Problems of multi-species organisms: endosymbionts to holobionts

The organism is one of the fundamental concepts of biology and has been at the center of many discussions about biological individuality, yet what exactly it is can be confusing. The definition that we find generally useful is that an organism is a unit in which all the subunits have evolved to be highly cooperative, with very little conflict. We focus on how often organisms evolve from two or more formerly independent organisms. Two canonical transitions of this type—replicators clustered in cells and endosymbiotic organelles within host cells—demonstrate the reality of this kind of evolutionary transition and suggest conditions that can favor it. These conditions include co-transmission of the partners across generations and rules that strongly regulate and limit conflict, such as a fair meiosis. Recently, much attention has been given to associations of animals with microbes involved in their nutrition. These range from tight endosymbiotic associations like those between aphids and Buchnera bacteria, to the complex communities in animal intestines. Here, starting with a reflection about identity through time (which we call “Theseus’s fish”), we consider the distinctions between these kinds of animal–bacteria interactions and describe the criteria by which a few can be considered jointly organismal but most cannot

Environment

The topic of this issue is the "Environment". Firstly, Ellie Martus examines Russia’s solid waste problem, arguing that despite strong policy activity, the scope of the “rubbish reforms” is limited and focused on attracting private-sector investment rather than addressing broader issues around recycling and sustainability. Secondly, Nikolay I. Shiklomanov focuses on the problematic Soviet-era legacy of decrepit Arctic infrastructure in urban areas in permafrost regions. Finally, Elizabeth Plantan provides a brief overview of environmental activism in Russia.Das Thema dieser Ausgabe ist die "Umwelt". Als Erstes untersucht Ellie Martus das russische Abfallproblem und argumentiert, dass trotz starker politischer Aktivitäten der Umfang der "Müllreformen" begrenzt ist. Im Zuge dieser Reformen konzentriert man sich eher auf das Gewinnen von Investoren aus dem Privatsektor als auf breiteren Themen wie Recycling und Nachhaltigkeit. Als Zweites befasst sich Nikolay I. Shiklomanov mit einem problematischen Erbe aus der Sowjetzeit: Verfallene arktische Infrastruktur in städtischen Gebieten, die in Permafrostregionen liegen. Zum Schluss gibt Elizabeth Plantan einen kurzen Überblick über den Umweltaktivismus in Russland.ISSN:1863-042