Functional gene expression is a basic life process that connects the coding information of a gene to protein products. The level of gene expression is considered as a quantitative trait between genotype and phenotype and plays an important role in response to climatic and environmental changes. First, we systematically summarize regulatory elements of gene expression in plant species and empirical evidence, including the effects of transcription factors and small RNAs on gene expression regulation. Second, this review discusses the eQTL mapping for regulatory elements of gene expression through gene expression-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) and the limitations of this method. This review analyzes the intraspecific variation in gene expression in theory under the processes of mutation, drift and selection and the testing methods. This review also analyzes the interspecific evolution of gene expression under the mutation and drift processes or under the phylogeny-based drift-selection processes and the testing methods. Finally, this review discusses the regulation of gene expression by the plant mating system. Selfing reduces the effective population size, mutation rate, recombination rate and competition from exogenous pollen, and changes the efficacy of natural selection in the gametophytic and sporophytic phases. Selfing regulates intraspecific gene expression variation and interspecific gene expression evolution. This review comprehensively comments on theoretical and practical research progress and existing questions, which aids in our deep understanding of plant gene expression regulation and evolution mechanisms.
Clarifying the diversity and distribution of wild vascular plants in Shanxi Province is crucial for effective plant diversity conservation efforts in the region. Flora of Shanxi, the most authoritative record of plant cataloging and distribution in Shanxi, has been available for over 20 years. During this period, the plant classification system has evolved significantly, and many new plant records have emerged in Shanxi Province. However, a comprehensive, accurate, and scientific catalog of wild vascular plants remains unavailable. Based on volumes 1-5 of the Flora of Shanxi, this study comprehensively collected relevant literature on vascular plant research in Shanxi since 1980. Using extensive field investigations and related research data collected by the authors in Shanxi Province, the wild plant list was reviewed and refined, including revisions to plant names, protection status, and distribution down to the county level. This dataset presents the latest catalog of wild vascular plants in Shanxi, divided into confirmed and doubtful species lists. As of June 26, 2024, this dataset included 2,438 species, 73 subspecies, 229 varieties, and 4 forms across 147 families and 763 genera. The dataset included lycophytes and ferns (117 species, 4 varieties in 15 families and 34 genera), gymnosperms (13 species, 4 varieties in 4 families and 8 genera), and angiosperms (2,308 species, 73 subspecies, 221 varieties, and 4 forms in 128 families and 721 genera). Additionally, 36 species, 4 varieties in 19 families and 27 genera were listed in List of Key Protected Wild Plants in China (2021), and 119 species, 1 subspecies, and 2 varieties in 47 families and 80 genera were listed in List of Key Protected Wild Plants in Shanxi Province (Jin Zheng Han [2023] No. 126). Further work should prioritize species with limited distribution data and species of concern to further enhance catalog plan in Shanxi Province. This research can provide fundamental data for updating the Flora of Shanxi and advancing plant diversity conservation strategies within Shanxi Province.
Database/Dataset Profile
Aims The spatial distribution patterns of plant populations result from the combined effects of multiple ecological processes, such as dispersal limitation and environmental filtering. The plants distributed in alpine treeline ecotones are highly sensitive to climate change due to their unique habitats. Therefore, studying the spatial distribution patterns of these plants and their correlations is critical for understanding and predicting the dynamics and trends of forest communities in alpine treelines.
Methods This study is based on the inventory data collected from a 20 hm2dynamics plot of a subalpine cold-temperate coniferous forest in Shangri-La, Yunnan, China. The dominant tree species identified were Abies georgei, Lonicera tangutica, Dipelta yunnanensis, Rhododendron rubiginosum, and Sorbus rehderiana. The spatial point pattern method was used to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of each dominant species, the intraspecific association of A. georgei at different developmental stages, the interspecific association between A. georgei and the other dominant species, and the interspecific association among the other dominant species. Additionally, the Torus-translation method was applied to test the associations between these plants and topographic factors.
Important findings (1) Sapling and juvenile trees of A. georgei demonstrated aggregated distributions, primarily driven by dispersal limitation and habitat heterogeneity. In contrast, adult trees exhibited a predominantly random distribution, suggesting that density-dependent competition may be the primary factor influencing the distribution of individuals in large-diameter classes. The dominant species in both the subtree layer and shrub layer also demonstrated aggregated distribution. However, the posterior partial advantage of the environmental heterogeneity transformed into a random distribution, indicating that environmental filtering might be responsible for driving the spatial distribution pattern of these tree species. (2) Positive associations were observed between sapling and juvenile trees of A. georgei indicating that small-diameter individuals tend to congregate due to an enhanced capacity to cope with external environmental stresses. Conversely, saplings and juvenile trees were negatively correlated with adult trees. This was mainly due to the infestation of specific pathogens and phytophagous insects caused by density constraints and asymmetric competition of large individuals against smaller ones. (3) There were positive and negative correlations between the saplings and the dominant species in the subtree layer and the shrub layer, respectively. The juvenile trees and other dominant species revealed predominantly negative correlation, while the adult trees showed predominantly positive correlation. The majority of the dominant species in the tree layer and shrub layer exhibited positive correlation, indicating a complex dynamic balance within the dominant species in the subalpine cold-temperate coniferous forest. The long-term coexistence of each dominant species in the plot is achieved through their unique survival strategies and resource utilization, and ultimately leading to the formation of a relatively stable successional climax community dominated by A. georgei. (4) Slope was found to be significantly negatively correlated with sapling and juvenile trees of A. georgei, and significantly positively related to R. rubiginosum and D. yunnanensis. This suggests that the slope ecological niche differentiation occurred between A. georgei and other dominant species. Additionally, convexity was found to exert a significant effect on the distribution of dominant species due to adverse conditions such as prolonged snowpack in winter. In conclusion, the habitat filtering driven by topography is the main driver that maintains community assembly in subalpine cold-temperate coniferous forests.
With the global increase in tree mortality events caused by drought, there have been numerous reports on the mechanism of drought-induced tree mortality both domestically and internationally in recent years. However, the exact mechanism that causes tree mortality remains unclear, which increases the uncertainty of predicting the survival probability of forests under future climate changes. This review systematically analyzed the research progress related to tree death caused by extreme drought events, focusing the prediction of death point and physiological mechanism of drought-induced tree mortality. It highlighted that tree death was the result of multiple physiological processes. Furthermore, previous reports have shown that the death judged by visual symptoms may occur after the tree has already been dead for a period, leading to a lack of early warning signals and making the death inevitable. The review analyzed the main characteristics and possible sequence of physiological variables such as the degree of xylem embolism, radial flow, cell membrane permeability, and cambium activity in the process of drought-induced tree mortality. It suggests that the loss of cambium activity ultimately led to irreversible tree death. Therefore, when discussing the mechanism of drought-induced tree mortality, quantifying the loss rate of cambium activity is crucial for accurately determining the time of tree death, which is worth further studying. This paper also proposed relevant issues and research directions in the field of drought-induced tree mortality, providing reference ideas for accurately predicting tree death and formulating efficient and appropriate solutions to future climate change.
Backgrounds & Motivations: The financial gap in addressing biodiversity loss is considerable, highlighting the need for the involvement of enterprises and financial institutions in biodiversity protection to provide necessary funding for biodiversity risk management. However, the information regarding to biodiversity in reports from Chinese listed enterprises remains limited, often lacking substance and credibility. It is imperative for enterprises to establish a biodiversity information disclosure mechanism that signals low biodiversity risk to financial and capital markets, thereby enhancing their financing capabilities and levels.
Methods: This study calculates the biodiversity information disclosure index for Chinese enterprises based on an analysis of 11,867 enterprise social responsibility and environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports from 1,714 listed enterprises between 2006 and 2022, utilizing internet crawling technology for data collection. Employing quantitative analysis methods, the research examines the current status and primary issues related to biodiversity disclosure, ultimately constructing an econometric model to explore the financing effects of biodiversity information disclosure from the perspectives of financing constraints, costs, and outcomes.
Results: The findings indicate a continuous increase in both the number and proportion of enterprises disclosing biodiversity information in China, demonstrating a stable growth trend with modest annual increases. However, challenges persist, including low disclosure quality, heightened industry polarization, and significant heterogeneity among enterprise types. Furthermore, biodiversity information disclosure exhibits significant effects on financing. Specifically, each increasing unit in enterprise biodiversity information disclosure can effectively reduce enterprise financing constraints by 2.02% to 5.07%, lower the cost of enterprise debt financing by 2.51% to 2.78%, lower the cost of enterprise equity financing by 1.55% to 1.83%, and facilitate adjustments to the enterprise financing structure, thereby decreasing (increasing) the proportion of debt (equity) in financing by 2.19%.
Policy Implications & Contributions: In light of these findings, policy recommendations are proposed in the study, including the implementation of financing incentive mechanisms, the establishment of standardized disclosure protocols, the monetization of biodiversity value, and an emphasis on disclosure trends among non-key industries. These recommendations are designed to enhance enterprise engagement in biodiversity protection and to mobilize enterprise resources towards the promotion of biodiversity-friendly practices within industry development.
Background & Aims Global biodiversity hotspot cities are where urban development and biodiversity conservation come into conflict, playing a critical role in maintaining biodiversity both within and beyond their regions. However, there has been no dedicated study focusing on Chinese cities within global biodiversity hotspots. Based on Target 12 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Priority Action 18 of the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030), this research examines the biodiversity conservation policies of 16 Chinese cities with populations exceeding one million within global biodiversity hotspots from five key aspects: (1) biodiversity conservation planning and sustainable utilization plans, (2) urban biodiversity survey, monitoring, and assessment, (3) habitat restoration and ecological corridor construction, (4) the connection between urban residents and nature as well as their health and well-being, and (5) urban ecosystem functions and services. By comparing these conservation policies with international case cities, the study identifies existing challenges and proposes optimization directions to support biodiversity-friendly urban development while balancing ecological protection and high-quality urban growth.
Review ResultsThe findings show that both Chinese and international hotspot cities face common challenges, including a lack of awareness of their unique ecological location, insufficient long-term biodiversity-inclusive urban planning, and a general scarcity of biodiversity monitoring data. Additionally, Chinese cities exhibit specific issues such as limited coverage and single-method approaches in urban biodiversity monitoring, insufficient attention to biodiversity-related public experiences and supporting facilities, and inadequate focus on the provision of urban ecosystem services.
Optimization Trends Future enhancements to urban biodiversity conservation policies in these hotspot cities should prioritize the followings: (1) prioritizing the development of spatial planning for biodiversity conservation; (2) exploring the integrated application of multi-source data monitoring technologies; (3) standardizing multi-dimensional approaches to urban biodiversity experiences; (4) promoting synergistic enhancement of urban biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.
Background & Aims: The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) proposed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and “3030 target” with the most attention. Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are widely recognized as a cost-effective new type of conservation management tool that can achieve the 3030 targets by significantly increasing the protected areas on land and in the ocean while considering social and economic factors. The study takes the compliance work under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as the background in China, seizes the relevant requirements of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China as an opportunity, leverages the characteristic advantages of OECMs and China’s institutional advantages, then analyzes the current status of China’s OECMs actions to identify key issues in advancing OECMs implementation (including significant opportunities and practical challenges), finally proposes strategic recommendations for advancing the work. Results: Key opportunities for OECMs implementation in China lie in closely aligning with the integrated optimization goals of the “ecological-living-production spaces”, proactively identifying OECMs types that not only achieve conservation outcomes under government leadership but also attract market participation. By leveraging their advantage of balancing production, living, and ecological needs, which makes them more appealing under market economy conditions, these OECMs can effectively address current shortcomings such as lack of funding and insufficient specialized planning support. The practical challenges in the implementation of OECMs in China include unclear identification authorities and procedures, unaligned identification criteria and policy frameworks, insufficient financial and technical incentives for social participation, and the lack of research and promotion of the Chinese model. Proposed strategies include clarifying the identification authorities and procedures for OECMs at the national level, developing adaptive criteria and OECMs management guidelines, encouraging diversified social participation and financing mechanisms for OECMs, and initiating cost-benefit research on OECMs as a model with Chinese characteristics.Conclusion & Recommendation: In the logical analysis of key issues and corresponding advancement strategies for OECMs implementation in China, the conclusions of this study are illustrated through typical cases, reflecting a novel perspective that integrates scientific research, policy analysis, and practical experience. This study anticipates leveraging the distinctive features of China’s institutional framework—clear objectives, effective measures, robust safeguards, and rigorous oversight—to strategically harness OECMs, thereby supporting the achievement of China’s implementation goals and fostering a new model for fulfilling its commitments.
Aims: This paper conducts a comprehensive review of literature from the past two decades, focusing on two primary objectives. First, it explores the composition of dominant weed species in urban lawns across China, including the types and characteristics of invasive weeds. Second, it investigates the key factors influencing the distribution and spread of weeds in urban lawns in China. This study aim to provide a theoretical foundation for the scientific management and control of weeds in urban lawns and help protect biodiversity and promote sustainable urban development. Additionally, these findings can support efforts at monitoring weed population dynamics to maintain ecological balance and enhance the health and sustainability of urban green spaces.
Methods: This study conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on urban lawn weeds in 98 cities across China between 2002 and 2024. A statistical analysis of the weed species identified in the literature was carried out after gathering information on dominant weed species, including their Chinese and Latin names, family and genus details, life forms, and flora. These data were used to determine the species, origin, degree, and route of invasion for invasive weeds. Furthermore, β-diversity was assessed using the Jaccard similarity index. The data for this study were sourced from the CNKI database, WANFANG DATA, and VIP database. Statistical analyses were performed using R and SPSS software. The correlation between invasive weed distribution and climatic factors was examined through a nonlinear relationship, and the primary climatic factors influencing the distribution of weed species in urban lawns were identified using redundancy analysis (RDA). Together, these methods enabled a deep exploration of the species composition, spatial distribution, and main influencing factors of urban weeds in China.
Results: (1) A total of 208 dominant weeds, spanning 40 families and 137 genera, were identified in urban lawns. The Compositae was the most prevalent in the literature, constituting 22.12% of the total. The geographical distribution of these flora is complex, with cosmopolitan families holding a significant advantage (23 families). However, at the genus level, the number of temperate distribution genera (57) surpassed that of tropical distribution genera (42), resulting in a tropical to temperate ratio of 2.33 and 0.74 at the family and genus levels, respectively. (2) A total of 37 species of invasive weeds were identified, belonging to 11 families, predominantly Compositae, Gramineae and Fabaceae (59.46%). This included 10 species of malicious invasive species, 11 species of serious invasive species, 4 species of local invasive species, and 12 species of general invasive species. The distribution of invasive weeds in southern China was notably concentrated. (3) The variation in weed composition among different cities aligns with the β-diversity theory, as variation was primarily influenced by geographical distance and climatic conditions.
Conclusion: Plants, particularly Compositae and Gramineae weeds, which are primarily annual and perennial herbs, hold a significant advantage over other species due to their widespread distribution. These plants demonstrate ecological adaptability and competitiveness in the ecological context of urban lawns. A considerable number of invasive weeds are present in these lawns, with some species exhibiting strong dispersal capabilities and posing serious threats to the existing ecological environment. These species are more concentrated in the southern region of the country, indicating that the area faces greater challenges in managing and preventing the spread of invasive weeds. The variation in weed composition between cities aligns with β-diversity theory which suggests species distribution is primarily influenced by geographical distance and climatic conditions. Future research should seek to more accurately assess the risk of invasive weed establishment and further investigate the mechanisms driving diffusion of dominant weeds. Considering the increased influence of global warming on ecosystem dynamics, it is essential to strengthen methods for predicting the distribution of dominant weeds, particularly non-native invasive species, and to conduct research on effective means of biological control. Additionally, a deep study of the life history of frequently occurring weeds is necessary to provide a scientific basis for effective prevention and control strategies.
There are 94 cetacean species worldwide, which represent one of the most enigmatic and threatened groups among mammals. Throughout their transition from land to water, cetaceans have evolved numerous morphological, life history, and ecological traits that enhance their adaptability to aquatic environments. However, a comprehensive global database of cetacean ecological characteristics is still lacking. Our study systematically reviews books, literature, and other data resources to collect and compile cetacean characteristic data, including 15 morphological traits, 12 life-history traits, and 11 ecological traits. Based on the collected data, we quantified the trait completeness for each species and employed phylogenetic linear regression model to explore the factors influencing the ratio of data completeness. The completeness of the morphological traits ranges from 72.15% to 100.00%, life history traits from 17.72% to 100.00%, and ecological traits from 25.32% to 100.00%. The regression analyses showed that species described earlier and inhabiting nearshore habitats tend to exhibit higher data completeness. This dataset provides essential foundational information for research in cetacean ecology, conservation biology, and evolutionary biology. It also serves as a significant platform for data sharing and communication in regional and global cetacean conservation efforts.
Aims During the past decades, about a half of the global grasslands have been degraded as the results of climate change and anthropogenic activities. Grassland degradation substantially alters plant diversity and community composition; however, it remains elusive how these changes link to ecosystem productivity across broad geographic scales.
Methods Using a standardized survey from 45 grassland degradation sequences at 15 sites across three grassland types (i.e., alpine steppe, alpine meadow and alpine swamp meadow) on the Qingzang Plateau, we aim to explore changes in plant diversity and functional groups upon grassland degradation and their linkages with aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP).
Important findings Across the three grassland types, species richness, Shannon-Weiner diversity index, Simpson diversity index and Pielou evenness index all exhibited a first increase and then decrease pattern as degradation intensified. The coverage of sedge and grass declined, but legume coverage showed no significant changes and forb coverage increased along the degradation gradient. Mixed-effects models showed that degradation-induced change in ANPP was mainly associated with changes in coverage of original dominant species but minimally influenced by plant diversity for all grassland types. These results indicate that the degradation-induced productivity reduction is caused by the decline in dominant species rather than losses of plant diversity. The findings mentioned above provide important clues for alpine grassland restoration: restoring dominant species would be an effective approach for boosting ecosystem productivity in degraded grasslands on the Qingzang Plateau.
Aims The rhizosphere microbial network characteristics profoundly influence various ecological processes including soil carbon turnover, nutrient cycling and plant growth. Mycorrhizal types and root traits are crucial factors that affect plant growth and soil nutrient acquisition strategies. However, it is currently unclear how the root characteristics of different mycorrhizal tree species affect the topological structure of the rhizosphere microbial network.
Methods The present study focused on the secondary forest and investigated the root traits and rhizosphere soil microorganisms of five arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) tree species and seven ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree species to explore the impacts of mycorrhizal types on root traits and rhizosphere microbial network characteristics.
Important findings (1) Specific root length, root nitrogen, and root phosphorus contents of AM tree species were all higher than those of EcM tree species, while root tissue density, root diameter and root nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio showed no significant differences between the two mycorrhizal types. (2) The relative abundance of Rozellomycota in the rhizosphere of AM tree species was significantly higher than that of EcM tree species, while the relative abundance of Bacteroidota was significantly lower in AM tree species compared to EcM tree species. There was no significant difference in the biodiversity of rhizosphere microbial communities between different mycorrhizal type tree species. (3) The rhizosphere microbial networks of EcM tree species were more complex, and the negative bacterial cohesions of EcM tree species were significantly stronger than AM tree species. (4) The specific root length of AM tree species and the root diameter and root nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio of EcM tree species were identified as key factors predicting rhizosphere microbial network. These findings suggest that the mycorrhizal type of tree species significantly influences root traits such as specific root length and nutrient content to regulate the relationship between root traits and rhizosphere microbial communities and microbial network complexity.
Aims: In the face of the extinction crisis primarily driven by human activities, understanding the dynamics of forest succession under varying disturbance regimes is more vital than ever. This study seeks to examine the influences of disturbances on the successional dynamics of species diversity in mid-subtropical forests, aiming to provide scientific insights for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration efforts.
Methods: We selected four typical forests within the Qianjiangyuan section of the Qianjiangyuan-Baishanzu National Park candidate area: evergreen broad-leaved old-growth forests (PR), once-disturbed secondary forests (MD), twice-disturbed secondary forests (SD), and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation forests (PL). A total of 12 1-ha forest dynamics plots (three plots for each forest type) were established in 2009 and recensused every five years. In each census, all free-standing stems ≥ 1 cm in DBH (diameter at breast height) were measured, mapped, and identified to species. With those data, we measured species diversity using four indices: species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson diversity index, and Pielou’s evenness index, collectively to explore the trajectories and rates of successions of biodiversity under different disturbance regimes.
Results: Our longitudinal data revealed that species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and Simpson diversity index in PR, MD, and PL increased over succession, while they decreased in SD. Pielou’s evenness index showed divergent dynamics: it initially increased and then decreased in PR and MD, whereas it consistently increased in SD and PL. Noticeably, when Chinese fir was excluded, Pielou’s evenness index in PL decreased over time. The succession rate of various species diversity indices generally showed a declining trend over time, but the rate of species richness and Pielou’s evenness index was mostly not significant. Affected by snow and ice disasters, the successional trajectory of PR deviated from its stable state. The succession rate of species richness in the early recovery stage of the impaired PR was significantly higher than in other forests and decreased significantly over time, while the succession rate of Pielou’s evenness index was low and showed no significant change over time. The succession rate of Pielou’s evenness index in PL was significantly higher than in other forests and decreased significantly over time, while the succession rate of species richness was low and showed no significant difference from MD and SD.
Conclusion: We underscore the differentiated effects of disturbances on the succession of species diversity in subtropical forests. PR demonstrated a high capacity for self-recovery after disturbances, while SD exhibited a decline in species richness, emphasizing the critical role of disturbances in shaping community succession. Our results inform conservation strategies by suggesting that restoration efforts should be tailored to the disturbance history and succession stage of each forest type. For highly disturbed areas like PL, active restoration measures such as tree thinning are necessary to enhance biodiversity recovery, whereas PR might benefit from minimal intervention due to their inherent capacity for self-recovery. This research contributes to global efforts to halt biodiversity loss and promote sustainable forest management by providing evidence-based insights into the complex relationships between disturbance, succession, and species diversity.
Background: Tardigrades, commonly known as water bears, are microscopic invertebrates inhabiting diverse environments across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. As essential components of microfauna communities, they are renowned for their extraordinary extremotolerant adaptability and occupy multiple trophic levels within micro-food webs, indicating their significant ecological roles. Despite significant advancements made in understanding tardigrade biodiversity, identification methodologies, physiological and ecological traits recently, a comprehensive summaries remains lacking.
Bibliometric analyses & Perspective: Through bibliometric analyses of global tardigrade research over the past three decades, this review systematically summarizes the research progress in the new species discovery, identification methods, distribution characteristics, and ecological functions of tardigrades. The primary findings encompass: (1) Up to 2024, 1,488 documented tardigrade species inhabit a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including moss, soil, marine environments, polar regions, and even anthropogenic habitats, with new species being continuously discovered. (2) Current identification methods remain predominantly morphology-based, while standardized molecular tools for phylogenetic resolution are critically underdeveloped, severely constrain taxonomic advancements. (3) We describe characteristics in aquatic ecosystems and unique adaptive mechanisms to global change stressors including climate warming and atmospheric nitrogen deposition. (4) Preliminary summaries reveal their ecological roles in micro-food webs through interactions with meiofauna and microbial communities.
Future prospects: We propose three critical research priorities: (1) Emphasizing the need to improve molecular biology research methods; (2) Exploring the distribution characteristics across different ecosystems on large spatial and long-term temporal scales; (3) Elucidating their position in micro-food webs and ecological functions.
Aims Studying the coordination and differences in the functional traits of leaves and fine roots can help better understand the ecological strategies of plants from a whole-plant perspective.
Methods In this study, we measured and analyzed the leaf and root traits of 20 woody species (10 trees and 10 shrubs) from the natural evergreen broadleaf forest in Wanmulin Nature Reserve, Fujian Province. We explored the coordination of root and leaf functional traits and differences in survival strategies between tree and understory shrub species in this subtropical natural evergreen broadleaf forest.
Important findings We found a strong correlation between the leaf nitrogen concentration and root nitrogen concentration, but this was observed only for similar traits of leaf and first-order root, irrespective of phylogeny. In the studied forest, there was a leaf economics spectrum and a leaf tissue density-leaf thickness variance axis, shaped by the measured leaf traits. For first-order root, we observed a cooperative axis (represented by the negative correlation between root diameter and specific root length) and a root economics spectrum (represented by the negative correlation between root nitrogen concentration and root tissue density). There was no significant correlation between root and leaf economic spectra. Significant differences were found between tree and shrub species only along the root collaboration axis, with trees having larger root diameters and shrubs having higher specific root lengths. In addition, the specific leaf area of shrub species was significantly larger than that of tree species. The results indicated that leaf and root traits are integrated into a complex relationship, with tree and shrub species adopting different aboveground and belowground strategies to adapt to the habitat heterogeneity in the studied area. Our results expand the understanding of the coordination between root and leaf traits at a local scale, and provide deeper insights into the ecological processes and species coexistence mechanisms within the community.
Pinus densata Alliance is one of the most widespread pine forests in mountains of southwest China. Endemic to China, this alliance occurs in west Sichuan, northwest Yunnan, and southeast Xizang. In this study, we defined the geographic distribution boundary and priliminarily ascertained the geographic distribution area of P. densata Alliance based on previous literature and field investigation sites. Using data from 48 plots surveyed during 2020-2022, we proposed a preliminary scheme of vegetation classification and described the community structure characteristics for P. densata Alliance, and analyzed species composition characteristics combined with data from 11 plots surveyed in 2012. The results showed that (1) the distribution area of P. densata Alliance covered 33 counties and cities, including Yajiang, Xiangcheng, Daocheng, Dêqên, Xamgyi’nyilha, Markam, Mainling, and so on, at an altitude ranging from (1 300) 2 500 to 3 800 (4 000) m, and the eastern, western, northern and southern boundaries were Donggu Town in Danba County, Zengqi Township in Sangri County, Puxi Township in Zamtang County, and Yulong Snow Mountain in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County. (2) 522 vascular plant species belonging to 222 genera and 67 families were recorded, among which there were 500 seed plants belonging to 209 genera and 60 families, and 233 Chinese endemic plants belonging to 114 genera and 42 families, and the north temperate element was the dominant areal-type. (3) Based on the differences in community structure and species composition, P. densata Alliance could be classified into 7 association groups and 20 associations.
The Juniperus przewalskii forests is a unique vegetation type that only appear in China. They are widely distributed in the mountains of the northeastern edge of the Qingzang Plateau, which became a representative community of the alpine timberline and the forest-grass ecotone. Such forests play crucial roles in slope protection, soil conservation, water source preservation, and habitat improvement. A systematic study on their distribution, composition, and characteristics can provide a scientific basis for the current protection, utilization, and sustainable management of J. przewalskii forests. We conducted a comprehensive survey of J. przewalskii forests throughout the growing seasons from 2018 to 2022. We set up 53 new survey plots and compiled data from 20 historical survey plots; the results covered the entire distribution area of J. przewalskii forests. Through community quantitative statistics and cluster analysis, the main results are as follows. (1) J. przewalskii forests are primarily distributed on sunny and semi-sunny mountain slopes from 2 800 to 3 800 m. They usually occupy harsh environment that is dry, barren, and steep slopes. The existing forests are mostly climax communities after secondary successions. Such forest stands are relatively sparse, with a canopy coverage of 0.2 to 0.6 and an average height from 5 to 13 m. The vertical structure consists of the tree layer, shrub layer, and herb layer. The tree layer is dominated by J. przewalskii, and the diameter class structure shows a right-skewed normal distribution, with the diameter at breast height mainly distributed in the 4-8 cm range. The shrub layer and herb layer vary greatly with changes in habitat conditions. (2) A total of 370 species of vascular plants have been recorded, which belong to 48 families and 151 genera. Among them, there are 45 families, 148 genera of angiosperms, 2 families and 2 genera of gymnosperms, and 1 family and 1 genus of pteridophytes. The top three dominant families are Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae. There are obviously more herbaceous species than woody species in terms of the composition of vegetation forms. (3) Juniperus przewalskii forests can be further classified into 11 association groups and 25 associations based on the dominant and characteristic species of the community. The spatial distribution exhibits a clear ecological sequence, including (from low to high altitude) J. przewalskii - Berberis diaphana - Herb Association Group, J. przewalskii - Dasiphora fruticosa - Herb Association Group, J. przewalskii - Dasiphora parvifolia - Herb Association Group, and J. przewalskii - Dasiphora glabra - Herb Association Group. In areas with significant human disturbance, the shrub layer in the community is poorly developed and gradually develops into Juniperus przewalskii - Herb Association group.
INTRODUCTION Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a significant warm-season and water-dependent vegetable crop, is extensively cultivated worldwide. Whether grown in open fields or protected environments, tomatoes frequently encounter various environmental stresses, including drought and low temperatures, which significantly impact their yield and quality. Transcription factors play a pivotal role in plant stress responses by modulating the expression of specific target genes, thereby transmitting perceived stress signals downstream. WRKY transcription factors in tomatoes are known to regulate responses to multiple abiotic stresses. However, the specific role of the tomato SlWRKY45 in abiotic stress responses remains unclear.
RATIONALE Studies have demonstrated that WRKY transcription factors play a crucial regulatory role in plant responses to abiotic stress. As an important economic vegetable crop, tomato is susceptible to various environmental stresses during its growth and development. By genetically overexpressing SlWRKY45 in tomato and investigating its function under low-temperature and drought stress conditions, the findings can provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms of WRKY transcription factors. Additionally, this research offers valuable candidate genes for breeding stress-resistant tomato varieties.
RESULTS Expression analysis revealed that low-temperature, drought, and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments significantly induced the expression of SlWRKY45. Overexpression of SlWRKY45 enhanced the resistance of tomato plants to drought and low-temperature stresses. Under drought and low-temperature conditions, the photosynthetic indices, antioxidant enzyme activities, and proline (Pro) contents in SlWRKY45 overexpression lines were significantly higher than those in wild-type (WT) plants. Conversely, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in SlWRKY45-OE plants was significantly lower than in WT plants under the same stress conditions. Transcriptome data analysis indicated that SlWRKY45 regulates tomato's response to low-temperature stress primarily by influencing antioxidant enzyme activities and stress response pathways. Dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that SlWRKY45 could directly activate the expression of SlPOD1. Furthermore, the interaction between SlWRKY45 and SlWRKY46 was confirmed through yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays.
CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that SlWRKY45 positively regulates drought resistance and low-temperature tolerance in tomato. Additionally, SlWRKY45 can interact with SlWRKY46 and directly activate the expression of SlPOD1. These results offer valuable insights for further research into the regulatory mechanisms underlying abiotic stress responses and provide potential gene resources for genetic improvement through molecular breeding.
Phenotypes of SlWRKY45-overexpressing and wild-type plants under drought and low-temperature treatments
In recent years, we have witnessed transformative breakthroughs in plant disease resistance research, particularly in deciphering the intricate interplay between hosts and pathogens. Cutting-edge discoveries span pathogen recognition mechanisms, immune signaling cascades, and multi-layered interactions integrating plants, pathogens, vectors, and environmental variables. Notably, pioneering studies from domestic research institutions have driven progress across pathogen-sensing systems, secondary metabolite-mediated defense, immune module engineering in crops, and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions for pathogen-resistant peptide design. The rapid development of CRISPR/ Cas9-based gene editing and AI technologies has further empowered researchers to engineer disease-resistant crop varieties with unprecedented precision. Such progress holds profound implications for ensuring national food security and advancing strategic priorities in disease-resistant crop breeding, marking a transformative era in agricultural biotechnology and sustainable agriculture.
Background & Aims: Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), widely present in the insect epicuticle, provide significant contributions to many terrestrial insect adaptations. Insect CHCs function primarily in waterproofing, resisting harmful substances, and facilitating chemical communication. Compared to the compositional and functional diversity of CHCs in solitary or subsocial insects, the diversity of social insects offers a valuable source of insights into their unique genetic structure, population composition, and characteristic behavioral patterns.
Progresses: This review characterizes the structures and properties of CHCs that enable particular functions, summarizes their functional diversity, and discusses the influence of both endogenous factors and external elements on the profile variability of CHCs in social insects. Furthermore, potential future research directions are proposed. The CHCs in social insects are regulated through nestmate recognition, caste differentiation, division of labor, social immunity, reproductive state recognition, and inter-specific interactions. Remarkably, some CHCs have been designated for queen pheromones. The CHC profiles of social insects can exhibit remarkable variability to meet the demands of functional differentiation. The synthesis, composition, and content of CHCs in social insects can be influenced by a wide range of internal factors (including gene and hormone levels) as well as extrinsic factors (including diet, gut microbiome, pathogenic organisms, temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, nest materials, etc.).
Prospects: Emerging technologies, such as the quantitative genetic framework, immunohistochemical localization, and fluorescent in situ hybridization, will enable new insights to be obtained into the synthesis, translocation, release, functional diversity, and regulation of CHCs, enhancing our understanding of their role in insect adaptive evolution. The research discussed in this review can provide a theoretical basis for the development of novel technologies to control invasive agroforestry pests.
ABF transcription factors are collectively referred to as basic leucine zipper proteins that can specifically recognize and bind to ABA-responsive elements (ABRE), participating in ABA signal transduction and serving as regulators of ABA signal transcriptional responses. This study analyzed the protein encoded by the BnaABF2 gene in Brassica napus. Subcellular localization results showed that the BnaABF2 protein is localized in the nucleus. Analysis of transcriptional activity in the yeast system indicated that BnaABF2 has no transcriptional activation activity; qRT-PCR detection revealed that the expression level of BnaABF2 is highest in leaves. We also found that ABA treatment, simulated drought, and salt stress can induce the expression of BnaABF2; BiFC results showed that BnaMPK1/2/6/7/9/12/13 can interact with BnaABF2. Dual-LUC results suggested that BnaMPK7 may enhance the transcriptional regulation of BnaABF2 on downstream target genes through phosphorylation. This study initially explored the basic characteristics and interacting proteins of the transcription factor BnaABF2, providing theoretical guidance for understanding its functions and mechanisms.
Aims Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, an evergreen coniferous tree species, plays a pivotal role in ecological restoration efforts in the deserts of northern China. This study aimed to elucidate the community assembly of belowground fungi and the intricate relationships between P. sylvestris var. mongolica and fungi in P. sylvestris var. mongolica plantations. The findings would provide the novel microbial perspectives for sustainable management strategies of P. sylvestris var. mongolica plantations.Methods Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantations of different stand ages (26, 37, and 46 a) in the Hulun Buir Sandy Land were selected to examine the diversity, composition and assembly pattern of root-associated fungi (RAF), rhizosphere soil fungi (RhSF) and non-rhizosphere soil fungi (NRhSF).Important findings (1) Stand ages and niches significantly influenced fungal diversity. The fungal community richness and diversity indices ranked as follows: 46 a > 26 a > 37 a, and the dissimilarity gradually increased with the increase of the stand age. Among the different niches, the richness, diversity indexes, and dissimilarity were the highest in NRhSF, the middle in RhSF and the lowest in RAF. (2) The belowground fungi were assigned to 14 phyla and 592 genera. The belowground fungal communities of 26, 37, and 46 a plantations had 3, 1, and 5 abundant genera respectively, and they had symbiotic capability of endophytic or ectomycorrhizal fungi. RAF, RhSF, and NRhSF had 3, 8, and 5 abundant genera, respectively, and the proportions of Mortierellomycota and saprotrophic fungi increased from root to soil. (3) The primary assembly processes of belowground fungal communities were the dispersal limitation (63.54%), drift (22.06%) and homogeneous selection (12.90%). Stand age significantly correlated with structure of belowground fungi. Soil total phosphorus content, soil total nitrogen and phosphorus contents, and soil organic matter content were the main factors influencing RAF, RhSF, and NRhSF, respectively. This study highlights temporal and spatial heterogeneity of fungal community diversity and composition in P. sylvestris var. mongolica plantations. Stochastic processes mainly were dispersal limitations, shaping these communities, while the deterministic processes were influenced by host selection and environmental filtering.
INTRODUCTION: Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by Verticillium dahliae, severely reduces cotton yield and fiber quality. Previous transcriptomic analysis in V. dahliae-inoculated Arabidopsis thaliana identified the pathogen-induced DIR1-like gene AT3G53980.2. In cotton, we discovered a homologous gene, GhDIR1 (Gh_A09G180700.1), encoding a lipid transfer protein. This study investigates its role in cotton resistance to V. dahliae.
RATIONALE: We characterized GhDIR1’s molecular features, expression patterns under pathogen stress, and functional impact using bioinformatics, subcellular localization, qRT-PCR, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) analyses. Transcriptomic analysis of wild-type and GhDIR1-silenced plants were conducted to unravel downstream regulatory networks, focusing on metabolic pathways linked to plant immunity.
RESULTS: The results showed that GhDIR1 contains a 351 bp ORF encoding 116 amino acids. Subcellular localization confirmed its presence on the cell membrane. qRT-PCR showed rapid induction of GhDIR1 by V. dahliae. Silencing GhDIR1 increased cotton susceptibility to the pathogen. Transcriptomic data revealed that differentially expressed genes in silenced plants were enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis, sesquiterpene/triterpene biosynthesis, and α-linolenic acid metabolism. Key genes (GhCHS, GhDFR, GhCAD, GhSEQ, GhLOX, and GhAOC) in these pathways were downregulated, suggesting impaired synthesis of protective metabolites.
CONCLUSION: It is speculated that GhDIR1 positively regulates cotton resistance to VW by modulating flavonoid and terpenoid biosynthesis and jasmonic acid-related signaling. Its silencing disrupts critical defense pathways, highlighting its role in coordinating immune responses. These findings propose GhDIR1 as a potential target for enhancing disease resistance in cotton. The induced expression pattern of GhDIR1 and related genes after inoculation with Verticillium dahliae.
Aims Benthic microalgae are one of the primary producers in coastal wetlands, providing basic energy and material to the food web of coastal wetlands and playing an important role in maintaining the stability of coastal wetland ecosystems. Previous studies have focused on the effects of environmental factors, vascular plants and herbivores on benthic microalgae, neglecting the trophic cascade effects of predators.Methods We investigated the trophic cascade effects of waterbirds on benthic microalgae in a manipulative field experiment in a coastal wetland in the Chang Jiang (Yangtze) estuary, where we measured the biomass of benthic microalgae monthly and their species composition quarterly for a year.Important findings Results showed that: (1) benthic microalgal biomass was significantly decreased in waterbird exclusion treatments. In waterbird exclusion treatments, although the lack of direct consumption by waterbirds facilitated benthic microalgae, increases in the abundance of crabs feeding on microalgae suppressed benthic microalgae more strongly. (2) Crab exclusion treatments (simulating intense predation by waterbirds) also significantly reduced benthic microalgal biomass. In crab exclusion treatments, the abundance of snail feeding on microalgae increased substantially. (3) Waterbird and crab exclusion treatments both significantly reduced the abundance of the dominant microalgal taxa, diatoms, and increased the diversity of benthic microalgal communities. This study demonstrates that waterbirds in coastal wetlands can exert strong top-down effects on benthic microalgal communities through multiple direct or indirect processes, and enriches our understanding of the mechanisms controlling microalgal communities in coastal wetlands.
