Dog_Wolves_Genotypes

Genotypes of dogs (N=68) and wolves (N=115) for 11 microsatellite loc

Low maintenance gravity-driven membrane filtration using hollow fibers: Effect of reducing space for biofilm growth and control strategies on permeate flux

The implementation of centralized drinking water treatment systems necessitates lower operational costs and improved biopolymer removal during ultrafiltration (UF), which can be afforded by gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration. However, prior to implementing GDM filtration in centralized systems, biofilm growth in compacted membrane configurations, such as inside-out hollow fiber (HF), and its impact on permeate flux need to be investigated. To this end, we operated modules with distinct limits on available space for biofilm growth: (1) outside-in 1.5 mm 7-capillary HF (non-limited), (2) inside-out 1.5 mm 7-capillary HF (limited), and (3) inside-out 0.9 mm 7-capillary HF (very limited). Here, we observed that the lower the space available for biofilm growth, the lower the permeate flux. To improve GDM performance with inside-out HF, we applied daily shear stress to the biofilm surface with forward flush (FF) or combined relaxation and forward flush (R+FF). We showed that applying shear stress to the biofilm surface was insufficient for controlling flux loss due to low available space for biofilm growth. At the experimental endpoint, we backwashed with a stepwise transmembrane pressure (TMP) increase or a single TMP on all inside-out HF modules, which removed the biofilm from its base. Afterwards, higher fluxes were yielded. We also showed that all modules exhibited a gradual increase in biopolymer removal followed by stabilization between 70 and 90%. Additionally, control of biofilm growth with surface shear stress did not affect biopolymer removal. In summary, the implementation of inside-out HF with GDM filtration is challenged by low available space for biofilm growth, but may be remedied with a regular backwash to remove biofilm from its base. We showed that a wider range of GDM applications are available; making GDM potentially compatible with implementation in centralized systems, if space limitation is taken into consideration for operation optimization.ISSN:0048-9697ISSN:1879-102

Gravity-driven membrane filtration with compact second-life modules daily backwashed: An alternative to conventional ultrafiltration for centralized facilities

Gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration is a strategic alternative to conventional ultrafiltration (UF) for the resilient production of drinking water via ultrafiltration when resources become scarce, given the low dependency on energy and chemicals, and longer membrane lifetime. Implementation at large scale requires the use of compact and low-cost membrane modules with high biopolymer removal capacity. We therefore evaluated (1) to what extent stable flux can be obtained with compact membrane modules, i.e., inside-out hollow fiber membranes, and frequent gravity-driven backwash, (2) whether we can reduce membrane expenses by effectively utilizing second-life UF modules, i.e., modules that have been discarded by treatment plant operators because they are no longer under warranty, (3) if biopolymer removal could be maintained when applying a frequent backwash and with second-life modules and (4) which GDM filtration scenarios are economically viable compared to conventional UF, when considering the influence of new or second-life modules, membrane lifetime, stable flux value and energy pricing. Our findings showed that it was possible to maintain stable fluxes around 10 L/m2/h with both new and second-life modules for 142 days, but a daily gravity-driven backwash was necessary and sufficient to compensate the continuous flux drop observed with compact modules. In addition, the backwash did not affect the biopolymer removal. Costs calculations revealed two significant findings: (1) using second-life modules made GDM filtration membrane investment less expensive than conventional UF, despite the higher module requirements for GDM filtration and (2) overall costs of GDM filtration with a gravity-driven backwash were unaffected by energy prices rise, while conventional UF costs rose significantly. The later increased the number of economically viable GDM filtration scenarios, including scenarios with new modules. In summary, we proposed an approach that could make GDM filtration in centralized facilities feasible and increase the range of UF operating conditions to better adapt to increasing environmental and societal constraints.ISSN:2589-914

Raw sequencing data and ngsfilters for snow track eDNA samples

<p>Continued advancements in environmental DNA (eDNA) research have made it possible to access intraspecific variation from eDNA samples, opening new opportunities to expand non-invasive genetic studies of wildlife populations. However, the use of eDNA samples for individual genotyping, as typically performed in non-invasive genetics, still remains elusive. We present the first successful individual genotyping of eDNA obtained from snow tracks of three large carnivores: brown bear (<em>Ursus</em> <em>arctos</em>), European lynx (<em>Lynx</em> <em>lynx</em>) and wolf (<em>Canis</em> <em>lupus</em>). DNA was extracted using a protocol for isolating water eDNA and genotyped using amplicon sequencing of short tandem repeats (STR) and, for brown bear, a sex marker, on a high-throughput sequencing platform. Individual genotypes were obtained for all species, but genotyping performance differed among samples and species. The proportion of samples genotyped to individuals was higher for brown bear samples (5/7) than for wolf (7/10) and lynx (4/9), but locus genotyping success was greater for brown bear (0.88). Results for three species show that reliable individual genotyping, including sex identification, is now possible from eDNA in snow tracks, underlining its vast potential to complement the non-invasive genetic methods used for wildlife. To fully leverage the application of snow track eDNA, improved understanding of the ideal species- and site-specific sampling conditions, as well as laboratory methods promoting genotyping success are needed. This will also inform efforts to retrieve and type nuclear DNA from other eDNA samples, thereby advancing eDNA–based individual and population-level studies.</p><p>Funding provided by: European Commission<br>Crossref Funder Registry ID: https://ror.org/00k4n6c32<br>Award Number: LIFE16 NAT/SI/000634</p><p>Funding provided by: European Commission<br>Crossref Funder Registry ID: https://ror.org/00k4n6c32<br>Award Number: LIFE18 NAT/IT/000972</p><p>Funding provided by: Slovenian Research Agency<br>Crossref Funder Registry ID: https://ror.org/059bp8k51<br>Award Number: P1-0184</p><p>Funding provided by: Federal Office for the Environment<br>Crossref Funder Registry ID: https://ror.org/04t48sm91<br>Award Number: </p><p>Snow tracks of brown bear, lynx and wolf were collected opportunistically during winter in 2019, 2020 and 2022 in the Slovenian Alps and Dinaric Mountains (seven brown bear samples and nine lynx samples) and in the French Alps (ten wolf samples). For genotyping of each species, we used a set of STR markers designed for optimal multiplex amplification and HTS genotyping. The brown bear set includes 13 STR recently described and used for individual profiling from fecal DNA, with the addition of a sex-specific marker. For wolf and lynx, we used 13 new STRs. We performed sequencing on a NovaSeq platform (2x150 bp) (libraries with id DIVJA088, DIVJA089, DAB074) and on a Miniseq platform (2x150 bp) (library LF22). Amplicons were sequenced in multiplexes, and necessary information for demultiplexing is in .ngsfilter files.</p&gt

Social isolation shortens lifespan through oxidative stress in ants

Abstract Social isolation negatively affects health, induces detrimental behaviors, and shortens lifespan in social species. Little is known about the mechanisms underpinning these effects because model species are typically short-lived and non-social. Using colonies of the carpenter ant Camponotus fellah, we show that social isolation induces hyperactivity, alters space-use, and reduces lifespan via changes in the expression of genes with key roles in oxidation-reduction and an associated accumulation of reactive oxygen species. These physiological effects are localized to the fat body and oenocytes, which perform liver-like functions in insects. We use pharmacological manipulations to demonstrate that the oxidation-reduction pathway causally underpins the detrimental effects of social isolation on behavior and lifespan. These findings have important implications for our understanding of how social isolation affects behavior and lifespan in general

Assessing environmental DNA metabarcoding and camera trap surveys as complementary tools for biomonitoring of remote desert water bodies

Biodiversity assessments are indispensable tools for planning and monitoring conservation strategies. Camera traps (CT) are widely used to monitor wildlife and have proven their usefulness. Environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approaches are increasingly implemented for biomonitoring, combining sensitivity, high taxonomic coverage and resolution, non-invasiveness and easiness of sampling, but remain challenging for terrestrial fauna. However, in remote desert areas where scattered water bodies attract terrestrial species, which release their DNA into the water, this method presents a unique opportunity for their detection. In order to identify the most efficient method for a given study system, comparative studies are needed. Here, we compare CT and DNA metabarcoding of water samples collected from two desert ecosystems, the Trans-Altai Gobi in Mongolia and the Kalahari in Botswana. We recorded with CT the visiting patterns of wildlife and studied the correlation with the biodiversity captured with the eDNA approach. The aim of the present study was threefold: (a) to investigate how well waterborne eDNA captures signals of terrestrial fauna in remote desert environments, which have been so far neglected in terms of biomonitoring efforts; (b) to compare two distinct approaches for biomonitoring in such environments; and (c) to draw recommendations for future eDNA-based biomonitoring. We found significant correlations between the two methodologies and describe a detectability score based on variables extracted from CT data and the visiting patterns of wildlife. This supports the use of eDNA-based biomonitoring in these ecosystems and encourages further research to integrate the methodology in the planning and monitoring of conservation strategies

XML for EBSP analysis

XML file used in BEAST for the Extended Bayesian Skyline Plot (EBSP) analysis of H. amphibius, based on control region, cytochrome-b and nuclear HMG-2 sequence

Sequence alignments

FASTA alignments of all H. amphibius' sequences included in this study: mitochondrial control region ("Hippo_CR_all.fas"), cytochome-B ("Hippo_cytB_all.fas") and nuclear HMG-2 (Hippo_Nucl_all.fas"). Taxon ID are listed in Supplementary Table S1

XML file for molecular calibration analysis

XML file used in BEAST for the molecular calibration analysis of CR H. amphibius sequences, using the split with H. liberiensis (sequence OGR) as a reference