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Bird species with a higher propensity towards innovative behaviours are at a lower risk of global extinction and are more likely to have increasing or stable populations than less innovative birds
An analysis of 102 genomes shows remarkable levels of gene loss in ecdysozoans and deuterostomes and large genome novelties in deuterostomes and protostomes.
A framework is presented for achieving global no net loss of biodiversity that accounts for inequity among countries in both pressures and ability to act.
Analysing spatial association networks among >300 terrestrial and aquatic assemblages, the authors find that the majority of negative associations involve abundant species. In contrast, rare species form mostly positive associations, potentially explaining their persistence in natural communities.
Analysing data from the world’s longest-running
insect population database, the authors find that recent declines in
UK moth biomass were preceded by a larger increase.
Interviews with local people and camera-trap surveys have led to the first scientifically confirmed sightings of the silver-backed chevrotain for more than 25 years. The news that this species is not extinct is tempered by major threats of habitat loss and poaching in the region.
Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the managed bee Megachile rotundata lacks the specific P450 enzymes that confer tolerance to some insecticides in other bee species, rendering M. rotundata substantially more sensitive to these insecticides in acute contact assays.
Microscopic analysis of backed stone pieces from the Uluzzian technocomplex of Italy (45–40 thousand years ago) identifies them as hafted armatures, probably used as projectiles.
Comparing body-length distributions of modern and archaeological specimens of common carp, the authors find evidence consistent with fish management in the Early Neolithic site of Jiahu in China, representing the earliest identified form of aquaculture.
Sampling colonies of social spiders before and after a tropical cyclone strike, the authors find evidence of selection for aggressive phenotypes, and that regional variation in this trait may be influenced by the historical frequency of extreme events.
The conservation of ancient metazoan gene order is remarkable, yet the functionality of conserved regions is unclear. Using single-cell expression data for many metazoans, the authors identify conserved genomic regions conferring ancient cell type identity.
An assessment of global extinction in plants shows almost 600 species have become extinct, at a rate higher than background extinction levels, with the highest rates on islands, in the tropics and for shrubs, trees or species with narrow ranges.
A survey of 469 faculty members from ecology and evolutionary biology doctoral programmes across the United States finds that, although most respondents report engaging in diversity and inclusion activities at their institution, respondents who identified themselves as non-white, non-male and the first generation in their family to attend college engaged disproportionately more.
Drone flights observed by West African green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) elicited responses distinct from those for known predators, but which were similar to their East African congenerics, suggesting such responses are conserved.
Analysing responses of 378 bird species to deforestation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, the authors show that sensitivity to habitat loss is dependent on where a population is located within its range.
DNA metabarcoding is used to survey the spatial and temporal distribution of airborne grass pollen genera over the summer grass pollen season across Great Britain.
Comparing temperatures in the forest understory versus open habitat across boreal, temperate and tropical biomes, the authors show that tree canopies act as thermal insulators that buffer the understory against temperature extremes.
Analysis of crow admixed genomes in a European hybrid zone shows that variation in hybrid colour phenotypes is explained by recessive epistasis between two pigmentation genes, which are targets of divergent selection.
Sixteen-month manipulation experiments in a degraded macroalgae-dominated tropical reef setting show that lower coral species richness suppresses growth and survivorship of multiple species.