Replication Data for: Wide lag time distributions break a trade-off between reproduction and survival in bacteria

Code and text file with parameter values to replicate simulations presented in Figure 6 of the paper. The code produces two files per replicate with the values of the traits u and v in the population over evolutionary time. The parameters can be adjusted in the text file and are: K = carrying capacity; n0= initial size of the population at the start of a growth cycle; doubrate= doubling rate; u0= initial value of u for all individuals in the population; v0= initial value of v for all individuals in the population; u= mutation rate; mutsize= size of a mutational step; numrep= number of evolutionary replicates to run; numcycles = number of growth cycles per replicate (the default is to run each simulation until >95% of the individuals have u=0 but the simulations can also be run for a fixed number of growth cycles per replicate which is set by this parameter. To use this option go to lines 71-72 of the code and change accordingly)

Philopatry yields higher fitness than dispersal in a cooperative breeder with sex-specific life history trajectories

Social evolution is tightly linked to dispersal decisions, but the ecological and social factors selecting for philopatry or dispersal often remain obscure. Elucidating selection mechanisms underlying alternative life histories requires measurement of fitness effects in the wild. We report on a long-term field study of 496 individually marked cooperatively breeding fish, showing that philopatry is beneficial as it increases breeding tenure and lifetime reproductive success in both sexes. Dispersers predominantly join established groups and end up in smaller groups when they ascend to dominance. Life history trajectories are sex specific, with males growing faster, dying earlier, and dispersing more, whereas females more likely inherit a breeding position. Increased male dispersal does not seem to reflect an adaptive preference but rather sex-specific differences in intrasexual competition. Cooperative groups may thus be maintained because of inherent benefits of philopatry, of which females seem to get the greater share in social cichlids

Biodegradation of synthetic polymers in soils: Tracking carbon into CO2and microbial biomass

Plastic materials are widely used in agricultural applications to achieve food security for the growing world population. The use of biodegradable instead of nonbiodegradable polymers in single-use agricultural applications, including plastic mulching, promises to reduce plastic accumulation in the environment. We present a novel approach that allows tracking of carbon from biodegradable polymers into CO2 and microbial biomass. The approach is based on 13C-labeled polymers and on isotope-specific analytical methods, including nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). Our results unequivocally demonstrate the biodegradability of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), an important polyester used in agriculture, in soil. Carbon from each monomer unit of PBAT was used by soil microorganisms, including filamentous fungi, to gain energy and to form biomass. This work advances both our conceptual understanding of polymer biodegradation and the methodological capabilities to assess this process in natural and engineered environments.© 2018 The Author

A brief multi-disciplinary review on antimicrobial resistance in medicine and its linkage to the global environmental microbiota

The discovery and introduction of antimicrobial agents to clinical medicine was one of the greatest medical triumphs of the 20th century that revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the gradual emergence of populations of antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic bacteria resulting from use, misuse, and abuse of antimicrobials has today become a major global health concern. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes have been suggested to originate from environmental bacteria, as clinically relevant resistance genes have been detected on the chromosome of environmental bacteria. As only a few new antimicrobials have been developed in the last decade, the further evolution of resistance poses a serious threat to public health. Urgent measures are required not only to minimize the use of antimicrobials for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes but also to look for alternative strategies for the control of bacterial infections. This review examines the global picture of antimicrobial resistance, factors that favor its spread, strategies, and limitations for its control and the need for continuous training of all stake-holders i.e., medical, veterinary, public health, and other relevant professionals as well as human consumers, in the appropriate use of antimicrobial drugs

European Reference Genome Atlas Community - Phase 1 Members - 2020-2023

This dataset presents a comprehensive list of members registered as part of the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA, erga-biodiversity.eu) Community during ERGA Phase 1, which spanned from 2020 to 2023. The dataset includes information on the various roles undertaken by these members, particularly those who played a key role in establishing ERGA. Founding members are individuals who joined ERGA prior to the first leadership elections in February 2021, and they were instrumental in building the initial structure of ERGA. Some of these founding members were also involved in the establishment of different ERGA Committees. The dataset further includes details about the current and former core members and chairs of the ERGA committees. Additionally, it provides a list of the current (2023) and former Council members, along with the countries they represent. The dataset is organised in alphabetical order for ease of reference. The co-authors of this dataset encompass both current and former ERGA Council members, listed in alphabetical order, and the current ERGA chair, as the last author