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opencc-zeroNov 2022View details →

Data for: Barriers to seedling establishment in grasslands: Implications for Nothofagus forest restoration and migration

Tree seedling establishment outside forest boundaries is controlled by many interacting factors. Understanding the relative importance of different pressures is essential for improving techniques for forest restoration and for understanding the potential of forest boundaries to shift and adapt to changing climate conditions. We investigated constraints on the spread of a key southern hemisphere forest type into grasslands by undertaking a multi-factorial experiment sowing Nothofagus cliffortioides (Nothofagaceae) in a historically deforested retired pasture. We manipulated factors to determine the relative effects of sheltered microsites, competition with pasture species, availability of ectomycorrhizal fungi, soil nutrients, and rabbit herbivory, on seedling emergence and survival. Overall survival was low (11.7% after six months and 1.5% after ten months), but there were strong treatment effects on both seedling establishment and survival. The availability of shelter and competition with pasture species had strongest effects, with the presence of pasture species initially aiding seedling emergence due to a sheltering effect, but negatively affecting survival at later stages. Most remaining seedlings at the conclusion of the experiment had formed ectomycorrhizae regardless of whether inoculum was supplied, and seedling survival and health was positively related to ectomycorrhizal colonization. Fertilizing had less of an effect than other factors, and results regarding rabbit herbivory were inconclusive. Synthesis and applications: This study provides new insights into how factors interact to limit tree seedling establishment in grasslands and forest expansion into neighboring ecosystems. This improves understanding of the ability of an ectomycorrhizal keystone forest species to migrate and adapt to climate change. This study also assists restoration practitioners in selecting techniques that will enhance seedling establishment, and highlights that direct seeding approaches in open grasslands are unlikely to result in high rates of Nothofagus establishment.

Data for: The role of landscape in shaping bird community and implications for landscape management at Nanjing Lukou International Airport

Understanding the patterns of bird diversity and its driving force is necessary for bird strike prevention. In this study, we investigated the effects of landscape attributes on phylogenetic and functional diversity of bird communities at Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NLIA). Bird identifications and counting of individuals were carried out from November 2017 to October 2019. Based on the land cover data, the landscape was divided into four main types, including farmlands, woodlands, wetlands and urban areas. Bird phylogenetic and functional diversity were strongly affected by landscape matrix types. Bird species, phylogenetic and functional richness were highest in woodlands, while phylogenetic and functional structure were most complex in wetlands. We found that related carnivorous birds occupied most niches at the NLIA. Moreover, bird assemblages exhibited phylogenetic and functional clustering in all landscape matrix types, which meant environmental filtering governed community assembly. Landscape attributes of different matrix types influenced phylogenetic and functional diversity of bird communities. Landscape diversity affected bird functional structure positively, and the mean of patch area in the landscape had the strongest explanatory effects. To prevent bird strikes, we suggest that more small-area woodlands with low levels of aggregation can be considered and farmlands should be patchier and more regular. At landscape level, the number of patches can be adjusted to reduce the frequency of bird activities.

Macrosystem community change in lake phytoplankton and its implications for diversity and function

Aim: We use lake phytoplankton community data to quantify the spatio-temporal and scale-dependent impacts of eutrophication, land-use, and climate change on species niches and community assembly processes while accounting for species traits and phylogenetic constraints. Location: Finland Time period: 1977-2017 Major taxa: Phytoplankton Methods: We use Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities (HMSC) to model meta-community trajectories at 853 lakes over four decades of environmental change, including a hierarchical spatial structure to account for scale-dependent processes. Using a 'region of common profile' approach, we evaluate compositional changes of species communities and trait profiles and investigate their temporal development. Results: We demonstrate the emergence of novel and widespread community composition clusters in previously more compositional homogeneous communities, with cluster-specific community trait profiles, indicating functional differences. A strong phylogenetic signal of species' responses to the environment implies similar responses among closely related taxa. Community cluster-specific species prevalence point to lower taxonomic dispersion within the current dominant clusters compared to the historically dominant cluster and overall higher prevalence of smaller species sizes within communities. Our findings denote profound spatio-temporal structuring of species co-occurrence patterns and highlight functional differences of lake phytoplankton communities. Main conclusions: Diverging community trajectories have led to a nationwide reshuffling of lake phytoplankton communities. At regional and national scales, lakes are not single entities but metacommunity hubs in an interconnected waterscape. The assembly mechanisms of phytoplankton communities are strongly structured by spatio-temporal dynamics, which have led to novel community types but only a minor part of this reshuffling could be linked to temporal environmental change.

Data from: Morphological integration during postnatal ontogeny: Implications for evolutionary biology

How covariance patterns of phenotypes change during development is fundamental for a broader understanding of evolution. There is compelling evidence that mammalian cranium covariance patterns change during ontogeny. However, it is unclear to what extent variation in covariance patterns during ontogeny can impact the response to selection. To tackle this question we explored: i) the extent to which covariance patterns change during postnatal ontogeny; ii) in which ontogenetic stages covariance patterns differ the most, and iii) the extent to which the phenotypic covariance pattern at different ontogenetic stages can be explained by the same processes determining additive genetic covariance. We sampled postnatal ontogenetic series for both marsupials, and placentals. Within each ontogenetic series, we compared covariance matrices (P-matrices) at different ontogenetic stages. Furthermore, we compared these P-matrices to two target matrices [adult P-matrix and an additive genetic covariance matrix (G-matrix)]. Our results show that for all ontogenetic series, covariance patterns from weaning onward are conserved and probably shaped by the same processes determining the G-matrix. We conclude that irrespective of eventual differences in how selection operates during most of postnatal ontogeny, the net response to such pressures will probably not be affected by ontogenetic differences in the covariance pattern.

Home-field advantage meets priming effect in root decomposition: Implications for belowground carbon dynamics

1. Home-field advantage (HFA) states that litter decomposes faster in 'home' than in 'away' soil, due to the specialization of decomposer organisms in decomposing litter derived from their local plant community. Demonstration of the HFA effect has been overwhelmingly based on aboveground leaf litter despite the fact that roots play a pivotal role in carbon (C) and nutrient cycling. 2. Labile C input in root exudates and newly shed root litters can enhance the activity of soil microorganisms, which in turn can favor the breakdown of older root litter, also referred to as the priming effect. It remains, however, unclear how the addition of fresh root-derived inputs affects HFA on the decomposition of absorptive roots (ARs) and transport roots (TRs), which have a different chemical composition. 3. Here, we conducted a two-stage (endogenous C consumption versus exogenous C priming) reciprocal transplant microcosm experiment to explore the effects of HFA on the decomposition of lower-quality ARs and higher-quality TRs of two subtropical tree species (Pinus elliottii and Cunninghamia lanceolata) and their responses to either labile (glucose) or recalcitrant (fresh ARs) C additions. 4. Decomposition of lower-quality ARs exhibited neutral HFA, while decomposition of higher-quality TRs exhibited positive HFA. The absence of HFA for short-lived ARs was possibly due to the legacy effect of their chemical defenses on decomposition. The neutral HFA for ARs became negative with glucose addition, which was linked to the dissimilarity of fungal community between the home and away soils. Neither glucose nor fresh ARs additions changed the HFA pattern of TRs, implying that these long-lived roots play a reinforced role in soil C accumulation when they decompose away from their origins. 5. These results indicate that the effect of HFA on decomposition differs between ARs and TRs, and could be modified by the priming effect induced by the root-derived C input. In general, our findings highlight that complex 'HFA-priming' interactions on root decomposition should be explicitly considered in the paradigm of belowground C dynamics.

Data from: Allometry in Late Devonian Podocopa ostracods (Crustacea) and its implications for Ostracoda ontogeny

Podocopa ostracods abounds in various marine and non-marine habitats since the early Palaeozoic and leave diversified fossil records in strata worldwide. They are particularly useful for stratigraphic correlation and paleoenvironmental and paleogeographical reconstructions. However, being the most numerous ostracods during the Palaeozoic, their origins, evolution, ontogeny and phylogeny remain poorly defined. This paper represents the first study of morphological variation in Devonian Platycopida (an order of Podocopa) ostracods using a geometric morphometric approach. Our results identify substantial shape variation for Cribroconcha honggulelengensis from the Upper Devonian Hongguleleng Formation of western Junggar, NW China, demonstrating a remarkable change to those juveniles between stages A-3 and A-2. Using linear regressions between Principal component scores from right lateral view and carapace length, we demonstrate allometric growth patterns for the species C. honggulelengensis.The body plan of C. honggulelengensis developed along with the ontological variable, i.e., from an ovate outline with rare pores to an oblong outline with dense and large pores. Environmental factors play a major role in shape determination during ontogeny of C. honggulelengensis.

Source data for - Bidirectional alterations in brain temperature profoundly modulate spatiotemporal neurovascular responses in-vivo: Implications for theragnostics

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is a mechanism that, amongst other known and latent critical functions, ensures activated brain regions are adequately supplied with oxygen and glucose. This biological phenomenon underpins non-invasive perfusion-related neuroimaging techniques, and recent reports have implicated NVC impairment in several neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, much remains unknown regarding NVC in health and disease, and only recently has there been burgeoning recognition of a close interplay with brain thermodynamics. Accordingly, we developed a novel multi-modal approach to systematically modulate cortical temperature and interrogate the spatiotemporal dynamics of sensory-evoked NVC. We show that changes in cortical temperature profoundly and intricately modulate NVC, with low temperatures associated with diminished oxygen delivery, and high temperatures inducing a distinct vascular oscillation. These observations provide novel insights into the relationship between NVC and brain thermodynamics, with important implications for brain-temperature-related therapies, functional biomarkers of elevated brain temperature, and in-vivo methods to study neurovascular coupling.

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2022View details →

Sr-Nd isotopic fingerprints of Red River sediments and its implication for provenance discrimination in the South China Sea

Supplementary Data of the Manuscript titled 'Revisit Sr-Nd isotopic fingerprints of Red River sediments and its implication for provenance discrimination in the South China Sea' Table A1. elemental compositions of Red River estuarine sediment samples Table A2. Literature data on sediment Sr-Nd isotopic ratios, Rb/Sr and K2O/(Na2O+CaO) in the Red River catchment Table A3. Compiled data on Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of rocks in the Thao River, Song Da and Song Lo basin Table A4. Compiled data of sediment Sr-Nd isotopic composition in the Pearl River, Red River and Mekong River

opencc-zeroJan 2023View details →

Multiscale assessment of oviposition habitat associations and implications for management in the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), an emerging invasive pest

1. Control of incipient invaders—established invasive species in the early stages of spreading—can be inhibited by incomplete knowledge of the species' habitat use. By identifying consistent habitat associations for incipient invaders early, control efforts can be more effective. Yet, because habitat associations are the result of multiscale processes, approaches are needed for integrating data collected across scales to identify them. 2. We employed a hierarchical, multiscale approach to identify oviposition habitat associations in the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), an incipient invasive species of high concern in the United States. We targeted four oviposition habitat spatial scales most likely to be used by lanternflies and the spatial scales of explanatory habitat variables most easily used by managers to locate egg masses to control. 3. Spotted lanternflies exhibited oviposition habitat associations at the landscape, site, and tree scales. Overall, lanternflies oviposited more frequently at sites and on trees with low canopy cover in the surrounding landscape indicating higher use of human-impacted habitat. Additionally, they oviposited more frequently on trees from the Acer genus and in the crowns of larger trees beyond the reach of managers without special equipment. The duration a site had been invaded had opposing effects on oviposition at the site and tree scales. 4. Despite high variation in the number of eggs per egg mass, no habitat variables explained this variation, suggesting more work is needed to understand spotted lanternfly reproductive output. 5. Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate a multiscale approach is needed for spotted lanternfly control with unique strategies for locating egg masses at sites and on trees that vary in invasion duration. Specifically, at younger sites at the invasion edge, managers should expect patchy colonization of sites, yet when a site is colonized, many trees will have egg masses. Comparatively, older sites at the invasion core are more likely to have egg masses present, yet often at a lower density, which may make them difficult to find on individual trees. Based on our results, we assert that multiscale investigations of habitat associations would likely inform the control of other incipient invasive species as well.

opencc-zeroJan 2023View details →

Genetic restoration of black rhinoceroses in South Africa: conservation implications

Globally, wildlife populations are becoming increasingly small and isolated. Both processes contribute to an elevated risk of extinction, notably due to genetic factors related to inbreeding depression and a loss of adaptive potential. Wildlife translocation is a valuable conservation tool to reintroduce species to previously occupied areas, or augment existing populations with genetically divergent animals, thereby improving the viability of endangered populations. However, understanding the genetic implications of mixing gene pools is key to avoid the risk of outbreeding depression, and to maximise translocation effectiveness. In this study we used mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA collected from 110 black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis minor) in Kruger National Park, South Africa, to determine levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding and relatedness. We compared this diversity with the two source populations (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Zambezi River, Zimbabwe) using data from previously published studies, and assessed changes in the relative contribution of source lineages since their reintroduction in the 1970s. Our results show that Kruger's black rhinoceroses are genetically more diverse than those from KwaZulu-Natal, with levels closer to those from the Zambezi Valley. Furthermore, our findings indicate a relative increase in the Zimbabwean lineage since reintroduction, suggesting a possible selective advantage. From a conservation perspective, our results demonstrate the benefits of mixing multiple source populations to restore gene flow, improve genetic diversity and thereby help protect small, isolated populations from extinction.

opencc-by-4.0Jan 2023View details →

Implications of large binding energies of massive stripped core collapse supernova progenitors on the explosion mechanism

Inlist files (r15140) used for the creation of the core-collapse progenitor models in the paper "The implications of large binding energies of massive, stripped, core-collapse supernova progenitors on the explosion mechanism". Based on the ‘20M pre ms to core collapse’ example from MESA r22.05, adapted for use in r15140, and include several variations as detailed in the paper appendix A. See README.txt for running details and example script. Also included are the full simulation list and the profiles of the 52 simulated cases, including the pre-collapse profiles at the point of termination for the 27 models that reached collapse. Profiles are at central oxygen depletion (5% abundance at center), central silicon depletion (5% abundance at center) and collapse, as defined in the paper.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2022View details →

A new remarkable cimicoid genus and species (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Cimicomorpha) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, with implications for its aberrant male genitalia

Figure files of three different versions: published ver., without scale bars and captions ver., and the original figures.   Original reference: Yamada, K., Yamamoto, S., Takahashi, Y. (2023) A new remarkable cimicoid genus and species (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Cimicomorpha) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, with implications for its aberrant male genitalia. Fossil Record, 26(1): 27–38. (doi: <a href="https://fr.pensoft.net/article/86784/">10.3897/fr.26.e86784</a>).   Abstract. A new genus and species of cimicoid true bug, Ecpaglocoris ditomeus Yamada & Yamamoto, gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated from mid-Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Albian) amber in the Kachin State of northern Myanmar (Burma). This new fossil genus and species is reminiscent of members of Anthocoridae by the strongly flattened and elongated body, four-segmented labium, distinct costal fracture and presence of fossula spongiosa on fore tibiae, but should not be ascribed to this family. The new taxon cannot be placed in any extant cimicoid families, based upon hemelytral, male genital and other morphological structures. Based on the hemelytral membrane venation and presence of dorsal laterotergites on abdominal segments I to VIII, it can be assumed that this new genus belongs to the extinct family Vetanthocoridae. Ecpaglocoris ditomeus gen. et sp. nov. has aberrant male genitalia characterised by sickle-shaped left and right parameres and grooves running throughout the paramere. This characteristic indicates that traumatic insemination occurred in this genus. The peculiar combination of male genital characteristics seen in Ecpaglocoris gen. nov. prevents its placement in any of the extant cimicoid families.

opencc-by-4.0Jan 2023View details →

Thermal evolution of the metamorphism in the eastern Taiwan Central Range: implications for Yuli Belt exhumation

The Yuli Belt exposed in the eastern part of Taiwan’s Central Range hosts slivers of blueschist-facies meta-igneous rocks that were tectonically emplaced into a mostly greenschist-facies, polyphase deformed metasedimentary succession. Suturing the Eurasian continental plate, the subducted South China Sea plate, the proposed subducted forarc basement, and the Luzon Island arc of the Philippine Sea Plate, the Yuli Belt is a key site for understanding the geodynamic reconstruction of the Taiwan orogeny. In this paper, we reinvestigated the tectonic evolution of the Yuli Belt. The Yuli Belt of the eastern Taiwan Central Range encloses high pressure (HP) mafic–ultramafic blocks and hosts intensely deformed greenschist-facies metasediments. It is still debated if the Chulai Formation to the east is part of the Yuli Belt. To solve this problem, we provide new maximum metamorphic temperature in both units using Raman spectroscopic geo-thermometry in relation to structural deformation. The new peak metamorphic temperatures compiled with published data support systematic spatial variations across the eastern Taiwan Central Range. The Yuli Belt shows peak temperatures of ca. 400°C~550°C higher than those of adjacent units. Temperatures >500°C in the Yuli Belt are close to three HP blocks. The temperature difference between the Yuli Belt and Chulai Formation reaches over 100°C. It is likely that the contact between both units is a fault and that they underwent the same deformation history after its E-vergent backfolding phase. The new peak metamorphic temperatures compiled with published data support systematic spatial variations across the eastern Taiwan Central Range. A revised geological map was generated by the incorporation of new structural data of the metasediments from several river-transects in the eastern Central Range.

opencc-zeroJan 2023View details →

Media portrayal of the illegal trade in wildlife: The case of turtles in the US and implications for conservation

News media framing of instances of illegal wildlife trade provides a window into understanding public perceptions of trade dynamics and potential support for conservation actions. Here, we used 54 known cases of illegal turtle trade in the United States occurring between 1998–2021 as a case study to investigate news media framing of illegal wildlife trade. We synthesized information from these cases and qualitatively analyzed how they were framed in 217 associated news articles. The 54 cases involved the illegal trade of at least 24,000 freshwater turtles of 34 different species; box turtles (Terrapene spp.) were traded the most. Of the known species involved, 23 were listed under one of the CITES Appendices, and 12 were considered threatened by the IUCN. Trade occurred in at least 43 US states and 6 countries. Despite the multifaceted nature of these cases, problem and solution framing was relatively unvarying. Media coverage framed foreign demand, particularly from Asia for high-value pet turtles, as a main driver of illegal trade. Solutions focused on regulations and enforcement which follow global trends in illegal wildlife trade discourses. However, we also found that articles neutralized illegal turtle trade in several ways, reflecting a lack of perceived legitimacy of and necessity for trade rules and enforcement. Without acknowledging longstanding and formerly legal practices in wildlife trading, conservation efforts which focus on regulations and enforcement may be undermined by a lack of normative compliance.

Patterns and determinants of plant-derived lignin phenols in coastal wetlands: implications for organic C accumulation

1. As a major plant-derived soil organic carbon (SOC) component, lignin phenols are unique biomarkers that reflect biogeochemical characteristics under different vegetation compositions and climatic zones in coastal wetlands. However, the latitudinal patterns of plant-derived lignin phenols to SOC and their link with the stability and controlling mechanisms remain poorly understood. 2. A total of 156 soil samples from 39 sites along a 5000 km coastal transect, were taken to explore the effects of biological and environmental controls on the patterns of lignin phenols. Lignin phenols had contents ranging from 1.91 to 83.3 mg g−1 OC, and a positive correlation was detected in grass-dominated salt marsh, but a weakly negative correlation in mangrove. Positive correlations between SOC or lignin content and C/V or S/V (the cinnamyl- or syringyl-to-vanillyl) ratios were found, while overall negative correlations between SOC or lignin content and (Ad/Al)V or (Ad/Al)S (the acid-to-aldehyde of vanillyl or syringyl units) ratios were detected, respectively, which confirmed the validity of these lignin biomarker degradation parameters. 3. Our findings revealed that plant C inputs and monomer ratios directly influenced the capacity of lignin phenols in soils. Lignin content and stabilization was mainly controlled by soil properties (i.e., pH, EC, sand/clay). Mean annual temperature (MAT) influenced the patterns of lignin phenols both directly by increasing decomposition and indirectly by changing the vegetation and soil biogeochemistry (i.e., microbial substrate availability). 4. Coastal wetlands are characterized by high primary productivity and C burial rate, yet plant-derived lignin phenols are not as much as we thought compared to microbial residues C. Precise identification and quantification of the origin, decomposition, and determinants of lignin phenols help us understand their contribution to C sequestration and its response to climate and environmental changes.

Data from: An expanded Smithian-Spathian (Early Triassic) boundary from a reefal build-up record in Oman: Implications for conodont taxonomy, high-resolution biochronology and the carbon isotope record

Some 2.7 Ma after the Permian-Triassic boundary mass extinction (PTME), a stepwise extinction of the nekton (ammonoids and conodonts) ended at the Smithian-Spathian boundary (SSB) during an episode of climate cooling. SSB records from continental shelves are usually affected by an unconformity, suggesting a forced regression of glacio-eustatic origin. Here, we document a new 30 m-thick SSB section from Jebel Aweri (Batain Plain, Oman) that provides an exceptionally complete and expanded record preserved in an exotic block. Most of this SSB section consists of metazoan reefal build-ups that formed in shallow water on an offshore sea mount. In Wadi Musjah (Hawasina nappes, Oman), another exotic block records the SSB in a deeper water setting represented by Hallstatt-type facies. These two sections provide a unique perspective on the early Spathian rapid re-diversification of conodonts. They led to a thorough revision of conodont taxonomy around the SSB and to the construction of the highest resolution biochronological scheme for this time interval in the Tethys. A total of five SSB sections from Oman representing both offshore sea mounts and lower slope deposits were included in a high-resolution, quantitative Unitary Associations analysis. The resulting 8 conodont biozones are intercalibrated with ammonoid zones and with the carbonate carbon isotope record ultimately placing the SSB in the interval of separation between UAZ3 and UAZ4. Only the association of Nv. pingdingshanensis with Ic. crassatus can be used to unambiguously characterize the base of the Spathian.

opencc-by-4.0Feb 2023View details →

Comparative Mitochondrial Genomics of selected Noctuoid Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) with implications for their Phylogeny

In this study, I sequenced and annotated the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of 19 species that belong to the superfamily Noctuoidea viz. Actinotia polyodon, Episparis tortuosalis, Ercheia cyllaria, Eudocima salaminia, Hulodes caranea, Hypospila bolinoides, Ischyja manlia, Lygephila dorsigera, Mecodina praecipua, Mocis undata, Odontodes seranensis, Ophiusa tirhaca, Oraesia emarginata, Pandesma quenavadi, Polydesma boarmoides, Psimada quadripennis, Rusicada privata, Trigonodes hyppasia and Xanthodes albago. In addition to this, I performed the analysis of their genetic compositions as well as their molecular characterization in order to provide molecular insights into their taxonomic and phylogenetic implications. Based on the data and those obtained from the NCBI database, I examined the phylogenetic relationships among the species of the superfamily Noctuoidea.

Overgrowth competition or facilitation from cushion plants: Implication for the role of plant-plant interactions

Our data reports the annual growth and age of the shrub Caragana versicolor overgrown or free of the cushion plant Thylacospermum ceaspitosum. The observations and sampling were performed at ~5000 m.a.s.l., on the East facing slope of the Korzok range, on the North-Eastern side of Lake Tso Moriri above Korzok village (4522 m a.s.l.). Our study demonstrates that the growth of Caragana versicolor is repressed by the competitive effect of the cushion plant Thylacospermum ceaspitosum, and shows no evidence of facilitation between the two co-occurring species.

Perianth evolution and implications for generic delimitation in the Eucalypts (Myrtaceae): DNA sequences, morphological data

Eucalyptus was traditionally defined by the operculate perianth—hence the generic name (Latin, meaning "well-covered"). But after previous phylogenetic analysis placed Angophora, which has free sepals and petals, as sister to the bloodwood eucalypts, the latter were segregated into a new genus, Corymbia. We made a targeted capture of 101 low-copy nuclear exons from 392 samples representing 329 species-level taxa. The phylogeny was estimated using maximum likelihood (IQtree and RAxML) and the multi-species coalescent (Astral). We tested alternative relationships between four genera within Eucalypteae (Arillastrum, Angophora, Eucalyptus, Corymbia) at each of two nodes critical to generic delimitation using Shimodaira's Approximately Unbiased (AU) test. Monophyly of Arillastrum + (Corymbia + Angophora) relative to Eucalyptus sensu stricto was supported whereas monophyly of Corymbia relative to Angophora was decisively rejected. These results indicate that either Eucalyptus should be expanded to include all four genera or Corymbia should be split into two. All of the alternative relationships among the four currently recognised genera imply homoplasy in perianth evolution, specifically with respect to origins of the bud cap (operculum or calyptra), which has been traditionally used to define Eucalyptus. Inferred evolutionary transitions in perianth traits are generally congruent with divergences between major clades with a single exception: expression of separate sepals and petals in Angophora, which is nested within the operculate genus Corymbia, appears prima facie to be a reversal to the plesiomorphic perianth structure. Strictly, this is not a reversal because the petals of Angophora and Corymbia have a novel compound keel-and-limb structure that is absent in the outgroups. This structure is evident in early development, irrespective of whether the petals remain free or later become part of an operculum. Many of the currently recognised infrageneric taxa down to sectional level (and below in some cases) are well-supported by the sequence data and definable by morphological traits. Inclusion of Angophora within Eucalyptus was formally proposed two decades ago but did not gain acceptance. Here instead, we formally raise Corymbia subg. Blakella to genus rank and make the relevant new combinations.

Data from: Meta-analysis of the effects of insect pathogens: Implications for plant reproduction

Despite extensive work on both insect disease and plant reproduction, there is little research on the intersection of the two. Insect-infecting pathogens could disrupt the pollination process by affecting pollinator population density or traits. Pathogens may also infect insect herbivores and change herbivory, potentially altering resource allocation to plant reproduction. We conducted a meta-analysis to 1) summarize the literature on the effects of pathogens on insect pollinators and herbivores and 2) quantify the extent to which pathogens affect insect traits, with potential repercussions for plant reproduction. We found 39 articles that fit our criteria for inclusion, extracting 218 measures of insect traits for 21 different insect species exposed to 25 different pathogens. We detected a negative effect of pathogen exposure on insect traits, which varied by host function: pathogens had a significant negative effect on insects that were herbivores or carried multiple functions but not on insects that solely functioned as pollinators. Particular pathogen types were heavily studied in certain insect orders, with 7 of 11 viral pathogen studies conducted in Lepidoptera and 5 of 9 fungal pathogen studies conducted in Hymenoptera. Our results suggest that most studies have focused on a small set of host–pathogen pairs. To understand the implications for plant reproduction, future work is needed to directly measure the effects of pathogens on pollinator effectiveness.