ALBERT

Description: Animal-associated microbiotas form complex communities, which play crucial functions for their host, including susceptibility to infections. Despite increasing attention to bats as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, their microbiota is poorly documented, especially for samples potentially implicated in pathogen transmission such as urine and saliva. Here, using low-biomass individual samples, we examined the composition and structure of bacterial communities excreted by insectivorous bats, focusing on three body habitats (saliva, urine and faeces). We show that niche specialisation occurs as bacterial community composition was distinct across body habitats with the majority of phylotypes being body habitat specific. Our results suggest that urine harbours more diverse bacterial communities than saliva and faeces and reveal potentially zoonotic bacteria such as Leptospira , Rickettsia , Bartonella and Coxiella in all body habitats. Our study emphasised that, in addition to the traditional use of gut-associated samples such as faeces, both urine and saliva are also of interest because of their diverse microbiota and the potential transmission of pathogenic bacteria. Our results represent a critical baseline for future studies investigating the interactions between microbiota and infection dynamics in bats.

Description: R-type bacteriocins are contractile phage tail-like structures that are bactericidal towards related bacterial species. The C-terminal region of the phage tail fiber protein determines target-binding specificity. The mutualistic bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila and X. bovienii produce R-type bacteriocins (xenorhabdicins) that are selectively active against different Xenorhabdus species. We analyzed the P2-type remnant prophage clusters in draft sequences of nine strains of X. bovienii . The C-terminal tail fiber region in each of the respective strains was unique and consisted of mosaics of modular units. The region between the main tail fiber gene ( xbpH1 ) and the sheath gene ( xbpS1 ) contained a variable number of modules encoding tail fiber fragments. DNA inversion and module exchange between strains was involved in generating tail fiber diversity. Xenorhabdicin-enriched fractions from three different X. bovienii strains isolated from the same nematode species displayed distinct activities against each other. In one set of strains, the strain that produced highly active xenorhabdicin was able to eliminate a sensitive strain. In contrast, xenorhabdicin activity was not a determining factor in the competitive fitness of a second set of strains. These findings suggest that related strains of X. bovienii use xenorhabdicin and additional antagonistic molecules to compete against each other.

Description: Anabaena PCC7120 has two annotated toxin–antitoxin systems: MazEF and HicAB. Overexpression of either of the toxins severely inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli BL21(p lysS )(DE3). Of the two Anabaena toxins, MazF exhibited higher toxicity than HicA as evidenced by (i) 100-fold lower viability upon overexpression of MazF compared to HicA; (ii) complete loss of cell viability within 1 h of induction of MazF expression, as against 〉10 3 colony forming units mL –1 in case of HicA; (iii) inability to maintain the MazF overexpressing plasmid in E. coli cells; and (iv) neutralisation of the toxin was effective at the molar ratio of 1:1.9 for MazF:MazE and 13:1 for HicA:HicB, indicating higher antitoxin requirement for neutralisation of MazF. The growth inhibitory effect of MazF was found to be higher in lag phase cultures compared to mid-logarithmic phase cultures of E. coli , while the reverse was true for HicA. The results suggest possible distinct roles for MazEF and HicAB systems of Anabaena .

Description: Four antibiotics (pamamycin, oligomycin A, oligomycin B and echinosporin) were isolated and characterized from the fermentation broth of the marine Streptomyces strains B8496 and B8739. Bioassays revealed that each of these compounds impaired motility and caused subsequent lysis of P. viticola zoospores in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Pamamycin displayed the strongest motility inhibitory and lytic activities (IC 50 0.1 μg mL –1 ) followed by oligomycin B (IC 50 0.15 and 0.2 μg mL –1 ) and oligomycin F (IC 50 0.3 and 0.5 μg mL –1 ). Oligomycin A and echinosporin also showed motility inhibitory activities against the zoospores with IC 50 values of 3.0 and 10.0 μg mL –1 , respectively. This is the first report of motility inhibitory and lytic activities of these antibiotics against zoospores of a phytopathogenic peronosporomycete. Structures of all the isolated compounds were determined based on detailed spectroscopic analysis.

Description: In sulfidic environments, microbes oxidize reduced sulfur compounds via several pathways. We used metagenomics to investigate sulfur metabolic pathways from microbial mat communities in two subterranean sulfidic streams in Lower Kane Cave, WY, USA and from Glenwood Hot Springs, CO, USA. Both unassembled and targeted recA gene assembly analyses revealed that these streams were dominated by Epsilonproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria , including groups related to Sulfurovum , Sulfurospirillum , Thiothrix and an epsilonproteobacterial group with no close cultured relatives. Genes encoding sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) were abundant at all sites, but the specific SQR type and the taxonomic affiliation of each type differed between sites. The abundance of thiosulfate oxidation pathway genes (Sox) was not consistent between sites, although overall they were less abundant than SQR genes. Furthermore, the Sox pathway appeared to be incomplete in all samples. This work reveals both variations in sulfur metabolism within and between taxonomic groups found in these systems, and the presence of novel epsilonproteobacterial groups.

Description: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen with high resistance to a wide variety of antimicrobials. The multidrug resistance pump MexAB-OprM promotes the efflux of various antibiotics, mostly when mutations accumulate in the transcriptional regulators MexR, NalC and NalD, thereby causing MexAB-OprM overexpression. In this work, a characterization of 50 P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from Brazilian agricultural soils to determine the reasons of their resistance to aztreonam was done. The majority of the isolates showed higher aztreonam resistance than wild-type strain by MIC method. DNA sequence analysis of mexR , nalC and nalD genes from 13 of these isolates showed the amino acid substitution in NalC for all tested isolates, just one mutation was detected in MexR and none in NalD. Furthermore, an increase in the level of mexA expression by real-time RT-PCR analysis in eight isolates harboring mutations in NalC was found. Although there was not a relationship between MIC of aztreonam and the level of mexA expression, on the other hand, the results presented here suggest that novel mutations in NalC, including Arg 97 -Gly and Ala 186 -Thr, are related to MexAB-OprM overexpression causing aztreonam resistance in P. aeruginosa environmental isolates.

Description: Sedge-dominated wetlands on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau are methane emission centers. Methanotrophs at these sites play a role in reducing methane emissions, but relatively little is known about the composition of active methanotrophs in these wetlands. Here, we used DNA stable isotope probing to identify the key active aerobic methanotrophs in three sedge-dominated wetlands on the plateau. We found that Methylocystis species were active in two peatlands, Hongyuan and Dangxiong. Methylobacter species were found to be active only in Dangxiong peat. Hongyuan peat had the highest methane oxidation rate, and cross-feeding of carbon from methanotrophs to methylotrophic Hyphomicrobium species was observed. Owing to a low methane oxidation rate during the incubation, the labeling of methanotrophs in Maduo wetland samples was not detected. Our results indicate that there are large differences in the activity of methanotrophs in the wetlands of this region.

Description: Here we present the generation and function of two sets of bacterial plasmids that harbor fluorescent genes encoding either blue, cyan, yellow or red fluorescent proteins. In the first set, protein expression is controlled by the strong and constitutive nptII promoter whereas in the second set, the strong tac promoter was chosen that underlies LacI q regulation. Furthermore, the plasmids are mobilizable, contain Tn 7 transposons and a temperature-sensitive origin of replication. Using Escherichia coli S17-1 as donor strain, the plasmids allow fast and convenient Tn 7 -transposon delivery into many enterobacterial hosts, such as the here-used E. coli O157:H7. This procedure omits the need of preparing competent recipient cells and antibiotic resistances are only transiently conferred to the recipients. As the fluorescence proteins show little to no overlap in fluorescence emission, the constructs are well suited for the study of multicolored synthetic bacterial communities during biofilm production or in host colonization studies, e.g. of plant surfaces. Furthermore, tac promoter-reporter constructs allow the generation of so-called reproductive success reporters, which allow to estimate past doublings of bacterial individuals after introduction into environments, emphasizing the role of individual cells during colonization.

Description: Spa -typing and microarray techniques were used to study epidemiological changes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in South-East Austria. The population structure of 327 MRSA isolated between 2002 and 2012 was investigated. MRSA was assigned to 58 different spa types and 14 different MLST CC (multilocus sequence type clonal complexes); in particular, between 2007 and 2012, an increasing diversity in MRSA clones could be observed. The most abundant clonal complex was CC5. On the respective SCC mec cassettes, the CC5 isolates differed clearly within this decade and CC5/SCC mec I, the South German MRSA, predominant in 2002, was replaced by CC5/SCC mec II, the Rhine-Hesse MRSA in 2012. Whereas in many European countries MLST CC22-MRSA (EMRSA 15, the Barnim epidemic MRSA) is predominant, this clone occurred in Austria nearly 10 years later than in neighbouring countries. CC45, the Berlin EMRSA, epidemic in Germany, was only sporadically found in South-East Austria. The Irish ST8-MRSA-II represented by spa -type t190 was frequently found in 2002 and 2007, but disappeared in 2012. Our results demonstrate clonal replacement of MRSA clones within the last years in Austria. Ongoing surveillance is warranted for detection of changes within the MRSA population.

Description: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary fibre sources on the gut microbiota in suckling piglets, and to test the hypothesis that a moderate increase of dietary fibre may affect the gut microbiota during the suckling period. Suckling piglets were fed different fibre-containing diets or a control diet from postnatal day 7 to 22. Digesta samples from cecum, proximal colon and distal colon were used for Pig Intestinal Tract Chip analysis. The data showed that the effects of fibre-containing diet on the gut microbiota differed in the fibre source and gut location. The alfalfa diet increased Clostridium cluster XIVb and Sporobacter termitidis in the cecum compared to the pure cellulose diet. Compared to the control diet, the alfalfa diet also increased Coprococcus eutactus in the distal colon, while the pure cellulose diet decreased Eubacterium pyruvativorans in the cecum. The pure cellulose diet increased Prevotella ruminicola compared to the wheat bran diet. Interestingly, the alfalfa group had the lowest abundance of the potential pathogen Streptococcus suis in the cecum and distal colon. These results indicated that a moderate increase in dietary fibres affected the microbial composition in suckling piglets, and that the alfalfa inclusion produced some beneficial effects on the microbial communities.

Description: One function of the gut microbiota gaining recent attention, especially in herbivorous mammals and insects, is the metabolism of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs). We investigated whether this function exists within the gut communities of a specialist avian herbivore. We sequenced the cecal metagenome of the Greater Sage-Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ), which specializes on chemically defended sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.). We predicted that the cecal metagenome of the sage-grouse would be enriched in genes associated with the metabolism of PSMs when compared to the metagenome of the domestic chicken. We found that representation of microbial genes associated with ‘xenobiotic degradation and metabolism’ was 3-fold higher in the sage-grouse cecal metagenomes when compared to that of the domestic chicken. Further, we identified a complete metabolic pathway for the degradation of phenol to pyruvate, which was not detected in the metagenomes of the domestic chicken, bovine rumen or 14 species of mammalian herbivores. Evidence of monoterpene degradation (a major class of PSMs in sagebrush) was less definitive, although we did detect genes for several enzymes associated with this process. Overall, our results suggest that the gut microbiota of specialist avian herbivores plays a similar role to the microbiota of mammalian and insect herbivores in degrading PSMs.

Description: Intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria are common and can play a crucial role for insect pathology. Therefore, such bacteria could be a potential key to our understanding of major losses of Western honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) colonies. However, the transmission and potential effects of endosymbiotic bacteria in A. mellifera and other Apis spp. are poorly understood. Here, we explore the prevalence and transmission of the genera Arsenophonus , Wolbachia , Spiroplasma and Rickettsia in Apis spp. Colonies of A. mellifera ( N = 33, with 20 eggs from worker brood cells and 100 adult workers each) as well as mated honey bee queens of A. cerana , A. dorsata and A. florea ( N = 12 each) were screened using PCR. While Wolbachia , Spiroplasma and Rickettsia were not detected, Arsenophonus spp. were found in 24.2% of A. mellifera colonies and respective queens as well as in queens of A. dorsata (8.3%) and A. florea (8.3%), but not in A. cerana . The absence of Arsenophonus spp. from reproductive organs of A. mellifera queens and surface-sterilized eggs does not support transovarial vertical transmission. Instead, horizontal transmission is most likely.

Description: Wood-rotting fungi possess remarkably diverse extracellular oxidation mechanisms, including enzymes, such as laccase and peroxidases, and Fenton chemistry. The ability to biologically drive Fenton chemistry by the redox cycling of quinones has previously been reported to be present in both ecologically diverging main groups of wood-rotting basidiomycetes. Therefore, we investigated whether it is even more widespread among fungal organisms. Screening of a diverse selection of a total of 18 ascomycetes and basidiomycetes for reduction of the model compound 2,6-dimethoxy benzoquinone revealed that all investigated strains were capable of reducing it to its corresponding hydroquinone. In a second step, depolymerization of the synthetic polymer polystyrene sulfonate was used as a proxy for quinone-dependent Fenton-based biodegradation capabilities. A diverse subset of the strains, including environmentally ubiquitous molds, white-rot fungi, as well as peatland and aquatic isolates, caused substantial depolymerization indicative for the effective employment of quinone redox cycling as biodegradation tool. Our results may also open up new paths to utilize diverse fungi for the bioremediation of recalcitrant organic pollutants.

Description: Ice-binding proteins (IBPs), such as antifreeze proteins (AFPs) and ice-nucleating proteins (INPs), have been described in diverse cold-adapted organisms, and their potential applications in biotechnology have been recognized in various fields. Currently, both IBPs are being applied to biotechnological processes, primarily in medicine and the food industry. However, our knowledge regarding the diversity of bacterial IBPs is limited; few studies have purified and characterized AFPs and INPs from bacteria. Phenotypically verified IBPs have been described in members belonging to Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Flavobacteriia classes, whereas putative IBPs have been found in Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Bacilli classes. Thus, the main goal of this minireview is to summarize the current information on bacterial IBPs and their application in biotechnology, emphasizing the potential application in less explored fields such as agriculture. Investigations have suggested the use of INP-producing bacteria antagonists and AFPs-producing bacteria (or their AFPs) as a very attractive strategy to prevent frost damages in crops. UniProt database analyses of reported IBPs (phenotypically verified) and putative IBPs also show the limited information available on bacterial IBPs and indicate that major studies are required.

Description: Triazophos is a broad-spectrum and highly effective insecticide, and the residues of triazophos have been frequently detected in the environment. A triazophos-degrading bacterium, Burkholderia sp. SZL-1, was isolated from a long-term triazophos-polluted soil. Strain SZL-1 could hydrolyze triazophos to 1-phenyl-3-hydroxy-1,2,4-triazole, which was further utilized as the carbon sources for growth. The triazophos hydrolase gene trhA , cloned from strain SZL-1, was expressed and homogenously purified using Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography. TrhA is 55 kDa and displays maximum activity at 25°C, pH 8.0. This enzyme still has nearly 60% activity at the range of 15°C–50°C for 30 min. TrhA was mutated by sequential error prone PCR and screened for improved activity for triazophos degradation. One purified variant protein (Val89-Gly89) named TrhA-M1 showed up to 3-fold improvement in specific activity against triazophos, and the specificity constants of K cat and K cat / K m for TrhA-M1 were improved up to 2.3- and 8.28-fold, respectively, compared to the wild-type enzyme. The results in this paper provided potential material for the contaminated soil remediation and hydrolase genetic structure research.

Description: The metal mining industry faces many large challenges in future years, among which is the increasing need to process low-grade ores as accessible higher grade ores become depleted. This is against a backdrop of increasing global demands for base and precious metals, and rare earth elements. Typically about 99% of solid material hauled to, and ground at, the land surface currently ends up as waste (rock dumps and mineral tailings). Exposure of these to air and water frequently leads to the formation of acidic, metal-contaminated run-off waters, referred to as acid mine drainage, which constitutes a severe threat to the environment. Formation of acid drainage is a natural phenomenon involving various species of lithotrophic (literally ‘rock-eating’) bacteria and archaea, which oxidize reduced forms of iron and/or sulfur. However, other microorganisms that reduce inorganic sulfur compounds can essentially reverse this process. These microorganisms can be applied on industrial scale to precipitate metals from industrial mineral leachates and acid mine drainage streams, resulting in a net improvement in metal recovery, while minimizing the amounts of leachable metals to the tailings storage dams. Here, we advocate that more extensive exploitation of microorganisms in metal mining operations could be an important way to green up the industry, reducing environmental risks and improving the efficiency and the economy of metal recovery.

Description: Differential inhibitors are important for measuring the relative contributions of microbial groups, such as ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), to biogeochemical processes in environmental samples. In particular, 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (PTIO) represents a nitric oxide scavenger used for the specific inhibition of AOA, implicating nitric oxide as an intermediate of thaumarchaeotal ammonia oxidation. This study investigated four alternative nitric oxide scavengers for their ability to differentially inhibit AOA and AOB in comparison to PTIO. Caffeic acid, curcumin, methylene blue hydrate and trolox were tested on Nitrosopumilus maritimus , two unpublished AOA representatives (AOA-6f and AOA-G6) as well as the AOB representative Nitrosomonas europaea . All four scavengers inhibited ammonia oxidation by AOA at lower concentrations than for AOB. In particular, differential inhibition of AOA and AOB by caffeic acid (100 μM) and methylene blue hydrate (3 μM) was comparable to carboxy-PTIO (100 μM) in pure and enrichment culture incubations. However, when added to aquarium sponge biofilm microcosms, both scavengers were unable to inhibit ammonia oxidation consistently, likely due to degradation of the inhibitors themselves. This study provides evidence that a variety of nitric oxide scavengers result in differential inhibition of ammonia oxidation in AOA and AOB, and provides support to the proposed role of nitric oxide as a key intermediate in the thaumarchaeotal ammonia oxidation pathway.

Description: Peatlands of all latitudes play an integral role in global climate change by serving as a carbon sink and a primary source of atmospheric methane; however, the microbial ecology of mid-latitude peatlands is vastly understudied. Herein, next generation Illumina amplicon sequencing of small subunit rRNA genes was utilized to elucidate the microbial communities in three southern Appalachian peatlands. In contrast to northern peatlands, Proteobacteria dominated over Acidobacteria in all three sites. An average of 11 bacterial phyla was detected at relative abundance values 〉1%, with three candidate divisions (OP3, WS3 and NC10) represented, indicating high phylogenetic diversity. Physiological traits of isolates within the candidate alphaproteobacterial order, Ellin 329, obtained here and in previous studies indicate that bacteria of this order may be involved in hydrolysis of poly-, di- and monosaccharides. Community analyses indicate that Ellin 329 is the third most abundant order and is most abundant near the surface layers where plant litter decomposition should be primarily occurring. In sum, members of Ellin 329 likely play important roles in organic matter decomposition, in southern Appalachian peatlands and should be investigated further in other peatlands and ecosystem types.

Description: Marine viruses are the most abundant biological entity in the oceans, the majority of which infect bacteria and are known as bacteriophages. Yet, the bulk of bacteriophages form part of the vast uncultured dark matter of the microbial biosphere. In spite of the paucity of cultured marine bacteriophages, it is known that marine bacteriophages have major impacts on microbial population structure and the biogeochemical cycling of key elements. Despite the ecological relevance of marine bacteriophages, there are relatively few isolates with complete genome sequences. This minireview focuses on knowledge gathered from these genomes put in the context of viral metagenomic data and highlights key advances in the field, particularly focusing on genome structure and auxiliary metabolic genes.

Description: The fynbos biome in South Africa is globally recognised as a plant biodiversity hotspot. However, very little is known about the bacterial communities associated with fynbos plants, despite interactions between primary producers and bacteria having an impact on the physiology of both partners and shaping ecosystem diversity. This study reports on the structure, phylogenetic composition and potential roles of the endophytic bacterial communities located in the stems of three fynbos plants ( Erepsia anceps , Phaenocoma prolifera and Leucadendron laureolum ). Using Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA sequencing we found that different subpopulations of Deinococcus-Thermus, Alphaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Firmicutes dominated the endophytic bacterial communities. Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria were prevalent in P. prolifera , whereas Deinococcus-Thermus dominated in L. laureolum , revealing species-specific host–bacteria associations. Although a high degree of variability in the endophytic bacterial communities within hosts was observed, we also detected a core microbiome across the stems of the three plant species, which accounted for 72% of the sequences. Altogether, it seems that both deterministic and stochastic processes shaped microbial communities. Endophytic bacterial communities harboured putative plant growth-promoting bacteria, thus having the potential to influence host health and growth.

Description: The functioning of many natural and engineered environments is dependent on long distance electron transfer mediated through electrical currents. These currents have been observed in exoelectrogenic biofilms and it has been proposed that microbial biofilms can mediate electron transfer via electrical currents on the centimeter scale. However, direct evidence to confirm this hypothesis has not been demonstrated and the longest known electrical transfer distance for single species exoelectrogenic biofilms is limited to 100 μm. In the present study, biofilms were developed on electrodes with electrically non-conductive gaps from 50 μm to 1 mm and the in situ conductance of biofilms was evaluated over time. Results demonstrated that the exoelectrogenic mixed species biofilms in the present study possess the ability to transfer electrons through electrical currents over a distance of up to 1 mm, 10 times further than previously observed. Results indicate the possibility of interspecies interactions playing an important role in the spatial development of exoelectrogenic biofilms, suggesting that these biological networks might remain conductive even at longer distance. These findings have significant implications in regards to future optimization of microbial electrochemical systems.

Description: Bacteriophages are increasingly being used as water quality indicators. Two groups of phages infecting Escherichia coli , somatic and F-specific coliphages, are being considered as indicators of fecal and viral contamination for several types of water around the world. However, some uncertainties remain regarding which coliphages to assess. Recently, E. coli strain CB390 has been reported to be suitable for simultaneous detection of both groups, which seems to be more informative than determining only one of the groups. Here, a significant number of samples from different settings, mostly those where F-specific phages have been reported to outnumber somatic coliphages, are analyzed for somatic coliphages, F-specific RNA phages by standardized methods and coliphages detected by host strain CB390. The results presented here confirm that the numbers of phages counted using CB390 are equivalent to the sum of the somatic and F-specific coliphages counted independently in all settings. Hence the usefulness of this strain for simultaneous detection of somatic and F-specific coliphages is confirmed. Also, sets of data on the presence of coliphages in reclaimed and groundwater are reported.

Description: It is well known that Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b has two forms of methane monooxygenase (MMO) responsible for the initial conversion of methane to methanol, a cytoplasmic (soluble) methane monooxygenase and a membrane-associated (particulate) methane monooxygenase, and that copper strongly regulates expression of these alternative forms of MMO. More recently, it has been discovered that M. trichosporium OB3b has multiple types of the methanol dehydrogenase (MeDH), i.e. the Mxa-type MeDH (Mxa-MeDH) and Xox-type MeDH (Xox-MeDH), and the expression of these two forms is regulated by the availability of the rare earth element (REE), cerium. Here, we extend these studies and show that lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium and samarium also regulate expression of alternative forms of MeDH. The effect of these REEs on MeDH expression, however, was only observed in the absence of copper. Further, a mutant of M. trichosporium OB3b, where the Mxa-MeDH was knocked out, was able to grow in the presence of lanthanum, praseodymium and neodymium, but was not able to grow in the presence of samarium. Collectively, these data suggest that multiple levels of gene regulation by metals exist in M. trichosporium OB3b, but that copper overrides the effect of other metals by an as yet unknown mechanism.

Description: Polysulfides (S x 2– ) are sulfide oxidation intermediates that are important for a variety of environmentally relevant processes including pyrite formation, organic matter sulfidization, isotope exchange among reduced sulfur species, and metal chelation. In addition to their chemical reactivity, laboratory experiments with microbial cultures and enzymes indicate both indirect and direct roles for microorganisms in affecting polysulfide chemistry in natural environments through production and consumption. As polysulfides have been detected in a wide array of natural systems ranging from microbial mats to hydrothermal vents, constraining their biogeochemical cycling has broad impacts. However, many questions remain regarding the processes responsible for polysulfide dynamics in these environments and the precise role that microorganisms play in these processes. This review provides a summary of laboratory experiments investigating the role of polysulfides in microbial metabolism, and observations of polysulfides in the environment in order to provide further insight into and highlight open questions about this significant component of the sulfur cycle.

Description: A total of 65 spore-forming mercury-resistant bacteria were isolated from natural environments worldwide in order to understand the acquisition of additional genes by and dissemination of mercury resistance transposons across related Bacilli genera by horizontal gene movement. PCR amplification using a single primer complementary to the inverted repeat sequence of Tn MERI1 -like transposons showed that 12 of 65 isolates had a transposon-like structure. There were four types of amplified fragments: Tn 5084 , Tn 5085 , Tn d MER3 (a newly identified deleted transposon-like fragment) and Tn 6294 (a newly identified transposon). Tn d MER3 is a 3.5-kb sequence that carries a merRETPA operon with no merB or transposase genes. It is related to the mer operon of Bacillus licheniformis strain FA6-12 from Russia. DNA homology analysis shows that Tn 6294 is an 8.5-kb sequence that is possibly derived from Tn d MER3 by integration of a Tn MERI1 -type transposase and resolvase genes and in addition the merR2 and merB1 genes. Bacteria harboring Tn 6294 exhibited broad-spectrum mercury resistance to organomercurial compounds, although Tn 6294 had only merB1 and did not have the merB2 and merB3 sequences for organomercurial lyases found in Tn 5084 of B. cereus strain RC607. Strains with Tn 6294 encode mercuric reductase (MerA) of less than 600 amino acids in length with a single N-terminal mercury-binding domain, whereas MerA encoded by strains MB1 and RC607 has two tandem domains. Thus, Tn d MER3 and Tn 6294 are shorter prototypes for Tn MERI1 -like transposons. Identification of Tn 6294 in Bacillus sp. from Taiwan and in Paenibacillus sp. from Antarctica indicates the wide horizontal dissemination of Tn MERI1 -like transposons across bacterial species and geographical barriers.

Description: Fungi may play an important role in the production of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N 2 O). Bipolaris sorokiniana is a ubiquitous saprobe found in soils worldwide, yet denitrification by this fungal strain has not previously been reported. We aimed to test if B. sorokiniana would produce N 2 O and CO 2 in the presence of organic and inorganic forms of nitrogen (N) under microaerobic and anaerobic conditions. Nitrogen source (organic-N, inorganic-N, no-N control) significantly affected N 2 O and CO 2 production both in the presence and absence of oxygen, which contrasts with bacterial denitrification. Inorganic N addition increased denitrification of N 2 O (from 0 to 0.3 μg N 2 0-N h –1  g –1 biomass) and reduced respiration of CO 2 (from 0.1 to 0.02 mg CO 2 h –1  g –1 biomass). Isotope analyses indicated that nitrite, rather than ammonium or glutamine, was transformed to N 2 O. Results suggest the source of N may play a larger role in fungal N 2 O production than oxygen status.

Description: Legionella pneumophila is a pathogenic bacterium commonly found in water and responsible for severe pneumonia. Free-living amoebae are protozoa also found in water, which feed on bacteria by phagocytosis. Under favorable conditions, some L. pneumophila are able to resist phagocytic digestion and even multiply within amoebae. However, it is not clear whether L. pneumophila could infect at a same rate a large range of amoebae or if there is some selectivity towards specific amoebal genera or strains. Also, most studies have been performed using collection strains and not with freshly isolated strains. In our study, we assess the permissiveness of freshly isolated environmental strains of amoebae, belonging to three common genera (i.e. Acanthamoeba, Naegleria and Vermamoeba ), for growth of L. pneumophila at three different temperatures. Our results indicated that all the tested strains of amoebae were permissive to L. pneumophila Lens and that there was no significant difference between the strains. Intracellular proliferation was more efficient at a temperature of 40°C. In conclusion, our work suggests that, under favorable conditions, virulent strains of L. pneumophila could equally infect a large number of isolates of common freshwater amoeba genera.

Description: Growth media have been developed to facilitate the enrichment and isolation of acidophilic and acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria (aSRB) from environmental and industrial samples, and to allow their cultivation in vitro . The main features of the ‘standard’ solid and liquid devised media are as follows: (i) use of glycerol rather than an aliphatic acid as electron donor; (ii) inclusion of stoichiometric concentrations of zinc ions to both buffer pH and to convert potentially harmful hydrogen sulphide produced by the aSRB to insoluble zinc sulphide; (iii) inclusion of Acidocella aromatica (an heterotrophic acidophile that does not metabolize glycerol or yeast extract) in the gel underlayer of double layered (overlay) solid media, to remove acetic acid produced by aSRB that incompletely oxidize glycerol and also aliphatic acids (mostly pyruvic) released by acid hydrolysis of the gelling agent used (agarose). Colonies of aSRB are readily distinguished from those of other anaerobes due to their deposition and accumulation of metal sulphide precipitates. Data presented illustrate the effectiveness of the overlay solid media described for isolating aSRB from acidic anaerobic sediments and low pH sulfidogenic bioreactors.

Description: A common dye of prussian blue (PB) as an indicator was used to develop a colorimetric method for detecting the efficacy of the antibiotics in vitro. Considering the electronic production capacity of microbial respiration, ferricyanide was employed in transferring electrons from target microorganism of Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) to produce ferrocyanide. Subsequently, ferrocyanide reacted with ferric ions to form PB. In view of relationship between the PB yield and the bacterial activity, the efficacy of the antibiotics on E. coli was directly detected at 700 nm of PB absorption. When the 5% activity of antibiotics on 20 isolates of E. coli was quantified as 5% efficacy, the applied concentrations of eight antibiotics, such as cefepime, ceftriaxone sodium, cefoperazone sodium, piperacillin sodium, amoxicillin, gentamicin, amikacin and levofloxacin were 2, 2, 4, 4, 10, 4, 8 and 8 μg mL –1 , respectively. To compare with minimum inhibitory concentration results obtained by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth macrodilution method, the results of PB methods showed good agreements except with gentamicin. Paired t- test result ( P ) also showed that difference between two methods was statistically significant ( P = 0.006).

Description: Metarhizium acridum is an entomopathogenic fungus commonly used as a bioinsecticide. The conidium is the fungal stage normally employed as field inoculum in biological control programs and must survive under field conditions such as high ultraviolet-B (UV-B) exposure. Light, which is an important stimulus for many fungi, has been shown to induce the production of M. robertsii conidia with increased stress tolerance. Here we show that a two-hour exposure to white or blue/UV-A light of fast-growing mycelium induces tolerance to subsequent UV-B irradiation. Red light, however, does not have the same effect. In addition, we established that this induction can take place with as little as 1 min of white-light exposure. This brief illumination scheme could be relevant in future studies of M. acridum photobiology and for the production of UV-B resistant mycelium used in mycelium-based formulations for biological control.

Description: Photorhabdus (Enterobacteriaceae) bacteria are pathogenic to insects and mutualistic with entomopathogenic Heterorhabditis nematodes . Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. akhurstii LN2, associated with Heterorhabditis indica LN2, shows nematicidal activity against H. bacteriophora H06 infective juveniles (IJs). In the present study, an rpoS mutant of P. luminescens LN2 was generated through allelic exchange to examine the effects of rpoS deletion on the nematicidal activity and nematode development. The results showed that P. luminescens LN2 required rpoS for nematicidal activity against H06 nematodes, normal IJ recovery and development of H. indica LN2, however, not for the bacterial colonization in LN2 and H06 IJs. This provides cues for further understanding the role of rpoS in the mutualistic association between entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbionts.

Description: Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase (C23O) is the key enzyme for aerobic aromatic degradation. Based on clone libraries and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we characterized diversity and distribution patterns of C23O genes in surface sediments of the Bohai Sea. The results showed that sediments of the Bohai Sea were dominated by genes related to C23O subfamily I.2.A. The samples from wastewater discharge area (DG) and aquaculture farm (KL) showed distinct composition of C23O genes when compared to the samples from Bohai Bay (BH), and total organic carbon was a crucial determinant accounted for the composition variation. C6BH12-38 and C2BH2-35 displayed the highest gene copies and highest ratios to the 16S rRNA genes in KL, and they might prefer biologically labile aromatic hydrocarbons via aquaculture inputs. Meanwhile, C7BH3-48 showed the highest gene copies and highest ratios to the 16S rRNA genes in DG, and this could be selective effect of organic loadings from wastewater discharge. An evident increase in C6BH12-38 and C7BH3-48 gene copies and reduction in diversity of C23O genes in DG and KL indicated composition perturbations of C23O genes and potential loss in functional redundancy. We suggest that ecological habitat and trophic specificity could shape the distribution of C23O genes in the Bohai Sea sediments.

Description: LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) regulate various cellular processes in bacteria. pnpR is an LTTR-encoding gene involved in the regulation of hydroquinone (HQ) degradation, and its effects on the cellular processes of Pseudomonas putida DLL-E4 were investigated at the physiological, biochemical and molecular levels. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction revealed that pnpR positively regulated its own expression and that of the pnpC1C2DECX1X2 operon; additionally, pnpR partially regulated the expression of pnpA when P. putida was grown on para -nitrophenol (PNP) or HQ. Strains DLL-E4 and DLL- pnpR exhibited similar cellular morphologies and growth rates. Transcriptome analysis revealed that pnpR regulated the expression of genes in addition to those involved in PNP degradation. A total of 20 genes were upregulated and 19 genes were downregulated by at least 2-fold in strain DLL- pnpR relative to strain DLL-E4. Bioinformatic analysis revealed putative PnpR-binding sites located in the upstream regions of genes involved in PNP degradation, carbon catabolite repression and other cellular processes. The utilization of L-aspartic acid, L-histidine, L-pyroglutamic acid, L-serine, -aminobutyric acid, D,L-lactic acid, D-saccharic acid, succinic acid and L-alaninamide was increased at least 1.3-fold in strain DLL- pnpR as shown by BIOLOG assays, indicating that pnpR plays a potential negative regulation role in the utilization of carbon sources.

Description: Landfills are significant global sources of atmospheric methane, but little is known about the ecology and community structure of methanogens in these sites. Here, we investigated the methanogen community based on methyl coenzyme M reductase A gene amplicons in the vertical profiles of three different sites at a municipal landfill complex in China. Links between methanogen communities and refuse properties were explored using multivariate analysis. Clone library results showed that most clones (92%) were related to the hydrogenotrophic methanogens, Methanomicrobiales. Almost all of the Methanomicrobiales clones retrieved in this study are members of the genus Methanoculleus . Eight clones were affiliated with the genus Methanofollis . The remaining clones were clustered within the genus Methanosarcina . Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles showed that the landfill was predominated by 22 taxa, making up 69%–96% of the community. Of these, a single taxon comprised 36%–65% of the communities across all sites and depths. Principal components analysis separated the methanogen community into three groups, irrespective of site or depth. Redundancy analysis suggested that total phosphorus and pH play roles in structuring methanogen communities in landfills.

Description: Here we report a newly identified ‘Chalky back’ phenomenon in banana prawns ( Fenneropenaeus merguiensis ) farmed in North Queensland, Australia. This was characterized by localized white discoloured segmentation of the cervical groove, moreover, after cooking the prawns exploded, making them unfit for commercial sale. Histological examination revealed breakdown of gut and abdominal muscle tissue in some moribund specimens. We selectively isolated Vibrio spp., which are known prawn pathogens, from healthy and Chalky back specimens. Isolated bacteria were identified, typed and tested for the presence of eight virulence genes (VGs), biofilm formation, adherence and cytotoxicity to fish cells. In all, 32 isolates were recovered and identified as Vibrio harveyi , V. owensii , V. sinaloensis -like, V. campbellii , V. shilonii , Vibrio sp. and Photobacterium damselae using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. All V. harveyi carried VGs coding for haemolysin, tox R and flagella; formed biofilm; and adhered to both cell lines. This was similar to the V. sinaloensis -like strains that were only isolated from Chalky back specimens. Our data suggest that Vibrio spp. may play a role in the pathogenesis of Chalky back. This study is the first report of Chalky back phenomenon in farmed banana prawns that needs to be closely monitored by the industry.

Description: Bruns and Taylor argue that our finding of widespread distribution among Glomeromycota "virtual taxa" is undermined by the species definition applied. Although identifying appropriate species concepts and accessing taxonomically informative traits are challenges for microorganism biogeography, the virtual taxa represent a pragmatic classification that corresponds approximately to the species rank of classical Glomeromycota taxonomy, yet is applicable to environmental DNA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Opik, Maarja -- Davison, John -- Moora, Mari -- Partel, Meelis -- Zobel, Martin -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2016 Feb 19;351(6275):826. doi: 10.1126/science.aad5495.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Botany, University of Tartu, 40 Lai Street, 51005 Tartu, Estonia. maarja.opik@ut.ee. ; Department of Botany, University of Tartu, 40 Lai Street, 51005 Tartu, Estonia.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26912890" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Davison et al. (Reports, 28 August 2015, p. 970) claim that virtual taxa of Glomeromycota show little endemism and that endemism that exists is similar to the levels seen in plant families. We show that this is likely due to the conservative species definition rather than to any ecological pattern.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Bruns, Thomas D -- Taylor, John W -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2016 Feb 19;351(6275):826. doi: 10.1126/science.aad4228.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, 111 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA. pogon@berkeley.edu. ; Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, 111 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26912889" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Plant-growth-promoting bacteria belonging to Azospirillum and Pseudomonas genera are major inhabitants of the rhizosphere. Both are increasingly commercialized as crops inoculants. Interspecific interaction in the rhizosphere is critical for inoculants aptness. The objective of this work was to evaluate Azospirillum and Pseudomonas interaction in mixed biofilms by co-cultivation of the model strains Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 and Pseudomonas protegens CHA0. The results revealed enhanced growth of both strains when co-cultured in static conditions. Moreover, Sp245 biofilm formed in plastic surfaces was increased 2-fold in the presence of CHA0. Confocal microscopy revealed highly structured mixed biofilms showing Sp245 mainly on the bottom and CHA0 towards the biofilm surface. In addition, A. brasilense biofilm was thicker and denser when co-cultured with P. protegens. In a colony–colony interaction assay, Sp245 changed nearby CHA0 producing small colony phenotype, which accounts for a diffusible metabolite mediator; though CHA0 spent medium did not affect Sp245 colony phenotype. Altogether, these results point to a cooperative interaction between A. brasilense Sp245 and P. protegens CHA0 in which both strains increase their static growth and produce structured mixed biofilms with a strain-specific distribution.

Description: Knowledge about the factors shaping the rumen microbiota in wild animals is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the microbiota from the three cervid species moose ( Alces alces , n = 5), red deer ( Cervus elaphus , n = 4) and roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus , n = 12), sharing the same habitat. Using deep 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we found that the largest species moose had the highest number of unique operational taxonomic units. Furthermore, red deer and moose shared more of the microbiota, compared with the smallest species, roe deer, with Firmicutes and Euryarchaeota being significantly overrepresented for the shared microbiota. These differences could not be explained by diet or range. The animals largely shared the same range, and there are no systematic differences in diet. We therefore believe rumen physiology can be one of the main contributing factors to the observed distribution of the rumen microbiota in cervid species.

Description: Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 has a functional Type III secretion system (T3SS) that is involved in the determination of competitiveness for legume nodulation. Here we demonstrate that the transcriptional factor TtsI, which positively regulates T3SS genes expression, is involved in a negative regulation of M. loti swimming motility in soft-agar. Conditions that induce T3SS expression affect flagella production. The same conditions also affect promoter activity of M. loti visN gene, a homolog to the positive regulator of flagellar genes that has been described in other rhizobia. Defects in T3SS complex assembly at membranes limited the negative regulation of motility by the expression of TtsI.

Description: Frequent burning is commonly undertaken to maintain diversity in temperate grasslands of southern Australia. How burning affects below-ground fungal community diversity remains unknown. We show, using a fungal rDNA metabarcoding approach (Illumina MiSeq), that the fungal community composition was influenced by fire regime (frequency) but not time-since-fire. Fungal community composition was resilient to direct fire effects, most likely because grassland fires transfer little heat to the soil. Differences in the fungal community composition due to fire regime was likely due to associated changes that occur in vegetation with recurrent fire, via the break up of obligate symbiotic relationships. However, fire history only partially explains the observed dissimilarity in composition among the soil samples, suggesting a distinctiveness in composition in each grassland site. The importance of considering changes in soil microbe communities when managing vegetation with fire is highlighted.

Description: Soil is thought to be important both as a source and a sink of carbonyl sulfide (COS) in the troposphere, but the mechanism affecting COS uptake, especially for fungi, remains uncertain. Fungal isolates that were collected randomly from forest soil showed COS-degrading ability at high frequencies: 38 out of 43 isolates grown on potato dextrose agar showed degradation of 30 ppmv COS within 24 h. Of these isolates, eight degraded 30 ppmv of COS to below the detection limit within 2 h. These isolates also showed an ability to degrade COS included in ambient air (around 500 pptv) and highly concentrated (12 500 ppmv) level, even though the latter is higher than the lethal level for mammals. COS-degrading activity was estimated by using ergosterol as a biomass index for fungi. Trichoderma sp. THIF08 had the highest COS-degrading activity of all the isolates. Interestingly, Umbelopsis/Mortierella spp. THIF09 and THIF13 were unable to degrade 30 ppmv COS within 24 h, and actually emitted COS during the cultivation in ambient air. These results indicate a fungal contribution to the flux of COS between the terrestrial and atmospheric environments.

Description: A composite transposon is a mobile genetic element consisting of two insertion sequences (ISs) flanking a segment of cargo DNA often containing antibiotic resistance (AR) genes. Composite transposons can move as a discreet unit. There have been recently several reports on a novel mechanism of movement of an IS 26 -based composite transposon through the formation of a translocatable unit (TU), carrying the internal DNA segment of a composite transposon and one copy of a flanking IS. In this study, we determined the presence of composite transposons and TUs in human oral metagenomic DNA using PCR primers from common IS elements. Analysis of resulting amplicons showed four different IS 1216 composite transposons and one IS 257 composite transposon in our metagenomic sample. As our PCR strategy would also detect TUs, PCR was carried out to detect circular TUs predicted to originate from these composite transposons. We confirmed the presence of two novel TUs, one containing an experimentally proven antiseptic resistance gene and another containing a putative universal stress response protein (UspA) encoding gene. This is the first report of a PCR strategy to amplify the DNA segment on composite transposons and TUs in metagenomic DNA. This can be used to identify AR genes associated with a variety of mobile genetic elements from metagenomes.

Description: Carbonyl sulfide (COS) is an atmospheric trace gas and one of the sources of stratospheric aerosol contributing to climate change. Although one of the major sinks of COS is soil, the distribution of COS degradation ability among bacteria remains unclear. Seventeen out of 20 named bacteria belonging to Actinomycetales had COS degradation activity at mole fractions of 30 parts per million by volume (ppmv) COS. Dietzia maris NBRC 15801 T and Mycobacterium sp. THI405 had the activity comparable to a chemolithoautotroph Thiobacillus thioparus THI115 that degrade COS by COS hydrolase for energy production. Among 12 bacteria manifesting rapid degradation at 30 ppmv COS, D. maris NBRC 15801 T and Streptomyces ambofaciens NBRC 12836 T degraded ambient COS (~500 parts per trillion by volume). Geodermatophilus obscurus NBRC 13315 T and Amycolatopsis orientalis NBRC 12806 T increased COS concentrations. Moreover, six of eight COS-degrading bacteria isolated from soils had partial nucleotide sequences similar to that of the gene encoding clade D of β-class carbonic anhydrase, which included COS hydrolase. These results indicate the potential importance of Actinomycetes in the role of soils as sinks of atmospheric COS.

Description: Neonicotinoids are neurotoxic systemic insecticides used in plant protection worldwide. Unfortunately, application of neonicotinoids affects both beneficial and target insects indiscriminately. Being water soluble and persistent, these pesticides are capable of disrupting both food chains and biogeochemical cycles. This review focuses on the biodegradation of neonicotinoids in soil and water systems by the bacterial community. Several bacterial strains have been isolated and identified as capable of transforming neonicotinoids in the presence of an additional carbon source. Environmental parameters have been established for accelerated transformation in some of these strains. Studies have also indicated that enhanced biotransformation of these pesticides can be accomplished by mixed microbial populations under optimised environmental conditions. Substantial research into the identification of neonicotinoid-mineralising bacterial strains and identification of the genes and enzymes responsible for neonicotinoid degradation is still required to complete the understanding of microbial biodegradation pathways, and advance bioremediation efforts.

Description: Many toxic insecticides used worldwide as well as some chemical warfare agents are phosphotriester derivatives. Therefore, detoxification of organophosphorus compounds has become the subject of many studies and in particular bioremediation, based on the phosphotriesterase catalysed hydrolysis of these compounds, has shown to be an effective and ecological methodology. In order to identify new bacterial phosphotriesterases, a simple and sensitive fluorimetric screening method on solid media was employed that allowed the selection of six strains with phosphotriesterase activity. Since pH and temperature are important parameters for bioremediation of contaminated soils and waters, the influence of these variables on the rate of the enzymatic hydrolysis was assessed. This study afforded notable results, being the most remarkable one the increased activity exhibited by Nocardia asteroides and Streptomyces setonii strains at 50°C, 7 and 30 times higher than at 30°C, respectively. Compared with the results obtained with Brevundimonas diminuta , whose activity is usually considered as reference, an increase of 26 and 75 times is observed, respectively.

Description: Phosphorus (P) is a critical, non-renewable nutrient; yet excess discharges can lead to eutrophication and deterioration of water quality. Thus, P removal from water must be coupled with P recovery to achieve sustainable P management. P-specific proteins provide a novel, promising approach to recover P from water. Bacterial phosphate-binding proteins (PBPs) are able to effectively remove phosphate, achieving extremely low levels in water (i.e. 0.015 mg-P L –1 ). A prerequisite of using PBP for P recovery, however, is not only removal, but also controlled P release, which has not yet been reported. Phosphate release using recombinant PBP-expressing Escherichia coli was explored in this study. Escherichia coli was genetically modified to overexpress PBP in the periplasmic space. The impacts of ionic strength, temperature and pH on phosphate release were assessed. PBP-expressed E. coli demonstrated consistently superior ability to adsorb more phosphate from liquid and release more phosphate under controlled conditions relative to negative controls (unexpressed PBP E. coli and E. coli K12). Lower pH (3.8), higher temperature (35ºC) and higher ionic strength (100 mM KCl) facilitated increased phosphate release, providing a maximum of 2.1% P recovery within 3 h. This study provides proof of concept of the feasibility of using PBP to recover P.

Description: Clostridium difficile is both a hospital and community-acquired pathogen. The current study determined if C. difficile could be cultured from clinical laundry facility surfaces. A total of 240 surface samples were collected from dirty areas ( n = 120), which handle soiled clinical linens, and from clean areas ( n = 120), which process and fold the clean linens, within the University of Washington Consolidated Laundry facility in 2015. Sampling was done four times over the course of 1 year. The dirty area was significantly more contaminated than the clean area (21% vs 2%, P 〈 0.001). Clostridium difficile isolates were genetically characterized using multilocus sequence typing and PCR for the detection of genes encoding toxin A and toxin B. The MLST types 1, 2, 3, 15, 26, 34, 35, 39, 42, 43, 44, 53, 63 and 284 were identified and have previously been found in both clinical and community settings. Toxin positive isolates were identified in both the dirty ( n = 16/25) and clean areas ( n = 2/2). Seasonal variation was observed with 40% of the 27 isolates cultured in April 2015. The study suggests that soiled clinical linens may be a source of C. difficile surface contamination.

Description: Polyploidy is a well-described trait in some prokaryotic organisms; however, it is unusual in marine microbes from oligotrophic environments, which typically display a tendency towards genome streamlining. The biogeochemically significant diazotrophic cyanobacterium Trichodesmium is a potential exception. With a relatively large genome and a comparatively high proportion of non-protein-coding DNA, Trichodesmium appears to allocate relatively more resources to genetic material than closely related organisms and microbes within the same environment. Through simultaneous analysis of gene abundance and direct cell counts, we show for the first time that Trichodesmium spp. can also be highly polyploid, containing as many as 100 genome copies per cell in field-collected samples and 〉600 copies per cell in laboratory cultures. These findings have implications for the widespread use of the abundance of the nifH gene (encoding a subunit of the N 2 -fixing enzyme nitrogenase) as an approach for quantifying the abundance and distribution of marine diazotrophs. Moreover, polyploidy may combine with the unusual genomic characteristics of this genus both in reflecting evolutionary dynamics and influencing phenotypic plasticity and ecological resilience.

Description: This study aimed to evaluate the survival and gene expression of Vibrio harveyi under starvation conditions. The microcosms V. harveyi were incubated in sterilized seawater for 4 weeks at room temperature. Overall, the cell numeration declined rapidly about 10 3 CFU/ml during starvation, with a tiny rebound at day 21. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that rod-shaped cells became sphere with a rippled cell surface. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, nine genes, named lux R, tox R, vhh B, fla A, top A, fur , rpo S, mre B and fts Z, were detected in the non-starved cells. In the starved cells, the expression levels of the detected genes declined substantially ranging from 0.005-fold to 0.028-fold compared to the non-starved cells performed by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR with 16S rRNA as the internal control. In the recovering cells, the expression levels of the detected genes, except lux R and mre B, were upregulated dramatically compared to the wild, especially top A (23.720-fold), fur (39.400-fold) and tox R (9.837-fold), validating that the expressions of both the metabolism and virulence genes were important for growth and survival of V. harveyi. The results may shed a new light on understanding of stress adaptation in bacteria.

Description: Type 1 fimbriae (T1F) are well characterised cell surface organelles expressed by Escherichia coli and required for adherence to mannosylated host tissue. They satisfy molecular Koch's postulates as a virulence determinant and a host-adapted role has been reinforced by reports that T1F expression is repressed at submammalian temperatures. Analysis of a group of 136 environmental and animal E. coli isolates that express T1F at 37°C showed that 28% are also capable of expression at 20°C, in a phase variable manner. The heterogeneous proportions varied widely, and although growth temperature impacted the total proportion expressing T1F, there was no direct correlation between growth at 37°C and 20°C, indicative of differences in thermoregulation of the genetic switch ( fimS ) that controls phase variation. Specificities of the adhesin (FimH) also varied between the isolates: most bound to α-(1-3) mannan and yeast extracts as expected, but some recognised β-(1-4)-mannans and N -linked glycoproteins from plants, and T1F from two of the isolates mediated binding to plant roots. The results expand our view of a well-described adherence factor to show alternative expression profiles and adhesin specificities, which in turn may confer an advantage for certain isolates in alternative hosts and habitats.

Description: If the in situ growth rate of filamentous bacteria in activated sludge can be quantified, researchers can more accurately assess the effect of operating conditions on the growth of filaments and improve the mathematical modeling of filamentous bulking. We developed a method to quantify the in situ specific growth rate of Sphaerotilus natans (a model filament) in activated sludge using the species-specific 16S rRNA:rDNA ratio. Primers targeting the 16S rRNA of S. natans were designed, and real-time PCR and RT-PCR were used to quantify DNA and RNA levels of S. natans , respectively. A positive linear relationship was found between the rRNA:rDNA ratio (from 440 to 4500) and the specific growth rate of S. natans (from 0.036 to 0.172 h –1 ) using chemostat experiments. The in situ growth rates of S. natans in activated sludge samples from three water reclamation facilities were quantified, illustrating how the approach can be applied in a complex environment such as activated sludge.

Description: Members of subdivision 1 of the phylum Acidobacteria were grown at different pH values in a new medium formulation named PSYL 5, which includes sucrose as a carbon source and other compounds (such as KH 2 PO 4 and MgSO 4 .7H 2 O). Growth rate was nearly constant at pH 5.0 and declined at pH 3–4 and 6–7. However, it was found that effects involving good carbon/nitrogen ratios and pH on the growth of the members of Acidobacteria subdivision 1 were significant, and the strongest effect of these conditions was at pH 5.0. In addition, incubation time of 48, 72, 96 and 120 h was shorter than that described previously for members of Acidobacteria subdivision 1 on solid laboratory media.

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Dantzer, Ben -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Feb 20;347(6224):822-3. doi: 10.1126/science.aaa6480.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Psychology and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. dantzer@umich.edu.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25700499" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Mervis, Jeffrey -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Dec 18;350(6267):1454. doi: 10.1126/science.350.6267.1454.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26680170" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: The global biogeography of microorganisms remains largely unknown, in contrast to the well-studied diversity patterns of macroorganisms. We used arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus DNA from 1014 plant-root samples collected worldwide to determine the global distribution of these plant symbionts. We found that AM fungal communities reflected local environmental conditions and the spatial distance between sites. However, despite AM fungi apparently possessing limited dispersal ability, we found 93% of taxa on multiple continents and 34% on all six continents surveyed. This contrasts with the high spatial turnover of other fungal taxa and with the endemism displayed by plants at the global scale. We suggest that the biogeography of AM fungi is driven by unexpectedly efficient dispersal, probably via both abiotic and biotic vectors, including humans.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Davison, J -- Moora, M -- Opik, M -- Adholeya, A -- Ainsaar, L -- Ba, A -- Burla, S -- Diedhiou, A G -- Hiiesalu, I -- Jairus, T -- Johnson, N C -- Kane, A -- Koorem, K -- Kochar, M -- Ndiaye, C -- Partel, M -- Reier, U -- Saks, U -- Singh, R -- Vasar, M -- Zobel, M -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Aug 28;349(6251):970-3. doi: 10.1126/science.aab1161.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu 51005, Estonia. ; Centre for Mycorrhizal Research, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003, India. ; Laboratoire des Symbioses Tropicales et Mediterraneennes, Unite Mixte de Recherche 113, Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie Vegetales, Faculte des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Universite des Antilles, BP 592, 97159, Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe (French West Indies). ; Laboratoire Commun de Microbiologie de l'Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement-Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles-Universite Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Departement de Biologie Vegetale, UCAD, BP 5005 Dakar, Senegal. ; Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu 51005, Estonia. Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dukelska 135, 379 01 Trebon, Czech Republic. ; School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5694, USA. ; Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu 51005, Estonia. Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB Wageningen, Netherlands. ; TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre, Biotechnology and Management of Bioresources Division, TERI, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003, India.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26315436" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Self-organized spatial vegetation patterning is widespread and has been described using models of scale-dependent feedback between plants and water on homogeneous substrates. As rainfall decreases, these models yield a characteristic sequence of patterns with increasingly sparse vegetation, followed by sudden collapse to desert. Thus, the final, spot-like pattern may provide early warning for such catastrophic shifts. In many arid ecosystems, however, termite nests impart substrate heterogeneity by altering soil properties, thereby enhancing plant growth. We show that termite-induced heterogeneity interacts with scale-dependent feedbacks to produce vegetation patterns at different spatial grains. Although the coarse-grained patterning resembles that created by scale-dependent feedback alone, it does not indicate imminent desertification. Rather, mound-field landscapes are more robust to aridity, suggesting that termites may help stabilize ecosystems under global change.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Bonachela, Juan A -- Pringle, Robert M -- Sheffer, Efrat -- Coverdale, Tyler C -- Guyton, Jennifer A -- Caylor, Kelly K -- Levin, Simon A -- Tarnita, Corina E -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Feb 6;347(6222):651-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1261487.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. Mpala Research Centre, Post Office Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya. ; Mpala Research Centre, Post Office Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. Mpala Research Centre, Post Office Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya. ctarnita@princeton.edu.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25657247" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Sedimentary basins in eastern Africa preserve a record of continental rifting and contain important fossil assemblages for interpreting hominin evolution. However, the record of hominin evolution between 3 and 2.5 million years ago (Ma) is poorly documented in surface outcrops, particularly in Afar, Ethiopia. Here we present the discovery of a 2.84- to 2.58-million-year-old fossil and hominin-bearing sediments in the Ledi-Geraru research area of Afar, Ethiopia, that have produced the earliest record of the genus Homo. Vertebrate fossils record a faunal turnover indicative of more open and probably arid habitats than those reconstructed earlier in this region, which is in broad agreement with hypotheses addressing the role of environmental forcing in hominin evolution at this time. Geological analyses constrain depositional and structural models of Afar and date the LD 350-1 Homo mandible to 2.80 to 2.75 Ma.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉DiMaggio, Erin N -- Campisano, Christopher J -- Rowan, John -- Dupont-Nivet, Guillaume -- Deino, Alan L -- Bibi, Faysal -- Lewis, Margaret E -- Souron, Antoine -- Garello, Dominique -- Werdelin, Lars -- Reed, Kaye E -- Arrowsmith, J Ramon -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Mar 20;347(6228):1355-9. doi: 10.1126/science.aaa1415. Epub 2015 Mar 4.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. dimaggio@psu.edu kreed@asu.edu. ; Institute of Human Origins, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. ; CNRS Geosciences Rennes, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes, France. ; Berkeley Geochronology Center, 2455 Ridge Road, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA. ; Museum fur Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany. ; Biology Program, Stockton University, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205, USA. ; Human Evolution Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3160, USA. ; School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. ; Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Palaeobiology, Box 50007, SE-10405 Stockholm, Sweden.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25739409" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: An important question in ecology is how mechanistic processes occurring among individuals drive large-scale patterns of community formation and change. Here we show that in two species of bluebirds, cycles of replacement of one by the other emerge as an indirect consequence of maternal influence on offspring behavior in response to local resource availability. Sampling across broad temporal and spatial scales, we found that western bluebirds, the more competitive species, bias the birth order of offspring by sex in a way that influences offspring aggression and dispersal, setting the stage for rapid increases in population density that ultimately result in the replacement of their sister species. Our results provide insight into how predictable community dynamics can occur despite the contingency of local behavioral interactions.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Duckworth, Renee A -- Belloni, Virginia -- Anderson, Samantha R -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Feb 20;347(6224):875-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1260154.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. rad3@email.arizona.edu. ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25700519" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Vegetation structure is a key determinant of ecosystems and ecosystem function, but paleoecological techniques to quantify it are lacking. We present a method for reconstructing leaf area index (LAI) based on light-dependent morphology of leaf epidermal cells and phytoliths derived from them. Using this proxy, we reconstruct LAI for the Cenozoic (49 million to 11 million years ago) of middle-latitude Patagonia. Our record shows that dense forests opened up by the late Eocene; open forests and shrubland habitats then fluctuated, with a brief middle-Miocene regreening period. Furthermore, endemic herbivorous mammals show accelerated tooth crown height evolution during open, yet relatively grass-free, shrubland habitat intervals. Our Patagonian LAI record provides a high-resolution, sensitive tool with which to dissect terrestrial ecosystem response to changing Southern Ocean conditions during the Cenozoic.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Dunn, Regan E -- Stromberg, Caroline A E -- Madden, Richard H -- Kohn, Matthew J -- Carlini, Alfredo A -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Jan 16;347(6219):258-61. doi: 10.1126/science.1260947.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. dunnr@u.washington.edu. ; Department of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. ; Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. ; Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA. ; Paleontologia de Vertebrados, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET), La Plata, Argentina.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25593182" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Viruses influence ecosystems by modulating microbial population size, diversity, metabolic outputs, and gene flow. Here, we use quantitative double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viral-fraction metagenomes (viromes) and whole viral community morphological data sets from 43 Tara Oceans expedition samples to assess viral community patterns and structure in the upper ocean. Protein cluster cataloging defined pelagic upper-ocean viral community pan and core gene sets and suggested that this sequence space is well-sampled. Analyses of viral protein clusters, populations, and morphology revealed biogeographic patterns whereby viral communities were passively transported on oceanic currents and locally structured by environmental conditions that affect host community structure. Together, these investigations establish a global ocean dsDNA viromic data set with analyses supporting the seed-bank hypothesis to explain how oceanic viral communities maintain high local diversity.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Brum, Jennifer R -- Ignacio-Espinoza, J Cesar -- Roux, Simon -- Doulcier, Guilhem -- Acinas, Silvia G -- Alberti, Adriana -- Chaffron, Samuel -- Cruaud, Corinne -- de Vargas, Colomban -- Gasol, Josep M -- Gorsky, Gabriel -- Gregory, Ann C -- Guidi, Lionel -- Hingamp, Pascal -- Iudicone, Daniele -- Not, Fabrice -- Ogata, Hiroyuki -- Pesant, Stephane -- Poulos, Bonnie T -- Schwenck, Sarah M -- Speich, Sabrina -- Dimier, Celine -- Kandels-Lewis, Stefanie -- Picheral, Marc -- Searson, Sarah -- Tara Oceans Coordinators -- Bork, Peer -- Bowler, Chris -- Sunagawa, Shinichi -- Wincker, Patrick -- Karsenti, Eric -- Sullivan, Matthew B -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 May 22;348(6237):1261498. doi: 10.1126/science.1261498.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. ; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. Environmental and Evolutionary Genomics Section, Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Superieure (IBENS), CNRS, UMR8197, INSERM U1024, 75230 Paris, France. ; Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM)-CSIC, Pg. Maritim de la Barceloneta 37-49, Barcelona, E08003, Spain. ; Genoscope, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA)-Institut de Genomique, 2 rue Gaston Cremieux, 91057 Evry, France. ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Center for the Biology of Disease, VIB KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. ; CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680 Roscoff, France. Sorbonne Universites, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Universite Paris 06, and UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680 Roscoff, France. ; CNRS, UMR 7093, Laboratoire d'oceanographie de Villefranche (LOV), Observatoire Oceanologique, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France. Sorbonne Universites, Uiversite Pierre et Marie Curie, Universite Paris 06, UMR 7093, Laboratoire d'oceanographie de Villefranche (LOV), Observatoire Oceanologique, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France. ; Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. ; Aix Marseille Universite, CNRS IGS UMR 7256, 13288 Marseille, France. ; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy. ; Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0001, Japan. ; PANGAEA, Data Publisher for Earth and Environmental Science, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany. MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany. ; Laboratoire de Physique des Oceans, Institut Universitaire Europeen de la Mer, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO-IUEM), Place Copernic, 29820 Plouzane, France. ; CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680 Roscoff, France. Sorbonne Universites, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Universite Paris 06, and UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680 Roscoff, France. Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Superieure (IBENS), and INSERM U1024, and CNRS UMR 8197, Paris, 75005, France. ; Structural and Computational Biology, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. Directors' Research, European Molecular Biology Laboratory Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. ; Structural and Computational Biology, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. Max-Delbruck-Centre for Molecular Medicine, 13092 Berlin, Germany. ; Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Superieure (IBENS), and INSERM U1024, and CNRS UMR 8197, Paris, 75005, France. ; Structural and Computational Biology, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. ; Genoscope, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA)-Institut de Genomique, 2 rue Gaston Cremieux, 91057 Evry, France. CNRS, UMR 8030, CP5706, 91057 Evry, France. Universite d'Evry, UMR 8030, CP5706, 91057 Evry, France. ; Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Superieure (IBENS), and INSERM U1024, and CNRS UMR 8197, Paris, 75005, France. Directors' Research, European Molecular Biology Laboratory Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. mbsulli@gmail.com karsenti@embl.de. ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. mbsulli@gmail.com karsenti@embl.de.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25999515" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Naeem, S -- Ingram, J C -- Varga, A -- Agardy, T -- Barten, P -- Bennett, G -- Bloomgarden, E -- Bremer, L L -- Burkill, P -- Cattau, M -- Ching, C -- Colby, M -- Cook, D C -- Costanza, R -- DeClerck, F -- Freund, C -- Gartner, T -- Goldman-Benner, R -- Gunderson, J -- Jarrett, D -- Kinzig, A P -- Kiss, A -- Koontz, A -- Kumar, P -- Lasky, J R -- Masozera, M -- Meyers, D -- Milano, F -- Naughton-Treves, L -- Nichols, E -- Olander, L -- Olmsted, P -- Perge, E -- Perrings, C -- Polasky, S -- Potent, J -- Prager, C -- Quetier, F -- Redford, K -- Saterson, K -- Thoumi, G -- Vargas, M T -- Vickerman, S -- Weisser, W -- Wilkie, D -- Wunder, S -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Mar 13;347(6227):1206-7. doi: 10.1126/science.aaa1403. Epub 2015 Mar 12.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25766222" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Hochberg, Yael V -- Fehder, Daniel C -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Jun 12;348(6240):1202-3. doi: 10.1126/science.aab3351.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Rice University, Houston, TX 77251, USA. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. hochberg@rice.edu. ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26068829" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: The ocean moderates anthropogenic climate change at the cost of profound alterations of its physics, chemistry, ecology, and services. Here, we evaluate and compare the risks of impacts on marine and coastal ecosystems-and the goods and services they provide-for growing cumulative carbon emissions under two contrasting emissions scenarios. The current emissions trajectory would rapidly and significantly alter many ecosystems and the associated services on which humans heavily depend. A reduced emissions scenario-consistent with the Copenhagen Accord's goal of a global temperature increase of less than 2 degrees C-is much more favorable to the ocean but still substantially alters important marine ecosystems and associated goods and services. The management options to address ocean impacts narrow as the ocean warms and acidifies. Consequently, any new climate regime that fails to minimize ocean impacts would be incomplete and inadequate.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Gattuso, J-P -- Magnan, A -- Bille, R -- Cheung, W W L -- Howes, E L -- Joos, F -- Allemand, D -- Bopp, L -- Cooley, S R -- Eakin, C M -- Hoegh-Guldberg, O -- Kelly, R P -- Portner, H-O -- Rogers, A D -- Baxter, J M -- Laffoley, D -- Osborn, D -- Rankovic, A -- Rochette, J -- Sumaila, U R -- Treyer, S -- Turley, C -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Jul 3;349(6243):aac4722. doi: 10.1126/science.aac4722.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Laboratoire d'Oceanographie de Villefranche, CNRS-Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers, F-06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France. Sorbonne Universites, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Univ Paris 06, Observatoire Oceanologique, F-06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France. Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Sciences Po, 27 rue Saint Guillaume, F-75007 Paris, France. gattuso@obs-vlfr.fr. ; Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Sciences Po, 27 rue Saint Guillaume, F-75007 Paris, France. ; Secretariat of the Pacific Community, B.P. D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia. ; Nippon Foundation-UBC Nereus Program, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. ; Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, D-27570, Bremenrhaven, Germany. ; Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. ; Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000 Monaco, Principality of Monaco. Institut Pierre Simon Laplace/Laboratoire des Science du Climat et de l'Environnement, UMR8212, CNRS-Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives-Universite de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Gif sur Yvette, France. ; Ocean Conservancy, 1300 19th Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20036, USA. ; Coral Reef Watch, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA. ; Global Change Institute and Australian Research Council Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, University of Queensland, Building 20, St Lucia, 4072 Queensland, Australia. ; School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, University of Washington, 3707 Brooklyn Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. ; Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK. ; Scottish Natural Heritage, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT, Scotland. ; IUCN, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland. ; Environment Laboratories, International Atomic Energy Agency, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, MC-98000 Monaco, Principality of Monaco. ; Program on Science, Technology, and Society, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. ; Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Sciences Po, 27 rue Saint Guillaume, F-75007 Paris, France. Fisheries Economics Research Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. ; Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26138982" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Allred, Brady W -- Smith, W Kolby -- Twidwell, Dirac -- Haggerty, Julia H -- Running, Steven W -- Naugle, David E -- Fuhlendorf, Samuel D -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Apr 24;348(6233):401-2. doi: 10.1126/science.aaa4785. Epub 2015 Apr 23.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. brady.allred@umontana.edu. ; College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. ; Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. ; Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. ; College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. ; Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25908812" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Pennisi, Elizabeth -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Dec 18;350(6267):1452. doi: 10.1126/science.350.6267.1452.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26680168" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Marine defaunation, or human-caused animal loss in the oceans, emerged forcefully only hundreds of years ago, whereas terrestrial defaunation has been occurring far longer. Though humans have caused few global marine extinctions, we have profoundly affected marine wildlife, altering the functioning and provisioning of services in every ocean. Current ocean trends, coupled with terrestrial defaunation lessons, suggest that marine defaunation rates will rapidly intensify as human use of the oceans industrializes. Though protected areas are a powerful tool to harness ocean productivity, especially when designed with future climate in mind, additional management strategies will be required. Overall, habitat degradation is likely to intensify as a major driver of marine wildlife loss. Proactive intervention can avert a marine defaunation disaster of the magnitude observed on land.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉McCauley, Douglas J -- Pinsky, Malin L -- Palumbi, Stephen R -- Estes, James A -- Joyce, Francis H -- Warner, Robert R -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Jan 16;347(6219):1255641. doi: 10.1126/science.1255641.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. douglas.mccauley@lifesci.ucsb.edu. ; Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. ; Department of Biology, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA. ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA. ; Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25593191" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Stone, Richard -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Sep 4;349(6252):1046-7. doi: 10.1126/science.349.6252.1046.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26339010" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Groner, Maya -- Breyta, Rachel -- Dobson, Andy -- Friedman, Carolyn S -- Froelich, Brett -- Garren, Melissa -- Gulland, Frances -- Maynard, Jeffrey -- Weil, Ernesto -- Wyllie-Echeverria, Sandy -- Harvell, Drew -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Mar 13;347(6227):1210. doi: 10.1126/science.347.6227.1210-a.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Centre for Veterinary and Epidemiological Research, Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 4P3, Canada. mgroner@upei.ca. ; School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. ; Department of Marine Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. ; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. ; The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA. ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. ; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR 00680, USA. ; Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25766223" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Kintisch, Eli -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Aug 7;349(6248):578-81. doi: 10.1126/science.349.6248.578.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26250666" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Rau, Greg H -- Greene, Charles H -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2015 Sep 25;349(6255):1459. doi: 10.1126/science.349.6255.1459-b.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA. ghrau@sbcglobal.net. ; Ocean Resources and Ecosystems Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26404817" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Woodroffe, Rosie -- Hedges, Simon -- Durant, Sarah -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jul 25;345(6195):389-90. doi: 10.1126/science.345.6195.389-b. Epub 2014 Jul 24.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, NW1 4RY, UK. rosie.woodroffe@ioz.ac.uk. ; Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY 10460, USA. ; Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, NW1 4RY, UK. Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY 10460, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25061195" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Pennisi, Elizabeth -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jun 27;344(6191):1470-1. doi: 10.1126/science.344.6191.1470.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24970076" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Woodroffe, Rosie -- Hedges, Simon -- Durant, Sarah M -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Apr 4;344(6179):46-8. doi: 10.1126/science.1246251.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Institute of Zoology, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24700847" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Reef-building in metazoans represents an important ecological innovation whereby individuals collectively enhance feeding efficiency and gain protection from competitors and predation. The appearance of metazoan reefs in the fossil record therefore indicates an adaptive response to complex ecological pressures. In the Nama Group, Namibia, we found evidence of reef-building by the earliest known skeletal metazoan, the globally distributed Cloudina, ~548 million years ago. These Cloudina reefs formed open frameworks without a microbial component but with mutual attachment and cementation between individuals. Orientated growth implies a passive suspension-feeding habit into nutrient-rich currents. The characteristics of Cloudina support the view that metazoan reef-building was promoted by the rise of substrate competitors and predators.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Penny, A M -- Wood, R -- Curtis, A -- Bowyer, F -- Tostevin, R -- Hoffman, K-H -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jun 27;344(6191):1504-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1253393.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK. a.m.penny@ed.ac.uk. ; School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK. ; Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. ; Geological Survey of Namibia, Private Bag 13297, Windhoek, Namibia.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24970084" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Reported trends in the mean and variability of coastal upwelling in eastern boundary currents have raised concerns about the future of these highly productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems. However, the instrumental records on which these estimates are based are insufficiently long to determine whether such trends exceed preindustrial limits. In the California Current, a 576-year reconstruction of climate variables associated with winter upwelling indicates that variability increased over the latter 20th century to levels equaled only twice during the past 600 years. This modern trend in variance may be unique, because it appears to be driven by an unprecedented succession of extreme, downwelling-favorable, winter climate conditions that profoundly reduce productivity for marine predators of commercial and conservation interest.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Black, Bryan A -- Sydeman, William J -- Frank, David C -- Griffin, Daniel -- Stahle, David W -- Garcia-Reyes, Marisol -- Rykaczewski, Ryan R -- Bograd, Steven J -- Peterson, William T -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Sep 19;345(6203):1498-502. doi: 10.1126/science.1253209.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉University of Texas Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA. bryan.black@utexas.edu. ; Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research, 101 H Street, Suite Q, Petaluma, CA 94952, USA. ; Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zurcherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Zahringerstrasse 25, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. ; Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA. ; Department of Geosciences, University of Arkansas, 216 Ozark Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. ; Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, 701 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. ; Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 1352 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA. ; Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Hatfield Marine Science Center, NOAA, 2030 Southeast Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25237100" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: In 1990, Andrew Bakun proposed that increasing greenhouse gas concentrations would force intensification of upwelling-favorable winds in eastern boundary current systems that contribute substantial services to society. Because there is considerable disagreement about whether contemporary wind trends support Bakun's hypothesis, we performed a meta-analysis of the literature on upwelling-favorable wind intensification. The preponderance of published analyses suggests that winds have intensified in the California, Benguela, and Humboldt upwelling systems and weakened in the Iberian system over time scales ranging up to 60 years; wind change is equivocal in the Canary system. Stronger intensification signals are observed at higher latitudes, consistent with the warming pattern associated with climate change. Overall, reported changes in coastal winds, although subtle and spatially variable, support Bakun's hypothesis of upwelling intensification in eastern boundary current systems.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Sydeman, W J -- Garcia-Reyes, M -- Schoeman, D S -- Rykaczewski, R R -- Thompson, S A -- Black, B A -- Bograd, S J -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jul 4;345(6192):77-80. doi: 10.1126/science.1251635.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research, Suite Q, 101 H Street, Petaluma, CA 94952, USA. wsydeman@comcast.net. ; Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research, Suite Q, 101 H Street, Petaluma, CA 94952, USA. ; Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558, Australia. ; Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, 701 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. ; Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research, Suite Q, 101 H Street, Petaluma, CA 94952, USA. Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington, Box 355674, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. ; Marine Science Institute, University of Texas, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA. ; Environmental Research Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 1352 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950-2097, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24994651" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Gramling, Carolyn -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 May 2;344(6183):463. doi: 10.1126/science.344.6183.463.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24786058" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Ferreira, J -- Aragao, L E O C -- Barlow, J -- Barreto, P -- Berenguer, E -- Bustamante, M -- Gardner, T A -- Lees, A C -- Lima, A -- Louzada, J -- Pardini, R -- Parry, L -- Peres, C A -- Pompeu, P S -- Tabarelli, M -- Zuanon, J -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Nov 7;346(6210):706-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1260194.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉See the supplementary materials for author af liations. joice.ferreira@embrapa.br. ; See the supplementary materials for author af liations.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25378611" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: In theoretical ecology, traditional studies based on dynamical stability and numerical simulations have not found a unified answer to the effect of network architecture on community persistence. Here, we introduce a mathematical framework based on the concept of structural stability to explain such a disparity of results. We investigated the range of conditions necessary for the stable coexistence of all species in mutualistic systems. We show that the apparently contradictory conclusions reached by previous studies arise as a consequence of overseeing either the necessary conditions for persistence or its dependence on model parameterization. We show that observed network architectures maximize the range of conditions for species coexistence. We discuss the applicability of structural stability to study other types of interspecific interactions.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Rohr, Rudolf P -- Saavedra, Serguei -- Bascompte, Jordi -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jul 25;345(6195):1253497. doi: 10.1126/science.1253497.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Integrative Ecology Group, Estacion Biologica de Donana-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (EBD-CSIC), Calle Americo Vespucio s/n, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain. Unit of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 10, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland. ; Integrative Ecology Group, Estacion Biologica de Donana-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (EBD-CSIC), Calle Americo Vespucio s/n, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain. ; Integrative Ecology Group, Estacion Biologica de Donana-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (EBD-CSIC), Calle Americo Vespucio s/n, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain. bascompte@ebd.csic.es.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25061214" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Cardinale, Bradley -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jun 6;344(6188):1098. doi: 10.1126/science.344.6188.1098-a.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, USA. bradcard@umich.edu.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24904146" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Ecologists have long sought to understand the factors controlling the structure of savanna vegetation. Using data from 2154 sites in savannas across Africa, Australia, and South America, we found that increasing moisture availability drives increases in fire and tree basal area, whereas fire reduces tree basal area. However, among continents, the magnitude of these effects varied substantially, so that a single model cannot adequately represent savanna woody biomass across these regions. Historical and environmental differences drive the regional variation in the functional relationships between woody vegetation, fire, and climate. These same differences will determine the regional responses of vegetation to future climates, with implications for global carbon stocks.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Lehmann, Caroline E R -- Anderson, T Michael -- Sankaran, Mahesh -- Higgins, Steven I -- Archibald, Sally -- Hoffmann, William A -- Hanan, Niall P -- Williams, Richard J -- Fensham, Roderick J -- Felfili, Jeanine -- Hutley, Lindsay B -- Ratnam, Jayashree -- San Jose, Jose -- Montes, Ruben -- Franklin, Don -- Russell-Smith, Jeremy -- Ryan, Casey M -- Durigan, Giselda -- Hiernaux, Pierre -- Haidar, Ricardo -- Bowman, David M J S -- Bond, William J -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jan 31;343(6170):548-52. doi: 10.1126/science.1247355.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24482480" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Pawar, Samraat -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jul 25;345(6195):383. doi: 10.1126/science.1256466.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, U K. s.pawar@imperial.ac.uk.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25061191" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Animal migrations span the globe, involving immense numbers of individuals from a wide range of taxa. Migrants transport nutrients, energy, and other organisms as they forage and are preyed upon throughout their journeys. These highly predictable, pulsed movements across large spatial scales render migration a potentially powerful yet underappreciated dimension of biodiversity that is intimately embedded within resident communities. We review examples from across the animal kingdom to distill fundamental processes by which migratory animals influence communities and ecosystems, demonstrating that they can uniquely alter energy flow, food-web topology and stability, trophic cascades, and the structure of metacommunities. Given the potential for migration to alter ecological networks worldwide, we suggest an integrative framework through which community dynamics and ecosystem functioning may explicitly consider animal migrations.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Bauer, S -- Hoye, B J -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Apr 4;344(6179):1242552. doi: 10.1126/science.1242552.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute, 6204 Sempach, Switzerland.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24700862" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Stokstad, Erik -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Mar 21;343(6177):1301. doi: 10.1126/science.343.6177.1301.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24653015" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉McNutt, Marcia -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Mar 21;343(6177):1289. doi: 10.1126/science.1253412.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Marcia McNutt is Editor-in-Chief of Science.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24653006" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Kelly, Ryan P -- Port, Jesse A -- Yamahara, Kevan M -- Martone, Rebecca G -- Lowell, Natalie -- Thomsen, Philip Francis -- Mach, Megan E -- Bennett, Meredith -- Prahler, Erin -- Caldwell, Margaret R -- Crowder, Larry B -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jun 27;344(6191):1455-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1251156. Epub 2014 Jun 26.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98103, USA. Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. rpkelly@uw.edu. ; Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. ; School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98103, USA. ; Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24970068" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Pennisi, Elizabeth -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jan 31;343(6170):472-3. doi: 10.1126/science.343.6170.472.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24482456" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Pfeifer, M -- Packer, C -- Burton, A C -- Garnett, S T -- Loveridge, A J -- MacNulty, D -- Platts, P J -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jul 25;345(6195):389. doi: 10.1126/science.345.6195.389-a. Epub 2014 Jul 24.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Forest Ecology and Conservation Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK. York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. m.pfeifer@imperial.ac.uk. ; Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. ; Alberta Innovates Technology Futures, Victoria, BC V8Z 7X8, Canada. Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada. ; Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia. ; Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Oxford, OX13 5QL, UK. ; Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA. ; York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25061194" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Dornelas, Maria -- Gotelli, Nicholas J -- McGill, Brian -- Magurran, Anne E -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jun 6;344(6188):1098-9. doi: 10.1126/science.344.6188.1098-b.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, UK. maadd@st-andrews.ac.uk. ; Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. ; School of Biology and Ecology, Sustainability Solutions Initiative, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA. ; Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, UK.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24904147" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: The extent to which biodiversity change in local assemblages contributes to global biodiversity loss is poorly understood. We analyzed 100 time series from biomes across Earth to ask how diversity within assemblages is changing through time. We quantified patterns of temporal alpha diversity, measured as change in local diversity, and temporal beta diversity, measured as change in community composition. Contrary to our expectations, we did not detect systematic loss of alpha diversity. However, community composition changed systematically through time, in excess of predictions from null models. Heterogeneous rates of environmental change, species range shifts associated with climate change, and biotic homogenization may explain the different patterns of temporal alpha and beta diversity. Monitoring and understanding change in species composition should be a conservation priority.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Dornelas, Maria -- Gotelli, Nicholas J -- McGill, Brian -- Shimadzu, Hideyasu -- Moyes, Faye -- Sievers, Caya -- Magurran, Anne E -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Apr 18;344(6181):296-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1248484.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24744374" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: Large carnivores face serious threats and are experiencing massive declines in their populations and geographic ranges around the world. We highlight how these threats have affected the conservation status and ecological functioning of the 31 largest mammalian carnivores on Earth. Consistent with theory, empirical studies increasingly show that large carnivores have substantial effects on the structure and function of diverse ecosystems. Significant cascading trophic interactions, mediated by their prey or sympatric mesopredators, arise when some of these carnivores are extirpated from or repatriated to ecosystems. Unexpected effects of trophic cascades on various taxa and processes include changes to bird, mammal, invertebrate, and herpetofauna abundance or richness; subsidies to scavengers; altered disease dynamics; carbon sequestration; modified stream morphology; and crop damage. Promoting tolerance and coexistence with large carnivores is a crucial societal challenge that will ultimately determine the fate of Earth's largest carnivores and all that depends upon them, including humans.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Ripple, William J -- Estes, James A -- Beschta, Robert L -- Wilmers, Christopher C -- Ritchie, Euan G -- Hebblewhite, Mark -- Berger, Joel -- Elmhagen, Bodil -- Letnic, Mike -- Nelson, Michael P -- Schmitz, Oswald J -- Smith, Douglas W -- Wallach, Arian D -- Wirsing, Aaron J -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jan 10;343(6167):1241484. doi: 10.1126/science.1241484.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Trophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24408439" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Law, Kara Lavender -- Thompson, Richard C -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Jul 11;345(6193):144-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1254065. Epub 2014 Jul 10.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Department of Oceanography, Sea Education Association, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA. klavender@sea.edu. ; School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25013051" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Chapron, Guillaume -- Lopez-Bao, Jose Vicente -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Mar 14;343(6176):1199-200. doi: 10.1126/science.343.6176.1199-b.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Grimso Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24626913" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Mace, Georgina M -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Sep 26;345(6204):1558-60. doi: 10.1126/science.1254704.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. g.mace@ucl.ac.uk.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25258063" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉

Description: 〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Machovina, Brian -- Feeley, Kenneth J -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2014 Feb 21;343(6173):838. doi: 10.1126/science.343.6173.838-a.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24558143" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉