. Given the limitations of traditional injury scoring systems and behavioral indicators when applied to wild animals, this study highlights the need for integrated, evidence-based welfare assessments in field settings. Future research should prioritize refinement of trapping methods and standardized welfare evaluation frameworks to support ethical and effective wildlife management.},
}

@article {pmid41659763,
year = {2026},
author = {Petrone, A and Borges, PAV and Pereira, F and Elias, RB},
title = {New spatial records of vascular plants in the Azores Archipelago: the PRIBES project and the Azorean Biodiversity Portal (ABP) initiatives - I. São Jorge Island (Azores).},
journal = {Biodiversity data journal},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {e167704},
pmid = {41659763},
issn = {1314-2828},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Azores Archipelago is known for its important natural heritage, yet its ecosystems face a "green tsunami" in the form of numerous exotic and invasive species. This influx has wrought serious biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystem services, representing one of the greatest threats to conservation across the islands. Originating from accelerated global trade and travel, these invasions impact human activities, public health and economic sectors alike. The PRIBES project intends to contribute to "The Regional Strategy for the Management of Terrestrial and Freshwater Exotic and Invasive Species in the Azores" (PRIBES-LIFE-IP- Estratégia regional para o controlo e prevenção de espécies exóticas invasoras - no âmbito do projeto LIFE IP AZORES NATURA, LIFE17 IPE/PT/000010). Recently, a plan was delivered to the Azorean government that proposes as key strategy: an unified Azores Invasive Species Task Force, a central coordination unit and island-level focal points defined clear leadership roles for agencies and stakeholders (Axis 1), while stringent pre-export controls, quarantine measures and risk analyses blocked new arrivals (Axis 2); parallel early-detection teams and citizen-science networks screened ports, airports and nurseries and triggered rapid eradication protocols (Axis 3), guided by a tiered framework of eradication, containment, control and mitigation chosen on feasibility and cost-benefit grounds (Axis 4). Simultaneously, national and international partnerships with IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) ISSG (Invasive Species Specialist Group), CABI (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International) and other island regions fostered data exchange (Axis 5), targeted scientific research investigated invasion pathways and management efficacy (Axis 6) and a central observatory consolidated occurrence records and risk assessments (Axis 7). Meanwhile, outreach campaigns, industry training and school programmes rallied public awareness (Axis 8). The AZORES BIOPORTAL (ABP) is a regional e-infrastructure dedicated to the mobilisation, curation and dissemination of biodiversity data from the Azores. It provides centralised data repository for researchers, policy-makers and educators; validated species checklists, including endemic, native and introduced species; integration with national and international biodiversity networks, including PORBIOTA, GBIF and LifeWatch ERIC; and tools for data visualisation and access, supporting conservation, ecological research and environmental management. ABP follows the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and supports open science. Mapping the occurrence of both native (endemic and non endemic) and exotic species is of key importance for the PRIBES project and the ABP intiative.

NEW INFORMATION: A total of 243 vascular plant taxa were recorded across São Jorge Island, encompassing 89 families. These records correspond to 4,524 individual plant occurrences, including repeated observations of the same species across different sites. As each photographic observation is tied to unique geographic coordinates, all recorded specimens represent new spatial records for the Island's flora. Amongst the taxa, 53 are considered endemic to the Azores, 131 are introduced, 58 are native and one species (Dracaena draco (L.) L.) is of indeterminate status. These correspond to 1,773 individual occurrences of endemic taxa, 1779 introduced, 970 native and one with indeterminate status. At the family level, 31 families include endemic taxa, 63 include introduced taxa, 34 include native taxa and one family contains a taxon of indeterminate status.The inventory includes several noteworthy Azorean endemics, spanning both ferns and flowering plants. Amongst the ferns, notable records include Crisped Buckler Fern Dryopteris crispifolia Rasbach, Reichst. & Vida, Azorean Buckler Fern Dryopteris azorica (Christ) Alston and Azorean Rockcap Fern Polypodium macaronesicum subsp. azoricum (Vasc.) Rumsey, Carine & Robba. Iconic flowering species and woody endemics recorded during the survey comprise Azorean Cherry Prunus lusitanica subsp. azorica (Mouill.) Franco, Azorean Buckthorn Frangula azorica Grubov, Azorean Eyebright Euphrasia grandiflora Hochst. ex Seub., Azorean Greater-hawkbit Leontodon filii (Hochst. ex Seub.) Paiva & Ormonde and Narrow-lipped Butterfly Orchid Platanthera micrantha (Hochst. ex Seub.) Schltr. Additional endemic taxa include Azorean Dock Rumex azoricus Rech.f., Azorean Holly Ilex azorica Gand., Azorean Umbrella Milkwort Tolpis azorica (Nutt.) P. Silva and the hemiparasitic Azorean Dwarf Mistletoe Arceuthobium azoricum Wiens & Hawksw. Other significant native species recorded include the ferns Wilson's Filmy-fern Hymenophyllum wilsonii Hook., Killarney Fern Vandenboschia speciosa (Willd.) G.Kunkel and Scaly Tongue-fern Elaphoglossum hirtum (Sw.) C.Chr., Cretan Thyme Thymus caespititius Brot., Many-stalked Spike-rush Eleocharis multicaulis (Sm.) Desv. and the more common native Firetree Morella faya (Aiton) Wilbur.Amongst the most problematic surveyed exotic invasive plant species are the Ginger Lily Hedychium gardnerianum Sheppard ex Ker-Gawl., Knotweed Persicaria capitata (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) H.Gross, Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser., Crofton Weed Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Australian Cheesewood Pittosporum undulatum Vent. and the Wandering Jew Tradescantia fluminensis Vell., as well as the American Pokeweed Phytolacca americana L.},
}

@article {pmid41656462,
year = {2026},
author = {Qi, S and Shu, Z and Naz, M and Li, Y and Zhang, R and Ren, G and Zhai, D and Wei, W and Fu, W and Dai, Z and Du, D},
title = {Chemical armed allies promote plant resistance to pathogen: The contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to an invasive weed.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {36},
number = {1},
pages = {5},
pmid = {41656462},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {32171509//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32401311//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32271587//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202510299026//National College Student Innovation Training Program/ ; PAPD//Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions/ ; SS2024006//Drug Efficacy and Health Risk Assessment Key Laboratory of Zhenjiang/ ; 2024YFF1307500//the National Key R&D Program of China/ ; BK20220030//Carbon peak and carbon neutrality technology innovation foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/drug effects ; *Plant Weeds/microbiology/drug effects ; *Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Introduced Species ; Gibberellins/pharmacology ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; Triazoles/pharmacology ; *Disease Resistance ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Invasive weeds often possess strong resistance to biotic stresses, which causes huge ecological problems. Both plant growth regulators (PGRs) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi contribute to plant growth and resistance. However, their combined interactions in invasive plants' defense remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, the invasive weed Alternanthera philoxeroides was treated with gibberellins (GA) and paclobutrazol (PAC), inoculated with Clariodeoglous etunicatum to test its response to pathogenic fungi. We found that these two PGRs suppressed AM fungi colonization. Both GA and AM fungi significantly promoted aboveground plant growth, while the two PGRs and AM fungi reduced pathogen infection. Metabolite analysis revealed that AM fungi inoculation significantly elevated vanillic acid, gentisic acid, and pomiferin content. Moreover, flavone, organic acid, and amino acids were positively related with plant growth, while jasmonic acid and amino acids were correlated with plant resistance. Our findings provide direct evidence that, through PGRs and metabolites, AM fungi could be "chemical armed" and contribute to plant growth and resistance to pathogens. These findings offer new insights into how PGRs and AM fungi modulate metabolites to enhance invasive plants' resistance, which might contribute to understanding the mechanism of plant invasion and weed management in agro-ecosystem.},
}

*Mycorrhizae/physiology/drug effects
*Plant Weeds/microbiology/drug effects
*Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology
Introduced Species
Gibberellins/pharmacology
*Glomeromycota/physiology
Triazoles/pharmacology
*Disease Resistance
Plant Diseases/microbiology

@article {pmid41638151,
year = {2026},
author = {Noor, S and Despland, E and Montoro Girona, M and Work, T},
title = {Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) community composition around different boreal infrastructures.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {400},
number = {},
pages = {128791},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.128791},
pmid = {41638151},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; Quebec ; Forests ; Biodiversity ; Introduced Species ; Trees ; Wood ; },
abstract = {Wood processing, mining, and recreational infrastructures facilitate the transport and establishment of woodboring insects. Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are woodborers that typically develop in stressed or dead trees and are inadvertently transported in wood products, creating opportunities for exotic species to invade and expand their range around infrastructures. To understand how these infrastructures influence longhorn diversity, abundance, and potential invasions, we sampled longhorn beetles in 2021 and 2022 from 11 sawmills, 10 mines, 11 campgrounds, and 12 control (unmanaged) forest sites throughout northwestern Quebec (Canada) using broadly attractive blends of pheromone and host volatiles to assess infrastructure-related shifts in community composition compared to undisturbed forest stands. The most abundant species observed across all infrastructures was Monochamus scutellatus scutellatus Say, comprising over 60 % of the total individuals collected, followed by Monochamus mutator LeConte (17 %) and Tetropium cinnamopterum Kirby (7 %). We did not record any exotic species; this absence may reflect community-level resistance from diverse native longhorn assemblages. Sawmill sites had the highest diversity and evenness and showed increased abundance of several common native species. However, longhorn communities varied more with forest composition than infrastructure type. NMDS distinguished longhorns linked to balsam fir from those associated with Jack pine, like M. mutator and Rhagium inquisitor Linnaeus, and separated beetles in white spruce and pine, such as Tetropium cinnamopterum Kirby and T. schwarzianum Casey, from those in early-succession hardwoods. Increased abundance of longhorns near sawmills came from diverse forest types. We do not find evidence for increased invasion risk near infrastructures, but ongoing surveillance remains crucial.},
}

Animals
*Coleoptera
Quebec
Forests
Biodiversity
Introduced Species
Trees
Wood

@article {pmid41287191,
year = {2026},
author = {Tamura, S and Hirooka, T and Yamamoto, Y and Shirotsuka, K and Mukai, H and Tokoro, M and Konishi, T and Uemori, K and Taki, H and Matsumoto, T and Shoda-Kagaya, E and Sunamura, E},
title = {Development of an insecticidal bait for combined use with netting to control the invasive red-necked longhorn beetle, Aromia bungii, emerging from tree trunks.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {82},
number = {3},
pages = {2468-2479},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70383},
pmid = {41287191},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//environmental research and technology development fund/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Insecticides ; *Coleoptera ; *Insect Control/instrumentation/methods ; *Neonicotinoids ; Introduced Species ; Trees ; *Pheromones ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Invasive wood-boring pests cause significant damage to trees worldwide. Here we designed an insecticidal bait device to attract and kill adult red-necked longhorn beetles (Aromia bungii; Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) that emerge from tree trunks and are captured in netting installed around the trunks.

RESULTS: Insecticides were screened in laboratory dietary toxicity tests and attractants were evaluated in net-cage choice tests. Acetamiprid was selected as the active insecticide and sugar-vinegar solution as the attractant. Bottle-based bait devices were constructed to deliver the liquid bait via an exposed wick from which the adult beetles could feed. In a quasi-field trial, the bait devices achieved 100% mortality of adult A. bungii within several days of their emergence from netted peach branches. In field trials targeting adults emerging from cherry tree trunks, mortality rates were lower and varied from 22% to 81%. Increasing the size of the bait device improved its killing efficacy.

CONCLUSION: Insecticidal baits have the potential to effectively control adult A. bungii emerging from netted trees. However, for practical application, further improvements in efficacy are needed, particularly through the identification of more potent attractants and the optimization of bait formulations. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

Animals
*Insecticides
*Coleoptera
*Insect Control/instrumentation/methods
*Neonicotinoids
Introduced Species
Trees
*Pheromones

@article {pmid41655927,
year = {2026},
author = {Verardi, A and Lamanna, R and Sposato, C and Samperna, S and Mammolenti, D and Coppola, G and Mileti, O and Lopresto, CG and Palazzo, S and Sangiorgio, P},
title = {Impact of thermal pre-treatment on the extraction efficiency and physicochemical profile of chitin from blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) carapace.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {150802},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.150802},
pmid = {41655927},
issn = {1879-0003},
abstract = {The Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), an invasive species spreading in the Mediterranean, produces substantial shell by-products. This study examines the impact of thermal pre-treatment (cooking) on the extraction and physicochemical properties of chitin from crab carapaces. Fresh and cooked samples were subjected to a stepwise acid-alkali protocol under mild conditions. The resulting chitins were evaluated through gravimetric yield and multiparametric characterisation, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance. In both samples, the results confirmed the α-chitin allomorph with a high degree of acetylation (≈ 97%), identical molecular features, and a 35% degree of crystallinity. Morphological analysis revealed similar fibrillar architectures with local porosity and a more compact organisation in chitin from cooked carapaces. Chitin in cooked samples had a lower ash content (1.2%) compared to fresh samples (13.4%), indicating higher purity. Chitin recovery was significantly higher for cooked carapace (~17%) than for fresh carapace (~14%) (p < 0.05). Overall, thermal pretreatment enhances demineralisation efficiency, enabling effective chitin recovery under diluted acid conditions. This study demonstrates that cooked blue crab carapaces provide a more efficient feedstock for industrial chitin production, supporting circular bioeconomy strategies to valorise invasive species.},
}

@article {pmid41654735,
year = {2026},
author = {Ma, Y and Jia, T and Zhu, W and Fan, L},
title = {Characteristics comparative of gut microbiota in four small mammal species co-occurring in the Hengduan Mountains: differences in environmental adaptation strategies between alien and endemic species.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12866-026-04820-3},
pmid = {41654735},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {32560262//National Natural Scientific Foundation of China/ ; 202401AS070039//Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects/ ; },
abstract = {The composition of gut microbiota is jointly determined by the host's food habit, ecological niche, and genetic background, serving as a direct reflection of the host's adaptation to its environment and evolutionary pressures. To investigate the distinct adaptation mechanisms of four sympatric small mammal species in the Hengduan Mountains region, this study compared the environmental adaptation strategies of endemic and alien species. This study collected ten wild specimens each of the Eothenomys miletus, Eothenomys oliter, Tupaia belangeri, and Apodemus chevrieri from Yunlong County, Yunnan Province. Using 16SrRNA gene sequencing technology, we analyzed the gut microbial composition, abundance, and community structure across species, investigating the distinct gut microbial community characteristics between the endemic species (E. miletus and E. oliter) and the alien species (T. belangeri and A. chevrieri.). Results indicate: E. miletus and E. oliter possess complex and diverse gut microbial communities with plant-degrading functions. These communities with sparse interactions are capable of utilizing multiple plant sources for nutrition and exhibit strong resilience against environmental disturbances. In contrast, T. belangeri and A.chevrieri exhibit simple, specialized, yet tightly cooperative omnivorous gut microbial communities. While capable of utilizing diverse food resources within specific adaptive environments, they demonstrate extreme specificity in adaptation to particular habitats or survival strategies and are relatively sensitive to external disturbances. Furthermore, the E. miletus, widely distributed across the Hengduan Mountains, its gut bacterial community is dominated by stochastic processes. In contrast, the T. belangeri shows a positive correlation with various gut bacteria associated with omnivorous characteristics. The distinction between these two distinct environmental adaptation strategies is particularly pronounced. In summary, Among these four sympatric small mammal species in the Hengduan Mountains, the gut microbiota of endemic and alien species showed high similarity respectively and exhibited convergence.},
}

@article {pmid41654641,
year = {2026},
author = {Mulatu, A and Edmealem, K and Tesema, HA and Alem, S and Eshete, A},
title = {Species diversity and grass cover change following the invasion of Lantana camara in a woodland ecosystem.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-39006-4},
pmid = {41654641},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {The objective of this paper is to analyze the species diversity change following the invasion of L. camara and grass coverage in the woodland in the Somaline Region, Ethiopia. To achieve the objectives, two adjusted sites were selected (invaded and non-invaded); at each site, a five-transect line with a distance of 500 m was established. In this transect line, 30 plots with a size of 20 m * 20 m and a distance of 200 m were established for collecting tree and shrub data, while seedlings, saplings, and herbaceous data were collected in a 1 m * 1 m plot. Diversity indices were used for the data analysis. The study result indicates that 23 species with 12 families of herb, grass, shrub, and tree species were identified in the study area. The comparison of the Shannon diversity index and evenness showed that the non-invaded site demonstrated more diversity as compared to the invaded site. Additionally, the correlation result indicates that the rate of L. camara invasion negatively correlates with the Shannon diversity index and evenness, with a correlation coefficient of -0.78 (p = 0.00) and - 0.73 (p = 0.00), respectively. Furthermore, grass and herb coverage: the non-invaded area has high grass and herb coverage with 77.7 ± 12.3, while the invaded area has 29.9 ± 17. In addition, the correlation results indicated that the rate of L. camara invasion had an adverse effect on grass and herb coverage. The invasion of L. camara leads to a decline in species diversity, the number of seedlings and saplings, and grass and herb cover in the study area. Consequently, future research explores the specific interactions between L. camara and native species to better understand the impact of this invasion on local ecosystems, as well as its effects on soil nutrients, microbial communities, and overall composition.},
}

@article {pmid41652891,
year = {2026},
author = {Guo, K and Liu, X and Zhang, L and Liu, X and Su, X and Zhang, X and Zhou, X},
title = {Mycophagy-driven virulence attenuation in serially subcultured pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70645},
pmid = {41652891},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, an invasive species, drives pine wilt disease epidemics in coniferous ecosystems. During long-term in vitro subculture, the virulence of this nematode strongly attenuated. In this study, we investigated how sustained mycophagous subculture drives adaptive shifts that reduce B. xylophilus virulence.

RESULTS: In pathogenicity assays, the mortality of Pinus thunbergii seedlings reduced by 70% with 180-day subcultured nematodes compared to non-subcultured in vivo populations. Adult body size (25-49% decrease in length; female: from 1207 to 907 μm; male: from 1348 to 688 μm) and thrashing frequency (by 62.8%) decreased, but female-biased sex ratio increased (from 0.94:1 to 2.08:1). Integrated omics analyses identified 702 differentially expressed genes, with subcultured nematodes exhibiting up-regulation of spliceosome/ribosome biogenesis pathways and down-regulation of phytophagy-associated systems (e.g., G protein-coupled receptor activity and xenobiotic metabolism). Notably, 50 differentially expressed microRNAs target developmental and signal transduction genes, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation of adaptive traits. Metabolomics revealed consumption of defense-linked tyrosine derivatives in vivo and accumulation of growth-promoting metabolites in vitro.

CONCLUSION: Mycophagy-driven adaptation attenuates phytophagous traits essential for host invasion, such as chemoreception and detoxification machinery, thereby offering promising targets for RNA interference to manage pine wilt disease. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid41652665,
year = {2026},
author = {Stewart, PS and Barwell, LJ and Turvey, K and Barbrook, J and Green, S and Pérez-Sierra, A and Purse, BV and Chapman, D},
title = {Patterns and Drivers of Pest and Disease Occurrence in UK Treescapes.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {32},
number = {2},
pages = {e70706},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.70706},
pmid = {41652665},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {NE/V020005/1//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; },
mesh = {United Kingdom ; *Trees/parasitology ; *Plant Diseases ; Forests ; Animals ; Models, Theoretical ; },
abstract = {Tree pests and diseases are a key threat to woodland biodiversity and commercial forestry worldwide. In the UK, the ongoing spread of pests and diseases is severely affecting a range of nationally important tree species, resulting in substantial ecological and economic impacts. As the risk posed by pests and diseases varies across the UK's treescapes, understanding the patterns of risk and the factors underlying these patterns is crucial for designing and implementing effective mitigation strategies. To address this challenge, we modelled the distribution of pests and diseases across mainland Great Britain, focusing on the total pest and disease burdens for nine host tree species of particular ecological, economic and cultural importance. Using integrated species distribution models, we combined two datasets-totalling 18,871 pest and disease records across 22 years-to model the spatial patterns of risk. To examine the factors underlying these distributions, we used graph-based causal inference approaches to inform our model design and to explore the robustness of our conclusions to variations in our modelling assumptions. We found that pest and disease burdens for broadleaved host trees exhibited hotspots in England, while burdens for conifer hosts tended to be high in Scotland. We identified urban area, human population density and local recreation as important drivers for several species, mainly native broadleaves. By contrast, woodland connectivity, afforestation and the level of conifer coverage were the most important drivers of pest and disease burdens for conifer hosts. Deforestation was also an important driver, with effects on pest and disease burdens for both conifers and broadleaves. Our findings have implications for the management of the UK's treescapes in the face of continuing threats from tree pests and diseases, including supporting targeted surveillance and the prioritisation of tree species for future planting.},
}

United Kingdom
*Trees/parasitology
*Plant Diseases
Forests
Animals
Models, Theoretical

@article {pmid41652186,
year = {2026},
author = {Mittan-Moreau, CS and Trumbo, D and Zamudio, KR},
title = {Complex range expansion and selective regime in the introduced Florida cane toad.},
journal = {Heredity},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41652186},
issn = {1365-2540},
support = {81023/A001//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; N/A//Sigma Xi (Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society)/ ; N/A//Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (AWMF)/ ; },
abstract = {Introduced species that successfully establish in new areas are a powerful system for investigating the genetic, ecological, and adaptive processes underlying range expansion. Rhinella marina is the focus of many studies of invasion dynamics, rapid evolution, and range limits. However, comparatively little is known about the nearly simultaneous establishment of closely related R. horribilis in Florida, USA. We sequenced 280 individuals using double-digest restriction-associated DNAseq (ddRAD) to investigate the role of introduction history, standing genetic diversity, and adaptation in R. horribilis' establishment in Florida. We test the hypothesis of a single introduction event versus the alternative of several cryptic introductions. Second, we characterize population structure and genetic diversity to elucidate the roles of genetic bottlenecks and subsequent gene flow. Third, we use redundancy analyses to identify climate-associated genetic variants that may play a role in adaptation in Florida, which is colder than the cane toad's native range. Lastly, we analyze a morphological trait, limb length, to investigate potential evolution of dispersal at the range edge. We find evidence for a single introduction of R. horribilis and complex range expansion characterized by range-wide gene flow, a lack of isolation by distance or environment, and no range edge dispersal phenotype. We also find evidence of selection related to range-wide gradients of precipitation, temperature, and urbanization. Together, our results indicate that range-wide gene flow maintains genetic diversity and adaptive capacity, likely supporting the neotropical species' success in adapting to and establishing in this temperate environment.},
}

@article {pmid41496251,
year = {2026},
author = {Phillips, PM and Behm, JE},
title = {Invasive wineberry influences tick-borne disease dynamics across spatial scales.},
journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {102598},
doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102598},
pmid = {41496251},
issn = {1877-9603},
mesh = {Animals ; Deer/parasitology ; *Peromyscus/parasitology ; *Tick-Borne Diseases/epidemiology/veterinary/microbiology ; *Ixodes/physiology/microbiology/growth & development ; Pennsylvania/epidemiology ; *Introduced Species ; Lyme Disease/epidemiology/microbiology ; Babesiosis/epidemiology/parasitology ; Borrelia burgdorferi/physiology ; Babesia microti/physiology ; Anaplasma phagocytophilum/physiology ; Anaplasmosis/epidemiology/microbiology ; Nymph/growth & development/physiology ; Urbanization ; },
abstract = {In recent decades, increased incidences of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), and Babesiosis (Babesia microti) have occurred in urban areas. The prevalence of the pathogens causing these diseases relies on a complex set of interactions between the tick vector (Ixodes scapularis) and its prominent hosts, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Additionally, predators of small mammal hosts, such as red fox (vulpes) may influence host-tick interactions. While urbanization alters these interactions at the landscape scale, localized factors such as invasive vegetation may have additional impacts within forest plots and at the microhabitat scale. In this study, we sought to understand the impacts of urbanization and the presence and structure of the invasive understory shrub, wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius), on tick-borne disease dynamics in southeastern Pennsylvania. We employed a hierarchical field study at three scales to understand the scale at which urbanization and wineberry presence, or the dense vegetation structure it creates, impacts hosts, ticks, and pathogens. At the microhabitat scale, we found increased small mammal activity, which likely played an indirect role in increasing B. microti and A. phagocytophilum prevalence at the same scale. However, tick abundance and general pathogen prevalence were not concentrated at the micro-habitat scale, but instead were higher in invaded plots as a whole. Our results suggest that invasive shrubs aggregate ticks and tick hosts, leading to increased pathogen prevalence, but that pathogen risk may vary across scales. These findings have important implications for invasive vegetation and tick-borne disease management.},
}

Animals
Deer/parasitology
*Peromyscus/parasitology
*Tick-Borne Diseases/epidemiology/veterinary/microbiology
*Ixodes/physiology/microbiology/growth & development
Pennsylvania/epidemiology
*Introduced Species
Lyme Disease/epidemiology/microbiology
Babesiosis/epidemiology/parasitology
Borrelia burgdorferi/physiology
Babesia microti/physiology
Anaplasma phagocytophilum/physiology
Anaplasmosis/epidemiology/microbiology
Nymph/growth & development/physiology
Urbanization

@article {pmid41651916,
year = {2026},
author = {Baek, JW and Kim, JI and Mun, MH and Kim, CB},
title = {Hyperparameter optimization to enhance the performance of deep learning models for the early detection of invasive turtles in Korea.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-37636-2},
pmid = {41651916},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {NIBRE202505//the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), funded by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of the Republic of Korea/ ; },
abstract = {Invasive freshwater turtles are major drivers of biodiversity loss, underscoring the importance of early detection and management. However, it is challenging for experts to manually monitor a broad geographic area, necessitating support tools. Deep learning-based object detection models have displayed high performance in automating wildlife monitoring tasks. Furthermore, hyperparameter optimization, including optimizer selection and hyperparameter tuning, might further enhance performance by optimizing training settings to the dataset. In this study, an optimized model was developed to apply hyperparameter optimization to detect and classify six invasive turtle species in Korea from images. The optimized model was compared to a default model trained using the default optimizer and hyperparameters. The optimized model outperformed the default model, as indicated by the evaluations of mean average precision using a fixed intersection over union threshold of 0.5 (0.973 vs. 0.959) and a range of thresholds ranging from 0.5 to 0.95 (0.841 vs. 0.815). The classification accuracy of the optimized model reached 92.7%, exceeding that of the default model (89.9%). These findings highlight the utility of hyperparameter optimization and suggest that the proposed approach can support the early detection of invasive turtles, thereby enhancing to invasive species management.},
}

@article {pmid41645269,
year = {2026},
author = {Alemayehu, G and Awoke, A and Kassa, Z},
title = {Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Shabelle Zone, Eastern Ethiopia.},
journal = {Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s13002-026-00860-1},
pmid = {41645269},
issn = {1746-4269},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wild edible plants (WEPs) are essential for sustaining food security, nutrition, and cultural heritage, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In Shabelle Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, Somali communities depend heavily on natural vegetation for their daily sustenance. Despite their importance, detailed ethnobotanical documentation of these plants remains limited. This study therefore aimed to explore the diversity of WEPs, examine their patterns of use, document traditional knowledge associated with them, and assess their conservation status.

METHODS: Ethnobotanical data were collected from 120 purposively selected informants across five districts using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and guided field observations. Quantitative indices, including the Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Jaccard Similarity Index (JSI), were employed to evaluate species importance and knowledge patterns. Preference ranking, direct matrix ranking and priority ranking were used to determine species preference, multifunctionality, and perceived threats. Data analysis was performed using R software, and species were cross-checked against the IUCN Red List.

RESULTS: A total of 57 WEP species representing 22 families were documented, with shrubs and trees predominating. Fruits were the most commonly consumed plant parts, while roots, tubers, leaves, stems, and resins were mainly used during periods of food scarcity. Traditional knowledge varied significantly across informant groups, with older, male, and less formally educated individuals exhibiting greater familiarity with WEPs. Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl., Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell., and Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. emerged as highly preferred and multipurpose species. Key threats included overharvesting, habitat degradation, climate variability, intensive grazing, and invasive species. Notably, Boswellia ogadensis Vollesen (Critically Endangered), Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl., and Commiphora cyclophylla Chiov. (Vulnerable) were identified as threatened species, highlighting the urgent need for targeted conservation interventions to safeguard their survival.

CONCLUSION: WEPs are integral to local diets, food security, and cultural heritage in Shabelle Zone. Promoting the sustainable use and cultivation of high-value species, while integrating indigenous knowledge with in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies, is essential to safeguard these resources for future generations.},
}

@article {pmid41643303,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, J and Wang, H and Gao, J and Lv, G and Yang, H and Liu, Y and Yang, H},
title = {Gut microbiota and metabolic adaptations in apple snails Pomacea canaliculata: Insights into cold tolerance.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {310},
number = {},
pages = {119822},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119822},
pmid = {41643303},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {Ample evidence highlights the pivotal role of gut microbiota in facilitating invasive species' adaptation to harsh environments. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying gut microbiota-mediated regulation of host metabolism and cold tolerance in snails remain elusive. Herein, we adopted a multidisciplinary approach to elucidate how gut microbiota contribute to cold tolerance in the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata. Under cold stress, high-latitude Group H snails had higher survival rate, energy level, and antioxidant enzyme activity than low-latitude Group G. After 60 h at 0 ℃, the survival rate of Group H increased by 5.53 times compared to that of Group G. Notably, 14 proteins related to fatty acid synthesis and energy metabolism, such as fatty acid-binding protein (FABP), pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit (PDHE1), and aldo-keto reductase (AKR), were significantly upregulated. Group H exhibited higher abundances of psychrotrophs (Frackibacter, Massilia), lipid metabolism-related microbes (Herbiconiux, Achromobacter), and lactic acid bacteria (Aerococcus, Vagocococcus), boosting lipid metabolism and energy supply. Metabolomics showed increased synthesis of 19 long-chain fatty acids. Correlation analysis identified significant correlations among snail proteins, gut microbiota, and metabolites. Gut microbial responses modulated host fatty acid synthesis-related proteins, promoting fatty acid metabolite accumulation, enhancing energy supply and cell membrane fluidity, and collectively improving apple snails' cold tolerance. This study highlights the critical role of gut microbiota in mediating cold tolerance in apple snails, providing novel insights into invasive species' adaptation to climate change.},
}

@article {pmid41642451,
year = {2026},
author = {Mito, MD and Benti, NE and Green, L and Geleto, SD and Asfaw, SL},
title = {Impact of anthropogenic pollution on lake ecosystem: a review of Koka and Ziway lakes in the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia.},
journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41642451},
issn = {1614-7499},
abstract = {Lakes Koka and Ziway in the Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia are essential socio-ecological systems that provide water for domestic use, irrigation, hydropower, and fisheries, while also sustaining diverse biological communities. However, these lakes are under severe ecological stress due to intensifying anthropogenic pollution from industrial, agricultural, and urban sources. This review synthesizes multidisciplinary evidence on pollution sources, types, and ecological consequences, focusing on impacts to water quality and ecosystem services. Physicochemical data reveal that concentrations of heavy metals, nutrients, and organic pollutants regularly exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, with alarming levels of nitrate, phosphate, lead, chromium, and cadmium observed in both lakes. Agricultural runoff, industrial effluents, and untreated municipal wastewater emerge as primary pollution sources. These contaminants drive eutrophication, biodiversity loss, and the decline of fisheries, thereby undermining livelihoods and exacerbating water insecurity. Invasive species such as water hyacinth further degrade aquatic habitats, while sedimentation alters hydrological dynamics. The review highlights the flowing impacts of pollution on ecosystem services, including disruption of water supply, economic loss, and health risks. It also identifies knowledge gaps and emphasizes the need for integrated watershed governance, investment in wastewater treatment technologies, adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and enhanced community participation. The review underscores the urgency of adopting a multisectoral response grounded in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), emphasizing collaborative governance, technological innovation, and community-led stewardship as pathways to restore and sustain the health and services of lake ecosystems in the CRV.},
}

@article {pmid41641645,
year = {2026},
author = {Beshai, RA and Bourdeau, PE and Ladah, LB and Lorda, J and Sorte, CJB},
title = {Applying invasion biology frameworks to predict the impacts of range-expanding predators.},
journal = {Ecology},
volume = {107},
number = {2},
pages = {e70315},
doi = {10.1002/ecy.70315},
pmid = {41641645},
issn = {1939-9170},
support = {2124438//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; P200A210001//Office of Postsecondary Education/ ; },
mesh = {*Introduced Species ; Animals ; *Predatory Behavior/physiology ; *Thoracica/physiology ; *Bivalvia/physiology ; Models, Biological ; *Food Chain ; *Animal Distribution ; },
abstract = {Global change is causing a widespread redistribution of species, and novel species are expected to impact populations in their recipient communities. Theory from invasion biology provides a framework to predict the impacts of range-shifting species. Specifically, the impacts of invasive predators are expected to be nonlinear (greatest per capita effects at low densities) and to be greater in their invaded ranges when compared to their historical ranges. For range-shifting species, we hypothesized that impacts would similarly be nonlinearly related to abundance and that impacts in the expanded range would be greater than those in the historical range (due to prey naivety and/or enemy release). Our alternative hypothesis was that impacts would be consistent between historical and expanded ranges (due to the potential for historical coevolutionary interactions with species in the expanded range). To test the applicability of this framework with range-shifting species, we conducted observational surveys and manipulative experiments in the historical and expanded ranges of two predators undergoing poleward expansions, the whelks Acanthinucella spirata and Mexacanthina lugubris. We assessed impacts on prey (acorn barnacles and mussels) abundance and community diversity and compared per capita impacts between regions. As with non-native invasive species, we found that both whelks reduced the abundance of prey species; however, our results supported a linear relationship and no decrease in per capita effect on prey with increasing density of the shifting predator, and we did not observe consistent impacts of range-shifting whelks on community diversity. Finally, impacts in whelks' expanded ranges were generally consistent with those in historical ranges, with some potential for increased impact in the expanded range. By adapting invasion frameworks, our work revealed that abundance and impacts in the historical range are indicators of range-shift impacts that could inform anticipatory management responses to range shifts.},
}

*Introduced Species
Animals
*Predatory Behavior/physiology
*Thoracica/physiology
*Bivalvia/physiology
Models, Biological
*Food Chain
*Animal Distribution

@article {pmid41640395,
year = {2026},
author = {Deane, DC and Hui, C and McGeoch, M},
title = {An Ecological Definition and Objective Threshold for Differentiating Small Fragments.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {e73054},
pmid = {41640395},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {In an increasingly fragmented natural world, understanding how different ecological phenomena vary with patch size has many motivations. Examples include the assembly of biodiversity, ecosystem service provision and the suitability of fragments for habitat specialist species. A common approach to such questions divides fragments into small and large size classes for separate analysis. However, lack of an objective definition and means to differentiate 'small' from 'large' patches limits our ability to compare findings across studies, arguably impeding progress toward any unified views. Because larger and smaller fragments tend, on average, to respectively over-represent narrow- and wide-range species, an 'area for unbiased species representation' (AUSR) can be defined at some intermediate fragment size predicted to contain species at incidence frequencies approximating that of the overall landscape. A central tendency for AUSR has previously been estimated for patchy habitats (islands, habitat islands and fragments), providing a benchmark to compare this threshold of small fragment size between studies. However, if AUSR can be readily determined within individual study systems, it would also provide an objective threshold to separate small and large fragments under the AUSR definition. Here we assess this potential for 138 published datasets from various fragmented landscapes using an index comparing species incidence frequencies in each fragment with that of the overall landscape. Regressing this index on fragment area yielded an estimate for AUSR in over 90% of cases, suggesting broad applicability as an objective way to separate fragments into two size classes. Regression slopes provide further information on the relative representation of narrow- vs. wide-range species, with ~80% being numerically consistent with the overall negative trend. Requiring only the same data as the island species-area relationship, AUSR can provide useful insights on the relative importance of narrow- vs. wide-ranging species for studies of patch-size dependence in ecological phenomena.},
}

@article {pmid41640391,
year = {2026},
author = {Namgung, H and Kim, H},
title = {Potential Distribution of Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in South Korea: An Ensemble Species Distribution Modeling Approach.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {e72976},
pmid = {41640391},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Linepithema humile is a well-known invasive alien species that was first detected in 2019 at the cargo handling area of Busan Station in South Korea and has since established a population near the discovery site. Despite sufficient time for potential spread, no additional occurrence records have been reported outside the initial detection site. To predict its potential distribution across South Korea, we constructed species distribution models (SDMs) using occurrence data from its native range in South America and invasive range in North America. Modeling was conducted with the BIOMOD2 platform using five algorithms (ANN, GBM, MARS, MAXENT, and RF) and six environmental variables (Bio03, Bio04, Bio13, Bio16, Bio18, and the mean annual cumulative soil temperature degree-days above 15.9°C). Model performance was evaluated with Kappa, ROC, and TSS, and only models meeting thresholds (Kappa ≥ 0.7, ROC ≥ 0.7, and TSS ≥ 0.5) were used for ensemble modeling via EMmean, EMwmean, and EMca methods. Projection accuracy was assessed using chi-square tests based on occurrence data not used in model training. The predicted potential distribution included southern and southwestern coastal areas, which was consistent with the record in Busan. This study demonstrates the utility of SDMs trained on occurrence data from outside Korea in predicting the potential distribution of L. humile with limited domestic records and highlights high-risk areas beyond Busan. Such approaches may support early detection and management strategies in the initial stages of biological invasion.},
}

@article {pmid41637447,
year = {2026},
author = {Agarwal, A and Thomas, ML and Hitchen, Y and Doughty, P and McKirdy, SJ and Rodoni, BC and Blacket, MJ},
title = {A new molecular tool for detection of the highly invasive gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {2},
pages = {e0338377},
pmid = {41637447},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; *Lizards/genetics/classification ; *Introduced Species ; *Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods ; Western Australia ; Species Specificity ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods ; },
abstract = {The Common House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus, also known as the Asian House Gecko (AHG), is the most significant invasive gecko globally. Detecting this species can be challenging because it closely resembles other geckos, and is often not directly observed, being cryptic and nocturnal. Traces such as scats, however, are more readily observed than the animal itself. Here, we developed and tested a new diagnostic mitochondrial ND2 LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal amplification) assay to detect and distinguish AHG from other geckos. Testing DNA from twenty-five non-target gecko and skink species present in Western Australia demonstrated the species-specificity of the assay. This new molecular assay showed amplification in under 15 minutes from AHG DNA. Intraspecific variation did not adversely affect the LAMP assay, with all AHG tissue samples successfully amplifying. This included samples from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands territory of Australia which were >6% genetically divergent from mainland Australian samples, representing a genetic group that was previously unknown, referred to here as AHG "clade E". The assay was found to be highly sensitive, capable of amplifying AHG DNA at very low levels, down to 0.0001 ng/µL of AHG DNA, within 25 minutes. The new LAMP assay has been fully optimised for in-field use, including development and testing of a non-destructive DNA extraction method for in-field extractions from both AHG tissue and scat samples, as well as a gBlock gene fragment for use as a synthetic positive control. The in-field protocols were tested on 100 field collected scats, from multiple lizard species in Western Australia, demonstrating the AHG specificity of the assay, with amplification successful on 79% of AHG scats tested in-field. While the assay was highly effective, scat DNA degradation and inhibitors limited detection in 21% of AHG samples, highlighting preservation challenges. This new assay has already been applied operationally in the field, providing early detection of AHG, and preventing potential introduction of this species into new areas.},
}

Animals
*Lizards/genetics/classification
*Introduced Species
*Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods
Western Australia
Species Specificity
DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics
*Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods

@article {pmid41637140,
year = {2026},
author = {Su, T and Chang, JY and Gan, L and Zhang, Y},
title = {Unveiling the insights of controlling invasive Aedes mosquitoes in simulated urban catch basins by Sumilarv 0.5G Sachet containing pyriproxyfen.},
journal = {Journal of medical entomology},
volume = {63},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jme/tjag015},
pmid = {41637140},
issn = {1938-2928},
mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes ; *Pyridines ; *Mosquito Control/methods ; *Insecticides ; Larva/growth & development ; *Juvenile Hormones ; Introduced Species ; Cities ; },
abstract = {Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) are significant urban pests and disease vectors. In addition to small containers, the urban storm drains serve as an extensive production ground. Management of these species is notoriously challenging due to numerous reasons, such as lack of optimal larvicide products. A larvicide, Sumilarv 0.5G Sachet, containing 0.5% pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analog (JHA), was evaluated for its bioactivity and efficacy in simulated storm drain catch basins. In bioassays, high bioactivity in inhibition of emergence (IE) was observed with no significant differences between test materials or species. Against Ae. aegypti, the IE10, IE50 and IE90, respectively, measured 0.011, 0.028, and 0.122 ppb for the technical grade, and 0.016, 0.036, and 0.161 ppb for the formulated granules from the sachet. A similar bioactivity was observed in Ae. albopictus. The IE10, IE50, and IE90, respectively, amounted 0.013, 0.033, and 0.142 ppb for the technical grade, and 0.015, 0.038, and 0.151 ppb for the formulated product. In simulated storm drain catch basins, application of Sumilarv 0.5G Sachet at three sachets (25 g each) per 151.4 L of water provided sustained control of Ae. aegypti (91.1% to 100%) and Ae. albopictus (91.0% and 100%) for up to 22 wk, despite poor water quality and low detectable pyriproxyfen concentrations. These results demonstrate that Sumilarv 0.5G Sachet is a highly effective and reliable larvicide for long-term control of invasive Aedes mosquitoes in urban storm drain systems.},
}

Animals
*Aedes
*Pyridines
*Mosquito Control/methods
*Insecticides
Larva/growth & development
*Juvenile Hormones
Introduced Species
Cities

@article {pmid41636788,
year = {2026},
author = {De Maio, FA and Soricetti, M and Solimano, PJ and Iglesias, NG and Barrio, DA and Bellusci, CP},
title = {Detection of a novel circo-like virus in common carp from Argentinian Patagonia.},
journal = {Acta veterinaria Hungarica},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1556/004.2025.01244},
pmid = {41636788},
issn = {0236-6290},
abstract = {The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is an invasive species in Argentinian Patagonia. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Circoviridae-related viruses associated with its population in the Negro River. Total DNA samples extracted from the organ pools of 50 individuals were evaluated using a broad-spectrum PCR, which led in a single case to the detection of a circo-like virus. Based on the partial rep sequence obtained, phylogenetic analysis showed a relation between the virus found and those that have been identified in other cyprinid fishes, such as gudgeon (Gobio gobio) and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). The results propose the occurrence of a previously undescribed circo-like virus in Patagonian common carp.},
}

@article {pmid41633515,
year = {2026},
author = {Meng, F and Snead, AA and Zhang, AY and Munshi-South, J and Winchell, KM},
title = {Cities as evolutionary incubators for the global spread of the spotted lanternfly.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {293},
number = {2064},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1098/rspb.2025.2292},
pmid = {41633515},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {//National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Introduced Species ; China ; *Urbanization ; *Genetic Variation ; *Biological Evolution ; Cities ; Hemiptera ; },
abstract = {Habitat destruction and invasive species pose two of the greatest global threats to biodiversity. These factors do not operate in isolation, and nowhere is their interaction more apparent than in urban environments. Urban organisms rapidly evolve under novel ecological circumstances where they also encounter anthropogenic opportunities for range expansion. We examine the role of urbanization in the invasive success of the spotted lanternfly, an emerging global pest, during its colonization and expansion. We demonstrate that the invasive population in the United States has undergone three sequential bottlenecks, resulting in significantly reduced genetic diversity and elevated inbreeding. The success of this invasive population may be partly attributable to adaptation in the native range before the invasion. We detect divergence between urban and rural lanternflies in Shanghai, China (the invasion origin), in genes related to stress response, metabolism and detoxification pathways. Additionally, we detect genomic signatures of selection in the invasive population, suggesting adaptive refinement as the invasion progresses. This study provides evidence of adaptive evolution in response to urbanization despite substantial loss of genetic diversity and implicates adaptive responses to pesticide application, dietary shifts, and climate in the invasive success of the spotted lanternfly.},
}

Animals
*Introduced Species
China
*Urbanization
*Genetic Variation
*Biological Evolution
Cities
Hemiptera

@article {pmid41543292,
year = {2026},
author = {Love, JW and Newhard, JJ and Amato, SJ and Walker, M and Hanlon, J},
title = {Harvest of Northern Snakehead with Bowfishing in Maryland.},
journal = {Integrative and comparative biology},
volume = {66},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/icb/icag002},
pmid = {41543292},
issn = {1557-7023},
support = {//U.S. Congress via the Snakehead Control Act/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Fisheries ; Maryland ; *Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; *Perciformes/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; Rivers ; *Fishes ; },
abstract = {Illegal introductions in North America have helped establish populations of Northern Snakehead (Channa argus), an invasive freshwater fish from Asia. Once targeted for eradication, widespread establishment of populations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed has now led management to prioritize mitigation. One method of mitigation has been harvesting via bowfishing. We measured the influence of bowfishing in the snakehead fishery between 2022 and 2024. Ten charter boat captains who operated bowfishing trips across 17 rivers in 2024 provided 556 trip reports for snakehead trips (March to November) that represented an average of four bowfishing clients (range = 1 client to 12 clients) who fished an average of 4.8 hours (standard error = 0.05) per evening trip (high ebb to slightly beyond low tide). Harvest ranged between 0 fish and 32 fish per river-trip, with an average median of 10 fish (standard error = 2.7). Harvest was greatest in spring and fall (3.5°C < air temperature < 17°C) and full or new moons. Bowfishing and gigging accounted for the majority of annual fishing mortality, which was 19.1% in 2023 and 20.0% in 2024. This was lower than the target of 25% to achieve population declines. Our results highlight both the value of bowfishing and the need to encourage bowfishing as means of harvesting snakeheads in ecosystems.},
}

Animals
*Fisheries
Maryland
*Conservation of Natural Resources/methods
*Perciformes/physiology
*Introduced Species
Rivers
*Fishes

@article {pmid41099184,
year = {2026},
author = {Buchkowski, RW},
title = {A field test of whether herbivores mitigate the effects of plant invasions on soil biodiversity.},
journal = {The Journal of animal ecology},
volume = {95},
number = {2},
pages = {249-252},
doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.70161},
pmid = {41099184},
issn = {1365-2656},
support = {CRC-2023-00334//Canada Research Chairs/ ; RGPIN-2024-05238//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; },
mesh = {*Herbivory ; *Biodiversity ; *Introduced Species ; Animals ; *Soil/chemistry ; Australia ; *Food Chain ; Grassland ; *Poaceae ; },
abstract = {Research Highlight: Marco Fioratti Junod, Irene Cordero, Nadia Chinn, Jennifer Firn, Julia Holmes, Marcus Klein, Gabrielle Lebbink, Uffe N. Nielsen, Martin Schütz, Stephan Zimmermann, Anita C. Risch. (2025). Herbivory mediates the response of below-ground food webs to invasive grasses. Journal of Animal Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70113. A recent paper by Junod et al. (2025) tested whether herbivores could mitigate the effects of invasive African lovegrass on soil biodiversity in Australian grasslands. They found that herbivores, including livestock, native mammals and invertebrates, acted to reverse four of the 13 negative effects that African lovegrass had on soil biodiversity and function. Their work demonstrated two mechanisms through which herbivores may have acted-reducing plant litter and increasing soil temperature. The paper also highlights the difficulty of predicting the response of soil biodiversity to change because of unclear interdependencies among organisms. General techniques such as food web models, isotopic tracers and more detailed study of the lives of soil organisms will help us bridge this knowledge gap.},
}

*Herbivory
*Biodiversity
*Introduced Species
Animals
*Soil/chemistry
Australia
*Food Chain
Grassland
*Poaceae

@article {pmid41633512,
year = {2026},
author = {Norin, T and van Deurs, M and Behrens, JW},
title = {Individuals of the invasive round goby face physiological and behavioural trade-offs in their sensitivity to salinity.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {293},
number = {2064},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1098/rspb.2025.2937},
pmid = {41633512},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {//H2020 Societal Challenges/ ; //H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Salinity ; *Introduced Species ; *Perciformes/physiology/growth & development ; *Behavior, Animal ; Seawater/chemistry ; Acclimatization ; },
abstract = {Invasive species often cause ecological damage, including competition with native species for space, food and survival. One of these invasive species is the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), a fish introduced into fresh and brackish waters around the world. To understand how round gobies perform if they continue spreading into higher-salinity oceans, we investigated how individuals differ in physiological and behavioural (co)sensitivity to salinity changes. We measured growth, metabolic rates, activity, dispersal and exploration of 59 individuals in the lab after acclimation to salinities ranging from freshwater to seawater (0, 10, 19, 24 and 28 ppt), and quantified trait variation and sensitivity to salinity as reaction norm intercepts and slopes. The fastest-growing individuals at 10 ppt-the salinity the fish were caught at-were also the most active and explorative at this salinity and thus more likely to spread. However, above 15 ppt, these individuals lost their growth advantage and experienced the most severe reductions in aerobic capacity (maximum metabolic rate and aerobic scope). As growth and aerobic capacity are linked to survival and performance in nature, this cross-over at 15 ppt is likely to determine the phenotypic composition of round goby populations across salinities and their continued invasion success and ecological impact.},
}

Animals
*Salinity
*Introduced Species
*Perciformes/physiology/growth & development
*Behavior, Animal
Seawater/chemistry
Acclimatization

@article {pmid41631857,
year = {2026},
author = {Johnson, EC and Brush, M and Lewis, MA},
title = {Modeling stratified dispersal in forest pests: A case study of the mountain pine beetle in Alberta.},
journal = {Ecology},
volume = {107},
number = {2},
pages = {e70305},
doi = {10.1002/ecy.70305},
pmid = {41631857},
issn = {1939-9170},
support = {18202//Genome Canada/ ; U22004//fRI Research/ ; 568176//Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; L20TF//Genome Alberta/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Alberta ; *Coleoptera/physiology ; *Animal Distribution ; *Forests ; *Models, Biological ; Pinus ; },
abstract = {Forest pests pose critical threats to forest ecosystems worldwide, yet accurately predicting their spatial spread remains challenging due to complex dispersal behaviors, weather effects, and the inherent difficulty of tracking small organisms across large landscapes. These challenges have resulted in divergent estimates of typical dispersal distances across studies. Here, we use high-quality data from helicopter and field-crew surveys to parameterize dispersal kernels for the mountain pine beetle, a destructive pest that has recently expanded its range into Alberta, Canada. We find that fat-tailed kernels-those which allow for a small number of long-distance dispersal events-consistently provide the best fit to these data. Specifically, the radially symmetric Student's t-distribution with parameters ρ = 0.012 $$ \uprho =0.012 $$ km and ν = 1.45 $$ \upnu =1.45 $$ stands out as parsimonious and user-friendly; this model predicts a median dispersal distance of 60 m, with the 95 th $$ 95\mathrm{th}
$$ percentile of dispersers traveling nearly 5 km. The best-fitting mathematical models have biological interpretations. The Student's t-distribution, derivable as a mixture of diffusive processes with varying settling times, is consistent with observations that mountain pine beetle adults fly short distances while few travel far; early-emerging beetles fly farther; and larger beetles from larger trees exhibit greater variance in flight distance. This phenotypic variability is mirrored in other forest pests, resulting in a stratified dispersal pattern where most individuals disperse locally while rare long-distance "jumpers" drive range expansion. Our approach demonstrates how aerial survey data can be used to characterize dispersal patterns, as many insects create diagnostic signatures-combining foliage damage patterns and host-tree preferences-that are visible from above. Since aerial surveys of North American forests are widely available, our methodology can be broadly used to create parsimonious dispersal models for many forest insects.},
}

Animals
Alberta
*Coleoptera/physiology
*Animal Distribution
*Forests
*Models, Biological
Pinus

@article {pmid41631783,
year = {2026},
author = {Wei, H and Copp, GH and Lauridsen, RB and Bašić, T and Davison, PI and Murphy, JF and Pretty, JL and Skóra, ME and Zemelka, G and Jones, JI},
title = {Non-native pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha carcasses benefit native benthic macroinvertebrates.},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.70352},
pmid = {41631783},
issn = {1095-8649},
support = {201903260010//China Scholarship Council/ ; 2020GH04//Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, CAFS/ ; //Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust/ ; //Interreg, DiadES/ ; 2018/02/X/NZ8/02252//National Science Centre of Poland/ ; //Queen Mary University of London/ ; },
abstract = {The invasion of the North Atlantic by pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha has raised concerns regarding their impact on coastal rivers. Although the influence of marine-derived nutrients from returning adult O. gorbuscha on rivers in their native range has received much attention, the ecological consequences of invasive O. gorbuscha for ecosystems outside the native range are largely unknown. To investigate the impact on the density and community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates, O. gorbuscha carcasses were added to 12 experimental channels for 60 days at three treatment levels (control, no carcass; low and high, loading rates). Stable isotopes of carbon (δ[13]C) and nitrogen (δ[15]N) were used to determine if nutrients from carcasses were incorporated into native biota. The density of macroinvertebrates increased close to the carcasses in the high-addition treatment, suggesting aggregation. Furthermore, macroinvertebrates had a higher δ[15]N near to the carcasses in the low- and high-addition treatments after 30 days, indicating uptake from the carcasses. The higher δ[15]N of willow moss Fontinalis antipyretica in carcass-addition treatments indicated that primary producers could also assimilate nutrients from the decomposition of carcasses. Whilst the addition of carcasses resulted in the increased density of small individuals of macroinvertebrates, this did not propagate to changes in community composition in this relatively short experiment. Overall, the results suggest that native biota might benefit from the marine-derived nutrients transported to streams by invasive O. gorbuscha, however, the long-term effects of such nutrient/energy subsidies on receiving ecosystems require further investigation.},
}

@article {pmid41630076,
year = {2026},
author = {Behm, JE and Ellers, J and Jesse, WAM and Tran, TJ and Helmus, MR},
title = {Estimating competition outcomes between native and invading species using trait and count data.},
journal = {Ecology},
volume = {107},
number = {2},
pages = {e70304},
doi = {10.1002/ecy.70304},
pmid = {41630076},
issn = {1939-9170},
support = {858.14.041//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; //Temple University/ ; },
mesh = {*Introduced Species ; Animals ; *Lizards/physiology ; *Models, Biological ; *Ecosystem ; *Competitive Behavior/physiology ; Species Specificity ; },
abstract = {A major challenge in invasion ecology is determining which introduced species pose a threat to resident species through competitive displacement. Since it is impossible to allocate management resources to preventing interactions among all resident and introduced species, methods for identifying instances of potential competitive displacement would greatly help focus precious management resources. Additionally, methods that use readily available data, such as species counts or functional traits, are especially advantageous under urgent invasion timelines compared to those requiring more time-intensive experimental data. Here, we provide a framework for estimating competition outcomes-including displacement-between resident and invading species using species count and functional trait data, two readily available data sources. Our framework provides methods for estimating displacement that is possibly in progress from species count data and estimating possible displacement from functional traits. We apply this framework to the native and introduced gecko species on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Our work indicates a potential for the displacement of all three native species by introduced species and suggests that the displacement of one native species may already be underway. Given the urgency of the biodiversity crisis, our framework provides a usable tool for the early identification of potentially detrimental interactions from introduced species and provides insights to focus future studies and guide management efforts.},
}

*Introduced Species
Animals
*Lizards/physiology
*Models, Biological
*Ecosystem
*Competitive Behavior/physiology
Species Specificity

@article {pmid41628202,
year = {2026},
author = {Almeida, T and Matos, MC and Velarde-Garcéz, DA and Mata, VA and Martins, M and Neves, C and Beja, P and Lopes, AM and Abrantes, J},
title = {Viral zoonoses assessment in invasive rodent species from São Tomé and Príncipe.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {2},
pages = {e0341657},
pmid = {41628202},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; Rats/virology ; *Viral Zoonoses/epidemiology/virology/transmission ; Humans ; *Introduced Species ; *Zoonoses/virology ; *Rodentia/virology ; },
abstract = {Zoonoses are diseases transmitted from animals to humans, highlighting the inseparable link between animal and human health. They are responsible for approximately 2.4 billion cases of illness and 2.2 million deaths annually, posing a significant challenge to public health and food security. Transmission of infectious agents from animals to humans occurs through direct contact, ingestion, inhalation, or inoculation of the infectious agent. Finding practical ways to monitor the presence and/or abundance of zoonotic pathogens is important to estimate the risk of spillover to humans. Since rodents are present almost everywhere, live in proximity with humans and host several zoonotic viruses, we conducted a screening in different tissue samples of black rats (Rattus rattus) and brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) collected in São Tomé and Príncipe in 2021 and 2022 for the presence of five zoonotic families of viruses, including Arenaviridae, Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Hantaviridae, and Poxviridae. Although we found no evidence of the presence of these viral taxa among the rodent samples tested, our study does not exclude their presence in São Tomé and Príncipe. Continued monitoring of these and other zoonotic viruses is advisable to prevent or mitigate the emergence of viral diseases that are often fatal to humans.},
}

Animals
Rats/virology
*Viral Zoonoses/epidemiology/virology/transmission
Humans
*Introduced Species
*Zoonoses/virology
*Rodentia/virology

@article {pmid41249739,
year = {2026},
author = {Hamati, S and Medeiros, JS and Ward, D},
title = {Site conditions but not intraspecific competition impact Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) sapling growth and physiology along a stress and latitude gradient.},
journal = {Journal of plant research},
volume = {139},
number = {1},
pages = {49-61},
pmid = {41249739},
issn = {1618-0860},
support = {402109//National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Juniperus/physiology/growth & development ; *Stress, Physiological ; Ecosystem ; Biomass ; Introduced Species ; Soil/chemistry ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Water ; Temperature ; },
abstract = {The Stress Gradient Hypothesis (SGH) predicts that the net effects of competition and facilitation among plants are determined by the interactions with environmental stressors. Juniperus virginiana is a stress-tolerant species that is native to the eastern United States but expanding into novel habitats, which may interact with changes in plant density as invasion proceeds to shape the course of species establishment. We tested this hypothesis by examining three sites along a complex latitudinal gradient shaped by historical glaciation and varying in snowfall, temperature, precipitation, and soil nutrients. We examined the impact of intraspecific competition (zero, one, two, and four competitors) on J. virginiana sapling growth metrics (relative growth rate, total biomass, and nitrogen concentration), physiological traits (midday water potential, assimilation rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance), and water status. We found that abiotic conditions impacted plants in a non-linear fashion along a complex stress gradient, with the highest performance at high and low latitude sites. Intraspecific competition had limited effects overall, though some evidence suggests that negative impacts would develop over time at the highest density. Our study testing the expectations of SGH using this stress-tolerant species demonstrates how the theory can be applied to inform invasion management plans by showing that (1) intraspecific competition alone is unlikely to impact J. virginiana performance except at high plant densities, (2) environmental complexity, including the combined effect of temperature, precipitation, soil nutrient content, and competition, is a more likely driver of productivity and establishment, however (3) warmer, drier sites with higher soil nitrogen are expected to support higher growth rates, making them more vulnerable to J. virginiana invasion.},
}

*Juniperus/physiology/growth & development
*Stress, Physiological
Ecosystem
Biomass
Introduced Species
Soil/chemistry
Nitrogen/metabolism
Water
Temperature

@article {pmid41219613,
year = {2026},
author = {Davies, RM and Coetzee, A and Seymour, CL},
title = {Robbers vs. invaders: The effects of alien tree invasions on nectar robbing in bird-pollinated Erica species.},
journal = {Journal of plant research},
volume = {139},
number = {1},
pages = {35-48},
pmid = {41219613},
issn = {1618-0860},
support = {N/A//South African National Biodiversity Institute/ ; TTK2205108476//National Research Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Pollination/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; *Plant Nectar ; *Birds/physiology ; South Africa ; Bees/physiology ; Trees/physiology ; },
abstract = {Invasion by alien woody plants strongly affects plant-animal interactions, often reducing invertebrate and bird abundance, thereby altering pollination and ultimately influencing plant reproduction. However, it remains unclear whether invasive alien trees also affect interactions typically considered antagonistic, such as nectar robbing. This study investigates the effects of invasive alien trees on insect communities and how these, in turn, affect the occurrence and frequency of nectar robbing in bird-pollinated Erica discolor and Erica unicolor. Floral-visitor observations were recorded at 27 uninvaded and 31 invaded fynbos (a Mediterranean-type shrubland) sites along the southern Cape coastal mountains, South Africa, from April to June 2023. We assessed factors affecting (1) nectar-robbing insect abundance, (2) the rate of nectar robbing, and (3) the impact of nectar robbing on pollination rate. Although overall robbing rates did not differ between invaded and uninvaded sites, the species composition of nectar robbers shifted. The Cape honey bee (Apis mellifera capensis) dominated robbing in uninvaded sites, whereas small solitary bees dominated robbing in invaded sites. Robbing appeared to have no effect on bird pollination rates in either Erica species. This study is the first to directly compare the widely used cumulative measure of robbing rate with observed robbing rate, revealing a significant positive relationship between the two. Together, these findings offer insights into how invasive alien trees can alter fynbos ecosystems and emphasise the critical role of insect communities in shaping plant-animal interactions.},
}

Animals
*Pollination/physiology
*Introduced Species
*Plant Nectar
*Birds/physiology
South Africa
Bees/physiology
Trees/physiology

@article {pmid41628162,
year = {2026},
author = {Haouzi, M and Bastin, F and Perdereau, E and Humbert, C and Play, B and Beaugeard, L and Darrouzet, É},
title = {Colonial signature of the alarm pheromone and chemical differences between hornet workers.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {2},
pages = {e0336261},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0336261},
pmid = {41628162},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; *Pheromones/chemistry/metabolism ; *Wasps/physiology/chemistry ; Behavior, Animal ; Social Behavior ; Animal Communication ; },
abstract = {The social organisation of eusocial insects is based on an effective communication system in which pheromones play a central role. Among these chemical compounds, the alarm pheromone is an essential component of colonial survival by inducing nestmates recruitment and defensive behaviours. In this study, we investigated the alarm pheromone composition produced in the venom gland of workers of the invasive Yellow-legged hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax, focusing on two aspects: first, variations between different colonies, and second, differences related to the activities of workers in the colony at a given time. Here, we examined four specific activities: animal foragers, builders, defenders and material foragers. Our results reveal significant chemical heterogeneity in the alarm pheromone among workers, highlighting a strong colony-specific chemical signature as well as a variability linked to workers' activities. Notably, animal foragers and builders exhibited distinct pheromone profiles with discriminant chemical compounds. This study therefore suggests that the alarm pheromone could be used as a recognition signal in Vespidae species, both at the inter and intra-colonial levels. Such findings provide valuable insights into the chemical ecology of invasive species and open new perspectives on the role of pheromones in colony coordination and defense mechanisms.},
}

Animals
*Pheromones/chemistry/metabolism
*Wasps/physiology/chemistry
Behavior, Animal
Social Behavior
Animal Communication

@article {pmid41627905,
year = {2026},
author = {Saldamando, CI and Candamil-Cortés, MS and Rodríguez-Cabal, HA and Montoya-Ruiz, C and Cano-Calle, D},
title = {Genomic and phylogenetic insights for three species of thrips (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia) associated with Colombian avocado.},
journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jisesa/ieaf116},
pmid = {41627905},
issn = {1536-2442},
support = {45565//Universidad Nacional de Colombia to Clara Inés Saldamando-Benjumea/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Persea ; *Thysanoptera/genetics/classification ; Phylogeny ; Colombia ; *Genome, Insect ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Genomics ; },
abstract = {Thrips are small, cosmopolitan pests that attack a wide variety of crops, including avocado (Persea americana Mill.), where they feed on the fruit surface, hindering export quality. In Colombia, 7 thrips species have been identified in avocado where Frankliniella gardeniae (Fg) (Moulton, 1948), F. panamensis (Fp) (Hood, 1925), and Scirtothrips hansoni (Sh) (Mound and Hoddle, 2016) are the most abundant. Despite their economic importance, limited genomic and transcriptomic data are available for these pests. Here, we present the first draft genomes of these species and compare them to the reference genome of Frankliniella occidentalis. The mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of the 3 species differ in size and gene order, with F. gardeniae exhibiting the largest mitochondria. Phylogenetic analysis clustered F. gardeniae and F. panamensis together and S. hansoni with S. dorsalis. Genome assembly revealed differences in genome sizes: 397 Mbp (Fp), 454 Mbp (Sh), and 601 Mbp (Fg), with F. gardeniae having the largest genome. Coverage was 118× for S. hansoni and 35× for the other 2 species. S. hansoni showed the highest sequence count and N50 values. BUSCO analysis estimated genome completeness between 96% and 97.95%. Annotated genes shared among these species included insecticide resistance and metabolism, particularly P450 and CYP family genes, as well as chemosensory genes (Ir). They are promising targets for RNA interference-based studies to enhance pest management strategies thus further studies are required in this issue.},
}

Animals
*Persea
*Thysanoptera/genetics/classification
Phylogeny
Colombia
*Genome, Insect
*Genome, Mitochondrial
Genomics

@article {pmid41627902,
year = {2026},
author = {Huynh, MP and Ho, KV and Lahuatte, PF and Shelby, KS and Coudron, TA and Causton, CE and Finke, DL},
title = {Comparative metabolomics reveal developmental and ecological plasticity in the invasive parasite Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) from the Galapagos Islands.},
journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jisesa/ieag003},
pmid = {41627902},
issn = {1536-2442},
support = {202302097-SL//International Atomic Energy Agency/ ; //Galapagos Invasive Species Fund/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Muscidae/growth & development/metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Ecuador ; Introduced Species ; Metabolomics ; Larva/growth & development/metabolism ; *Metabolome ; },
abstract = {Invasive species pose a critical threat to biodiversity, often endangering ecologically naive endemic fauna. The avian vampire fly, Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken, 1968 (Diptera: Muscidae), a semi-hematophagous ectoparasite introduced to the Galápagos Islands, has caused severe declines in endemic and native bird populations, including Darwin's finches. Yet, the physiological mechanisms enabling its ecological success remain largely unexplored. Here, we describe the first metabolome study of P. downsi, identifying 806 metabolites (78% confirmed by standards) across 2 developmental stages (larvae and adults) and from 2 ecological contexts (collected from natural habitats and reared under laboratory conditions). Global metabolomics analysis revealed pronounced stage- and sex-specific metabolic reprogramming in response to ecological context. Wild females showed enriched pathways linked to reproductive investment and environmental resilience, including α-linolenic acid, nicotinamide, and ascorbate metabolism. Wild males exhibited elevated lipid signaling, one-carbon metabolism, and phosphonate pathways, suggesting adaptations to reproductive demands and environmental variability. In contrast, lab-reared adults displayed more constrained metabolic profiles dominated by carbohydrate and vitamin metabolism, indicative of physiological canalization under nutrient-rich conditions. Larvae exhibited the most extensive metabolic divergence. Wild larvae were enriched in pathways related to amino acid turnover, antioxidant defenses, and membrane lipid remodeling, patterns reflecting developmental plasticity under fluctuating ecological pressures. Lab-reared larvae, conversely, exhibited upregulation in fructose and mannose metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism, likely reflecting metabolic optimization for growth efficiency. These findings provide molecular insight into the physiological plasticity and invasion success of P. downsi, informing refinements in mass rearing for control strategies.},
}

Animals
*Muscidae/growth & development/metabolism
Female
Male
Ecuador
Introduced Species
Metabolomics
Larva/growth & development/metabolism
*Metabolome

@article {pmid41626662,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, W and Hu, X and Sun, G and Li, T and Huang, L and Tian, W and Cheng, H and Chen, T and Tang, F and Ye, J},
title = {Trunk injection of fluopyram and chlorfenapyr for efficient and long-lasting control of pine wilt disease.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70517},
pmid = {41626662},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Chemical control is an important strategy for managing pine wilt disease (PWD). However, traditional trunk injection agents (TIAs) are constrained by limited variety and insufficient persistence. In addition, although some novel nematicides show strong activity, their large-scale forest use is restricted by high costs. Therefore, the development of cost-effective, highly efficient, and synergistic nematicidal formulations is urgently needed to advance sustainable PWD management.

RESULTS: This study compared the performance of combination TIAs with single-agent TIAs and a traditional TIA in terms of nematicidal activity, xylem translocation, residue dynamics, efficacy duration, and tree safety in Pinus massoniana. All six TIA formulations exhibited nematicidal activity, with fluopyram_chlorfenapyr-37 (FLU_CHL-37) TIA markedly suppressing nematode reproduction in detached branch experiments. Field trials demonstrated that all TIAs spread throughout P. massoniana within 3 months; by 18 months, residual concentrations of CHL-46, CHL-49, FLU_CHL-35, and FLU_CHL-37 were significantly higher than those of FLU-11, FLU-19, and a 20% emamectin benzoate soluble liquid (EB SL) positive control in branches 3 m above the injection site and in apical branches. Notably, FLU_CHL-37 achieved 100% control efficacy at 360 days post-inoculation, outperforming the other treatments. Safety assessments showed only slight, short-term changes in chlorophyll, malondialdehyde, and soluble protein content, all normalizing within 21 days, while local damage around the injection site was significantly less pronounced than that caused by the 20% EB SL control.

CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that FLU_CHL-37 combines high activity, prolonged efficacy, strong translocation, and robust safety, providing theoretical and practical support for the development of novel PWD control agents. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid41624446,
year = {2026},
author = {Trigueros, AC and Robertson, BQ and Parker, PG},
title = {Avian malaria and invasion success: Contrasting infection patterns in two introduced Eurasian sparrows in North America (Passer domesticus and Passer montanus).},
journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife},
volume = {29},
number = {},
pages = {101192},
pmid = {41624446},
issn = {2213-2244},
abstract = {Biological invasions present a unique context to investigate how parasites influence host establishment and spread. We compared whether the more invasive house sparrow (Passer domesticus, HOSP) showed lower haemosporidian (Plasmodium) infection probability, predicted relative parasitemia, and lineage diversity than the less invasive Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus, ETSP), based on previous research that showed species differences in immune responses and pathogen prevalence that may influence invasion success. We sampled 306 sparrows across eight sites in Missouri and Illinois (2019-2022), assessing Plasmodium prevalence, relative parasitemia (via qPCR), and lineage diversity. Contrary to expectations, the more invasive HOSPs had higher Plasmodium prevalence (24.1 %, 32/133; 95 % CI = 17.6 %-32.0 %) compared to the less invasive ETSP (11.6 %, 20/173; 95 % CI = 7.6 %-17.2 %). Model-averaged estimates for both the full dataset and sensitivity analysis restricted to sites with balanced sampling identified host species as the strongest predictor of infection probability with higher odds of infection in HOSPs. Relative parasitemia was also higher in HOSPs, with model-averaged estimates indicating nearly two-fold higher odds of greater relative parasitemia compared to ETSPs. Pathogen lineage richness was similar between species, with three shared lineages and one unique lineage per host. One lineage (PHPAT01) had not previously been reported in ETSPs. Comparison with previous studies suggests a decline in Plasmodium prevalence among ETSP over the past two decades. No infections were detected at the northern range edge of ETSPs, where they may experience reduced parasite pressure. These results challenge the expectation of increased susceptibility in the less invasive host and instead show shifting host-parasite dynamics in introduced populations. Our findings highlight the importance of paired studies of more and less invasive species and the need to examine how pathogen susceptibility changes across different stages of the invasion process and range expansion.},
}

@article {pmid41623708,
year = {2026},
author = {Rickowski, FS and Ruland, F and Bodin, Ö and Evans, T and Fowler, MS and Kluger, LC and Latombe, G and Lenzner, B and Macêdo, RL and Adriaens, T and Arlinghaus, R and Castellanos-Galindo, GA and Dick, JTA and Dickey, JWE and Essl, F and Gallardo, B and Hilt, S and Itescu, Y and Jarić, I and Kimmig, S and Kumar, L and Novoa, A and Oficialdegui, FJ and Pérez-Granados, C and Pyšek, P and Rabitsch, W and Richardson, DM and Roura-Pascual, N and von Schmalensee, M and Yannelli, FA and Vilà, M and Vimercati, G and Jeschke, JM},
title = {A Systems Perspective: How Social-Ecological Networks Can Improve Our Understanding and Management of Biological Invasions.},
journal = {Bioscience},
volume = {76},
number = {2},
pages = {127-146},
pmid = {41623708},
issn = {0006-3568},
abstract = {Reversing biodiversity loss and the sustainability crisis requires approaches that explicitly consider human-nature interdependencies. Social-ecological networks, which incorporate social and ecological actors and entities, as well as their interactions, provide such an approach. Social-ecological networks have been applied to a range of complex issues, including sustainable resource use, management of ecosystem services and disservices, and collective action. However, the application of social-ecological networks to invasion science remains limited so far, despite their clear potential for studying human contributions to introduction pathways of nonnative species, invasion success, direct and indirect impacts, and their management. In the present article, we review past applications of social-ecological networks to biological invasions, provide guidance on how to construct and analyze such networks, with an illustrative example, and outline future opportunities of social-ecological networks in invasion science. We aim to inform and inspire the applications of social-ecological networks to improve our ability to meet the diverse challenges facing invasion science.},
}

@article {pmid41622111,
year = {2025},
author = {Lepak, JM and Hansen, AG and Martinez, TL and Stewart, EA and Pinkus, DJ and Pelletier, AM and Treble, AJ},
title = {Maximum age of bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis exceeds 30 years: Implications for anticipating invasive species establishment and impacts.},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {107},
number = {6},
pages = {2135-2142},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.70181},
pmid = {41622111},
issn = {1095-8649},
support = {//Colorado Parks and Wildlife/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Introduced Species ; *Carps/physiology/growth & development ; Ecosystem ; Rivers ; Otolithic Membrane/anatomy & histology ; *Aging ; },
abstract = {Invasive bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis have spread throughout the Mississippi River basin, negatively impacting ecosystems. We used a remnant population (32 years after stocking) to better understand H. nobilis. We observed high annual survival (>95%), but growth was relatively slow. Lapilli otolith sections were reliable aging structures but underestimated H. nobilis age by ~10%. Dorsal-fin rays and postcleithra also showed some promise for age interpretation. This study provides information about exceptionally old H. nobilis, with unique survival, growth and habitat conditions that could further inform invasion models.},
}

Animals
*Introduced Species
*Carps/physiology/growth & development
Ecosystem
Rivers
Otolithic Membrane/anatomy & histology
*Aging

@article {pmid41620008,
year = {2026},
author = {Tripathi, SR and Gorule, PA and Šmejkal, M and Stejskal, V and Ložek, F and Cau, A},
title = {Chronic exposure to polyethylene and tire wear particles changes the associative behaviour in cyprinid fishes.},
journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {127744},
doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127744},
pmid = {41620008},
issn = {1873-6424},
abstract = {The pervasive presence of anthropogenic pollutants such as polyethylene (PE) and tire wear particles (TWPs) is increasingly impacting wildlife, including behavioural traits. However, their effects on species-specific associations remain unclear. This study investigates the effects of dietary exposure to PE and TWPs on the associative and social behaviours of native crucian carp (Carassius carassius) and invasive gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) over a 60-day period. By comparing native and invasive species, we explore how these pollutants might differentially affect species with distinct adaptive strategies, potentially influencing local biodiversity and community dynamics. Fish were exposed to 0.1% PE and TWPs through their diet and assessed using zone-derived behavioural metrics: distance travelled, cumulative duration, and turning frequency, whereas the proximity of time spent outside of the zones. While PE exposure had no significant effect, TWPs significantly altered multiple associative behavioural metrics including distance travelled, cumulative duration, turning frequency, and time spent in proximity. Crucian carp exhibited greater locomotor activity and turning frequency, reflecting increased exploration. In contrast, gibel carp showed reduced movement and turning, along with elevated proximity time, suggesting spatial withdrawal. PE had comparatively weaker behavioural effects. Contrary to expectations, the invasive gibel carp did not exhibit greater behavioural resilience but instead displayed a more conservative behavioural response under TWPs exposure. These species-specific disruptions in shoaling behaviour may have long-term ecological consequences, affecting competitive interactions and community structure in polluted freshwater environments. Our findings underscore the need for further research on how emerging contaminants influence species interactions and freshwater community dynamics.},
}

@article {pmid40814196,
year = {2025},
author = {Inchaurregui, I and Olivares-Rubio, HF and García-Rodríguez, J and de Los Santos, O and Valencia-Esquivel, I and Arce, E},
title = {Native and invasive cichlid fish respond differently to thermal challenge.},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {107},
number = {6},
pages = {1879-1888},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.70186},
pmid = {40814196},
issn = {1095-8649},
support = {//Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación (Secihti)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Cichlids/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; *Temperature ; Swimming ; *Global Warming ; Feeding Behavior ; Predatory Behavior ; Aggression ; },
abstract = {Global warming affects aquatic organisms by increasing water temperature, which leads to changes in numerous abiotic and biotic factors. The combined effects of habitat warming and biological invasions pose a serious risk to native fish, especially if native species are more sensitive to warming than invasives. In this work, we evaluated whether increasing water temperature affects the behaviours of swimming activity, aggressive interactions, capture attempts, prey consumed and foraging efficiency of the native Mexican mojarra and the invasive convict cichlid. To do this, we exposed 20 juveniles of each species to either a constant water temperature treatment at 28°C for 15 days (control group) or to a gradual increase in temperature from 28°C to 35°C over the same period (treatment group). In both species, individuals in the group exposed to experimental warming had lower swimming activity than those in the control group and in the convict a higher number of aggressive interactions than those in the control group. However, the species showed opposing effects of warming on feeding-related behaviours: in the Mexican mojarra, the number of capture attempts, prey consumed and capture efficiency were higher in the group exposed to thermal increase than in the control group, whereas in the convict cichlid, these behaviours were lower in the treatment group than in the control group. Thus, the convict cichlid showed stronger potentially adverse effects of habitat warming than the Mexican mojarra in behaviours associated with foraging. This is the first comparison of the behavioural effects of habitat warming between invasive and native cichlid fishes. Other studies of the ecological implications of habitat warming in the Amacuzac River are necessary to support the conservation of the native Mexican mojarra in the presence of the invasive convict cichlid.},
}

Animals
*Cichlids/physiology
*Introduced Species
*Temperature
Swimming
*Global Warming
Feeding Behavior
Predatory Behavior
Aggression

@article {pmid41618051,
year = {2026},
author = {Poudel, J and Chaudhary, T and Shrestha, UB and Shackleton, RT and Shrestha, BB},
title = {Despite High Local Knowledge, Limited Stakeholder Participation and Resource Mobilization Constrain the Effective Management of Invasive Plants in Nepal's Protected Areas.},
journal = {Environmental management},
volume = {76},
number = {3},
pages = {74},
pmid = {41618051},
issn = {1432-1009},
support = {TU-NPAR-077/78-ERG-01//Tribhuvan University/ ; },
mesh = {Nepal ; *Introduced Species ; *Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; *Stakeholder Participation ; Biodiversity ; Humans ; Community Participation ; },
abstract = {Invasive alien species are major driver of socio-ecological changes, and pose threats to protected areas (PAs) and native biodiversity globally. To reduce their impacts, management effort should be timely, and guided through stakeholder engagement. This study investigated the level of community awareness, and documented perceptions and stakeholder participation in management of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in ten of Nepal's twenty PAs (five from each Tarai-Siwalik and Mountain regions). It draws on focus group discussions (n = 60) and key informant interviews (n = 47). We found that people had substantial local knowledge of IAPS and had been substantially impacted by them without having knowledge of their exotic nature. Reported impacts included native species loss, increased weeding time, crop loss, reduced forage availability, and reduced forest regeneration. Lantana camara, Mikania micrantha, Ageratina adenophora and Ageratum houstonianum were the most problematic IAPS causing both ecological and socio-economic impacts. Management efforts were sporadic, inadequate and rarely guided by formal plans or programs. Regional analysis showed that the PAs located in the Tarai-Siwalik regions (southern lowland) experienced greater invasion impacts but received marginally more management than the mountain PAs. While efforts have been made to control IAPS both by local communities and PA authorities at few locations in the Tarai-Siwalik region, the lack of such efforts despite growing problems in the mountain PAs with unique biodiversity is a matter of great conservation concern. Overall, limited participation among stakeholders, along with very low resource mobilization are the key barriers to effective management of IAPS in Nepal's PAs.},
}

Nepal
*Introduced Species
*Conservation of Natural Resources/methods
*Stakeholder Participation
Biodiversity
Humans
Community Participation

@article {pmid41615177,
year = {2026},
author = {Rajaonarivelo, JA and Kauffman, KM and Randriamoria, TM and Herrera, JP and Wickenkamp, N and Turpin, M and Baudino, F and Young, HS and Soarimalala, V and Goodman, SM and Nunn, CL and Tortosa, P},
title = {Leptospira prevalence and lineages vary across land-use types due to shifts in small mammal communities.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0206125},
doi = {10.1128/aem.02061-25},
pmid = {41615177},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Human-induced land-use change can affect the composition of small mammal communities and the ecology of their zoonotic pathogens - yet questions remain on the direction and generality of these changes, which can have opposite effects on disease prevalence depending on the ecological context and pathogen involved. These contrasting patterns highlight the need to investigate how specific host-pathogen assemblages respond to local anthropogenic land-use mosaics. To address this need, we studied terrestrial and bat species composition, Leptospira infection prevalence, and Leptospira species composition across a mosaic of land-use types in northeastern Madagascar. We found differences in host communities between forested, agricultural, and village land-use types for both bat (n = 400) and terrestrial (n = 2,053) small mammal communities. Leptospira infection prevalence was higher in bats (37.7%) than in terrestrial small mammals (13.8%), and bats were infected with Leptospira strains that were molecularly distinct from those shed by terrestrial small mammals. Non-native mice and rats were almost exclusively infected with cosmopolitan L. kirschneri and L. interrogans, respectively, while some native terrestrial small mammals sheltered L. mayottensis, and bats hosted a more diverse set of Leptospira species. Leptospira prevalence across land-use types varied in terrestrial small mammals, but not in bats. Altogether, the highest prevalence occurred in mice in flooded rice fields. Our data show that land use predominantly impacts Leptospira infecting terrestrial mammals, likely due to habitat disturbance favoring replacement of endemic hosts and pathogens with Muridae rodents and their associated pathogens, many of which are zoonotic.

IMPORTANCE: Leptospirosis, a globally distributed, environmentally transmitted zoonosis, causes 2.9 million disability-adjusted life years annually, primarily among rural farmers in tropical regions. Infected animals' urine contaminates soils and water with Leptospira bacteria, where other individuals are then exposed. Understanding the impact of land use on the transmission of this disease is of considerable importance. In Madagascar, infection dynamics are impacted by the combined effects of converting forests to agricultural fields and colonization of these areas by non-native mammal species, which carry molecularly distinct lineages of Leptospira. We show that land use corresponds to the replacement of native species and endemic Leptospira lineages with non-native species and their cosmopolitan L. interrogans and L. kirschneri. Together, this contributes to higher infection prevalence in more disturbed habitats like flooded rice fields, where >50% of mice captured were infected. Highlighting the important effects of land use on Leptospira prevalence and presence, which together impact zoonotic risk.},
}

@article {pmid41612190,
year = {2026},
author = {Ontano, A and Sim, SB and Jenkins, J and Geib, SM and Childers, AK and Scheffler, B and Vaughn, J},
title = {Independent centromeric expansions define giant hornet genomes.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-025-12512-x},
pmid = {41612190},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {8042-30500-002-000-D//Agricultural Research Service/ ; 6066-21310-006-000-D//Agricultural Research Service/ ; 8042-21000-291-046-I//Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41512338,
year = {2026},
author = {Frederico, RG and de Souza, CP and Salvador, GN and Magalhães, ALB and Orsi, M and Leitão, RP},
title = {Effects of climate change on invasive fish species and the vulnerability of tropical freshwater ecoregions.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1014},
number = {},
pages = {181359},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181359},
pmid = {41512338},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {*Climate Change ; Animals ; *Introduced Species ; *Fishes/physiology ; Brazil ; Fresh Water ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Tropical Climate ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; },
abstract = {Biological invasions and climate change are major drivers of biodiversity loss, yet their combined effects on freshwater ecosystems in tropical regions remain poorly understood. Here, we assess the current and future climatic suitability of Brazil's freshwater ecoregions for non-native fish species and identify regions most vulnerable to biological invasions under climate change. We compiled a comprehensive database of non-native freshwater fishes in Brazil and modeled the potential distributions of 138 species using ecological niche models (ENMs). Occurrence records from native and non-native ranges, bioclimatic variables, and three climatic scenarios (current, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5). We overlaid model projections with Brazil's freshwater ecoregions to quantify changes in suitable areas and identify invasion hotspots. Model performance was good, AUC values ranging from 0.80 ± 0.06 to 1.00 ± 0.01 and TSS values from 0.61 ± 0.08 to 1.00 ± 0.02. Most non-native species (65-66 %) are projected to lose climatically suitable areas under future conditions, particularly in northern ecoregions such as the Amazon Basin. In contrast, several ecoregions in southern and southeastern Brazil are expected to remain or become increasingly suitable for non-native species, despite an overall reduction in suitability at large scale. These regions are also those most affected by urbanization, habitat fragmentation, aquaculture, and hydropower development, which may amplify invasion risks. Our findings demonstrate that climate change will shift invasion risk toward southern Brazil, reinforcing the need for targeted prevention, improved aquaculture management, and awareness programs to reduce the establishment and spread of non-native freshwater fishes.},
}

*Climate Change
Animals
*Introduced Species
*Fishes/physiology
Brazil
Fresh Water
Biodiversity
Ecosystem
Tropical Climate
*Environmental Monitoring
Conservation of Natural Resources

@article {pmid41610536,
year = {2026},
author = {Rizzo, L and Picciolo, A and Fraschetti, S},
title = {Vegetated habitats as natural macrolitter traps in an Apulian site along the Southeastern Adriatic Coast: Insights from the Ericaria crinita macroalgal canopy.},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin},
volume = {226},
number = {},
pages = {119336},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119336},
pmid = {41610536},
issn = {1879-3363},
abstract = {Marine algal forests are highly productive and biodiverse ecosystems yet increasingly threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. To mitigate these pressures, identifying the drivers of macroalgal canopy decline is essential. This study examines seasonal variations in abundance and size structure of Ericaria crinita (Phaeophyta) and assesses its role in retaining marine litter. Along the Apulian coastline (Italy, Adriatic Sea), litter abundance and composition were analyzed across four habitats: vegetated low-shore rocky habitats with and without macroalgal canopies, and vegetated and unvegetated emerged beaches. E. crinita abundance remained stable across seasons, while size structure showed significant seasonal variation, with spring as the main growth period and summer as a dormancy phase. The vegetated beach exhibited the highest litter abundance (9.54 ± 0.59 items m[-2]), mainly originating from land-based sources, whereas the rocky shore without canopy was the least affected habitat. Sea-based litter was significantly more abundant in the rocky shore with canopy and the vegetated beach (2.62 ± 0.32 and 2.50 ± 0.37 items m[-2], respectively), compared with the unvegetated beach (0.46 ± 0.14 items m[-2]) and the rocky shore without canopy (0.17 ± 0.08 items m[-2]). Recreational land-based activities are the primary source of litter on the beach, while fishing activities mainly impact macroalgal canopies. Dense canopies enhance the retention of larger litter items, as indicated by the positive correlation between large-size litter items and thallus length. The findings highlight the pervasive presence of marine litter and the need for targeted management strategies to mitigate its impacts on macroalgal forests.},
}

@article {pmid41609711,
year = {2026},
author = {Chakraborty, PP and Kassen, R},
title = {Accelerated evolution in networked metapopulations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.7554/eLife.107189},
pmid = {41609711},
issn = {2050-084X},
support = {RGPIN-2019-05622//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; },
mesh = {*Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genetics/physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; *Evolution, Molecular ; },
abstract = {Natural populations are often spatially structured, meaning they exist as metapopulations composed of subpopulations connected by migration. Little is known about the impact of spatial structure, in particular the topology of connections among subpopulations, on adaptive evolution. Typically, spatial structure slows adaptation, although some models suggest topologies that concentrate dispersing individuals through a central hub can accelerate adaptation above that of a well-mixed system. We provide evidence to support this claim and show acceleration is accompanied by high rates of parallel evolution. Our results suggest metapopulation topology can be a potent force driving evolutionary dynamics and patterns of genomic repeatability in structured landscapes such as those involving the spread of pathogens or invasive species.},
}

*Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genetics/physiology
*Biological Evolution
*Evolution, Molecular

@article {pmid41608779,
year = {2026},
author = {Baldan, D and Chauvier-Mendes, Y and Panzeri, D and Cossarini, G and Solidoro, C and Bandelj, V},
title = {The Geography of Mediterranean Benthic Communities Under Climate Change.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {32},
number = {2},
pages = {e70725},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.70725},
pmid = {41608779},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {NECCTON 101081273//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; NextGeneration EU CN_00000033//European Commission/ ; Postdoc.Mobility grant P500PB_225432//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; },
mesh = {*Climate Change ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Biodiversity ; Animals ; Ecosystem ; *Aquatic Organisms/physiology ; Models, Theoretical ; },
abstract = {Seafloors are crucial to marine ecosystems for the functions and services they provide. Benthic organisms, vital to these ecosystems, are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, ocean acidification, and shifting currents disrupt benthic species and communities, yet future related impact assessments remain limited. Here, we trained species distribution models with predictors from state of the art physical and biogeochemical marine models and a large database of species records (> 100,000 occurrences) to project the current and future distributions of ~350 benthic species (excluding cephalopods, invasive species, and commercially exploited species) and their related changes per site in diversity (α-) and community composition (β-diversity) over the Mediterranean Sea. We predicted most species to shift their distribution northwards for all future scenarios due to changes in water temperature and dissolved oxygen close to the seafloor, with up to 60% of species experiencing range contraction, 77% moving northwards, 20% experiencing range fragmentation (measured as range disjunctions in models' output), and 30% moving toward deeper waters over time. Cold-adapted species were more likely to face range contraction and shifts towards deeper waters, while warm-adapted species were more likely to face range expansions and shifts towards shallower waters. α-diversity increased in the Northern and decreased in the Southern Mediterranean, respectively. Changes in β-diversity within sites highlighted compositional changes (species turnover) in communities located in the Aegean and Tyrrhenian Seas, in deep parts of the Ionian Sea, and in coastal regions of the Adriatic Sea. Climate-smart, ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning can capitalize on the identified hotspots of species losses, gains, stability, and turnover. Prioritizing connectivity in regions of strong turnover and extending protected areas in regions with stable α-diversity and limited turnover is recommended for improved conservation actions.},
}

*Climate Change
Mediterranean Sea
*Biodiversity
Animals
Ecosystem
*Aquatic Organisms/physiology
Models, Theoretical

@article {pmid41606356,
year = {2026},
author = {Ankhi, SD and Rahman, MS},
title = {Impacts of global shipping operations on marine organisms: emerging contaminants, biodiversity monitoring, and management strategies-a 25-year review.},
journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41606356},
issn = {1614-7499},
abstract = {Shipping operations are essential to global trade and economic growth; however, they pose significant risks to marine ecosystems. The goal of this review was to analyze various categories of shipping operations and their corresponding environmental impacts on marine organisms. The study employs a comprehensive approach that encompasses literature analysis and the synthesis of contemporary scientific findings. This study focused on peer-reviewed articles published from 2000 to 2025 on Web of Science and PubMed. EndNote was used for reference management. The evaluation categorizes shipping operations by ship type and commercial shipping operation type and examines their diverse effects, including chemical and physical pollution. The literature search initially identified 2993 articles. After systematically removing duplicates and evaluating the relevance of each study, the final selection was reduced to 2094 articles. Principal stressors from ship discharges, namely, marine litter, oil spills, ballast water discharge, antifouling paints, sewage, and bilge water, are emphasized for their contributions to habitat degradation, toxicity, and the proliferation of invasive species. VOSviewer software facilitated the creation of visual relatedness maps and timelines for recurring keywords. Physical disruptions from shipbreaking, sinking, underwater acoustics, and artificial lighting further exacerbate the stress on marine animals, influencing their behavior, physiology, and survival. The report assesses the limitations of existing research and regulatory frameworks, highlighting significant knowledge gaps that impede effective mitigation. This review consolidates the knowledge from recent studies and serves as a helpful foundation for marine and environmental scientists and policymakers on shipping operations, biodiversity monitoring, and management techniques for future research.},
}

@article {pmid41606296,
year = {2026},
author = {Buyatti, RA and Hernández, CM and Aquino, DA and López, SN and Gonzalez, AM and Berretta, MF},
title = {First Record of the Gall-Inducing Insect Ophelimus mediterraneus Borowiec & Burks (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae) in Eucalyptus from America, Including the First Report of Male Specimens.},
journal = {Neotropical entomology},
volume = {55},
number = {1},
pages = {6},
pmid = {41606296},
issn = {1678-8052},
support = {PICT 2020-0117//Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria/ ; project 2023-PD-L01-I074//Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria/ ; },
mesh = {*Eucalyptus/parasitology ; Animals ; Male ; *Plant Tumors/parasitology ; Argentina ; *Wasps/anatomy & histology/classification ; *Hymenoptera ; },
abstract = {The invasive eucalyptus gall wasp Ophelimus mediterraneus Borowiec & Burks (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is reported for the first time in Argentina and the Americas, representing a new record on Eucalyptus benthamii, E. viminalis, and E. cinerea, thereby expanding its known host range. Species identification was supported by molecular analyses (mitochondrial COI and nuclear 28S gene sequences), adult morphology, and morpho-anatomical examination of the induced galls. The galls are small, circular to slightly ellipsoid protrusions usually located on one side of the leaf blade. Mature galls measure approximately 0.8-1.2 mm in diameter and contain a single larval chamber. They are monothalamous, with a central chamber lined with nutritive tissue and surrounded by a sclerenchymatic layer. Additionally, this study provides the first description of the male O. mediterraneus, including detailed morphological traits, biological observations, and illustrative images. Males were consistently present in all samples collected, suggesting that O. mediterraneus may reproduce sexually under certain environmental or ecological conditions. These findings highlight the urgent need to monitor the potential spread and impact of this exotic gall-inducing pest on regional eucalyptus plantations and emphasize the importance of integrating both morphological and molecular tools for accurate detection and assessment.},
}

*Eucalyptus/parasitology
Animals
Male
*Plant Tumors/parasitology
Argentina
*Wasps/anatomy & histology/classification
*Hymenoptera

@article {pmid41606205,
year = {2026},
author = {Loziaková Peňazziová, K and Pivka, S and Barbušinová, E and Jalili, NA and Kiss, V and Kurucz, K and Csank, T},
title = {First molecular evidence and phylogenetic characterization of Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) koreicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Slovakia.},
journal = {Parasitology research},
volume = {125},
number = {1},
pages = {11},
pmid = {41606205},
issn = {1432-1955},
}

@article {pmid41564486,
year = {2026},
author = {Lanta, V and Kozel, P and Helclová, M and Chlumská, Z and Hauck, D and Drag, L and Littera, P and Rom, J and Bérces, S and Stejskal, R and Vadász, C and Doležal, J and Čížek, L},
title = {Recovery after extirpation of an invasive tree? Effect of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) removal on soil, vegetation and saproxylic beetles.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {399},
number = {},
pages = {128705},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.128705},
pmid = {41564486},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {Animals ; *Robinia ; *Coleoptera ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Introduced Species ; Ecosystem ; Trees ; Quercus ; Biodiversity ; },
abstract = {Alien invasions are a major driver of global biodiversity loss, with invasive trees posing particular threats due to their ability to dominate native ecosystems. Despite increased extirpation efforts, recovery pathways of native plants and saproxylic beetles afterward remain poorly understood. Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust) is one of the most widespread invasive trees, disrupting native habitats and altering soil chemistry through eutrophication. We studied the effects of R. pseudoacacia extirpation on soil properties, understory vegetation and saproxylic beetles in Central-Eastern Europe, using data from native sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) stands and three R. pseudoacacia stand types: live, dead standing (1-2 years after herbicide application) and after removal of dead R. pseudoacacia trees (3 years after the herbicide application). Soils in live Robinia stands had higher nitrate and lower phosphate levels than native stands. After trunk removal, phosphates increased, but nitrates remained high across all Robinia stand types, indicating ongoing eutrophication. Plant species richness was low in Robinia stands and dominated by nutrient-demanding species. Soil nutrients explained large portion of variation in plant communities, reflecting the persistent legacy of Robinia-induced eutrophication. In contrast, saproxylic beetles, especially xylophagous species, responded more quickly. Their richness was lowest in live Robinia stands but improved after removal. These results show that while R. pseudoacacia extirpation is essential, long-term nutrient imbalances can hinder full recovery of native vegetation. Additional restoration measures, such as topsoil removal, prescribed burning, or native species sowing, may be needed to fully restore ecosystem function.},
}

Animals
*Robinia
*Coleoptera
*Soil/chemistry
*Introduced Species
Ecosystem
Trees
Quercus
Biodiversity

@article {pmid41602292,
year = {2025},
author = {Høeg, JT and Smurov, AO and Møller, OS and Chuikov, YS and Plotnikov, IS and Spremberg, US and Aladin, NV},
title = {History and Management of the Parasite Fauna of Aral Sea Fishes.},
journal = {Zoological studies},
volume = {64},
number = {},
pages = {e71},
pmid = {41602292},
issn = {1810-522X},
abstract = {The present study reviews the parasite fauna of fishes in the Aral Sea, before, during and after the recent regression and salinization crisis. The native fish fauna was much depleted compared to the nearby Caspian Sea, comprising only 20 spp., all having a freshwater origin. The parasite fauna was similarly poorer, both in total species number and when considering parasites infesting individual species. Some fish species and parasites were introduced during the 20[th] century. Species introduction of fish and progressive salinization in the latter half of the 20[th] century interacted in various ways, occasionally favouring the spread of parasites. During the salinization parasites with endoparasitic lifecycles endured longer than many ectoparasites, the latter being constantly exposed to the salty water. But all parasites eventually suffered when the salinity tolerance of their free-swimming larvae was exceeded. Predation on zooplankton by introduced fish also temporarily impacted the free larvae of crustacean parasites, causing a decline. Alternatively, introduced fish that were prey to larger species could act to transmit parasites. All the parasites in the southern Large Aral Sea ultimately disappeared, either because their hosts were gone or because of an inability to endure high salinity. Many of the original fish species have now naturally repopulated the reconstituted Small Aral Sea, forming the basis of a renewed commercial fishery. As a result, some parts of the original parasite fauna have also reappeared together with some newly introduced species. The present study highlights the complex, sometimes unexpected, manner in which hosts and parasites can interact during a progressive ecological crisis. We emphasize that they must be an integral part of any sustainable ecological management of lakes and reservoirs. In the framework of revived fisheries and emerging aquaculture, we suggest a system for sound monitoring and control of fish parasites in the Aral Sea system.},
}

@article {pmid41600109,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, W and Ni, A and Zhang, J and Sun, G and Xiang, F and Cheng, H and Chen, T and Ye, J},
title = {Residual Dynamics of Fluopyram and Its Compound Formulations in Pinus massoniana and Their Efficacy in Preventing Pine Wilt Disease.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants15020302},
pmid = {41600109},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {2021YFD14009//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Injecting chemical agents into tree trunks is a key method for preventing pine wilt disease (PWD). However, the long-term use of conventional trunk injection agents such as emamectin benzoate (EB) and avermectin (AVM) may lead to nematode resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the potential of new-generation nematicides, including fluopyram (FLU) and its compound formulations, as alternatives to EB and AVM in PWD prevention. In this study, four trunk injection agents, i.e., 5% FLU microemulsion (ME), 2% AVM + 6% FLU ME, 5% EB ME, and 5% AVM emulsifiable concentrate (EC), were injected into Pinus massoniana trunks, and their residual dynamics over time and preventive effects on PWD were compared. Results showed that all agents were transported to various parts of the trees within 90 days post-injection, with FLU showing significantly stronger translocation compared with EB and AVM. At 660 days post-injection, the active ingredient levels of 5% FLU ME in apical branches remained significantly higher than those of the other three agents at both tested doses (30 and 60 mL). Artificial inoculation with 10,000 Bursaphelenchus xylophilus nematodes per tree at 90 days post-injection showed that trees injected with 5% FLU ME and 2% AVM + 6% FLU ME had nearly 100% disease prevention rates at both doses, outperforming 5% EB ME and 5% AVM EC. A second nematode inoculation at 480 days post-injection showed that 2% AVM + 6% FLU ME showed 50% efficacy, outperforming 5% EB ME (25% efficacy). These findings offer a foundation for developing alternative trunk injection strategies for future PWD management in China.},
}

@article {pmid41600059,
year = {2026},
author = {Tian, J and Huang, J and Luo, Y and Ma, M and Wang, W},
title = {Global Distribution and Dispersal Pathways of Riparian Invasives: Perspectives Using Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.) as a Model.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants15020251},
pmid = {41600059},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {No. 5000002024CC20004//Geological Disaster Patterns and Mitigation Strategies Under River-Reservoir Hydrodynamics in the Three Gorges Reservoir Fluctuation Zone, Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Water Resources/ ; No. CSTB2023TIAD-KPX0077//Chongqing Municipality Key Project for Technological Innovation and Application Development/ ; },
abstract = {In struggling against invasive species ravaging riverscape ecosystems, gaps in dispersal pathway knowledge and fragmented approaches across scales have long stalled effective riparian management worldwide. To reduce these limitations and enhance invasion management strategies, selecting appropriate alien species as models for in-depth pathway analysis is essential. Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. (alligator weed) emerges as an exemplary model species, boasting an invasion record of around 120 years spanning five continents worldwide, supported by genetic evidence of repeated introductions. In addition, the clonal reproduction of A. philoxeroides supports swift establishment, while its amphibious versatility allows occupation of varied riparian environments, with spread driven by natural water-mediated dispersal (hydrochory) and human-related vectors at multiple scales. Thus, leveraging A. philoxeroides, this review proposes a comprehensive multi-scale framework, which integrates monitoring with remote sensing, environmental DNA, Internet of Things, and crowdsourcing for real-time detection. Also, the framework can further integrate, e.g., MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy Model) for climatic suitability and mechanistic simulations of hydrodynamics and human-mediated dispersal to forecast invasion risks. Furthermore, decision-support systems developed from the framework can optimize controls like herbicides and biocontrol, managing uncertainties adaptively. At the global scale, the dispersal paradigm can employ AI-driven knowledge graphs for genetic attribution, multilayer networks, and causal inference to trace pathways and identify disruptions. Based on the premise that our multi-scale framework can bridge invasion ecology with riverscape management using A. philoxeroides as a model, we contend that the implementation of the proposed framework tackles core challenges, such as sampling biases, shifting environmental dynamics, eco-evolutionary interactions using stratified sampling, and adaptive online algorithms. This methodology is purposed to offer scalable tools for other aquatic invasives, evolving management from reactive measures to proactive, network-based approaches that effectively interrupt dispersal routes.},
}

@article {pmid41599409,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, L and Yu, H and Qu, G and Jin, J and Wang, J and Xing, Y},
title = {BAM 15 Exerts Molluscicidal Effects on Pomacea canaliculata Through the Induction of Oxidative Stress, Impaired Energy Metabolism, and Tissue Damage.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {31},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/molecules31020361},
pmid = {41599409},
issn = {1420-3049},
support = {No. ZDXYS202207//The Jiangsu Province Capability Improvement Project through Science, Technology and Education/ ; No. wk023-009//The Open Project of National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention/ ; },
mesh = {*Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Animals ; *Energy Metabolism/drug effects ; *Molluscacides/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Snails/drug effects/metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects ; Metabolomics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata), an invasive species originating from South America, has inflicted considerable agricultural and ecological harm in non-native habitats. While the molluscicide niclosamide is currently effective against P. canaliculata, its prolonged use raises environmental concerns and the risk of resistance development.

RESULTS: BAM 15 possesses strong molluscicidal activity against P. canaliculata, with 72 h LC50 values of 0.4564 mg/L for adults (shell height: 20-25 mm), 0.3352 mg/L for subadults (10-15 mm), and 0.1142 mg/L for juveniles (2-3 mm). Metabolomic and proteomic profiling revealed that the altered metabolites and proteins both converged on energy metabolism and oxidative stress. Experimental validation revealed that BAM15 collapsed the mitochondrial membrane potential, drove MDA and H2O2 upward while depleting NADPH, boosted CAT, SOD and GPX activities, yet suppressed GR, and ultimately inflicted overt damage in the head-foot tissue of P. canaliculata.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal that BAM 15 operates via a three-stage mechanism: (1) it disrupts membrane potential (ΔΨm) and impairs ATP production, severely disturbing energy metabolism; (2) energy deficits stimulate excessive electron transport chain activity, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and initiating oxidative stress; (3) persistent metabolic imbalance and oxidative damage culminate in extensive tissue injury. These results identify BAM 15 as a promising candidate for molluscicide development.},
}

*Oxidative Stress/drug effects
Animals
*Energy Metabolism/drug effects
*Molluscacides/pharmacology/chemistry
*Snails/drug effects/metabolism
Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects
Metabolomics

@article {pmid41598980,
year = {2026},
author = {Gao, Q and Li, Z and Tang, J and Zhu, J and Wu, Y and Lyu, B and Hu, G},
title = {Integrating Morphological, Molecular, and Climatic Evidence to Distinguish Two Cryptic Rice Leaf Folder Species and Assess Their Potential Distributions.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010126},
pmid = {41598980},
issn = {2075-4450},
abstract = {The larvae and damage symptoms of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis and Cnaphalocrocis patnalis exhibit a high degree of similarity, which often leads to confusion between the two species. This has posed challenges for research on their population dynamics and the development of effective control measures. To better understand their morphological and damage characteristics, population dynamics, species identification based on COI gene fragments, and potential future distribution, a searchlight trap monitoring program was conducted for C. medinalis and its closely related species C. patnalis across four sites in Longhua, Haitang, and Yazhou districts in Hainan Province from 2021 to 2023. The MaxEnt model was utilized to predict the potential global distribution of both species, incorporating known occurrence points and climate variables. The trapping results revealed that both species reached peak abundance between April and June, with a maximum of 1500 individuals captured in May at Beishan Village, Haitang District. Interannual population fluctuations of both species generally followed a unimodal pattern. Genetic analyses revealed distinct differences in the mitochondrial COI gene fragment, confirming that C. medinalis and C. patnalis are closely related yet distinct species. The population peak of C. patnalis occurred slightly earlier than that of C. medinalis, and its field damage was more severe. Infestations during the booting to heading stages of rice significantly reduced seed-setting rates and overall yield. Model predictions indicated that large areas of southern Eurasia are suitable for the survival of both species, with precipitation during the wettest month identified as the primary environmental factor shaping their potential distributions. At present, moderately and highly suitable habitats for C. medinalis account for 2.50% and 2.27% of the global land area, respectively, whereas those for C. patnalis account for 2.85% and 1.19%. These results highlight that climate change is likely to exacerbate the damage caused by both rice leaf-roller pests, particularly the emerging threat posed by C. patnalis. Overall, this study provides a scientific basis for invasion risk assessment and the development of integrated management strategies targeting the combined impacts of C. medinalis and C. patnalis.},
}

@article {pmid41598976,
year = {2026},
author = {Goglia, L and Formisano, G and Guastaferro, VM and Albano, L and Crispo, DG and Griffo, R and Di Prisco, G and Giorgini, M},
title = {The Invasive Nearctic Pest Platynota stultana Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Is Established in Southern Italy.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010122},
pmid = {41598976},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {CUP B73C24001270005//Vesuvius National Park Institution/ ; CUP B29I22001290009//Government of the Campania Region of Italy/ ; },
abstract = {Platynota stultana is a Nearctic moth of economic importance for many crops in North America. It is a quarantine pest in Europe, where Mediterranean regions, with warm climates similar to those of the moth's native range, are at risk of invasion. To date, the species is established only in Spain. It has been reported sporadically in Italy, but it is unknown whether these were transient findings or the result of an establishment. In this study, the presence of P. stultana in the Campania region, Southern Italy, was recorded. Adults of both sexes were found in different locations and in two consecutive years, suggesting that the species is established. Sequencing the COI gene identified three haplotypes of P. stultana, suggesting possible multiple introductions. The two most numerous haplotypes were identical to haplotypes from Florida. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the P. stultana clade splits into two subclades. The Italian haplotypes are all grouped into the same subclade. Our data suggest that P. stultana is expanding its range of invasion into Southern Italy, where, due to global warming, it may find increasingly favorable conditions and become an economic pest. A monitoring plan is required to allow timely implementation of control measures.},
}

@article {pmid41598968,
year = {2026},
author = {Xu, K and Wang, Y and Yan, S and Wan, F and Smagghe, G and Yang, W},
title = {Identification and Functional Characterization of Chitinase Genes During Larva-Pupa-Adult Transitions in Tuta absoluta.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010114},
pmid = {41598968},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {QKHJC-ZK-2022-003//Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province/ ; GCC-2023-071//Program of Excellent Innovation Talents in Guizhou Province/ ; QJJ-2023-024//Program for Natural Science Research in Guizhou Education Department/ ; },
abstract = {Chitinases are crucial in the molting process of insects and represent potential targets for the development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based insecticidal strategies. In this study, we identified and characterized 11 chitinase genes (TaChts) in T. absoluta, each harboring at least one GH18 catalytic domain. Phylogenetic analysis placed these proteins into 11 established groups (I-X and h), revealing conserved lineage-specific patterns. Spatiotemporal expression profiling showed that most TaChts peak during key developmental transitions. TaCht1, TaCht2, TaCht3, TaCht5, TaCht6, TaCht7, TaCht10, TaCht-h, and TaIDGF were predominantly expressed in the integument, whereas TaCht8 and TaCht11 showed gut-enriched expression, indicating functional specialization. Stage-tailored RNAi assays demonstrated that silencing TaCht5, TaCht7, TaCht10, and TaIDGF caused pronounced mortality in both larvae and pupae. In larvae, delivery of dsRNA using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) disrupted molting: knockdown of TaCht7, TaCht10, and TaIDGF prevented shedding of the old cuticle, whereas TaCht5 silencing produced severe cuticular shrinkage and blackening. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed detachment of epidermal cells from the cuticle, providing cytological evidence of disrupted cuticle-epidermis remodeling. In pupae, microinjection of dsRNA induced cuticular collapse, melanization, and eclosion failure due to persistent adhesion of the pupal case, accompanied by marked reductions in chitinase activity. Together, our findings highlight the critical roles of four key chitinases in endocuticular turnover and metamorphic progression in T. absoluta, offering mechanistic insight into chitin-mediated developmental processes. The identified genes represent strong candidates for RNAi-based, species-specific pest management strategies against this globally significant insect.},
}

@article {pmid41598956,
year = {2026},
author = {Gullickson, MG and Averello, V and Rogers, MA and Hutchison, WD and Hegeman, A},
title = {Evaluating Real-Time PCR to Quantify Drosophila suzukii Infestation of Fruit Crops.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010102},
pmid = {41598956},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {NA//Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota/ ; },
abstract = {Common methods for detecting Drosophila suzukii (spotted-wing drosophila, SWD) in fruit, such as microscopy, physical extraction, and incubation, are time-consuming and may underrepresent egg and first instar larvae counts, the smallest life stages of SWD. To address these limitations, we evaluated a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) protocol to detect and quantify SWD eggs using a linear model of the log-transformed ratio of eggs to sample volume (µL) in Tris buffer and fruit tissue. Compared to traditional approaches, this method reduces identification time from several weeks to approximately five hours. We observed a negative linear correlation between qPCR cycle threshold and egg concentration in both standard and fruit tissue samples, with similar model fits (R[2] = 0.7215 for field fruit tissue; R[2] = 0.874 for standard samples). This DNA-based protocol improves infestation detection speed and accuracy by enabling rapid, species-specific identification of D. suzukii in fruit tissue, addressing limitations of morphological identification of eggs and larvae. Further refinement for fruit tissue could enhance real-world applicability. Rapid detection may enable timely assessment of varietal resistance to SWD and support safer control strategies targeting early life stages, helping to prevent pest development and fruit degradation.},
}

@article {pmid41598943,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, R and Hong, L and Gao, J and Wang, W and Wen, Q and Wang, G and Zhang, T and Xu, T},
title = {Characterization of Chemical Defensive Behavior and Associated Glands in the Destructive Invasive Longhorn Beetle Aromia bungii.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010089},
pmid = {41598943},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2021kj90//the Science Foundation of Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry/ ; 2020kj002//the Science Foundation of Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry/ ; 32001322//the National Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {This study characterizes the chemical defense system of the invasive longhorn beetle Aromia bungii, a destructive pest of Prunus trees, addressing the limited understanding of chemical defensive mechanisms in Cerambycidae. High-speed cameras, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), dissection, and micro-CT imaging were used to investigate defensive behavior, and the structure of the defense system, in this beetle. Both sexes of A. bungii possess a pair of triangular, sac-like defensive glands symmetrically located in the metathorax, attached to the metasternum. Upon mechanical stimulation, white liquid defensive substances are rapidly ejected through a pair of slit-shaped openings (~200 µm) at the metasternum corners, without gland eversion, reaching over 50 cm. The average weight of substances ejected in first sprays was 7.95 ± 0.79 mg for females and 8.62 ± 2.13 mg for males (mean ± se), with no significant difference between sexes. However, the weight in second sprays after 10 days was significantly lower, at 2.93 ± 0.54 mg for females and 2.22 ± 0.40 mg for males (mean ± se), suggesting that the beetles cannot re-synthesize the substances soon after spray. The weight of ejected substances had no correlation with beetle body weight. Our findings represent the first detailed morphological and functional description of a chemical defense system in Cerambycidae, revealing a specialized metasternal gland and spray mechanism. The substantial but likely non-renewable defensive substances reflect an adaptive trade-off in energy allocation between reproduction and defense in this species that exhibits high fecundity but a short lifespan at the adult stage.},
}

@article {pmid41598935,
year = {2026},
author = {Fang, X and Wen, R and Yang, L and Guo, J and Shen, W and Yang, N and Wan, F and Lü, Z and Liu, W},
title = {Multi-Condition Cultivation Reveals the Host Plant-Dependent Gut Bacteria Diversity in Tomato Leafminer (Tuta absoluta) Larvae.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010081},
pmid = {41598935},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2024YFC2607600 and 2025YFC2609100//National Key Research and Development Program/ ; 2022TSYCCX0084//Tian-Shan Talent Program/ ; XZ202401ZY0031//Xi-Zang Key Research and Development Program/ ; XBZX-04//Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program/ ; },
abstract = {Tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) significantly affects tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and eggplant (Solanum melongena) crops worldwide, with its feeding patterns being closely associated with its gut microbiota. We aimed to compare the cultivable gut bacteria of T. absoluta larvae fed on tomato and eggplant to investigate their role in host adaptation. Gut bacteria were cultivated on Luria-Bertani broth, nutrient agar, and Brain Heart Infusion media under different temperature conditions, followed by morphology- and 16S rRNA-based identification. Notably, both feeding groups revealed distinct gut bacterial community structures. Tomato-fed larvae harbored bacteria spanning eight species, five genera, four families, and two phyla. In contrast, eggplant-fed larvae exhibited greater microbial diversity, encompassing 15 species, 10 genera, 9 families, and 3 phyla, including unique genera such as Pseudomonas and Pectobacterium, which was attributed to the host plant contribution. Enterococcus mundtii was the most dominant bacterium, and species such as Bacillus wiedmannii and Micrococcus luteus were most thermotolerant. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of multi-condition culture approaches for thoroughly characterizing insect gut microbiota and underscore the role of host plants in pest adaptability by modulating gut microbial communities, providing new insights for developing sustainable control strategies utilizing "plant-insect-microorganism" interactions.},
}

@article {pmid41598925,
year = {2026},
author = {Kang, JY and Jeong, G and An, IJ and Kim, K and Son, SH and Park, S},
title = {Endosymbiont Infections in Korean Insects: Patterns Across Orders and Habitat Types.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010071},
pmid = {41598925},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {NIE-B-2025-38//National Institute of Ecology/ ; },
abstract = {Endosymbiotic bacteria influence the ecology and evolution of insects through complex associations within host cells. To explore how these relationships vary among environments and taxa, we examined 1028 insect specimens from 14 orders across Korea for infections by three representative endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma). Overall, 33.8% of specimens were infected, with single infections predominating and co-infections remaining relatively less common. Weak-to-modest but statistically significant associations were detected between several symbiont pairs (Rickettsia-Spiroplasma, Wolbachia-Spiroplasma, and Wolbachia-Rickettsia). Infection rates exhibited no significant variation among host orders except for Spiroplasma, and Wolbachia infections were more frequently detected in terrestrial than in aquatic insects. These results indicate that endosymbiont infection patterns might be shaped by factors operating at multiple biological scales, including host taxonomy and habitat types. As this study relied on polymerase chain reaction detection, infection frequencies should be interpreted as comparative rather than absolute measures. This survey provides baseline data that might help characterize regional patterns of endosymbiont distributions and their variation across taxonomic and ecological contexts.},
}

@article {pmid41598867,
year = {2025},
author = {Mosore, MT and Mishra, S and Villa, M and Agbodzi, B and Estep, AS and Prasauskas, A and Qualls, WA and Killingsworth, D and Unlu, I and Tressler, M and Dinglasan, RR and Burgess, ER},
title = {A Tandem Metabarcoding and Taxonomic Forensics Approach to Surveillance of Mosquito-Plant Interactions for Culex quinquefasciatus in Florida.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010013},
pmid = {41598867},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {31236//Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/ ; },
abstract = {Interactions with plants are an important aspect of mosquito vector biology and ecology because mosquitoes often use plants as nutritional resources. Plant DNA metabarcoding is a recent approach to address this topic. Culex quinquefasciatus is a vector of several important pathogens in Florida and is subject to significant control efforts, but no studies to date have explored what plants they may feed on. We addressed this by conducting a statewide collection of Cx. quinquefasciatus from six Florida counties and subjected them to plant DNA metabarcoding and cross-referenced the identified plants to a Florida state plant voucher database for each sampled county. A total of 30 families and 47 genera were identified. Plants included many that are cultivated and non-cultivated in Florida, including backyard garden produce, grasses, and some invasive species. Concurrence of plant families and genera was generally high in the respective sampled counties based on available plant vouchers. These data provide the first statewide survey of plants associated with Cx. quinquefasciatus in Florida. This information serves as an important basis for confirming plant taxa that are important to Cx. quinquefasciatus, which could translate to the development of better control strategies and tools.},
}

@article {pmid41596928,
year = {2026},
author = {Kizilkoy, IC and Tekle, S and Bozkurt, F and Goktas, H and Ozcan, FS and Yilmaz, M and Sagdic, O},
title = {Valorization of the Invasive Fish Atherina boyeri (Risso, 1810) as a Source of Protein Hydrolysates with Functional and Bioactive Properties.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/foods15020330},
pmid = {41596928},
issn = {2304-8158},
abstract = {The invasive fish Atherina boyeri constitutes an ecologically disruptive yet underexploited biomass with strong potential for transformation into value-added biofunctional ingredients. This study investigates the functional, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of protein hydrolysates that were produced from fish collected in the Hirfanlı and Yamula reservoirs using three commercial proteases (alcalase, bromelain, and flavourzyme). Bromelain produced the highest degree of hydrolysis, yielding higher proportions of low-molecular-weight peptides and greater radical-scavenging activity. Flavourzyme hydrolysates exhibited the most favorable emulsifying properties, Alcalase hydrolysates produced the highest foaming capacity and stability. All hydrolysates showed high absolute zeta-potential values across pH 3-9, demonstrating strong colloidal stability. Protein solubility remained above 80% across most pH levels, indicating extensive peptide release and improved compatibility with aqueous media. The Oil-binding capacity (2.78-3.75 mL/g) was consistent with reported values for marine hydrolysates. Antioxidant and antimicrobial evaluations revealed clear enzyme-dependent patterns, with Bromelain exhibiting the strongest DPPH activity and Alcalase and Flavourzyme showing the most pronounced inhibition of major foodborne pathogens. Additionally, all hydrolysates exhibited measurable ACE-inhibitory activity, with flavourzyme-derived peptides showing the highest inhibitory activity, underscoring their potential relevance for antihypertensive applications. These findings highlight the strategic valorization of A. boyeri through enzymatic hydrolysis, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable, clean-label functional ingredient source.},
}

@article {pmid41594906,
year = {2026},
author = {Qiao, Q and Chen, Y and Chen, J and Chen, T and Feng, H and Salum, YM and Wang, H and Tang, L and Zhang, H and Chen, Z and Lin, T and Wei, H and He, W},
title = {A Species-Specific COI PCR Approach for Discriminating Co-Occurring Thrips Species Using Crude DNA Extracts.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology15020171},
pmid = {41594906},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {2024NZ029029//Major Project of Science and Technology of Fujian Province/ ; },
abstract = {Thrips are cosmopolitan agricultural pests and important vectors of plant viruses, and the increasing coexistence of multiple morphologically similar species has intensified the demand for species-specific molecular identification. However, traditional morphological identification and PCR assays using universal primers are often inadequate for mixed-species samples and field-adaptable application. In this study, we developed a species-specific molecular identification framework targeting a polymorphism-rich region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, which is more time-efficient than sequencing-based COI DNA barcoding, for four economically important thrips species in southern China, including the globally invasive Frankliniella occidentalis. By aligning COI sequences, polymorphism-rich regions were identified and used to design four species-specific primer pairs, each containing a diagnostic 3'-terminal nucleotide. These primers were combined with a PBS-based DNA extraction workflow optimized for single-insect samples that minimizes dependence on column-based purification. The assay achieved a practical detection limit of 1 ng per reaction, demonstrated species-specific amplification, and maintained reproducible amplification at DNA inputs of ≥1 ng per reaction. Notably, PCR inhibition caused by crude extracts was effectively alleviated by fivefold dilution. Although the chemical identities of the inhibitors remain unknown, interspecific variation in inhibition strength was observed, with T. hawaiiensis exhibiting the strongest suppression, possibly due to differences in lysate composition. This integrated framework balances target specificity, operational simplicity, and dilution-mitigated inhibition, providing a field-adaptable tool for thrips species identification and invasive species monitoring. Moreover, it provides a species-specific molecular foundation for downstream integration with visual nucleic acid detection platforms, such as the CRISPR/Cas12a system, thereby facilitating the future development of portable molecular identification workflows for small agricultural pests.},
}

@article {pmid41594441,
year = {2026},
author = {Peng, Z and Tang, Q and Liang, H and Zhang, X and Wang, X and Li, Y and Ding, P and Mai, Y and Wang, X},
title = {High Dietary Supplementation of Procyanidin-Rich Grape Seed Powders Enhances the Growth Performance and Muscle Crispness of Crisped Grass Carp.},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ani16020251},
pmid = {41594441},
issn = {2076-2615},
support = {No. 42177263//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202201010740//Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Project/ ; A1-2601-25-414-112Z64//Xinglin Scholar Project, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine/ ; },
abstract = {A comprehensive analysis was conducted to explore whether feeding inclusion procyanidin-rich grape seed powders (GSPs) affected the faba bean-induced muscle crispness in the aquaculture of crisped grass carp. The procyanidin content in the prepared GSP was 10.40 g/100 g. Additionally, one thousand 1-year-old grass carp with an initial weight of 27 g and an initial length of 12 cm were divided into five groups, including the blank control (basal diet); the positive control (faba bean diet); and the low (faba bean diet supplemented 100 mg/kg GSP), middle (faba bean diet supplemented 500 mg/kg GSP), and high (faba bean diet supplemented 1000 mg/kg GSP) GSP-supplemented groups. After feeding for 60 days, the weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and condition factor were elevated in the high-GSP-supplemented group in comparison with the blank control (p < 0.05), accompanied by a significant decrease in the feeding coefficient (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, a significant increase in muscle ROS content, shear force, gumminess, and chewiness was determined in the high-GSP-supplemented group when compared with the positive group, suggesting that a relatively high daily supplement of GSP facilitated muscle crispness. Moreover, the composition of intestine microbiota was significantly varied between groups with the daily addition of GSP (p < 0.05). Among them, Lactococcus chungangensis was identified as the key biomarker of the high-GSP-supplemented group, which was closely related to the increased muscle ROS content, the modifications in muscle nutritional metabolites (Met, C20:2n6, C20:3n6, C20:4n6, and C22:4n6), and the alterations in muscle texture (gumminess, chewiness, shear force, hardness, and adhesiveness). Based on these results, we believe that a relatively high daily supplement of GSP (1000 mg/kg) facilitated muscle crispness in the aquaculture of crisped grass carp.},
}

@article {pmid41594413,
year = {2026},
author = {Thoma, CT and Makridou, KN and Bakaloudis, DE},
title = {Spatial and Temporal Trends in the Invasion Dynamics of the Ring-Necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) in the Urban Complex of Thessaloniki, Greece.},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ani16020224},
pmid = {41594413},
issn = {2076-2615},
abstract = {Invasive alien species pose a major threat to global biodiversity, especially within Europe. Understanding their spatial and temporal dynamics is essential for effective management planning and implementation. The ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri, hereafter RNP) has been established in Greece for over four decades, yet its invasion dynamics remain unstudied despite pilling evidence of ecological impacts. During 2024 and 2025, we conducted repeated transect surveys across 99 1 km[2] grid squares within the urban complex of Thessaloniki to assess environmental factors influencing occupancy and abundance, and to estimate RNP population trends. Dynamic occupancy and N-mixture models revealed that both the presence and abundance of RNP were positively associated with the proportion of dense urban fabric and urban green areas. The proportion of occupied sites increased by more than 10% between survey years (2024-2025), while the estimated population growth rate for this interval was 1.64, signaling a substantial short-term increase. Our findings provide the first detailed evidence of an established and growing RNP population within the urban complex of Thessaloniki, Greece. Continued monitoring and research on ecological impacts are essential, while any management actions should be developed with public engagement to ensure social acceptance and long-term effectiveness.},
}

@article {pmid41593392,
year = {2026},
author = {Mkechera, R and Dahiya, S},
title = {Advancements in the detection of invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): a critical review of monitoring techniques for aquatic ecosystem management.},
journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment},
volume = {198},
number = {2},
pages = {179},
pmid = {41593392},
issn = {1573-2959},
mesh = {*Eichhornia ; *Introduced Species ; *Environmental Monitoring/methods ; *Ecosystem ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) is globally recognized as an invasive species that adversely threatens freshwater ecosystems, ecological health, and economic stability. Its rapid proliferation obstructs waterways, reduces oxygen levels, and disrupts native biodiversity. In response to these challenges, researchers have increasingly adopted advanced computation techniques such as machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), remote sensing (RS), and hybrid approaches for the detection and monitoring of this species. This systematic review critically examines research published between 2012 and 2025, focusing on three core dimensions: the detection and monitoring techniques employed, the datasets used, and the performance metrics used to evaluate model effectiveness. A total of 74 peer-reviewed articles were analyzed from leading scientific databases. The review identifies key trends, including the increasing use of deep learning models between 2023 and 2025 and the variation in evaluation metrics across primary studies. Additionally, this study highlights the current limitations in dataset availability and the standardization of evaluation metrics. The findings aim to inform future research directions, promote methodological consistency, and support the development of robust, scalable strategies for the environmental monitoring of aquatic invasive species.},
}

*Eichhornia
*Introduced Species
*Environmental Monitoring/methods
*Ecosystem
Animals

@article {pmid41591679,
year = {2026},
author = {Xue, Y and Wang, W and Lu, Y and Chen, J and Zhang, G and Liu, W and Wan, F and He, Z and Zhang, Y},
title = {Genetic Diversity and Endosymbiont Infection Patterns of the Greenhouse Whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, in China.},
journal = {Neotropical entomology},
volume = {55},
number = {1},
pages = {3},
pmid = {41591679},
issn = {1678-8052},
support = {110202401016(LS-06)//Major Special Projects for Green Pest Control, China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/genetics ; China ; *Symbiosis ; *Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Haplotypes ; },
abstract = {The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a globally invasive pest that affects both horticultural and agricultural systems, causing substantial economic losses. However, comprehensive studies on its invasion genetics and associated symbiotic landscape in China are lacking. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and examined the infection patterns of six key secondary endosymbionts in 1702 individuals from 73 populations across 18 provinces in China. Phylogenetic analysis incorporating global sequences revealed that Chinese populations are comprised of ten haplotypes. Genetic diversity was extremely low, with haplotype H1 being overwhelmingly dominant (97.60% of individuals) and shared with global invasive lineages. Endosymbiont screening showed a high prevalence of Arsenophonus (78.56%) and Hamiltonella (44.98%), with frequent co-infections. These results suggest that the widespread invasion of T. vaporariorum in China likely originated from a limited number of founder individuals, resulting in a significant genetic bottleneck. The invasion success appears to be associated with a "genotype-symbiotype complex"-the dominant H1 maternal lineage combined with a beneficial symbiotic toolkit. These findings provide insights into the invasion dynamics of this pest and implications for targeted control strategies.},
}

Animals
*Hemiptera/microbiology/genetics
China
*Symbiosis
*Genetic Variation
Phylogeny
Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics
Haplotypes

@article {pmid41589066,
year = {2026},
author = {Sessi, IR and Henderson, JB and Martin, JA and Skehel, A and Pozo, G and Guillén Alcides, JA and de Ferran, V and Dumbacher, JP and Chaves, JA},
title = {First Whole-Genome Assembly of the Galápagos Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) Using Oxford Nanopore Sequencing to Advance Conservation Genomics in a Critically Endangered Seabird.},
journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/g3journal/jkag004},
pmid = {41589066},
issn = {2160-1836},
abstract = {The Galápagos Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) is a critically endangered procellariiform seabird endemic to the Galápagos Islands. Once abundant, its populations have sharply declined due to invasive predators, habitat degradation, and destruction of nest burrows. Although the species is distributed across several islands, the demographics of each population and their genetic relationships are poorly understood. To facilitate future studies of population structure and connectivity, we present the first high-quality reference genome for the Galápagos Petrel. The genome was assembled solely from ultra-long Oxford Nanopore sequence data collected from an adult female sampled on San Cristóbal Island. Sequencing was performed at the Galapagos Science Center, building local capacity for the generation of genomic data in remote regions. The final nuclear genome assembly spans 1.35 Gb in length, with average coverage of 36.07x, scaffold N50 of 74.2 Mb, and a BUSCO completeness of 99.95%. The genome comprises 41 pseudo-chromosomes, with 23 spanning from telomere to telomere and 16, including W and Z chromosomes, containing a single telomere. Chromosomal-level scaffolding by reference was performed using the genome of Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) GCA_964196065.2 (Arànega et al., 2024), a closely related species. This reference genome provides a foundational tool for comparative genomics, conservation biology, and functional studies of island-endemic avifauna, and demonstrates that recent advances in basecalling and error correction now enable ONT-only datasets to achieve assemblies comparable in quality to those generated using short-read or PacBio HiFi data. It will also facilitate future efforts to characterize genetic diversity, structural variation, and adaptive responses in this critically endangered species.},
}

@article {pmid41588497,
year = {2026},
author = {Ji, W and Dong, Z and Luo, M and Fu, B and Sheng, Q and Han, J},
title = {Optimized fermentation of Myxococcus fulvus WCH05 enhances biocontrol of pear fire blight in the field.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12866-026-04778-2},
pmid = {41588497},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {2021D01D12//Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/ ; 2024B04030//Autonomous region Key R & D Program of Xinjiang, China/ ; 2021YFD1400200//National Key R&D Program of China/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41587648,
year = {2026},
author = {Tejeda, C and Pérez, N and Escobar, F and Iturra, D and Aristizábal, B and Raffo, E and Moroni, M and Salgado, M and Hernández, FA},
title = {Molecular evidence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) shedding in the invasive American mink (Neogale vison) in southern Chile.},
journal = {Acta tropica},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {107991},
doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107991},
pmid = {41587648},
issn = {1873-6254},
abstract = {Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of Johne's disease (paratuberculosis), a chronic enteritis affecting domestic and wild ruminants worldwide. While MAP transmission primarily occurs among livestock, increasing attention has been given to the role of wildlife in the maintenance and spread of this pathogen. Invasive species, such as the American mink (Neogale vison), may serve as unexpected source of infection or mechanical vectors for MAP, especially in regions where wildlife and domestic animals share habitats. In this study, we performed a specific MAP-IS900 real-time PCR assay to detect bacterial DNA in mesenteric lymph nodes (MesLN) (n=401) and colonic/rectal fecal swabs (n=346) from minks in Los Ríos region, Chile. We detected MAP DNA in 16% and 10% of minks in MesLN and fecal swabs, respectively, while 4% of minks were MAP qPCR-positive in both MesLN and fecal swab samples. Considering specimens with known sex and age, we detected MAP DNA in 22% of minks in either MesLN or fecal swabs, where 21% of males and 22% of females were MAP qPCR-positives, and 15% of juveniles, 25% of subadults, and 21% of adults were MAP DNA-positive in at least one sample type. Our study is the first report on MAP detection in this non-ruminant carnivore in Chile, raising further questions about interspecies transmission dynamics and the potential environmental dissemination of this bacterial agent. These findings highlight the need for broader surveillance strategies that incorporate wildlife, particularly invasive species, into MAP control programs.},
}

@article {pmid41584083,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, H and Wang, Y and Chen, Y and Shan, C and Wang, J and Wang, R and Shao, Y and Xu, J and Yao, X and Chen, K},
title = {Climate-driven invasion of Pomacea canaliculata and Angiostrongylus cantonensis transmission risk: Ecological niche modeling forecasts and public-health governance recommendations.},
journal = {One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {22},
number = {},
pages = {101315},
pmid = {41584083},
issn = {2352-7714},
abstract = {Global climate change is rapidly reshaping species distribution patterns worldwide. Pomacea canaliculata (golden apple snail), an important invasive species in many countries, has experienced accelerated range expansion driven by climate change and anthropogenic activities. Owing to its high phenotypic plasticity, broad environmental tolerance, and high fecundity, this species causes severe agricultural damage and biodiversity loss. Importantly, P. canaliculata is a highly competent intermediate host of the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the causative agent of human eosinophilic meningitis, posing a growing public health threat. This article synthesizes the biological traits, invasion mechanisms, and ecological impacts of P. canaliculata, together with the transmission cycle and epidemiology of A. cantonensis. Using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model under two future climate scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5), we projected the spatiotemporal dynamics of suitable habitat for P. canaliculata. Current distributions are primarily driven by hydrothermal factors, with annual precipitation (BIO12) and maximum temperature of the warmest month (BIO5) exerting dominant influences, resulting in high suitability across tropical and subtropical regions. Under future warming, habitat suitability is projected to decline in low-latitude regions while expanding poleward, with increased fragmentation under SSP5-8.5. High-stability resilience hotspots, including the lower Yangtze River Basin and the Mississippi River Basin, are identified as priority areas for management. Based on these projections, we propose a precision governance framework integrating niche-based risk stratification, low-toxicity biocontrol, habitat management, cross-border surveillance, and public education to support climate-adaptive prevention of invasive species and parasite transmission.},
}

@article {pmid41583883,
year = {2026},
author = {Salinas, H and Veneklaas, EJ and Trevenen, E and Renton, M},
title = {Plant Root Architectural Traits Mediate a Trade-Off Between Suppression and Tolerance of Competitors.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {e72977},
pmid = {41583883},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Plants' competitive ability involves both suppressing the growth of neighbours (competitive effect) and resisting or tolerating their suppression (competitive response). Competition for below-ground resources must be related to the ability of plants to acquire these resources, which is mediated by roots and their morphology. However, the role of root architecture in the competitive ability of plants, and in the possible trade-offs among growth potential, competitive suppression and competition tolerance involved, has not been extensively studied. We used a functional-structural root model coupled with an evolutionary algorithm to simulate the evolution of root architectures in five scenarios with different plant densities. We asked (1) does selection under different intraspecific competition scenarios result in different root architectures? and (2) do differences in these architectures result in differences in growth potential and competitive ability, that is, competitive effect and response? Our results indicate that as the number of neighbours increases, selection on traits such as branching angles, gravitropism and branching probability results in root architectures that are deeper and sparser, resulting in lower shoot biomass. We also found a difference in competitive ability among architectures, with a trade-off between resistance to competition on one hand, and competitive effect and maximum productivity (maximum shoot biomass) on the other: there is not a globally optimal strategy. Our findings have implications for management of invasive species, improvement of crop yield and the study of species co-existence.},
}

@article {pmid41580856,
year = {2026},
author = {Leite, L and Samake, JN and Tadesse, FG and Irish, SR and Dotson, EM and Zohdy, S},
title = {An evaluation of longitudinal Anopheles stephensi egg viability and resistance to desiccation at different thermal conditions over time.},
journal = {Parasites & vectors},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s13071-026-07245-z},
pmid = {41580856},
issn = {1756-3305},
support = {HHSN272201600013C/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {PURPOSE: Anopheles stephensi, a malaria vector in South Asia and parts of the Middle East, has been detected as an invasive species in numerous African countries in recent years. It threatens to increase malaria disease burden and reverse gains made in malaria control and elimination. To halt further expansion, it is critical to understand the biological characteristics that may have facilitated An. stephensi range expansion. In its invasive range, An. stephensi larvae have been found to colonizea rtificial containers, many of which are shared with Aedes aegypti. The success of Ae. aegypti as an invasive vector is often attributed to the use of artificial containers and the ability of Ae. aegypti eggs toremain viable in the absence of water for months. While An. stephensi is found in artificial containers, itis unclear whether the eggs can remain viable without water for extended periods.

METHODS: In this study, we used two laboratory strains of An. stephensi (SDA500 and STE2)and one Ae. aegypti strain (LVP-IB12) to evaluate 1) whether An. stephensi eggs can remainviable like Ae. aegypti when egg substrates are completely dried and 2) assess egg viabilityduration at varying temperatures when eggs are held on a moistened substrate in a highhumidity environment.

RESULTS: An. stephensi egg viability and subsequent larval survival was observed consistently when moistened egg sheets were held at 15˚C in a high humidity environment forup to 14 days in both strains. An. stephensi eggs were not viable when completely dried, exceptwhen the protocol was amended to include a 15°C storage temperature. Though egg viability and larval survival was observed in the amended protocol for SDA500 and STE2 (16% and 21% respectively), it was significantly less than that of LVP-IB12 (83%) and was only observed in the eggs stored for the shortest timepoint.

CONCLUSIONS: These fi ndings suggest that An. stephensi may remain viable if eggs are transported underideal conditions (15˚C and >75% RH) through trade routes. Thus, the persistence of An. stephensi eggs inthe absence of water should be considered in programs that engage in surveillance and control of An. stephensi in Africa.},
}

@article {pmid41420956,
year = {2026},
author = {Gavioli, A and Mancinelli, G and Eggleston, DB and Christian, RR and Turolla, E and Lanzoni, M and Soana, E and Rossetti, E and Gottardo, A and Vidal, L and Zentilin, A and Castaldelli, G},
title = {A potential bottom-up cascade on the abundance of invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus in northwestern Adriatic lagoons.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {215},
number = {},
pages = {107801},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107801},
pmid = {41420956},
issn = {1879-0291},
mesh = {Animals ; *Brachyura/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; Mediterranean Sea ; Fisheries ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Ecosystem ; Salinity ; Population Dynamics ; },
abstract = {The introduction of the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Mediterranean Sea dates back to the 1900s; however, the species has recently spread in the region resulting in negative impacts on the structure and functions of invaded ecosystems and local fisheries. This study investigated the covariation between spatiotemporal dynamics of the Atlantic blue crab fishery landings (catch-per-unit-area; CPUE) and environmental explanatory variables (i.e., salinity, water temperature, nitrate and chlorophyll-a used as a proxy of primary productivity) over a four-year period (2020-2023) in four key lagoonal ecosystems of the North Adriatic Sea. Our results showed that the marked increase in Atlantic blue crab CPUE in all studied lagoons since 2020 was strongly related with local primary productivity which likely supports a greater abundance of food resources for the suspension feeding Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum), a key prey for blue crabs and one of the most important fisheries in the region. Conversely, salinity and water temperature, two key parameters regulating blue crab biology, i.e., mating and subsequent larval spawning, did not significantly influence CPUE in the studied lagoons. These results suggest that primary production in the lagoons, which directly influences food availability (e.g., Manila clams) for the Atlantic blue crab, is the primary factor driving its apparent invasion success in the study area. Our results provide new insights into understanding the environmental factors that promote its invasion and spread, allowing for targeted control measures such as managed fisheries and water quality.},
}

Animals
*Brachyura/physiology
*Introduced Species
Mediterranean Sea
Fisheries
*Environmental Monitoring
Ecosystem
Salinity
Population Dynamics

@article {pmid41580417,
year = {2026},
author = {Ramachandran, A and Manickavasagam, M and Hariharan, S and Kanmani, S and Mathan, M and Ahamed Ibrahim, SN and Pavithrapriya, S and Praveenkumar, P and Geetha, R and Sathyapriya, K and Kumar, DS and Yasar Arafath, KA and Vijaya Kumar, VS and Balaji, L and Joseph, K},
title = {Climate-induced shifts in habitat suitability of forest types and adaptation strategies in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-025-22362-y},
pmid = {41580417},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {Climate change poses a critical threat to forest ecosystems, particularly in biodiversity hotspots such as the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu. This study aims to assess the current and future habitat suitability of dominant tree species representing evergreen, deciduous, and thorn forests using the MaxEnt species distribution model under the SSP2-4.5 climate scenario. A total of 240 geo-referenced occurrence points, along with 19 bioclimatic and topographic variables, were used to predict species-specific habitat changes for the near future (2021-2050), based on downscaled EC-Earth3 CMIP6 climate data. The model projects a significant decline in habitat suitability for evergreen (- 248.72 sq. km) and deciduous (- 720.21 sq. km) forests, while thorn forests are expected to expand by + 968.93 sq. km. District-level analysis highlights hotspots of change, such as Coimbatore (- 50.41 sq. km in evergreen and + 74.46 sq. km in thorn forest) and Erode (- 182.83 sq. km in deciduous and + 184.45 sq. km in thorn forest). These shifts are primarily driven by rising temperatures, increased precipitation seasonality, and changing elevation-related microclimates. The projected expansion of xerophytic thorn forests and concurrent contraction of mesic forests underscores a potential biome-level transition that may reduce biodiversity, alter carbon dynamics, and increase ecological vulnerability. To address these risks, adaptive strategies such as invasive species control, fire management, soil and water conservation, and multi-layered afforestation using native species are recommended. The findings emphasize the need for climate-resilient forest management, community-based conservation, and long-term ecological monitoring. This study offers spatially explicit insights to inform policy and conservation planning under a changing climate.},
}

@article {pmid41580390,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Z and Chi, Y and Liu, Z and Zhang, X and Zhang, G},
title = {National coastal wetland mapping over the last four decades: An annual classification with high accuracy.},
journal = {Scientific data},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41597-026-06570-3},
pmid = {41580390},
issn = {2052-4463},
support = {tsqn202408293//Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; 42071116//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
abstract = {As a critical component of global wetland ecosystems, coastal wetlands are facing dual pressures from climate change and human activities, highlighting the urgent need for a precise classification dataset with large spatial scale and high temporal resolution. The national coastal wetland mappings year by year over the last four decades are crucial for coastal integrated management. A robust and automated classification method was developed based on coastline delineation and integrations of multiple algorithms. By analyzing more than 60,000 Landsat images of China's coastal areas and incorporating field survey validation data, an annual coastal wetland spatial distribution dataset with 30-meter spatial resolution spanning from 1985 to 2024 was established. The dataset obtained an average Kappa coefficient of 0.957 and a range from 0.978 to 0.935, and the average overall accuracy was 97.6% with a range of 97.12% - 97.85%. The proposed method has achieved high-precision annual coastal wetland spatial datasets and effectively monitored the impacts of invasive species and ecological restoration projects on interannual changes in coastal wetlands.},
}

@article {pmid41580113,
year = {2026},
author = {Lammers, M and Gorkum, TAMV and Hoeijmans, S and Kraaijeveld, K and Harvey, JA and Ellers, J},
title = {Lipids as currency in parasitoid competition: Interactions between two lipid-scavenging species.},
journal = {Journal of insect physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {104942},
doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104942},
pmid = {41580113},
issn = {1879-1611},
abstract = {Lipid scavengers are organisms that rely on exogenous lipid acquisition as they lack the ability to synthesize fatty acids de novo or in sufficient quantity. Most parasitoid wasps are lipid scavengers and obtain required lipids by feeding on their hosts as larvae. Here, we studied the nutritional ecology of competitive interactions and the possibility of trophic flexibility between a native species, the pupal ectoparasitoid Nasonia vitripennis and an exotic species, the larval-pupal endoparasitoid, Tachinaephagus zealandicus. While the former species has been shown to alter host lipid content to their own benefit, we show that T. zealandicus also relies on host lipids. Competitive interactions between the two species were studied using non-choice tests, in which oviposition of T. zealandicus on a host was followed by multiparasitism by N. vitripennis. . The outcome of competition was determined by the duration of the time lag between oviposition events. N. vitripennis prevailed when arriving three days after oviposition by T. zealandicus. In contrast, nine days after oviposition by T. zealandicus, no N. vitripennis offspring survived. Only when N. vitripennis laid eggs fifteen days after T. zealandicus did both species emerge from the same host. This suggests that successful emergence of N. vitripennis in this treatment was achieved through hyperparasitism. Choice experiments with hosts at different time intervals after T. zealandicus oviposition revealed a partial mismatch in N. vitripennis females between competition avoidance and offspring performance, which may be linked to the limited co-evolutionary time interval between the native and introduced species. We discuss the role of lipids in the context of interspecific competition in parasitoids.},
}

@article {pmid41578451,
year = {2026},
author = {Chouvenc, T},
title = {Ongoing monitoring of the spread of 2 invasive subterranean termite species (Coptotermes Wasmann) in Florida (1990 to 2025).},
journal = {Journal of economic entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jee/toaf370},
pmid = {41578451},
issn = {1938-291X},
support = {//USDA-NIFA Hatch/ ; #32742//Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/ ; },
abstract = {Within the past 4 decades, the 2 invasive and destructive subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann), have established in and spread throughout Florida. Monitoring efforts, initiated in the early 1990s, have substantially expanded in the past decade, providing improved resolution of where the 2 species have increased their distribution, allowing for the determination of which communities are most at risk of infestation by either species. This study provides insights on the outcome of the "Florida Termite ID Services" program, which has involved a growing number of participating pest control companies across the state over the years. Thanks to this enhanced monitoring effort, there is now concrete evidence that the Formosan subterranean termite (C. formosanus) has established in most Florida coastal counties and within most large urban areas across the state. Contrary to initial expectations, the Asian subterranean termite (C. gestroi) has established in new localities beyond South Florida, where it was initially restricted, now impacts a growing number of communities. In South Florida specifically, the initial projection that 50% of the metropolitan area will likely be at risk of infestation by either termite species by ∼2040, remains valid. This study highlights the importance of monitoring the spread of these 2 invasive species in partnership with pest control providers, so as to continue to bring awareness of the growing termite risks to exposed communities.},
}

@article {pmid41575584,
year = {2026},
author = {Ma, Y and Xu, Q and Sun, F and Wang, X and Zhou, W and Yue, M and Gao, L and Li, W},
title = {Potassium-Solubilizing Bacteria Mediate Light-Potassium Synergy to Enable Native Pueraria lobata to Outcompete Invasive Mikania micrantha.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1007/s00248-026-02695-5},
pmid = {41575584},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {2022A1515011169//National Natural Science Foundation of China-Guangdong Joint Fund/ ; 2023S017084//Guangdong Province Science and Technology Innovation Strategic Special Project/ ; 2022s037//the Maoming City Science and Technology Plan Project/ ; 32172430//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {The invasive vine Mikania micrantha H. B. K. poses severe threats to biodiversity and ecosystem stability in tropical and subtropical regions, calling for sustainable ecological approaches. This study explores how the native legume Pueraria lobata var. thomsonii Benth displaces M. micrantha in the field, with a focus on the synergistic roles of light capture advantage and rhizosphere potassium (K) dynamics driven by specialized bacteria. In competitive ecotones, P. lobata demonstrated superior growth and photosynthetic performance relative to M. micrantha. Its main stem length was 1.31 times greater, while net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll content were 80%, 110.7%, and 21.4% higher, respectively. Soils associated with P. lobata contained significantly higher available K, correlated with enhanced enzyme activities, indicating a "microbe-enzyme-K" activation cascade. P. lobata specifically enriched efficient potassium‑solubilizing bacteria (KSB), such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. Isolated KSB strains exhibited K‑solubilizing and plant‑growth‑promoting capacities and increased the competitive balance index of P. lobata in inoculation assays. Partial least‑squares discriminant analysis confirmed that KSB‑mediated K mobilization boosted stem elongation primarily by improving photosynthetic potassium use efficiency (PKUE), forming a reinforcing "light-K-microbe" loop that drives competitive displacement. This work establishes a "microbe‑mediated invasion suppression" framework, demonstrating how a native plant can couple superior light‑use efficiency with a specialized rhizosphere microbiome to outcompete an invasive species. We propose that managing potassium‑solubilizing microbiomes offers a sustainable strategy for ecological restoration in K‑limited ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid41575557,
year = {2026},
author = {Shah, SMR and Hadayat, N and Shafqat, J and Hameed, M and Ahmad, MSA and Ahmad, F and Zia, M and Abbas, Z and Parveen, Z and Ashraf, M and Iqbal, U and Asghar, A and Fatima, S and Basharat, S},
title = {Root microstructural traits regulate ion homeostasis in bush morning glory (Ipomoea carnea Jacq.) for invasiveness success in saline environments.},
journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften},
volume = {113},
number = {1},
pages = {17},
pmid = {41575557},
issn = {1432-1904},
}

@article {pmid41568693,
year = {2026},
author = {Bonebrake, TC},
title = {Extinction threats from anthropogenic climate change and overexploitation interactions.},
journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences},
volume = {381},
number = {1942},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1098/rstb.2024.0429},
pmid = {41568693},
issn = {1471-2970},
support = {//Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee/ ; },
mesh = {*Climate Change ; *Extinction, Biological ; *Biodiversity ; *Anthropogenic Effects ; *Introduced Species ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Animals ; Humans ; },
abstract = {Over the past century and into the present, rates of overexploitation of species globally have increased significantly (for large species and small) coupled with human-caused global warming. Here, I document the primary mechanisms of extinction caused by combinations of overexploitation and climate change. Species affected in the past by one or the other (e.g. leading to distribution reduction) are often those most vulnerable to one or both (e.g. exploitation of remnant populations). There are also important trait and genetic consequences of both climate change and overexploitation that can render species vulnerable to on-going biodiversity threats. Together, changes in distributions, population sizes and traits caused by both climate change and overexploitation can lead to complex outcomes for species. Particularly in the face of habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and other escalating biodiversity threats in the Anthropocene, the combined effects of overexploitation and climate change are certain to have widespread consequences for ecosystems and the future of biodiversity. Advancement in our understanding of how these threats drive extinction and biodiversity change will provide support for improved management decisions to mitigate these consequences for human health and well-being. This article is part of the theme issue 'The biosphere in the Anthropocene'.},
}

*Climate Change
*Extinction, Biological
*Biodiversity
*Anthropogenic Effects
*Introduced Species
*Conservation of Natural Resources
Animals
Humans

@article {pmid41568689,
year = {2026},
author = {Carlton, JT and Schwindt, E},
title = {The concept of biological invasions in the Anthropocene: introductions and range expansions.},
journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences},
volume = {381},
number = {1942},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1098/rstb.2024.0420},
pmid = {41568689},
issn = {1471-2970},
mesh = {*Introduced Species ; *Biological Evolution ; Animals ; *Animal Distribution ; Humans ; Climate Change ; },
abstract = {In the warming world of the Anthropocene, as well as classically, biological invasions include introductions (introduced species) and range expansions, both of which describe the arrival of species into regions where they did not occur historically (but where they may have existed prehistorically). Such species may then become important actors on the ecological stage and may also impact many axes of human society, including the economy and health. Here we offer a detailed clarification on why range expansions are fully accommodated within the framework of biological invasions, based upon fundamental biogeographic and ecological-evolutionary principles. Critically, range expansions may occur owing to both dispersal by ocean currents, winds or birds, and by anthropogenic vectors transporting species into regions previously too cold for colonization. Thus, many range expansions may in fact be human-mediated introductions. We emphasize that invasion (as opposed to invasive) is a biogeographic concept and does not imply any particular type or level of impact. An invasion is an invasion, regardless of the source, vector, rates of movement, presumed evolutionary familiarity of arriving species with resident taxa in the sink region, geological history (prehistoric occurrences), genetics, ecology, biology or predicted consequences of a species' arrival, including predicted intensity of impacts. All of these attributes are fundamental aspects of understanding a species' past, present and future history, but do not remove a species from the category of being a new arrival in historical time in a community. This article is part of the theme issue 'The biosphere in the Anthropocene'.},
}

*Introduced Species
*Biological Evolution
Animals
*Animal Distribution
Humans
Climate Change

@article {pmid41568688,
year = {2026},
author = {Weerachai, L and Yasuhara, M and Wei, CL and Zhang, J and Hong, Y and Chiu, WR and Albano, PG and Hyams-Kaphzan, O},
title = {Ostracod introductions show how the Lessepsian invasion is undermining the unique evolutionary history of the Mediterranean Sea.},
journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences},
volume = {381},
number = {1942},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1098/rstb.2025.0192},
pmid = {41568688},
issn = {1471-2970},
support = {//Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China/ ; //The University of Hong Kong's Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research/ ; //SKLMP Seed Collaborative Research Fund/ ; //The Austrian Science Fund/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Crustacea/physiology ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Biological Evolution ; *Introduced Species ; *Biodiversity ; Fossils ; *Animal Distribution ; },
abstract = {The Lessepsian invasion, the largest marine biological invasion from the Indo-Pacific to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, can be regarded as a partial human-induced reversal of the main direction of geological-time-scale biodiversity shifts from the Tethys Sea (present Mediterranean) to the Coral Triangle (southeast Asia and Melanesia) over tens of million years. To fully understand this macroevolutionary 'round trip', we need to investigate marine taxonomic groups with high fossilization potential and excellent fossil records. One such group is ostracods (Crustacea). While ostracods are well studied in regard to their Cenozoic biodiversity shifts, almost nothing is known about their role in the Lessepsian invasion. Here, we investigate present-day shallow-marine assemblages from surface sediment samples of the Israeli shelf (eastern Mediterranean) to investigate the occurrence of non-indigenous ostracods, identifying potentially eight such species. Based on our assessment of their geographical distribution, many of them belong to lineages that moved from Tethys to the central Indo-Pacific during the Cenozoic, before the counter migration to the Mediterranean. This is the first comprehensive assessment of ostracods during the Lessepsian invasion and an important step forward to a fuller understanding of this unique 'round trip' that undermines the biogeographical and evolutionary uniqueness of the Mediterranean ecosystem. This article is part of the theme issue 'The biosphere in the Anthropocene'.},
}

Animals
*Crustacea/physiology
Mediterranean Sea
*Biological Evolution
*Introduced Species
*Biodiversity
Fossils
*Animal Distribution

@article {pmid41568687,
year = {2026},
author = {Cohen, AN},
title = {Signals of coastal marine bioinvasions in the geological record.},
journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences},
volume = {381},
number = {1942},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1098/rstb.2024.0437},
pmid = {41568687},
issn = {1471-2970},
mesh = {*Aquatic Organisms/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; *Fossils ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Changes resulting from anthropogenic biological invasions in coastal marine and estuarine waters may be preserved as signals in the fossil record. Three types of signals-species appearances, species reductions or disappearances and morphological changes in fossil remains-are discussed. Biological invasions recognized in the geological record have often been characterized by multiple species moving along a new physical connection between two previously isolated regions; however, the signal from anthropogenic marine invasions (with the possible exception of invasions through major canals) will be more diffuse, owing to the multiplicity of invasion routes and frequent changes in the dominant invasion vectors over geologically short periods of time. Governing authorities could limit the anthropogenic marine invasion signal by adequately regulating the transport and release of marine species from one part of the world to another. Unfortunately, even for what is arguably the most important and easiest to manage of modern marine invasion vectors-organisms carried in ships' ballast water tanks-the world's governments have so far failed to take the most obvious regulatory actions. This article is part of the theme issue 'The biosphere in the Anthropocene'.},
}

*Aquatic Organisms/physiology
*Introduced Species
*Fossils
Animals