The introduction of Physa acuta (Gastropoda: Physidae) on Ilha Grande, Southeast Brazil, from initial stages to an established population

This study presents a four-year follow-up of an introduced population of Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805, from initial stages to an established population. This introduction occurred on a small impacted stream of Vila do Abraão, the main village of Ilha Grande (Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The population size increased during the study, and presented a relationship to environmental factors, especially with rainfall. On the initial stages of introduction prevailed the smaller specimens, but on the overall, predominated the intermediate size classes. After less than a year, P. acuta becomes established on this stream and was possibly affecting the other species found on the stream. The information presented here is useful to understand the invasion process of invasive snails, as well as directing conservation efforts.

Microbiome of the Successful Freshwater Invader, the Signal Crayfish, and Its Changes along the Invasion Range

Invasive species are among the major drivers of biodiversity loss and impairment of ecosystem services worldwide, but our understanding of their invasion success and dynamics still has many gaps. For instance, although it is known that host-associated microbial communities may significantly affect an individual’s health and fitness, the current studies on invasive species are mainly focused on pathogenic microbes, while the effects of the remaining majority of microbial communities on the invasion process are almost completely unexplored.

Local adaptation of invasive plant, Synedrella nodiflora, in urban tropical lowland landscape Universitas Indonesia

Synedrella nodiflora is an invasive species originated from tropical America and now has spread throughout Indonesia. We analysed the ability of Synedrella nodiflora from the level of HSP70 gene expression at different heat stress in urban tropical lowland landscape Universitas Indonesia. We used the qPCR to quantify the level of HSP70 gene expression and analysed using Pfaffl model. We found the level of HSP70 gene expression got higher related to elevated temperature from 29oC to 39oC with a range of fold from 123.1 to 1676.9. This ability reflects the adaptive plasticity of Synedrella nodiflora in the course of the invasion process.

Spatiotemporal invasion dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 emergence

Understanding the causes and consequences of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern is crucial to pandemic control yet difficult to achieve, as they arise in the context of variable human behavior and immunity. We investigate the spatial invasion dynamics of lineage B.1.1.7 by jointly analyzing UK human mobility, virus genomes, and community-based PCR data. We identify a multi-stage spatial invasion process in which early B.1.1.7 growth rates were associated with mobility and asymmetric lineage export from a dominant source location, enhancing the effects of B.1.1.7’s increased intrinsic transmissibility. We further explore how B.1.1.7 spread was shaped by non-pharmaceutical interventions and spatial variation in previous attack rates. Our findings show that careful accounting of the behavioral and epidemiological context within which variants of concern emerge is necessary to interpret correctly their observed relative growth rates.

Do Landscape Elements Interfere in Hovenia Dulcis Thunb. Invasions in Subtropical Forest Fragments?

Changes in characteristics of landscape adjacent to forest fragments due to anthropic actions result in increased invasion of non-native species and biodiversity loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the invasion process of Hovenia dulcis (Thunb.) in forest fragments with different size and shape in order to relate the behavior of the invasion with landscape metrics. As a result, shape and size of the forest fragments do not influence the abundance of H. dulcis. However, a greater number of H. dulcis individuals are concentrated in the edge areas. The canopy, declivity and land use were not associated with the abundance of H. dulcis. The high abundance at the edge of forest fragments highlights the dynamics of the landscape in the study area that are marked by the agricultural matrix. The invasion process occurs regardless of the size and shape of the forest fragments.

THE EXPANSION OF THE BIVALVE ANADARA KAGOSHIMENSIS (TOKUNAGA, 1906) IN THE SEA OF AZOV

The dispersion of the Asian bivalve Anadara kagoshimensis in the Sea of Azov continues for more than 30 years. The study of the expansion of A. kagoshimensis is based on the materials of annual bottom grab surveys performed in the Sea of Azov in 1989-2018. The process of dispersion of the mollusk is considered through the changes of the range area, the indicators of abundance (specific abundance, biomass, total stock) and the structure of the population. The main stages of the invasion process are highlighted and discussed. The influence of various environmental factors on the distribution and quantitative indicators of the development of the mollusk population is estimated. It is shown that salinity is the key factor determining the expansion of the mollusk in the Sea of Azov.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Shows Involvement of the p38 MAPK Pathway in Bovine Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 Replication

Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) infection often causes respiratory tissue damage and immunosuppression and results in bovine respiratory disease complex. Bovine respiratory disease complex is one of the major diseases in dairy cattle and causes huge economical losses every year. The pathogenetic and immunoregulatory mechanisms involved in the process of BPIV3 infection, however, remain unknown. Proteomics is a powerful tool for high-throughput identification of proteins and has been widely used to understand how viruses interact with host cells. In the present study, we report a proteomic analysis to investigate the whole cellular protein alterations of MDBK cells infected with BPIV3. To investigate the invasion process of BPIV3 and the immune response mechanism of MDBK cells, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation analysis (iTRAQ) and Q-Exactive mass spectrometry-based proteomics were performed. The differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) involved in the BPIV3 invasion process in MDBK cells were identified, annotated, and quantitated. A total of 116 proteins, which included 74 upregulated proteins and 42 downregulated proteins, were identified as DEPs between the BPIV3-infected and the mock-infected groups. These DEPs included corresponding proteins related to inflammatory response, immune response, and lipid metabolism. These results might provide some insights for understanding the pathogenesis of BPIV3. Fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blotting analysis showed results consistent with those of iTRAQ identification. Interestingly, the upregulated protein MKK3 was associated with the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. The results of proteomics analysis indicated BPIV3 infection could activate the p38 MAPK pathway to promote virus replication.

Introduced ant species occupy empty climatic niches in Europe

Exploring shifts in the climatic niches of introduced species can provide significant insight into the mechanisms underlying the invasion process and the associated impacts on biodiversity. We aim to test the phylogenetic signal hypothesis in native and introduced species in Europe by examining climatic niche similarity. We examined data from 134 ant species commonly found in western Europe; 130 were native species, and 4 were introduced species. We characterized their distribution patterns using species records from different databases, determined their phylogenetic relatedness, and tested for a phylogenetic signal in their optimal climatic niches. We then compared the introduced species’ climatic niches in Europe with their climatic niches in their native ranges and with the climatic niches of their closest relative species in Europe. We found a strong phylogenetic signal in the optimal climatic niches of the most common ant species in Europe; however, this signal was weak for the main climatic variables that affect the distributions of introduced versus native species. Also, introduced species occupied different climatic niches in Europe than in their native ranges; furthermore, their European climatic niches did not resemble those of their closest relative species in Europe. We further discovered that there was not much concordance between the climatic niches of introduced species in their native ranges and climatic conditions in Europe. Our findings suggest that phylogenetics do indeed constrain shifts in the climatic niches of native European ant species. However, introduced species would not face such constraints and seemed to occupy relatively empty climatic niches.