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Abstract BackgroundTrypanosomaare protozoa parasites that infect animals and can cause economic losses in cattle production.Trypanosomalive in the blood and are transmitted by hematophagous insects, such as flies in the genusTabanus.Using ecological niche models, we explored the current geography of six commonTabanusspecies in Brazil, which are considered vectors ofTrypanosoma vivaxandTr. evansiin the Neotropics. MethodsWe used georeferenced data and biotic and abiotic variables integrated using a fundamental ecological niche modeling approach. Modeling results from sixTabanusspecies were used to identify risk areas ofTrypanosomatransmission in Latin America accounting for area predicted, landscape conditions, and density of livestock. We performed Jaccard, Schoener, and Hellinger metrics to indicate the ecological niche similarities of pairs ofTabanusspecies to identify known and likely vectors overlapping in distribution across geographies. ResultsOur results revealed significant ecological niche similarities for twoTabanusspecies (T. pungensandT. sorbillans), whereasT. triangulumandT. importunushave low ecological similarity. Ecological niche models predicted risk ofTrypanosomatransmission across Neotropical countries, with the highest risk in southern South America, Venezuela, and central Mexico. ConclusionsMore than 1.6 billion cattle and 38 million horses are under a threat category for infection risk. Furthermore, we identified specific areas and livestock populations at high risk of trypanosomiasis in Latin America. This study reveals the areas, landscapes, and populations at risk ofTrypanosomainfections in livestock in the Americas. Graphical Abstract 

Abstract Purpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to share insights from recognized experts in 3D biopriniting on the recent advances in these technologies discussed during a recent workshop held in conjunction with the 2024 ISS National Laboratory Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC). We seek to answer how microgravity can be used as a disruptor to make further advances not possible through conventional means. Recent FindingsThis review will cover current efforts underway to use microgravity for 3D bioprinting. For instance multi-levitation biofabrication technology funded under the EU PULSE project is currently being used to create cardiovascular 3D in vitro models to better mimic cardiac and vascular physiology compared to organoids. These types of models could be expanded to other organ systems and disease models to use the environment of microgravity to unlock new signaling pathways to cure disease. SummaryThe major takeaway from this review is that microgravity will unlock new opportunities for 3D bioprinting that were simply not possible using conventional means. We provide forward looking answers to what microgravity will inspire from advanced biomaterials to new disease models to even creating a knowledge hub for 3D bioprinting to launch new platforms at record speeds. 

Abstract Purpose of ReviewThe share of asynchronous inverter-based resources is increasing in many electricity systems, displacing synchronous generators. This leads to a decreasing level of system inertia, which threatens electricity-system stability. This dynamic raises the question of how to secure sufficient levels of inertia. One possibility is taking a market-based approach to incentivize the installation of inertia-providing equipment. To this end, this paper reviews market designs to reimburse inertia provision that are discussed in the literature. Recent FindingsWe find five distinct market designs to remunerate inertia that are discussed in the literature—bilateral negotiation, tendering, auctions, bonus systems, and integrating inertia-related constraints into energy-market models. In addition, there are other approaches that are not based on a market mechanism—penalties, regulatory obligations, self-provision by electricity-system operators, and redispatch. We examine current approaches that are employed by Ireland, Great Britain, Australia, and Germany, which demonstrate the real-world use of these theoretical designs. We assess the five market designs based on their advantages and disadvantages. SummaryWe find that there is not a single market design that outperforms the othersvis-à-visall market-performance indicators. Which market design is suited best for a specific use case depends upon the particular circumstances. A solely market-based solution may not be sufficient to secure electricity-system stability and should be enriched with regulatory guidelines to mitigate the risk of market failure. 

Abstract BackgroundEctothermic arthropods, like ticks, are sensitive indicators of environmental changes, and their seasonality plays a critical role in the dynamics of tick-borne disease in a warming world. Juvenile tick phenology, which influences pathogen transmission, may vary across climates, with longer tick seasons in cooler climates potentially amplifying transmission. However, assessing juvenile tick phenology is challenging in arid climates because ticks spend less time seeking for blood meals (i.e. questing) due to desiccation pressures. As a result, traditional collection methods like dragging or flagging are less effective. To improve our understanding of juvenile tick seasonality across a latitudinal gradient, we examinedIxodes pacificusphenology on lizards, the primary juvenile tick host in California, and explored how climate factors influence phenological patterns. MethodsBetween 2013 and 2022, ticks were removed from 1527 lizards at 45 locations during peak tick season (March–June). Tick counts were categorized by life stage (larvae and nymphs) and linked with remotely sensed climate data, including monthly maximum temperature, specific humidity and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Juvenile phenology metrics, including tick abundances on lizards, Julian date of peak mean abundance and temporal overlap between larval and nymphal populations, were analyzed along a latitudinal gradient. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were applied to assess climate-associated variation in juvenile abundance on lizards. ResultsMean tick abundance per lizard ranged from 0.17 to 47.21 across locations, with the highest abundance in the San Francisco Bay Area and lowest in Los Angeles, where more lizards had zero ticks attached. In the San Francisco Bay Area, peak nymphal abundance occurred 25 days earlier than peak larval abundance. Temporal overlap between larval and nymphal stages at a given location varied regionally, with northern areas showing higher overlap, possibly due to the bimodal seasonality of nymphs. We found that locations with higher temperatures and increased drought stress were linked to lower tick abundances, although the magnitude of these effects depended on regional location. ConclusionsOur study, which compiled 10 years of data, reveals significant regional variation in juvenileI. pacificusphenology across California, including differences in abundance, peak timing, and temporal overlap. These findings highlight the influence of local climate on tick seasonality, with implications for tick-borne disease dynamics in a changing climate. Graphical Abstract 

Abstract BackgroundPrioritizing wild relative diversity for improving crop adaptation to emerging drought-prone environments is challenging. Here, we combine the genome-wide environmental scans (GWES) in wheat diploid ancestorAegilops tauschii(Ae. tauschii) with allele testing in the genetic backgrounds of adapted cultivars to identify diversity for improving wheat adaptation to water-limiting conditions. ResultsWe evaluate the adaptive allele effects inAe. tauschii-wheat introgression lines phenotyped for multiple traits under irrigated and water-limiting conditions using both unmanned aerial system-based imaging and conventional approaches. The GWES show that climatic gradients alone explain more than half of genomic variation inAe. tauschii, with many alleles associated with climatic factors inAe. tauschiibeing linked with improved performance of introgression lines under water-limiting conditions. We find that the most significant GWES signals associated with temperature annual range in the wild relative are linked with reduced canopy temperature in introgression lines and increased yield. ConclusionsOur results suggest that introgression of climate-adaptive alleles fromAe. tauschiihas the potential to improve wheat performance under water-limiting conditions, and that variants controlling physiological processes responsible for maintaining leaf temperature are likely among the targets of adaptive selection in a wild relative. Adaptive variation uncovered by GWES in wild relatives has the potential to improve climate resilience of crop varieties. 

Abstract BackgroundUniversal single-copy orthologs are the most conserved components of genomes. Although they are routinely used for studying evolutionary histories and assessing new assemblies, current methods do not incorporate information from available genomic data. ResultsHere, we first determine the influence of evolutionary history on universal gene content and find that across 11,098 genomes of plants, fungi, and animals comprising 2606 taxonomic groups, 215 groups significantly vary from their respective lineages in terms of BUSCO (Benchmarking Universal Single Copy Orthologs) completeness. Additionally, 169 groups display an elevated complement of duplicated orthologs, likely from ancestral whole genome duplication events. Secondly, we investigate the extent of taxonomic congruence in broad BUSCO-derived phylogenies. For 275 suitable families out of 543 tested, sites evolving at higher rates produce at most 23.84% more taxonomically concordant, and at least 46.15% less terminally variable phylogenies compared to lower-rate sites. We find that BUSCO concatenated and coalescent trees have comparable accuracy and conclude that higher rate sites from concatenated alignments produce the most congruent and least variable phylogenies. Finally, we show that undetected, yet pervasive BUSCO gene loss events lead to misrepresentations of assembly quality. To overcome this, we filter a Curated set of BUSCOs (CUSCOs) that provide up to 6.99% fewer false positives compared to the standard search and introduce novel methods for comparing assemblies using gene synteny. ConclusionsOverall, we highlight the importance of considering evolutionary histories during assembly evaluations and release the phyca software toolkit that reconstructs consistent phylogenies and offers more precise assembly assessments. 

Abstract BackgroundArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial root symbionts contributing to improved plant growth and development and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Commercial bioinoculants containing AMF are widely considered as an alternative to agrochemicals in vineyards. However, their effects on grapevine plants grown in soil containing native communities of AMF are still poorly understood. In a greenhouse experiment, we evaluated the influence of five different bioinoculants on the composition of native AMF communities of young Cabernet Sauvignon vines grown in a non-sterile soil. Root colonization, leaf nitrogen concentration, plant biomass and root morphology were assessed, and AMF communities of inoculated and non-inoculated grapevine roots were profiled using high-throughput sequencing. ResultsContrary to our predictions, no differences in the microbiome of plants exposed to native AMF communities versus commercial AMF bioinoculants + native AMF communities were detected in roots. However, inoculation induced positive changes in root traits as well as increased AMF colonization, plant biomass, and leaf nitrogen. Most of these desirable functional traits were positively correlated with the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units identified asGlomus,RhizophagusandClaroideoglomusgenera. ConclusionThese results suggest synergistic interactions between commercial AMF bioinoculants and native AMF communities of roots to promote grapevine growth. Long-term studies with further genomics, metabolomics and physiological research are needed to provide a deeper understanding of the symbiotic interaction among grapevine roots, bioinoculants and natural AMF communities and their role to promote plant adaptation to current environmental concerns. 

Abstract BackgroundSince the 1980s, Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans, hereafter brant) have shifted their winter distribution northward from Mexico to Alaska (approximately 4500 km) with changes in climate. Alongside this shift, the primary breeding population of brant has declined. To understand the population-level implications of the changing migration strategy of brant, it is important to connect movement and demographic data. Our objectives were to calculate migratory connectivity, a measure of spatial and temporal overlap during the non-breeding period, for Arctic and subarctic breeding populations of brant, and to determine if variation in migration strategies affected nesting phenology and nest survival. MethodsWe derived a migratory network using light-level geolocator migration tracks from an Arctic site (Colville River Delta) and a subarctic site (Tutakoke River) in Alaska. Using this network, we quantified the migratory connectivity of the two populations during the winter. We also compared nest success rates among brant that used different combinations of winter sites and breeding sites. ResultsThe two breeding populations were well mixed during the winter, as indicated by a migratory connectivity score close to 0 (− 0.06) at the primary wintering sites of Izembek Lagoon, Alaska (n = 11 brant) and Baja California, Mexico (n = 48). However, Arctic birds were more likely to migrate the shorter distance to Izembek (transition probability = 0.24) compared to subarctic birds (transition probability = 0.09). Nest survival for both breeding populations was relatively high (0.88–0.92), and we did not detect an effect of wintering site on nest success the following year. ConclusionsNest survival of brant did not differ among brant that used wintering sites despite a 4500 km difference in migration distances. Our results also suggested that the growing Arctic breeding population is unlikely to compensate for declines in the larger breeding population of brant in the subarctic. However, this study took place in 2011–2014 and wintering at Izembek Lagoon may have greater implications for reproductive success under future climate conditions. 

Abstract BackgroundRapid morphological change is emerging as a consequence of climate change in many systems. It is intuitive to hypothesize that temporal morphological trends are driven by the same selective pressures that have established well-known ecogeographic patterns over spatial environmental gradients (e.g., Bergman’s and Allen’s rules). However, mechanistic understanding of contemporary morphological shifts is lacking. ResultsWe combine morphological data and whole genome sequencing from a four-decade dataset in the migratory bird hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) to test whether morphological shifts over time are accompanied by genetic change. Using genome-wide association, we identify alleles associated with body size, bill length, and wing length. Shifts in morphology and concordant shifts in morphology-associated alleles over time would support a genetic basis for the observed changes in morphology over recent decades, potentially an adaptive response to climate change. In our data, bill size decreases were paralleled by genetic shifts in bill size-associated alleles. On the other hand, alleles associated with body size showed no shift in frequency over time. ConclusionsTogether, our results show mixed support for evolutionary explanations of morphological response to climate change. Temporal shifts in alleles associated with bill size support the hypothesis that selection is driving temporal morphological trends. The lack of evidence for genetic shifts in body size alleles could be explained by a large role of plasticity or technical limitations associated with the likely polygenic architecture of body size, or both. Disentangling the mechanisms responsible for observed morphological response to changing environments will be vital for predicting future organismal and population responses to climate change. 

Abstract ObjectivesThe University of Arizona Field Scanner (FS) is capable of generating massive amounts of data from a variety of instruments at high spatial and temporal resolution. The accompanying field infrastructure beneath the system offers capacity for controlled irrigation regimes in a hot, arid environment. Approximately 194 terabytes of raw and processed phenotypic image data were generated over two growing seasons (2020 and 2022) on a population of 434 sequence-indexed, EMS-mutagenized sorghum lines in the genetic background BTx623; the population was grown under well-watered and water-limited conditions. Collectively, these data enable links between genotype and dynamic, drought-responsive phenotypes, which can accelerate crop improvement efforts. However, analysis of these data can be challenging for researchers without background knowledge of the system and preliminary processing. Data descriptionThis dataset contains formatted tabular data generated from sensing system outputs suitable for a wide range of end-users and includes plant-level bounding areas, temperatures, and point cloud characteristics, as well as plot-level photosynthetic parameters and accompanying weather data. The dataset includes approximately 422 megabytes of tabular data totaling 1,903,412 unique unfiltered rows of FS data, 526,917 cleaned rows of FS data, and 285 rows of weather data from the two field seasons.