ALBERT

Description: Trees structure the Earth's most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response to environmental change, as very little is known about most tropical tree species. A focus on the common species may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns of common tree species using inventory data on 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations1-6 in closed-canopy, structurally intact old-growth tropical forests in Africa, Amazonia and Southeast Asia. We estimate that 2.2%, 2.2% and 2.3% of species comprise 50% of the tropical trees in these regions, respectively. Extrapolating across all closed-canopy tropical forests, we estimate that just 1,053 species comprise half of Earth's 800 billion tropical trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm. Despite differing biogeographic, climatic and anthropogenic histories7, we find notably consistent patterns of common species and species abundance distributions across the continents. This suggests that fundamental mechanisms of tree community assembly may apply to all tropical forests. Resampling analyses show that the most common species are likely to belong to a manageable list of known species, enabling targeted efforts to understand their ecology. Although they do not detract from the importance of rare species, our results open new opportunities to understand the world's most diverse forests, including modelling their response to environmental change, by focusing on the common species that constitute the majority of their trees.

Description: The carbon balance of peatlands is predicted to shift from a sink to a source this century. However, peatland ecosystems are still omitted from the main Earth system models that are used for future climate change projections, and they are not considered in integrated assessment models that are used in impact and mitigation studies. By using evidence synthesized from the literature and an expert elicitation, we define and quantify the leading drivers of change that have impacted peatland carbon stocks during the Holocene and predict their effect during this century and in the far future. We also identify uncertainties and knowledge gaps in the scientific community and provide insight towards better integration of peatlands into modelling frameworks. Given the importance of the contribution by peatlands to the global carbon cycle, this study shows that peatland science is a critical research area and that we still have a long way to go to fully understand the peatland–carbon–climate nexus.

Description: Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Argentina, Neocamarosporium halophilum in leaf spots of Atriplex undulata. Australia, Aschersonia merianiae on scale \ninsect (Coccoidea), Curvularia huamulaniae isolated from air, Hevansia mainiae on dead spider, Ophiocordyceps \npoecilometigena on Poecilometis sp. Bolivia, Lecanora menthoides on sandstone, in open semi-desert montane \nareas, Sticta monlueckiorum corticolous in a forest, Trichonectria epimegalosporae on apothecia of corticolous Megalospora sulphurata var. sulphurata, Trichonectria puncteliae on the thallus of Punctelia borreri. Brazil, Catenomargarita \npseudocercosporicola (incl. Catenomargarita gen. nov.) hyperparasitic on Pseudocercospora fijiensis on leaves of \nMusa acuminata, Tulasnella restingae on protocorms and roots of Epidendrum fulgens. Bulgaria, Anthracoidea \numbrosae on Carex spp. Croatia, Hymenoscyphus radicis from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Microthlaspi \nerraticum, Orbilia multiserpentina on wood of decorticated branches of Quercus pubescens. France, Calosporella \npunctatispora on dead corticated twigs of Acer opalus. French West Indies (Martinique), Eutypella lechatii on dead \ncorticated palm stem. Germany, Arrhenia alcalinophila on loamy soil. Iceland, Cistella blauvikensis on dead grass \n(Poaceae). India, Fulvifomes maritimus on living Peltophorum pterocarpum, Fulvifomes natarajanii on dead wood \nof Prosopis juliflora, Fulvifomes subazonatus on trunk of Azadirachta indica, Macrolepiota bharadwajii on moist \nsoil near the forest, Narcissea delicata on decaying elephant dung, Paramyrothecium indicum on living leaves of \nHibiscus hispidissimus, Trichoglossum syamviswanathii on moist soil near the base of a bamboo plantation. Iran, \nVacuiphoma astragalicola from stem canker of Astragalus sarcocolla. Malaysia, Neoeriomycopsis fissistigmae (incl. \nNeoeriomycopsidaceae fam. nov.) on leaf spots on flower Fissistigma sp. Namibia, Exophiala lichenicola lichenicolous on Acarospora cf. luederitzensis. Netherlands, Entoloma occultatum on soil, Extremus caricis on dead leaves \nof Carex sp., Inocybe pseudomytiliodora on loamy soil. Norway, Inocybe guldeniae on calcareous soil, Inocybe

Description: Understanding what controls global leaf type variation in trees is crucial for \ncomprehending their role in terrestrial ecosystems, including carbon, water \nand nutrient dynamics. Yet our understanding of the factors infuencing \nforest leaf types remains incomplete, leaving us uncertain about the global \nproportions of needle-leaved, broadleaved, evergreen and deciduous \ntrees. To address these gaps, we conducted a global, ground-sourced \nassessment of forest leaf-type variation by integrating forest inventory \ndata with comprehensive leaf form (broadleaf vs needle-leaf) and habit \n(evergreen vs deciduous) records. We found that global variation in leaf \nhabit is primarily driven by isothermality and soil characteristics, while leaf \nform is predominantly driven by temperature. Given these relationships, \nwe estimate that 38% of global tree individuals are needle-leaved evergreen, \n29% are broadleaved evergreen, 27% are broadleaved deciduous and \n5% are needle-leaved deciduous. The aboveground biomass distribution \namong these tree types is approximately 21% (126.4\xe2\x80\x89Gt), 54% (335.7\xe2\x80\x89Gt), 22% \n(136.2\xe2\x80\x89Gt) and 3% (18.7\xe2\x80\x89Gt), respectively. We further project that, depending \non future emissions pathways, 17\xe2\x80\x9334% of forested areas will experience \nclimate conditions by the end of the century that currently support a \ndiferent forest type, highlighting the intensifcation of climatic stress on \nexisting forests. By quantifying the distribution of tree leaf types and their \ncorresponding biomass, and identifying regions where climate change will \nexert greatest pressure on current leaf types, our results can help improve \npredictions of future terrestrial ecosystem functioning and carbon cycling.

Description: Forests are a substantial terrestrial carbon sink, but anthropogenic changes in land \nuse and climate have considerably reduced the scale of this system1 \n. Remote-sensing \nestimates to quantify carbon losses from global forests2\xe2\x80\x935 \n are characterized by \nconsiderable uncertainty and we lack a comprehensive ground-sourced evaluation to \nbenchmark these estimates. Here we combine several ground-sourced6 \n and satellitederived approaches2,7,8 \n to evaluate the scale of the global forest carbon potential \noutside agricultural and urban lands. Despite regional variation, the predictions \ndemonstrated remarkable consistency at a global scale, with only a 12% diference \nbetween the ground-sourced and satellite-derived estimates. At present, global forest \ncarbon storage is markedly under the natural potential, with a total defcit of 226\xe2\x80\x89Gt \n(model range\xe2\x80\x89=\xe2\x80\x89151\xe2\x80\x93363\xe2\x80\x89Gt) in areas with low human footprint. Most (61%, 139\xe2\x80\x89Gt\xe2\x80\x89C) \nof this potential is in areas with existing forests, in which ecosystem protection can \nallow forests to recover to maturity. The remaining 39% (87\xe2\x80\x89Gt\xe2\x80\x89C) of potential lies in \nregions in which forests have been removed or fragmented. Although forests cannot \nbe a substitute for emissions reductions, our results support the idea2,3,9 \n that the \nconservation, restoration and sustainable management of diverse forests ofer \nvaluable contributions to meeting global climate and biodiversity targets.

Description: Model species continue to underpin groundbreaking plant science research. At the same time, the phylogenetic resolution of \nthe land plant tree of life continues to improve. The intersection of these 2 research paths creates a unique opportunity \nto further extend the usefulness of model species across larger taxonomic groups. Here we promote the utility of the \nArabidopsis thaliana model species, especially the ability to connect its genetic and functional resources, to species across \nthe entire Brassicales order. We focus on the utility of using genomics and phylogenomics to bridge the evolution and \ndiversification of several traits across the Brassicales to the resources in Arabidopsis, thereby extending scope from a model \nspecies by establishing a \xe2\x80\x9cmodel clade.\xe2\x80\x9d These Brassicales-wide traits are discussed in the context of both the model species \nArabidopsis and the family Brassicaceae. We promote the utility of such a \xe2\x80\x9cmodel clade\xe2\x80\x9d and make suggestions for building \nglobal networks to support future studies in the model order Brassicales.

Description: Automated sensors have potential to standardize and expand the monitoring of insects across the globe. As one of the most scalable and fastest developing sensor technologies, we describe a framework for automated, image-based monitoring of nocturnal insects—from sensor development and field deployment to workflows for data processing and publishing. Sensors comprise a light to attract insects, a camera for collecting images and a computer for scheduling, data storage and processing. Metadata is important to describe sampling schedules that balance the capture of relevant ecological information against power and data storage limitations. Large data volumes of images from automated systems necessitate scalable and effective data processing. We describe computer vision approaches for the detection, tracking and classification of insects, including models built from existing aggregations of labelled insect images. Data from automated camera systems necessitate approaches that account for inherent biases. We advocate models that explicitly correct for bias in species occurrence or abundance estimates resulting from the imperfect detection of species or individuals present during sampling occasions. We propose ten priorities towards a step-change in automated monitoring of nocturnal insects, a vital task in the face of rapid biodiversity loss from global threats. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring’.

Description: In this work, we evaluate the SUPIM-INPE model prediction of the 14 December 2020, total solar eclipse over the South American continent. We compare the predictions with data from multiple instruments for monitoring the ionosphere and with different obscuration percentages (i.e., Jicamarca, 12.0°S, 76.8°W, 17%; Tucumán 26.9°S, 65.4° W, 49%; Chillán 36.6°S, 72.0°W; and Bahía Blanca, 38.7°S, 62.3°W, reach 95% obscuration) due to the eclipse. The analysis is done under total eclipse conditions and non-total eclipse conditions. Results obtained suggest that the model was able to reproduce with high accuracy both the daily variation and the eclipse impacts of E and F1 layers in the majority of the stations evaluated (except in Jicamarca station). The comparison at the F2 layer indicates small differences (〈7.8%) between the predictions and observations at all stations during the eclipse periods. Additionally, statistical metrics reinforce the conclusion of a good performance of the model. Predicted and calibrated Total Electron Content (TEC, using 3 different techniques) are also compared. Results show that, although none of the selected TEC calibration methods have a good agreement with the SUPIM-INPE prediction, they exhibit similar trends in most of the cases. We also analyze data from the Jicamarca Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR), and Swarm-A and GOLD missions. The electron temperature changes observed in ISR and Swarm-A are underestimated by the prediction. Also, important changes in the O/N2 ratio due to the eclipse, have been observed with GOLD mission data. Thus, future versions of the SUPIM-INPE model for eclipse conditions should consider effects on thermospheric winds and changes in composition, specifically in the O/N2 ratio.

Description: Published

Description: 1021910

Description: 2A. Fisica dell'alta atmosfera

Description: JCR Journal

Description: Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Cladosporium arenosum from marine sediment sand. Argentina, Kosmimatamyces alatophylus (incl. Kosmimatamyces gen. nov.) from soil. Australia, Aspergillus banksianus, Aspergillus kumbius, Aspergillus luteorubrus, Aspergillus malvicolor and Aspergillus nanangensis from soil, Erysiphe medicaginis from leaves of Medicago polymorpha, Hymenotorrendiella communis on leaf litter of Eucalyptus bicostata, Lactifluus albopicri and Lactifluus austropiperatus on soil, Macalpinomyces collinsiae on Eriachne benthamii, Marasmius vagus on soil, Microdochium dawsoniorum from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Neopestalotiopsis nebuloides from leaves of Sporobolus elongatus, Pestalotiopsis etonensis from leaves of Sporobolus jacquemontii, Phytophthora personensis from soil associated with dying Grevillea mccutcheonii. Brazil, Aspergillus oxumiae from soil, Calvatia baixaverdensis on soil, Geastrum calycicoriaceum on leaf litter, Greeneria kielmeyerae on leaf spots of Kielmeyera coriacea. Chile, Phytophthora aysenensis on collar rot and stem of Aristotelia chilensis. Croatia, Mollisia gibbospora on fallen branch of Fagus sylvatica. Czech Republic, Neosetophoma hnaniceana from Buxus sempervirens. Ecuador, Exophiala frigidotolerans from soil. Estonia, Elaphomyces bucholtzii in soil. France, Venturia paralias from leaves of Euphorbia paralias. India, Cortinarius balteatoindicus and Cortinarius ulkhagarhiensis on leaf litter. Indonesia, Hymenotorrendiella indonesiana on Eucalyptus urophylla leaf litter. Italy, Penicillium taurinense from indoor chestnut mill. Malaysia, Hemileucoglossum kelabitense on soil, Satchmopsis pini on dead needles of Pinus tecunumanii. Poland, Lecanicillium praecognitum on insects’ frass. Portugal, Neodevriesia aestuarina from saline water. Republic of Korea, Gongronella namwonensis from freshwater. Russia, Candida pellucida from Exomias pellucidus, Heterocephalacria septentrionalis as endophyte from Cladonia rangiferina, Vishniacozyma phoenicis from dates fruit, Volvariella paludosa from swamp. Slovenia, Mallocybe crassivelata on soil. South Africa, Beltraniella podocarpi, Hamatocanthoscypha podocarpi, Coleophoma podocarpi and Nothoseiridium podocarpi (incl. Nothoseiridium gen. nov.) from leaves of Podocarpus latifolius, Gyrothrix encephalarti from leaves of Encephalartos sp., Paraphyton cutaneum from skin of human patient, Phacidiella alsophilae from leaves of Alsophila capensis, and Satchmopsis metrosideri on leaf litter of Metrosideros excelsa. Spain, Cladophialophora cabanerensis from soil, Cortinarius paezii on soil, Cylindrium magnoliae from leaves of Magnolia grandiflora, Trichophoma cylindrospora (incl. Trichophoma gen. nov.) from plant debris, Tuber alcaracense in calcareus soil, Tuber buendiae in calcareus soil. Thailand, Annulohypoxylon spougei on corticated wood, Poaceascoma filiforme from leaves of unknown Poaceae. UK, Dendrostoma luteum on branch lesions of Castanea sativa, Ypsilina buttingtonensis from heartwood of Quercus sp. Ukraine, Myrmecridium phragmiticola from leaves of Phragmites australis. USA, Absidia pararepens from air, Juncomyces californiensis (incl. Juncomyces gen. nov.) from leaves of Juncus effusus, Montagnula cylindrospora from a human skin sample, Muriphila oklahomaensis (incl. Muriphila gen. nov.) on outside wall of alcohol distillery, Neofabraea eucalyptorum from leaves of Eucalyptus macrandra, Diabolocovidia claustri (incl. Diabolocovidia gen. nov.) from leaves of Serenoa repens, Paecilomyces penicilliformis from air, Pseudopezicula betulae from leaves of leaf spots of Populus tremuloides. Vietnam, Diaporthe durionigena on branches of Durio zibethinus and Roridomyces pseudoirritans on rotten wood. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.