- by Poliserpi, M. B., Fernandez-Vizcaino, E., Brodeur, J.Thiamethoxam (TMX) is a neonicotinoid insecticide widely used for seed treatment in agriculture. Birds can be exposed to TMX by ingesting unburied seeds after sowing. This study evaluated the toxicological effects of such an exposure scenario in a common farmland passerine Agelaioides badius. Birds were subjected to a 21-day dietary exposure of TMX-treated seeds at 0 (control), 0.027 (low), 0.33 (medium), and 4.3 (high) g TMX/kg seed (N=8 per group), representative of typical agricultural practices. A dose-dependent increase in seed […]
- by Fernandez Vizcaino, E., Molero-Baltanas, R., Carbonell, J. A., Gaju-Ricart, M., Camacho, A.Measuring behavioural and physiological thermal limits is crucial to understanding how they interact with the environment under a climate change scenario. We experimentally assessed the effects of acclimation on sequentially measured voluntary (VTmax), critical (CTmax), and upper thermal limit (UTL) limits in the Mediterranean silverfish Sceletolepisma guadianicum. Individuals were acclimated for six days at either 25{degrees}C (n=32) or 35{degrees}C (n=29) and heated at [~]0.5{degrees}C/min, and VTmax, CTmax, and lethal limits were recorded. S. guadianicum exhibited some of the highest thermal […]
- by Denagde, R. T., Nuguse, M.Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is a key species in aquaculture but faces challenges related to premature sexual maturity and prolific breeding. This study investigated the effects of dietary papaya seed powder (PSP) on growth performance, reproductive parameters, and survival of Nile tilapia under controlled laboratory conditions. Juvenile fish were fed diets containing 0 (control), 2, 4, and 6 g PSP/kg feed. Results demonstrated that moderate PSP inclusion (4 g/kg, T2) significantly enhanced growth, feed conversion efficiency, and survival rate (90%), […]
- by Iwasa-Arai, T., Linse, K., Andrade, S. C. d. S., Giribet, G.Peracarida is a large group containing twelve orders of brooding crustaceans, including the large orders Amphipoda, Isopoda, Tanaidacea and Cumacea, and a series of smaller orders, some restricted to isolated habitats. The relationships of Peracarida have been disputed and no attempt has been made to use extensive taxon sampling with a modern genetic approach. Here we present a novel probe set of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) developed for peracarids to investigate higher-level relationships using newly collected Antarctic material and collection-based specimens. […]
- by Uchida, T., Yamashita, H., Shimada, G., Kawamitsu, M., Shoguchi, E., Shinzato, C.Giant clams are representative bivalves in coral reef ecosystems that host photosynthetic dinoflagellates extracellularly and rely on their photosynthates, functioning as "solar-powered animals." Unlike corals, which harbor intracellular dinoflagellates, molecular mechanisms and evolutionary history underlying this symbiosis remain largely unknown. Here, we integrated chromosome-scale genome assembly, transcriptome profiling, and bleaching experiments involving Tridacna crocea to explore the genetic basis of extracellular symbiosis. Signals associated with sterol transport by Niemann-Pick disease type C2 (NPC2) transporters and carbon-concentrating mechanisms suggest that giant […]
- by Ansari, R. M., Modi, S.The coastline of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is among the most anthropogenically altered in the country. Despite this, documentation of the regions intertidal marine diversity remains limited. A lack of taxonomic research has led to inconsistencies in species identification and inadequate ecosystem representation. This study addresses these issues by focusing on the Molluscan class Gastropoda from the intertidal regions within the MMR. We present the spatial distribution of gastropod assemblages from 28 rocky, sandy and muddy intertidal sites within […]
- by Perdomo-Balaguera, E., Ariza-Campo, K., Atencio, L., Usme-Ciro, J. A., Parra Henao, G.Aedes albopictus is widely distributed throughout the world. It was introduced into the Americas in 1985 and is considered a vector for arboviruses such as dengue. The species has been reported in fifteen departments of the country. With this brief communication, we aim to report the finding of Ae. albopictus in five municipalities in the department of Magdalena. Between June and November 2025, adult mosquitoes were collected and breeding sites were inspected in the five municipalities. Both the collected adults […]
- by Brockelsby, K., Davis, E. J., Roden, O. A., Shamsyna, V., Fuller, R. C.Sexual dimorphism provides insight into how trait optima differ between males and females, despite their shared genome. Measuring sexual dimorphism can help identify which traits have been shaped by sexual selection. While fish morphology has been widely described, fewer studies have quantified sexual dimorphism across all fin types–pectoral, pelvic, dorsal, anal, and caudal. Fins are often overlooked due to their small size, tendency to fold against the body, and poor preservation post-collection. In this study, we quantified sexual dimorphism in […]
- by He, Y., Xi, X., Zeng, S., Huang, H., Zhan, X., Wang, D.Identifying key factors influencing the survival of animals, particularly rare and endangered species is crucial to biodiversity conservation. In birds, hatching failure is pronounced in endangered species. Accurate assessment of egg development and the ability to distinguish non-viable eggs are essential prerequisites for identifying the causes of hatching failure and applying appropriate conservation practices. The Crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), a flagship endangered species, has a long history of captive breeding, which has contributed to population recovery. However, little is known […]
- by Yin, D., Li, Q., YI, T.Toxoplasma gondii, a medically significant zoonotic protozoan, relies on surface SAG-family antigens for host adhesion and immune evasion. SRS67 and SRS20A, two such antigens, are hypothesized to be highly immunogenic. Here, we comprehensively evaluated their immunological properties and protective efficacy in mice. Recombinant SRS67 and SRS20A, produced via prokaryotic expression, induced high-titer, specific polyclonal antisera in BALB/c mice and rabbits. Western blotting confirmed these antisera recognized native RH strain tachyzoite antigens, validating strong immunogenicity. qPCR showed SRS67 transcription was higher […]
- by Plewnia, A., Boistel, R., Heine, C., Hildwein, T., Quezada-Riera, A. B., Teran-Valdez, A., Reyes-Puig, J. P., Loetters, S.Harlequin toads (Atelopus) are among the most threatened vertebrates, yet their trophic ecology remains poorly understood due to the virtual disappearance of most populations and non-invasive sampling constraints. Here, we combine DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples from six surviving harlequin toad species from Ecuador with synchrotron-based microtomography of historic, fluid-preserved material of seven species across all major clades of the genus to assess dietary composition. Metabarcoding revealed a diverse invertebrate diet with marked ecological segregation between habitats, suggesting specialization on […]
- by Dobrowlowski, N., Perl, C. D., Brumfield, J., Christie, J., Rodriguez-Guevara, R., Durosaro, S. O., Barrett, M.In the wild, animals may be able to compensate for nutritional inadequacies through foraging for novel resources; however, on farms, animals have more limited nutritional options. Therefore, providing adequate and accessible nutrition is essential to positive farmed animal welfare. Billions of yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor; Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are farmed as mini-livestock each year for use as food and feed. The major feedstock used, wheat bran, can sustain complete development of the species, but has been shown to have significantly lower […]
- by Morera-Pujol, V., Byrne, A. W., Barret, D., Breslin, P., McGrath, G., Quinn, D. J., Ciuti, S.Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), a zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis, continues to challenge eradication efforts in Ireland and the UK, partly due to the role of the European badger (Meles meles) as a wildlife reservoir. Traditional management strategies often rely on sett (burrow) locations to infer badger distribution, which implicitly assumes a correlation with abundance. This study uses data from Irelands national badger culling and vaccination programme (2019-2025) to decouple badger and sett distributions using spatial point process modelling via […]
- by Aramayo, V.Eight fish species were recorded in a heavily impacted coastal lagoon on the central Peruvian coast. Despite anthropogenic pressures such as waste disposal and habitat fragmentation, the lagoon still supports a typical estuarine fish assemblage, reflecting the resilience of this ecosystem. A total of 2357 individuals representing eight species, seven families, and five orders were collected. The identified species were Bryconamericus peruanus, Dormitator latifrons, Lebiasina bimaculata, Poecilia reticulata, Ctenogobius sagittula, Mugil cephalus, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum, and Aequidens rivulatus. Among these, B. […]
- by Hubert, D. L., Bentz, E. J., Mason, R. T.Balancing survival and reproduction presents a fundamental evolutionary challenge, especially in extreme and unpredictable environments. Thermoregulatory behavior in particular imposes a costly trade-off, as time spent maintaining optimal body temperature precludes other essential activities and forces individuals to balance competing selective pressures. By combining field observations, behavioral assays, and gene expression profiling of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), we describe how an ectothermic vertebrate navigates this trade-off in an extreme thermal environment through a combination of finely tuned mechanisms […]
- by Mohammad, A., Hongsu, H., Ali, A., Zhao, J., Wu, Y., Alam, U., Dai, J., Zhao, C., Zhao, T., Hui, Z., Zhihua, S.Ticks are ectoparasitic arthropods that play a significant role in transmitting pathogens to humans and animals. This study aimed to address the research gap in understanding the morphological diversity and distribution of tick species in Swabi, Mardan, and Charsadda districts of Pakistan, where tick-borne diseases are prevalent but poorly documented. The primary objectives were to identify tick species, document their morphological characteristics, and map their distribution patterns across different habitats. Field surveys were conducted over nine months, collecting tick specimens […]
- by Brownstein, C. D., Andriotis, K., Haynes, C. B., Sturm, N. D., Kuhajda, B. R., Near, T. J.Southeastern North America harbors the richest freshwater biodiversity hotspot in the northern hemisphere and is home to numerous species with extremely narrow ranges. Among these are the six species of the Etheostoma chermocki species complex, which exclusively inhabit small streams spanning fewer than 100 square kilometers in Alabama, USA. One of these species, the Birmingham Darter Etheostoma birminghamense, was described in April 2025 from Valley Creek and its associated tributaries, which extend into the urban core of Birmingham, AL, and […]
- by Chai, Y.Parthenogenesis, clonal propagation by only female, is a common asexual reproduction model. Without sexual gene recombination, it is hypothesized that the deficiency of genotypic variation and accumulation of deleterious mutations reduce the fitness of parthenogenetic lineages confronted with environmental fluctuations, which is also regarded as evolutionary dead end. There should be specific life-history strategies to explain why parthenogenesis has been existing successfully. We constructed a family pedigree for rotifer spanning six generations, comprising 1200 individuals with identical genetic background in […]
- by Iwanicki, T., Maximenko, N., Dunn, C., Church, S. H., Goodwin, D. S., Helm, R. R.Organismal mirror asymmetry is common in nature, where an individual may have either a left- or right-handed form; however, the causes and consequences of this asymmetry have long fascinated and perplexed biologists. The cnidarian by-the-wind sailor jelly Velella is globally distributed, floating on the sea surface and harnessing the wind with a protruding fleshy sails that develop either a left-handed or right-handed orientation. For over 60 years, scientists have postulated that this handedness is related to wind-sorting, and enables a […]
- by Toth, A. G., Bende, A., Hornok, S., Wagenhoffer, Z., Szulyovszky, B., Galla, V., Voroskoi, P., Keve, G.Lipoptena fortisetosa is a louse fly of East Asian origin that is considered a potential vector of several pathogenic bacteria and is most commonly associated with deer (Cervidae). The species has been detected in multiple countries in Europe; however, its exact distribution range is unknown. A single individual was detected on a dog at a veterinary clinic in Budapest, Hungary, a country where the presence of L. fortisetosa has not yet been confirmed. After acquiring information regarding the recent whereabouts […]
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