Gut microbiota variations in wild yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) are associated with sex and habitat disturbance

Although male and female mammals differ in biological traits and functional needs, the contribution of this sexual dimorphism to variations in gut bacteria and fungi (gut microbiota) in relation to habitat type has not been fully examined. To understand whether the combination of sex and habitat affects gut microbiota variation, we analyzed 40 fecal samples of wild yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) living in contrasting habitat types (intact, well-protected vs. fragmented, less protected forests) in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. Sex determination was performed using the marker genes SRY (Sex-determining Region Y) and DDX3X-DDX3Y (DEAD-Box Helicase 3). Samples were attributed to 34 individuals (19 females and 15 males) belonging to five social groups. Combining the results of sex determination with two amplicon sequencing datasets on bacterial (V1-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene) and fungal (ITS2) gut communities, we found that overall, baboon females had a significantly higher gut bacterial richness compared to males. Beta diversity estimates indicated that bacterial composition was significantly different between males and females, and this was true for individuals from both well- and less protected forests. Our results highlight the combined role of sex and habitat type in shaping variation in gut microbial communities in wild non-human primates

Agronomia e difesa fitosanitaria contro l’afide lanigero del melo

La recrudescenza degli attacchi di E. lanigerum e le restrizioni nella disponibilità di insetticidi (uscita dal mercato di spirotetramat e incertezze sul futuro di pirimicarb) impongono una ridefinizione delle strategie aficide del melo che devono partire dalla corretta gestione agronomica e devono ottimizzare i prodotti disponibili in termini di timing applicativi e numero di intervent

Innovative tools for nitrogen fertilization traceability in organic farming products: a cauliflower case study

Different research works have been carried out over the years to investigate new and reliable systems to test the authenticity of products obtained using organic cultivation methods. Based on a previously proposed integrated approach for discriminating organic from conventional products through the acquisition of isotopic data and other chemical and biochemical parameters, we herein report the results of an open-field cultivation case study for cauliflower crop. Experiments were carried out on soil, leaves, and corymb samples of cauliflowers grown using six different nitrogen fertilization treatments (organic, conventional, and mixed at different % of mineral fertilizers). The results of this study have shown that a multivariate analysis of isotopic data (13C/12C; 15N/14N, 34S/32S, 2H/1H, and 18O/16O isotopic ratios) combined with other parameters (fresh weight, total soluble solids, total acidity, cut resistance, CIE L*, a*, b* color indices, head height, head diameter, ascorbic acid content, total polyphenols, and ORAC units) performed using the linear discriminant analysis method gives researchers the possibility to discriminate organic products from conventional ones. Our study highlighted that the different isotopic signatures impressed on the cauliflowers by the different nitrogenous sources combined with the qualitative pattern of the crop, significantly affected by the different treatments, could effectively be jointly used to trace the organic origin of the cro

Stable isotope ratio analysis: an emerging tool to trace the origin of falsified medicines

Falsified medicines pose a serious threat to global public health. Over the past few decades, the number of public health issues and seizures of falsified medicines has dramatically increased across the world. The development of new analytical techniques for the identification and traceability of these products hold great promise for innovation to help curtail the high number of deaths caused by the lack of adequate treatments and in combating the criminals responsible for manufacturing these products. This review presents the main approaches, based on stable isotope ratios of the bio-elements, mainly Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry and Site-specific Natural Isotopic Fractionation by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, that can contribute to identifying the origin of these products, both in terms of geographical origin and raw materials employed as well as for the batch controls by the producer

Landscape of microalgae omics and metabolic engineering research for strain improvement: an overview

The unique metabolic capabilities and fast growth rates of microalgae render them promising candidates for various industrial applications, such as biofuel production, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and wastewater treatment. Metabolic engineering is a powerful approach used to enhance the sustainable production of high-value compounds in microalgae, improve their stress tolerance, growth characteristics and suitability for large-scale cultivation. This review provides a snapshot of the current state of knowledge on omics and metabolic engineering research to further enhance our understanding on microalgal metabolism and enable the development of optimized strains with improved productivity and functionality. More specifically, it focuses on the recent breakthroughs in microalgal omics, driven by advancements in genomics technologies, such as improved sequencing platforms and bioinformatics tools, that have enabled the functional characterization of key genes, identification of metabolic pathways, and elucidation of microalgae cell physiology. Conventional and state-of-the-art genetic engineering approaches used in the last decades to manipulate the metabolic pathways of microalgae in a targeted manner, are highlighted in the scope of microalgal optimization. In this review, the different applications of genetic engineering and their impact on microalgae industry are also discussed. Integrating pan-omics data in future research is crucial for predicting novel functional interactions and identifying aspects of metabolic flux, towards enhancing algal strain-engineering technique

FSC forest certification effects on biodiversity: A global review and meta-analysis

FSC is a worldwide recognized forest certification scheme, that aims to promote the environmentally responsible management and conservation of the world's forests. Despite its broad application, there is little evidence of its effect on biodiversity. To address this important knowledge gap, here we conducted a systematic review and a hierarchical meta-analysis of the effects of FSC on biodiversity worldwide. Our review yielded 57 studies spanning 2004–2022. Most studies were in the Americas and Europe (31 % and 28 %, respectively), and largely focused on vascular plants (41 %). Half (51 %) of the studies aimed to determine the effect of FSC certification on biodiversity. There were 15 studies with sufficient information for meta-analysis, resulting in 231 effect sizes for mammal, bird, and vascular plant abundance and 10 for vascular plant richness. Overall, there is a neutral effect of certification on taxa abundance, with only a positive effect on mammal assemblages. Responses varied considerably between mammals' traits. Threatened species, individuals with reduced body weight, and omnivorous species benefit from management under the FSC scheme. Vascular plant richness exhibited significantly higher values in FSC-certified areas. Moreover, the abundance of vascular plants also differs among traits, with shrubs and adult trees benefiting from FSC certification. Our systematic review and meta-analysis revealed strong variation in biodiversity responses to FSC, and major geographic and taxonomic knowledge gaps. The overall neutral effect and the divergent responses of taxa and species traits suggest that taxa/species-specific management and improvement of FSC criteria are require

There can be only one: the two-year spread of Procambarus clarkii in a Faxonius limosus infested small perialpine lake in Trentino (Northeast Italy)

A containment campaign to prevent the spread of Faxonius limosus was conducted in June, July and September 2023 and repeated in 2024, in Costa Lake, a Special Area of Conservation of about 1 hectare surface area, where this IAS was first recorded in spring 2021. Unexpectedly, in June 2023 we trapped 38 adult Procambarus clarkii in the NW part of the lake, suggesting a recent point of introduction. Procambarus clarkii showed a high invasive potential, spreading quickly in 2023 to the whole lake perimeter and its emissary canal; its body size was much larger than that of F. limosus, with two main size classes, one (50-60 mm cephalothorax length) corresponding to the individuals introduced most likely in the fall 2022 (2 years old), and a second class (40-50 mm) representing the new generation born in the lake. In July 2024, we recorded three main size classes: about half of the P. clarkii population belonged to the 50-60 mm size class (2 years old), while the remaining was evenly distributed between the size classes of 40-50 mm (new generation) and 60-70 mm, i.e., older individuals (4 years old). F. limosus did not show significant shifts in size: in both years the majority of the individuals belonged to the 30-40 mm size class. The much larger size of P. clarkii, longer time span, fast dispersion ability, suggest a future dominance of P. clarkii and possible disappearance of F. limosus, with relevant risk of spread of this new, more invasive species to the upstream, hydrologically connected, water bodies