To assess the toxicity of Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), the population, individual, and cellular biochemical parameters of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis exposed to different concentrations of HBCD were investigated. The results showed that the population growth rate, reproductive period, and offspring number in B. plicatilis significantly decreased under 324 μg/L and 648 μg/L HBCD. Antioxidant enzyme activity and mRNA expression of CAT and Mn-SOD were promoted at low concentrations (32 μg/L and 64 μg/L) and inhibited at high concentrations (324 μg/L and 648 μg/L), while MDA content accumulated continuously with increasing HBCD concentrations, indicating that HBCD induced oxidation imbalance in rotifers. Further evidence was provided by the correlation between DNA fragmentation and physiological changes. The increased intercellular concentration of Ca2+ and the expression of CaM mRNA suggested that HBCD activated pathways related to calcium signaling. In summary, the excessive production of ROS induced by HBCD was considered to be the main cause of reproductive toxicity.

Rapid demographic growth in tropical islands can exacerbate conflicts and pressures on natural resources, as illustrated by the French island of Mayotte where resources are limited. In only 10 years, uncontrolled migration and population growth (+80% of population between 2002 and 2021) have led to a pronounced 3600% increase in deforestation rates (2010-2014) and an intensification of agricultural practices, escalating conflicts over limited land, water, and biodiversity resources. Implementing an original multi-proxy approach to sediment cores, our study reveals a staggering 300% acceleration in erosion during the first wave of migration (2011-2015), followed by a further 190% increase (2019-2021) under sustained migratory and demographic pressures. Sedimentary DNA analysis provided insights into increased connectivity and community changes. By 2050, the population of this region will increase by 74 and 103%, in Comoros and Madagascar islands, respectively. Urgent conservation measures are needed to avoid major socio-environmental crises and to protect resources for future generations.

Declines in body size can be an advantageous physiological response to warming temperatures, or a result of physiological and nutritional stress. Either way, studies often assume that these climate-induced trait changes have important implications for fitness and demography. We leveraged almost three decades of capture-mark-recapture data of 51 bird species in Panama to examine if body size has changed through time, how sensitive body size is to changes in weather, and if body size impacts population demography. We evaluated two metrics of body size, structural size (wing length), and body condition (residual body mass). Over the study, wing length changed in varying directions for 88% of species (23 decrease, 22 increase), but the effects were weak, and change was only significant for two species. Conversely, body condition declined for 88% of species (45), effects were stronger, and that change was significant for 22% of species (11). This suggests that nutritional stress is likely the cause of changes in body size, not an adaptive response to warming. Precipitation metrics impacted body condition across three of our four feeding guilds, while wing length was only impacted by weather metrics for two guilds. This suggests that body condition is more sensitive to change in weather metrics compared to wing length. Lastly, we found that the impact of changes in body size on survival and recruitment was variable across species, but these relationships were in the opposite direction, ultimately resulting in no change in population growth for all but one species. Thus, while different stages (adult survival and recruitment) of populations may be impacted by body size, populations appear to be buffered from changes. The lack of an effect on population growth rate suggests that populations may be more resilient to changes in body size, with implications for population persistence under expected climate change.

We propose an Ideal Specialization Model to help explain the diversity of population growth trajectories exhibited across archaeological regions over thousands of years. The model provides a general set of expectations useful for guiding empirical research, and we provide a concrete example by conducting a preliminary evaluation of three expectations in Central West Argentina. We use kernel density estimates of archaeological radiocarbon, estimates of paleoclimate, and human bone stable isotopes from archaeological remains to evaluate three expectations drawn from the model\'s dynamics. Based on our results, we suggest that innovations in the production of food and social organization drove demographic transitions and population expansion in the region. The consistency of population expansion in the region positively associates with changes in diet and, potentially, innovations in settlement and social integration.

Environmental factors, such as photoperiod can play an important role in the development and performance of predatory mites. The influence of five photoperiod regimes (0: 24, 8: 16, 12: 12, 16: 8, and 24: 0 h; Light: Dark) on the population parameters of the predatory mites, Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) was studied under the laboratory conditions at 25 °C and 25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% RH. Regarding A. swirskii, the longest and shortest total pre-adult and total preoviposition periods (TPOP) were in the photoperiod of 12 L:12D and 16 L:8D, respectively. The oviposition days, adult longevity, total life span, fecundity, gross reproductive rate (GRR), and net reproductive rate (R0) of the predator had no significant difference in all photoperiods tested. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the finite rate of increase (λ) in 16 L:8D photoperiod had no significant difference with the other photoperiods tested except 12 L:12D. Regarding N. cucumeris, the shortest total pre-adult and TPOP were in full darkness. The oviposition days and fecundity were significantly higher in 16 L:8D than the others. The value of R0 in 16 L:8D was significantly higher than 8 L:16D. The highest values of the parameters r and λ were observed in full darkness, which had no significant difference with 16 L:8D and 24 L:0D. According to the results, the photoperiod regime had a more significant influence in terms of development and reproduction on N. cucumeris than A. swirskii, and 16:8 (L: D) h photoperiod was recognized as the proper regime for their rearing.

The European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG) and the European Network of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ENTOG) express their concerns on the effect of climate change and environmental pollution. This paper reviews the impact on reproductive health and the contribution to climate change by the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. It concludes that its contributors and the effects of climate change cause definite adverse consequences to fertility and adverse obstetric outcomes. Mankind, and obstetrics and gynaecology personnel as well, must be aware and responsible of its contribution to climate change and consider the impact of their actions and interventions.

Nutrition is a limiting feature of species evolution. The differences in nutritional requirements are the evolutionary result of differential adaptations to environmental changes, explaining differences in their ecological traits. Cnaphalocrocis medinalis and Cnaphalocrocis exigua, two related species of rice leaffolders, have similar morphology and feeding properties but different migration and overwintering behaviors. However, it is unclear whether they have evolved adult nutritional differentiation traits to coexist. To explore this issue, this study examined the effects of carbohydrates and amino acids on their reproductive and demographic parameters. The findings indicate that carbohydrate intake prolonged the longevity and population growth of two rice leaffolders, but amino acid intake promoted egg hatching only. However, nutrient deficiency made it impossible for C. medinalis to reproduce successfully and survive, but it did not affect C. exigua. The population expansion and survival of migratory C. medinalis relied on adult nutritional intake. Conversely, the nutrients necessary for C. exigua overwintering activity mostly came from the storage of larvae. The difference in nutritional requirements for population growth and survival between the two rice leaffolders partially explained their differences in migration and overwintering.

As an important pest on winter wheat, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) causes damage to the wheat yield by sucking plant nutrients, transmitting plant viruses and producing mildew. R. padi has been reported to develop resistance to pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. To explore potential alternative approaches for R. padi control, the activity of 10 botanical insecticides was evaluated. Results suggested that the toxicity of rotenone and pyrethrins to R. padi were the highest and near to the commonly used chemical insecticides. When exposed to the low-lethal concentrations (LC10, LC30) of rotenone or pyrethrins for 24 h, the lifespan and fecundity of adults in F0 generation decreased significantly compared to control. The negative effect could also be observed in the F1 generation, including the decreased average offspring, longevity of adult, and prolonged nymph period. The population parameters in F1 generation of R. padi were also inhibited by exposing to the low-lethal concentrations of rotenone or pyrethrins, including the decreased net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of natural increase, finite rate of population increase, and gross reproduction rate. Co-toxocity factor results showed that mixtures of rotenone and thiamethoxam, pyrethrins and thiamethoxam showed synergistic effect. Our work suggested that rotenone and pyrethrins showed negative effect on the population growth under low-lethal concentrations. They are suitable for R. padi control as foliar spraying without causing population resurgence.

In this study, a first wall-to-wall comparison between the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) and the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) was conducted across the entire conterminous United States (CONUS) to evaluate U.S. wetland loss conditions. Annually, around 26 km2 of wetlands are lost to impervious surfaces across the CONUS. Spatially, wetland loss is not evenly distributed, with 90 % of losses occurring in only 9 % of the land area, forming hotspots around expanding urban regions such as Houston, Jacksonville, and Naples. Over the past few decades, Florida experienced the highest wetland loss (5.73 km2/year) among all states, while Houston had the most wetland loss (2.54 km2/year) among all metropolitan regions. Stepwise multiple regression models identified population growth and its associated demand for new housing as the major drivers for wetland loss. Wetland loss per population increase is the highest (>15 m2/person) in most metropolitan regions around the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, current wetland loss hotspots will likely suffer further losses in future decades due to projected population growth, with Houston, Cape Coral, and Miami metropolitan regions having the greatest projected wetland loss of 89.15 km2, 34.35 km2, and 28.20 km2, respectively. This study has identified wetland loss hotspots and their drivers across the U.S. that were not possible in previous sample-based studies. The findings are critical in wetland management and protection across the U.S.

BACKGROUND: Egg parasitoids are important biological control agents of lepidopteran pests of agricultural crops. Trichogramma evanescens Westwood and T. pintoi Voegele (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are egg parasitoids with worldwide importance. The parasitoid selection necessitates comparative assessment of the life table traits and functional response analysis to provide insights into their effectiveness in pest control. In this study, we examined their life table traits including survivorship and reproductivity, and functional response and associated parameters i.e., attack coefficient and handling time.
RESULTS: Life table parameters, using age-stage, two-sex theory, revealed similar survival and reproductive strategies for both species. For example, the female longevity, oviposition days and fecundity did not differ between both species. Exceptionally, the male longevity of T. evanescens was shorter than that of T. pintoi. The population growth parameters such as gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and mean generation time (T) did not differ between species. The polynomial logistic regression yielded a type III functional response and a non-linear least square analysis revealed different attack coefficient and similar handling time. However, their parasitism rate differed between the lowest (five eggs) and highest (80 eggs) initial host egg densities such that T. evanescens had a lower parasitism rate at the lowest density and higher parasitism rate at the highest density.
CONCLUSIONS: The similarity in survival strategies and minor differences in host handling of both parasitoids are discussed in terms of relevance to applied biological control applications and evolutionary traits. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.