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1. Herbarium Specimens Provide Evidence for the Early Introduction of Erysiphe quercicola Into the United States and Document New Hosts

   https://doi.org/10.1111/efp.70072  

   Bradshaw, Michael; Paul, Andrew; Rennie, Elizabeth; Gilbert, Gregory S; Robeson, Senna; Donnelly, Ryan; Crouch, Uma; Mitchell, James; Braun, Uwe (April 2026, Forest Pathology)

   ABSTRACT The powdery mildew fungusErysiphe quercicola(Erysiphaceae) has a complex taxonomic history that has long complicated assessments of its geographic distribution and host associations. Although knowledge of the global host range of this species has expanded substantially over the past two decades, sequencing‐confirmed records from North America remain scarce, and despite its recognition as an introduced pathogen, the timing of introduction and the geographic extent and host range ofE. quercicolain the United States are poorly understood. In this study, herbarium specimens ofE. quercicolafrom North America, spanning both historical and contemporary collections, were examined using molecular phylogenetic approaches. Specimens collected from multipleQuercusspecies across several regions of the United States, as well as from related hosts within theFagaceae, were evaluated. Sequence data confirm the presence ofE. quercicolain North America onQuercusspecies based on herbarium specimens collected as early as 1944, as well as on mango (Mangifera indica;Anacardiaceae) in Florida from material collected in 1935. These records raise the possibility of historical introduction pathways associated with cultivated hosts, potentially from the horticulturally important mango tree (M. indica); however, additional multilocus phylogenetic analyses and host range inoculation experiments will be required to determine whether powdery mildew populations infecting mango andQuercusin North America represent the same lineage. Additional sequencing‐confirmed records document the species on multiple native oak species representing different sections ofQuercusincludingQ. bicolor,Q. gambelii,Q. garryana,Q. geminata,Q. kelloggii,Quercus × jolonensisandQ. macrocarpaas well as onNotholithocarpus densiflorus. Together, these findings clarify the long‐term presence ofE. quercicolain the United States, expand knowledge of its North American host range, and demonstrate the value of herbaria for reconstructing the invasion history of forest pathogens. 

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2. First Molecular Detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans pseudoshottsii From Gulf Strain Striped Bass ( Morone saxatilis )

   https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.70060  

   Rakestraw, Alex W; Fast, Kayla M; Dogbe, Magdalene; Picq, Sophie; Receveur, Joseph P; Chevillon, Christine; Guégan, Jean‐François; Pechal, Jennifer L; Jordan, Heather R; Benbow, M Eric; et al (September 2025, Journal of Fish Diseases)

   ABSTRACT Mycobacterium ulceranspseudoshottsiiis a mycolactone‐producing bacterium previously isolated from Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis(Walbaum)) from Chesapeake Bay and adjacent waters of the Atlantic Coast of North America. We report the first molecular detection of this pathogen in the native Gulf strain ofMorone saxatiliscollected from the Pearl River, Mississippi (USA). Molecular identification was conducted using a novel PCR assay targeting the parA‐625 intergenic spacer of the virulence‐associated pMUM plasmid. The isolate was unambiguously assigned toM. u. pseudoshottsiibased on diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and phylogenetic analysis. This report expands the known range ofM. u. pseudoshottsiito include Gulf Coast watersheds and highlights the need for enhanced surveillance in wild and aquacultured fish populations of the southern United States. 

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3. Ex situ spawning, larval development, and settlement in massive reef‐building corals ( Porites ) in Palau

   https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12447  

   Bennett, Matthew‐James; Grupstra, Carsten_G B; Da‐Anoy, Jeric; Andres, Maikani; Holstein, Daniel; Rossin, Ashley; Davies, Sarah W; Meyer‐Kaiser, Kirstin S (October 2024, Invertebrate Biology)

   Abstract Reproduction, embryological development, and settlement of corals are critical for survival of coral reefs through larval propagation. Yet, for many species of corals, a basic understanding of the early life‐history stages is lacking. In this study, we report our observations forex situreproduction in the massive reef‐building coralPoritescf.P. lobataacross 2 years. Spawning occurred in April and May, on the first day after the full moon with at least 2 h of darkness between sunset and moonrise, on a rising tide. Only a small proportion of corals observed had mature gametes or spawned (14–35%). Eggs were 185–311 μm in diameter, spherical, homogenous, and provisioned with 95–155 algal cells (family Symbiodiniaceae). Males spawned before females, andex situfertilization rates were high for the first 2 h after egg release. Larvae were elliptical, ~300 μm long, and symbiotic. Just 2 days after fertilization, many larvae swam near the bottom of culture dishes and were competent to settle. Settlers began calcification 2 days after metamorphosis, and tentacles were developed 10 days after attachment. Our observations contrast with previous studies by suggesting an abbreviated pelagic larval period inPoritescf.P. lobata, which could lead to the isolation of some populations. The high thermal tolerance and broad geographic range ofPoritescf.P. lobatasuggest that this species could locally adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions, especially if larvae are locally retained. The results of this study can inform future work on reproduction, larval biology, dispersal, and recruitment inPoritescf.P. lobata, which could have an ecological advantage over less resilient coral species under future climate change. 

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4. Microplastic Munchies: Exploring Microplastic Trophic Transfer Potential Between Two Key Prey Fish Species and Resident Common Bottlenose Dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) in Sarasota Bay, Florida

   https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70198  

   Martin, Estella; Wells, Randall S; Berens_McCabe, Elizabeth J; Dziobak, Miranda K; Case, Savannah M; Curtin, Tita; Conger, Eric; Gaur, Ayushi; Knowles, Millie A; Allen, Robyn Faulkner; et al (July 2026, Marine Mammal Science)

   ABSTRACT Microplastics have been identified in hundreds of species, with evidence of trophic transfer via contaminated prey. Sarasota Bay common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) serve as sentinels of coastal pollution, including plastics and chemical plasticizers. Previous research confirmed microplastic ingestion in these dolphins (100.0%,n = 7) and extensive contamination in 11 common prey species (96.5%,n = 86). This study compared microplastic characteristics in dolphins, Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta,n = 30) and pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides,n = 35), to assess potential trophic transfer. Dolphin ingestion was evaluated using gastric (n = 23) and fecal (n = 15) samples from catch‐and‐release health assessments (2022–2024), while prey gastrointestinal and muscle tissues were screened. Particles were prevalent across samples (dolphins: 82.6%, pinfish: 97.1%, toadfish: 96.7%), with fibers as the dominant shape. Raman spectroscopy confirmed plastic polymers (PL, PP, and PET) in all species. Pinfish had a higher median particle load (1.4 particles/g tissue) than toadfish (0.6 particles/g tissue;p = 0.006). Based on estimated daily food intake (5.96–6.45 kg) and diet composition (toadfish—34.1%, pinfish—38.1%), Sarasota dolphins may ingest more than 10,000 particles/day from these fish alone. Contaminated prey may be vectors for dolphin microplastic exposure. This study emphasizes the need for further research on microplastic pathways in marine food webs and implications for wildlife. 

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5. Coral Venom and Toxins as Protection Against Crown‐of‐Thorns Sea Star Attack

   https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.70202  

   Gorman, Lucy M; Huffmyer, Ariana S; Byrne, Maria; Mills, Suzanne C; Putnam, Hollie M (November 2025, Molecular Ecology)

   ABSTRACT Crown‐of‐thorns sea star (CoTS) outbreaks are a main cause of hard coral cover decline across the Indo‐Pacific, posing a major threat to the resilience of coral reefs. However, the drivers underlying CoTS feeding on preferred (e.g.,Acroporaspecies) versus non‐preferred (e.g.,Poritesspecies) are poorly understood. We hypothesised that coral venom may influence CoTS prey preferences. To investigate this hypothesis, we compared the coral venom toxin families across the genomes of preferred (A. digitifera,A. hyacinthus,A. milleporaandA. tenuis) and non‐preferred (P. australiensis,P. compressa,P. luteaandP. rus) prey species of CoTS. We also included one species from each genus inhabiting the Caribbean, where CoTS are absent (A. cervicornisandP. astreoides), to broaden our identification of venom constituents shared within each genus and investigate geographic differences. We collected known cnidarian toxins, and along with the cnidarian Tox‐Prot database, used these to identify putative toxins and investigate their phylogeny. The most abundant toxins across all coral species included neurotoxins (kunitz‐type and SCRiPS) and pore‐forming toxins (actinoporins and MAC‐PFs). We found genera‐specific differences with jellyfish toxins (CFXs) only present inPoritesspecies. Similarly, onlyAcroporaspecies harboured pore‐forming toxins with the aerolysin domain. Two toxin homologues only present in Indo‐Pacific corals (CFX and MAC‐PF homologues) showed evidence of positive selection, suggesting their evolution is shaped by environmental pressures, including exposure to CoTS. These findings provide a foundation for future studies of scleractinian venoms, which have direct applications to assessing reef coral's susceptibility to future CoTS outbreaks and active reef management. 

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