Scavenging is key to understanding ecosystem structure and functioning, both in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Here, we compare the structure and carrion consumption efficiency of the scavenger communities occurring in terrestrial and shallow marine habitats on and around a Mediterranean island. During July 2018, we monitored the consumption of 23 fish (Sparus aurata) and 34 bird (Larus michahellis) carcasses in Grosa Island (Murcia, SE Spain), which were placed both on land and below water. We recorded the vertebrate and invertebrate species occurring at carcass sites by means of visual inspection (vertebrates and invertebrates in marine habitats and invertebrates in terrestrial habitats) and motion-triggered cameras (vertebrates in terrestrial habitats). The vertebrate scavenger community was richer in the marine environment, whereas the total and invertebrate community were richer in the terrestrial one. The scavenger community was usually well-structured (i.e., nested), with the exception of the community associated with fish carcasses on land, which were very efficiently detected and consumed by yellow-legged gulls. In contrast, gulls left conspecific carcasses almost untouched, thus allowing longer persistence of gull carcasses on land and their exploitation by a diverse insect community. Our study shows important differences in the scavenging process associated with both the environment and carcass type.

Τhe ongoing biodiversity crisis reinforces the urgency to unravel diversity patterns and the underlying processes shaping them. Although taxonomic diversity has been extensively studied and is considered the common currency, conserving simultaneously other facets of diversity such as functional diversity is critical to ensure ecosystem functioning and provision of ecosystem services. Here, we explored the effect of key climatic factors (temperature, precipitation temperature seasonality, precipitation seasonality) and factors reflecting human pressures (agricultural land, urban land, land-cover diversity, population density) on functional diversity (functional richness and Rao quadratic entropy) and species richness of amphibians (68 species), reptiles (105 species) and mammals (160 species) in Europe. We explored the relationship between different predictors and diversity metrics using Generalized Additive Mixed Model analysis, to capture non-linear relationships and to account for spatial autocorrelation. We found that at this broad spatial scale, climatic variables exerted a significant effect on functional diversity and species richness of all taxa. On the other hand, variables reflecting human pressures exerted a significant effect only on reptile and mammal diversity, and their explanatory power was lower compared to climatic variables. In most cases, functional richness and Rao quadratic entropy responded similarly to climate and human pressures. Concluding, climate is the most influential factor in shaping both functional diversity and species richness patterns of amphibians, reptiles and mammals in Europe. However, incorporating factors reflecting human pressures complementary to climate could be conducive to our understanding the drivers of functional diversity and richness patterns.

Acknowledgements: The research work was supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) under the “First Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Faculty members and Researchers and the procurement of high-cost research equipment grant” (Project Number: HFRI-FM17-2024 Mapping Functional Diversity Drivers, Impacts and Threats - MAPFUN).

Oceans and seas represent a largely unexplored environment, especially at microorganisms level. Among them, marine fungi are particularly interesting since they exhibit a high diversity and an incredible ability to produce new secondary metabolites that may have a biotechnological interest.

In the present study, as part of the Interreg Alcotra FINNOVER project (2017-2021), the goal is to isolate and identify fungi associated to the Mediterranean sponge Haliclona fulva. The obtained strains were further evaluated for their ability to inhibit plant pathogens thanks to the production of active secondary metabolites. Natural strategies based on microorganisms (strains, compounds) have gained an increasing interest in plant protection. They are promising alternatives to some conventional agrochemicals that are banned due to their concern for health and environment.

The isolation of fungi was achieved from three specimens of H. fulva collected in the same area of French Riviera. The homogenized sponges were plated on a seawater medium and on Potato Dextrose Agar. The individual colonies were isolated in pure culture and identified (morphological check and sequencing of genomic markers).

Overall, 118 different strains were isolated. The use of two different media guarantees to isolate a higher number of strains, but no significant difference was observed in the species isolated from the two culture conditions.

The most abundant genera were Penicillium, Trichoderma and Cladosporium. However, the common core mycobiota of three sponges was represented by Parathyridariella dematiacea, Roussoella padinae, Trichoderma atrobrunneum and different strains of the genus Kalmusia, including new species.

Several species isolated from H. fulva were exclusive of marine environment and were never or poorly studied for their biological activity. A selection of these fungi (62 strains) was tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of three important plant pathogens. Preliminary results showed that 34%, 43% and 43% of evaluated strains clearly inhibited Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora capsici and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, respectively.

In conclusion, the mycobiota of H. fulva was characterized by a huge diversity, including species that are currently studied to be described as new ones. The preliminary results of the biological activity showed that despite the unusual environment studied to find new biocontrol agents for agriculture, several fungi exhibited a promising activity against three major plant pathogens.

The impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on the spread of invasive species is one of the central issues of invasion biology. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between certain silvicultural activities and the spread of Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) in calcareous sand forests (Peszéri-erdő, Central Hungary). We applied full-cover mapping (25 × 25 m grid) and BACI design to monitor the effects of clear-cuttings and selective thinnings on the prevalence and abundance of A. altissima in several stands (in total 26 ha). We also investigated young and middle-aged artificial reforestations (4 to 26 yrs.), where stump deposits were made (in total 30 ha). Our results indicate that silvicultural practices may significantly contribute to the spread of A. altissima. One or two years after the accomplishment of selective thinning or clear-cutting, the increase in both the small-scale prevalence and the total abundance of A. altissima was significantly higher compared to control stands. Stump deposits proved to be deterministic in the spread of A. altissima. A decrease in the abundance of A. altissima was observable only in one forest stand where verticillium wilt infection was detected, indicating a biological opportunity to control the spread of A. altissima.

The lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean is known as a biodiversity hotspot, hosting many endemic species. However, recent introduction of a highly invasive species, the Australian Red Claw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus), has led to significant threats to this fragile ecosystem. In our study, we developed, validated, and optimized a species-specific eDNA-based detection protocol targeting the 16S region of the mitochondrial gene of C. quadricarinatus. Our aim was to assess the crayfish distribution across Martinique Island. Our developed assay was found to be species-specific and showed a high sensitivity in laboratory, mesocosm and field conditions. We showed a significative and positive correlation between species biomass, detection probability and efficiency through mesocosm experiments. Moreover, we found that eDNA persisted up to 23 days in tropical freshwaters. We investigated a total of 83 locations spread over 53 rivers and two closed water basins using our novel eDNA assay and traditional trapping. The latter undertaken to confirm the reliability of the molecular-based detection method. Overall, we were able to detect C. quadricarinatus at 47 locations using eDNA detection and 28 using traditional trapping methods, all positive trapping sites were positive for eDNA. We found that eDNA-based monitoring was less time-consuming and less influenced by the crayfishes often patchy distributions, proving a more reliable tool for future large-scale surveys. The clear threat and worrying distribution of this invasive species is particularly alarming as the archipelago belongs to one of the 25 identified biodiversity hotspots on Earth.

The invasive pest Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) is a fruit fly native to Asia that infests a wide variety of cultivated and wild fruits, causing important damages on agricultural production. Wild plant species are major reservoirs for D. suzukii populations but their infestation rates varies greatly among geographical areas. This heterogeneity could partly be caused by a heterogeneity of environmental conditions acting across different spatial scales. This study aimed to disentangle the relative roles of macroclimatic, landscape and local factors that could affect the success of D. suzukii infestation of elderberry fruits (Sambucus nigra), a major and widespread host plant along climatic gradients. We collected elderberry fruits and measured vegetative and reproductive life traits of the plants in 215 sites distributed in 13 regions from North to South France during summer 2020. We counted the number of D. suzukii emerging from sampled fruits and tested for an effect of macroclimatic, landscape and local abiotic and biotic variables, as well as plant traits using linear mixed models with region as random factor. Latitude and mean maximum temperature had respectively the strongest positive and negative effects on mean infestation rates across regions (R = 0.761, p = 0.003 and R = −0.758, p = 0.004). Mixed models also showed that fruit infestation rate increased with the number of mature fruits within corymb and with forest cover in a 100 m radius around sampling sites and decreased with mean maximum temperature. The latitudinal and climatic clines in infestation rates suggests that D. suzukii population size might vary greatly among geographic regions. Our results also suggest that population sizes are larger in the presence of semi-natural habitats such as forest patches in the surrounding landscape. Our work contributes to enhancing our understanding of D. suzukii ecology, which is important to predict how infestation rates might change in the context of global climatic changes.

While in recent years there have been many scientific expeditions to Antarctica, there is still plenty to discover about it’s marine biodiversity, especially in certain regions, and particularly in regards to benthic organisms such as sponges (Phylum Porifera). The Argentinian 2012 Summer Antarctic Expedition took place between February and March of 2012. One of its main goals was the study of the benthic communities, considering the biodiversity and the distribution of the species around the Antarctic Peninsula and neighbouring islands. Samples were collected by bottom trawling at eight locations. Sponges were sorted from total catch, photographed, labeled and frozen onboard, while identification was carried out using classical methodology at the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP, Argentina). In this preliminary study we provide the identification and location of the samples belonging to the Demospongiae Class. A total of 34 samples were collected and 23 species were identified. The most represented Order was Poecilosclerida with 18 species (Isodictya erinacea, I. lankesteri, I. cf. verrucosa, Mycale (Oxymycale) acerata, M. cf. tridens, Phorbas glaberrimus, P. acantochela, Lissodendoryx anacantha, L. flabellata, L. ramilobosa, Artemisina apollinis, Myxodoryx hanitschi, Clathria (Axosuberites) nidificata, Tedania charcoti, Iophon unicorne, I. cf. aceratum, Myxilla mollis, Kirkpatrickia aff. coulmani), followed by Haplosclerida with 5 species (Haliclonissa verrucosa, Haliclona sp. Calyx cf.arcuarius, Microxina charcoti, Hemigellius cf. pilosus). The most frequently recorded species was Mycale (Oxymycale) acerata followed by species of the genus Isodictya and Lissodendoryx. Some of the recorded species such as Phorbas glaberrimus, Myxodoryx hanitschi, Phorbas cf. acanthochela and Raspailia (Hymeraphiopsis) hentscheli have only scarce records in this region. The results of this study greatly contribute to the knowledge on the distribution and biodiversity of Antarctic sponges, a very important component of the benthic communities.

The Asian knotweed species complex gathers some of the world’s most successful plant invaders including the Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), the giant knotweed (R. sachalinensis) and the hybrid of these two species, the Bohemian knotweed (R. × bohemica). Hybrid species often present higher competitive abilities compared to their parent species. While several studies have focused on the effects of knotweed invasion on plant communities, few have simultaneously considered (i) effects of the three taxa on native plant communities and (ii) effects on litter and soil faunal components. In this study, we compared the differential effects of three Asian knotweeds on vegetation and soil macroinvertebrates communities across seven sites on a regional scale in North Western France. All three knotweed species displayed similar negative effects on local plant species richness, while promoting the taxonomic richness of litter-dwelling macroinvertebrates. Belowground macroinvertebrate taxonomic richness appeared strongly reduced by the presence of the hybrid R. × bohemica, significantly more so than those of sites colonized by R. japonica or R. sachalinensis. These changes of belowground communities were correlated to associated changes of composition and richness within plant communities. This study provides new insight into the consequences of ecosystem invasion by these species, especially revealing the even further strength of impacts of the hybrid Bohemian knotweed on local vegetation and belowground macroinvertebrates than those of other Asian knotweeds, which points to the need for monitoring the spatial spread of R. × bohemica and describing further its effects on ecosystem properties.

The formation of synanthropic flora of any territory occurs in two ways-due to the penetration of anthropophytes (anthropophytization, adventization) and the transition of native plant species from natural phytocenoses to anthropogenic ecotopes (apophytization). The article highlights the results of the study of synanthropic flora and vegetation of recreational zones of Kharkiv (abandoned parks, recreational areas, green areas) for 2018–2020. The classification of synanthropic vegetation was performed on the basis of processing geobotanical descriptions in programs Turboveg 2.91 and Juice 7.0.127. Ecological amplitudes of syntaxons were determined by ecological scales of Ya.P. Didukh. The study of invasive plant species was carried out according to the classification of D. Richardson et al. As part of the synanthropic vegetation of recreational zones of Kharkiv, we have found 15 invasive plant species. Most of them, according to the degree of invasive potential, belong to the group with high invasive capacity (11). Among them there are dominate species of the family Asteraceae (8), therophytes (8), mesophytes (14), species of North American origin (13), kenophytes (15), xenophytes (6) and ergasiophytes (5), epecophytes (7). Woody phytocenoses of the class Robinietea are sensitive to soil acidity and carbonate content in soil, thermal and cryo-climate. In their composition we have found 8 invasive species. In plant communities of herbaceous annual vegetation of classes Bidentetea and Galio-Urticetea, which are adapted to the variability of damping and nitrification of the edaphotope, 9 invasive plant species grow. Ruderal phytocenoses of classes Artemisietea vulgaris and Stellarietea mediae are formed with the participation of 10 invasive plant species. These communities are sensitive to the variability of damping, soil acidity, total salt regime, nitrogen content in soil, thermal climate, humidity, as well as to the continentality of climate.

The host selection behavior is essential to studies of plant-insect interaction, considered as a critical step to populations maintenance since it directly influences the offspring development. This work describes the sexual and oviposition behavior of the invasive species Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.). The results showed that from 5.645 behavioral patterns registered, for males and females in the tests with papaya, mango, cashew apple, sprayed papaya extract and sprayed mango extract, 3.719 were activities displayed by the males and 1.935 displayed by the females. To the females, the walking activity on the cashew apple differed between the morning and afternoon shift (4.3 + 2.58 and 1.5 + 1.22). The oviposition in mango fruits (11.16) differed from all the other treatments, except from papaya (6.38). However, the quantity of obtained adults was higher in papaya fruits (97) than in mango fruits (49), reducing on the papaya (48) and mango (24) treatments exposed to the cashew apple extract. There are differences in the total number of obtained adults by treatment, showing that the cashew extract reduces the total in papaya and mango treatments.