The composition of essential oil from aerial parts of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. from Bor (Serbia) was analyzed. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-FID, GC-MS). In total, 45 compounds were detected (98.49% of the total). The essential oil was dominated by monoterpene (45%) and sesquiterpene (38.51%) hydrocarbons. The principal constituents were germacrene D (25.3%), limonene (21.6%), and α-pinene (15.7%). The microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the essential oil against five Gram-negative phytopathogenic strains. Essential oil exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against two Xanthomonas campestris strains and one referent and one natural isolate of Ervinia amylovora, causative agents of black rot and fire blight.

The colony of crested auklets (Aethia cristatella) at Big Koniuji I. (BK), AK (Lat. 55° 03’ 58.1” N, Long.159° 31’ 45.5” W) was reputed to be one of the largest breeding concentrations of crested auklets in existence in the early 20^th Century. However, a precipitous population decline followed the initiation of fox farming in 1916. Fox were removed by the mid-1980’s, but by 2002 the colony had not increased substantially in population size or area, despite available nesting habitat. Metrics in 2002 did not indicate food limitations. Indices of diet were comparable between BK and Little Diomede I. Baseline corticosterone did not differ among BK and two other colonies, Hall and St. Lawrence Is., AK. Predation, may have inhibited population growth, but we did not find direct evidence. Arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) occupied the colony and are known to predate seabird chicks and eggs. However, stable isotope analysis of ground squirrel scat did not indicate a marine-derived signature in their diet. By 2012 the BK colony had increased substantially in its areal extent based on delineation of the colony boundaries. However, in 2021 there were no signs of activity at the colony in mid-July, when crested auklets are usually tending their chicks. It appeared that some crested auklets attempted to attend the colony in 2021, based on the remains of a few predated carcasses, but the colony appeared abandoned. We discuss the potential factors that may have contributed to the apparent loss of this colony, the only breeding colony of crested auklets east of the Aleutian Islands.

Whilst our understanding of patterns of fungal diversity is increasing, we have a paucity of data from tropical regions, and especially South-east Asia, to contribute to this. The island of Borneo is valuable in this regard as it contains high pedodiversity known to influence ecological communities. In this study, we examined soil fungal diversity and community composition using Illumina sequencing. We collected soils from Barito Ulu, in central Borneo, across an edaphic gradient from clay-rich Ultisols to sandy Spodosols and from upper and lower horizons. The fungal community was clearly distinct between contrasting soils, but diversity did not show such clear patterns. The fungal community also differed by soil depth and there was indications of lower diversity in deeper soil layers. Soil properties, in particular soil pH were a clear driver of differences in the fungal community. These patterns also differed depending on fungal lifestyle (e.g. saprotophs, ectomycorrhizal fungi). We present here one of the most detailed studies of soil fungi in tropical forests of Borneo.

Assessment of microbial diversity and understanding factors underlying species distribution are fundamental themes in ecology. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are key actors among soil microbial communities, forming a beneficial association with most crops and horticultural plants. However, for maize, data on AMF species diversity in east Africa tropical agroecosystems is totally nonexistent. This research was carried out to assess the morphological diversity of native AMF species associated with the rhizosphere of maize in eastern Uganda and to examine the effects of soil chemical properties on this diversity. Soil samples were collected from two sites (in Amuria and Serere districts). Spores were extracted from the field soils by the wet sieving method, counted, and morphologically identified. Spores occurrence, abundances, species richness, and diversity were determined. A total of 49 AMF morphotypes distributed in 7 genera (Gigaspora, Scutellospora, Glomus, Acaulospora, Archaospora, Entrophosporaa, and Paraglomus) were obtained with the majority being from Gigasporaceae, Acaulosporaceae, Paraglomeraceae, and Glomeraceae families. All morphospecies were ubiquitous in all the sites. Spores densities were higher in Amuria than in Serere. Soil pH and phosphorus content influenced AMF distribution. Finding the species in a wide range of physicochemical environments indicates that they are adapted to those environments. Maize grown in eastern Uganda is associated with a diversity of AMF which could be selected as bio-fertilizer to contribute to improving crops production.

Algae are considered a valuable source of polysaccharides with important bioactive characteristics that benefit human health, such as anti-tumor, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. Despite the recognized importance of these organisms, microalgae have been virtually unexplored relative to macroalgae. Chaetoceros muelleri is a cosmopolitan planktonic diatom microalga present in the Sea of ​​Cortez. Its biomass is essential in aquaculture as it is a source of high-value products (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, and carbohydrates). Several studies on sulfated exopolysaccharides (sEPS) from macroalgae have been reported; however, information on sEPS from microalgae is scarce. This research aims to generate knowledge about the macromolecular characteristics and the gelling and bioactive properties of sEPS from Chaetoceros muelleri. In the present study, the culture of this diatom was established under controlled laboratory conditions. From the biomass obtained, the extraction of sEPS was carried out, bringing a yield of 2.3% (w/w of dry biomass). The sEPS were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showing characteristic bands reported for these macromolecules in the range of 3405 to 821 cm^-1, thus confirming their molecular identity. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a dynamic light scattering detector registered a molecular weight (Mw), polydispersity index (PI), intrinsic viscosity [η], radius of gyration (RG), and hydrodynamic radius (Rh) value of 945 kDa, 1.14, 653 mL/g, 69 nm, and 45 nm, respectively for sEPS. In addition, K and α constants in sEPS were 1.112 x 10^-2 and 0.817, respectively, suggesting a molecular random coil structure in these polysaccharides.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 1753) of the «Kalach-60» variety is one of the most stable and high-yielding zoned objects. A comprehensive study of the species composition of microorganisms was conducted using standard microbiological techniques. 120 samples of stems, leaves and soil collected during such phenological phases of plant development as tillering, stalking, grain filling and ripeness were examined. We isolated 18 strains of microorganisms that were assigned to 6 genera of fungi and bacterium (Aphanocladium, Alternaria, Fusarium, Bacillus, Listeria, Staphyloccocus,) and 15 species, of which 1 are gram–positive rods, 9 are gram–positive spore rods, 1 is gram–positive cocci and 3 species of fungi. Based on the data obtained, it can be concluded that in various phenological phases, the greatest contamination of the wheat plants of the « Kalach-60» variety is observed by such bacterial species as: Bacillus drentensis, B. horikoshii, B. psychrodurans, B. halodurans, B. okuhidensis, B. oleronius (with an occurrence index from 70 to 100 %). Fungi Aphanocladium album, Alternaria altenata, Fusarium oxysporum prevails at various phenological phases with an occurrence index from 70 to 100%.

The superfamily Entomobryoidea has been the focus of molecular studies in recent years due to an intriguing divergence between morphological and genetic data. Recent studies have converged on a result that suggests the non-monophyly of the traditional Paronellidae and Entomobryidae. The most recent phylogeny proposed was based on mitogenomes and resulted in the monophyly of Orchesellidae, the basal Entomobryoidea, and non-monophyly of Paronellidae and Entomobryidae. To verify the accuracy of the phylogenetic signal of mitochondrial data, we reanalyzed some of the raw published data and newly sequenced species of Entomobryoidea to create phylogenetic independent matrices containing single-copy nuclear genes (USCOs) and ultraconserved elements (UCEs). All assemblies, gene extractions, and annotations were made using WGS-based pipelines available online. A USCO and UCE capture for the Entomobryoidea group previously designed was successfully tested with our data. Maximum likelihood analyses under different models using a matrix of 85% completeness were used to define the most reliable phylogenetic tree. Bayesian analyses, species-tree based on individual gene-trees, and divergence estimation time were performed as well. Our results corroborated with previous phylogenies and we recovered the Orchesellidae as an independent basal family, with the unscaled taxa (the Orchesellinae s. lat.) as the sister group of the scaled Heteromurinae; the Entomobryinae remained the most puzzling taxon gathering scaled and unscaled lineages of both traditional Entomobryidae and Paronellidae; and the Seirinae resulted in the sister-group of the Lepidocyrtinae. The sampled representatives of Paronellinae s. str. (Cyphoderus and Troglopedetes) were recovered as the sister group of Seirinae+Lepidocyrtinae, supporting their reduction on the dorsal macrochaetotaxy and trunk sensillar pattern occurred independently from the Lepidocyrtinae. All the main events of cladogenesis of the families and subfamilies of Entomobryoidea occurred during the Jurassic, with the split of the Orchesellidae from the derived Entomobryoidea; the separation of the Entomobryinae from the other taxa; and the posterior splits of the Paronellinae s. str., Lepidocyrtinae and Seirinae.

Pleurotus nebrodensis (Inzenga) Quél. is a species of edible mushroom that is much appreciated by consumers for its organoleptic characteristics. It was first described by mycologist Giuseppe Inzenga as “the most delicious mushroom growing in Sicily” (Inzenga 1863). This taxon, initially described as Agaricus nebrodensis Inzenga, has undergone several changes to its nomenclature and infraspecific status as "variety" or "subspecies" of Pleurotus eryngii (DC.) Quél.. However, as reported by Venturella et al. (2016), P. nebrodensis differs from other taxa related to the P. eryngii complex. The presence of P. nebrodensis in Europe is apparently limited to Sicily in Italy (Madonie Park) and in Greece, where it is associated only with plants of Prangos ferulacea (Lindl.) (Gargano et al., 2011; Zervakis et al., 2014). Several studies have shown that the presence of P. nebrodensis in its natural distribution area has progressively decreased over the years. Research conducted in Sicily during the fructification period (April-June) of 2009 confirmed the downward trend (Venturella et al. 2016). The decision to include P. nebrodensis as an Endangered (EN) species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species was made to safeguard the existence of this important taxon. Legal action is needed to stop overharvesting and the collection of immature individuals in the wild. Experiments were done on ex situ cultivation to increase wild production and the mycelium was submitted to the Mycotheca of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Science of the University of Palermo for preservation. The in situ conservation strategy (picking of ripe mushrooms forbidden in Zone A of Madonie Park and harvesting of unripe mushrooms forbidden in other areas) can be implemented only if the wild collection is properly managed.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities present in the rhizosphere are critical to plant and ecosystem function. We tested the hypothesis that contrasting coastal ecosystems, dune and restinga, alter the correlations between the spatial patterns of these fungi and the diversity of plants. We evaluated the diversity of plant and AMF communities close to its rhizospheres in Peró Beach, Cabo Frio, State of Rio de Janeiro, during rainy and dry seasons in 2014. A total of 35 plant species belonging to 34 genera and 23 families were recorded. The species Ipomoea imperati, Stenotaphrum secundatum, Hydrocotyle bonariensis and Remirea maritima were the most common. Higher plant species richness was found in restinga over dune habitats in both seasons. Multivariate analysis revealed that in dunes, the seasons shaped more differences between the relations AMF-plants. In the restinga, the relationship between plants and AMFs was not clearly related to the seasons or the species of plants. The fungi Racocetra coralloidea and Dentiscutata scutata were found close to the rhizosphere of S. secundatum and H. bonariensis exclusively in dunes, while the fungus Funneliformis verruculosum was present close to the rhizosphere of these same plants exclusively in restinga. Further work should focus on AMF communities in roots of the dune and restinga plants to increase our understanding of plant-AMF associations in these understudied ecosystems.

Bacterial activities drive most of Earth’s biogeochemical cycles and, thus, much effort has been devoted to understanding the mechanisms governing their community assembly in nature. In freshwater ecosystems, selection has been found to be the main driver shaping bacterial communities. However, its relative importance compared with other processes (dispersal, drift, diversification) may depend on spatial heterogeneity and the dispersal rates within a metacommunity. Here, we investigate across spatial scales (regional, watershed, and locally) the main ecological processes modulating bacterial assembly from eutrophic shallow lakes from the pampa plain (Argentina). To do this, 52 shallow lakes with contrasting limnological features and alternative states were studied , Bacterial composition was analysed using high throughput sequencing (Illumina Miseq technology) of the 16S rDNA V4 region and statistical inferences based on phylogenetic and taxa turnover was applied. Based on this, ASVs (amplicon sequence variant, unique DNA sequences obtained from massive sequencing) with a strong association to hypersaline environments and turbid water regimes were observed. In addition to this, the importance of processes as dispersal and drift was more significant than that of selection, as expected from theory.