SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

We quantitatively tested the riverine barrier hypothesis and its influence on biogeographical distributions and molecular variation in New World monkeys (Parvorder: Platyrrhini). Using mitochondrial markers (cytochrome oxidase subunit II and cytochrome b), we analyzed taxonomic differences and the effects of geographical barriers on molecular patterns across Central and South America. Nearly 80% of described species are separated by geographical barriers, including several mountain chains. River width exhibited a negative correlation with molecular similarity in adjacent taxa for both molecular markers. Several presently described taxa were not supported based solely on these molecular phylogenetic markers, including Saimiri, Mico, Cebus, Sapajus, and Cherecebus. These taxonomic issues are far more common where river barriers do not exist. In conclusion, we found a significant correlation between river width and molecular divergence in adjacent taxa, indicating that wider rivers were associated with greater molecular divergence for two commonly used mitochondrial genes. Species boundaries were predominantly found at river interfaces, and in the absence of discernable geological barriers, adjoining species were more likely to exhibit molecular similarity. Our findings suggest that river and mountain barriers are significantly associated with gene flow for neotropical primate taxa. Additionally, river width proves to be a valuable tool for estimating molecular divergence in adjacent taxa, particularly in regions with limited sampling.

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling plays fundamental roles in embryonic development while its abnormal activation in adults is associated with cancer. Hh targeting drugs have gained FDA approval but resistance emerged quickly, underlining the need for novel types of Hh inhibitors. Hh signaling is initiated by the Hh ligand, generated from the autoprocessing of Hh precursor. However, the catalytic role of a highly conserved Hedgehog residue C143 is still poorly understood. Here, we confirmed that C143 is required for Hh autoprocessing in mammalian cells. NMR titration showed that C143 has an extremely low pK a of 4.5, befitting a highly reactive catalytic residue. We further established that Hh autoprocessing involves a branched intermediate (BI) with two N-termini, formed as a thioester on the C143 sidechain. BI migrates slower than the linear Hh precursor on SDS-PAGE and disappears with DTT treatment. With trypsin digestion and LC–MS/MS, we detected the N-terminal fragment from BI, which is absent from the linear Hh precursor. Therefore, C143 mediates the formation of a BI thioester in Hh autoprocessing, with a catalytic role equivalent to C + 1 in intein splicing. These findings bring us closer to a full mechanistic understanding of Hh autoprocessing while unifying the first two catalytic steps of Hh autoprocessing with intein splicing, its likely evolutionary predecessor. C143 can also serve as a target for covalent drugs for inhibiting Hh signaling in cancer.

Research focused on engagement in environmentally responsible behaviors (ERBs) is expanding, but often lacks representation from people of color in the United States (US). Despite the growing proportion of people of color among the US population, little is known about their motivations and barriers for ERB engagement. Through purposive sampling of women of color, this study aimed: (1) to identify their motivations for and barriers to ERBs; and (2) to assess the relationships that participants perceived between aspects of their identity and ERB engagement. Participants had a wide-ranging view of what constituted the environment, including social concerns like racism, and a broad definition of ERBs. They expressed diverse motivations for ERBs, including waste reduction, resource conservation, health, enjoyment and happiness, and thinking of future generations. Barriers to ERBs included cost and access, which may present equity concerns for communities that are motivated to engage in ERBs but lack needed resources.

Landscape features have a profound impact on river water quality. However, its impact in subtropical hilly region is unclear. Here, water quality data from 15 catchments were obtained based on a typical subtropical hilly area, the upper Ganjiang River basin. The landscape features in the catchment and buffer zone were calculated, and its effects on river water quality were investigated using redundancy analysis (RDA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) model. Catchment landscape features were found to better explain overall water quality changes compared to buffer zone, and landscape features were found to explain water quality changes more in winter than in summer. Moreover, within the buffer zone, the percentage of grassland had the greatest impact on winter water quality (72.8%), while at the catchment scale, the aggregation index (AI) of grassland contributed the most to changes in winter water quality (31.6%). Nonparametric change-point analysis (nCPA) was used to identify thresholds of landscape features that lead to abrupt changes in water quality. It was found that river water quality can be improved when the percentage of grassland > 0.193%, the largest patch index (LPI) of forest > 7.48% at the buffer zone or the percentage of impervious surfaces < 2.92%, the AI of forest > 98.6% at the catchment scale. This study demonstrated the pivotal role in enhancing river water quality by implementing informed and effective landscape planning for conservation implementation.

The goal of this investigation was to assess the adverse impacts of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on Labeo rohita with a comprehensive assessment of growth performance, hematological changes, and histopathological effects. Six test diets were established with different MPs levels using canola meal as the basal diet: control 0.0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5% MPs. For 90 days, 315 fish (15 fish per tank with three replicates) were fed experimental diets at a rate of 5% of their live, twice a day. L. rohita fingerlings treated with 2.5% MPs leading to a notable decline in growth and feed consumption (P < 0.05). As PS-MPs increased, carcass, mineral and digestibility content declined. Additionally, a histology of the gut revealed significant abnormalities in intestine, including villi structure disruption and increased mucus cell proliferation, at a 2.5% PS-MPs concentration. Hematological indices such as RBCs, Hb, PLT, MCHC, and PCV decreased significantly when exposed to MPs, whereas WBCs, MCH, and MCV dramatically increased. Conclusively, this study demonstrated that the PS-MPs exert detrimental effects on growth performance, and induce histopathological and hematological changes in L. rohita.

Climate change threatens the lifeways of Indigenous Peoples, impacting their rights to self-determination and sovereignty. In the Laurentian Great Lakes region, Indigenous communities have experienced harvest declines of wild rice (Ojibwemowin: Manoomin; Dakodiapi: Psiŋ; Latin: Zizania palustris), a sacred aquatic plant central to their culture. Here we analyzed 1985–2020 wild rice density and harvest data in relation to key climate variables. Our results indicate that wild rice stem density in the fall is higher in years that have (1) lower early-summer water levels due to decreased precipitation, and (2) longer lake-ice duration due to colder winter temperatures. Overall, wild rice available for tribal harvest off-reservation has declined regionally by ~5–7% annually—declines that are likely to continue due to anthropogenic climate change, specifically increased early-summer precipitation and warmer winters. This decline has infringed on Indigenous lifeways by reducing off-reservation tribal harvest, a right guaranteed by treaties with the U.S. government.

Wind turbines add to global environmental pollution through prominent noise emissions, yet significant gaps remain in our understanding of the adverse effects of this noise on wildlife. In this study, we investigated the impact of this noise on the acoustic environment and songbird behavior by employing a unique “phantom wind turbine” method: broadcasting wind turbine noise in a natural habitat and monitoring the area before, during, and after the noise treatment. Specifically, we recorded calls and abundance of the Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala momus. Our results reveal a significant reduction of 25% in the mean number of calls in the area, and 43% in mean bird abundance during the wind turbine noise treatment compared to before it. Controlling for abundance, we found no significant impact on calling effort per capita. Moreover, we found a 63% reduction in the probability of vocal presence at the heart of the noise-polluted area compared to the peripheries. However, once calls were present, their number was seemingly unaffected by sound level. We conclude that the reduction in bird abundance alters the acoustic environment without evidence of a direct change in warbler vocal activity. Our study highlights the need to consider noise pollution’s ecological impacts when developing wind energy infrastructure to ensure sustainable development and protect declining songbird populations.

Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are linked through the reciprocal exchange of materials and organisms. Aquatic‐to‐terrestrial subsidies are relatively small in most terrestrial ecosystems, but they can provide high contents of limiting resources that increase consumer fitness and ecosystem production. However, they also may carry significant contaminant loads, particularly in anthropogenically impacted watersheds. Global change processes, including land use change, climate change and biodiversity declines, are altering the quantity and quality of aquatic subsidies, potentially shifting the balance of costs and benefits of aquatic subsidies for terrestrial consumers. Many global change processes interact and impact both the bright and dark sides of aquatic subsidies simultaneously, highlighting the need for future integrative research that bridges ecosystem as well as disciplinary boundaries. We identify key research priorities, including increased quantification of the spatiotemporal variability in aquatic subsidies across a range of ecosystems, greater understanding of the landscape‐scale extent of aquatic subsidy impacts and deeper exploration of the relative costs and benefits of aquatic subsidies for consumers.

The disparity between eastern and western China is significant, with considerable imbalances in city development. Ecological zoning can promote the comprehensive and coordinated urbanization of China and provide valuable planning references for the future development of western cities. This study focused on Hohhot, a typical western city, to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of its ecosystem service value (ESV) and landscape ecological risk (LER) from 2000 to 2020 using value-equivalence and landscape ecology methods. The Z-score method was employed to delineate ecological zones, and the PLUS model was used to predict the ecological zoning patterns under four scenarios for 2040. The study’s findings revealed the following: (1) During the three periods from 2000 to 2020, Hohhot City was mainly characterized by the dominance of very low risk, low risk, and medium risk ecological levels, The areas of these levels accounted for 94.11%, 91.11%, and 90.95% of the city’s total area respectively. The overall variation in ESV was minimal, with grassland, water area, forests, and arable lands constituting the primary contributors to ESV. (2) Across the four future scenarios, LER and ESV exhibited divergent trends. Under the urban development scenario, high risk areas increased the most (4.14%), while in the arable land protection scenario, very low risk areas were smallest, and low risk areas were largest. Implementing reasonable urban planning policies can enhance ESV, with notable increases in low value, medium value, and higher value areas under ecological protection, natural development, and arable land protection scenarios. (3) Combining ESV and LER dimensions, Hohhot was categorized into four ecological zones: ecological restoration reserve (Zone I), ecological rich reserve (zone II), ecological balanced protected areas (Zone III), and ecological challenge reserve (Zone IV). Differentiated management strategies were proposed for each zone. This study integrated LER and ESV for ecological zoning, offering a novel perspective for understanding ecological security. By extending temporal scales using the PLUS model, it predicted the spatial patterns of ecological zones under four scenarios, achieving dynamic ecological zoning. The findings enriched ecological zoning methodologies and provided a scientific basis for dynamic monitoring and management of ecological security.

Over 163 000 ha of mine lands in Pennsylvania (PA) have the potential to produce willow as a feedstock for renewable energy generation. Each year these lands could produce between 454 000 and 907 000 dry Mg of willow, which can be a feedstock for bioenergy (i.e., biopower) with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. We used a spatially explicit model to explore cost‐minimized allocation of willow biomass from abandoned mine lands (AML) to be used for BECCS or SAF production and to abate carbon dioxide. The results suggest that between 454 000 and 907 000 dry Mg of biomass can be produced on AML in PA at costs from $94 to$250 per dry Mg. This AML willow biomass could be combined with other available biomass and aggregated to ten facilities to produce 17.9 TWh of power; alternatively, it could produce 958 million liters of jet fuel, 638 million liters of renewable diesel, and 1.289 billion liters of naphtha, along with 0.735 TWh of electricity. From this analysis, in PA, under the BECCS pathway, up to 36 million Mg per year of CO2 could be abated at costs of up to $134 per Mg; under the SAF pathway, up to 17.5 million Mg per year of CO2 could be abated at costs up to$150 per Mg of CO2. The use of mine land willow as a supplemental feedstock for SAF and BECCS would need strong incentive programs if costs of production are to be comparable with production on agricultural land.

Introduction Orobanche coerulescens is a parasitic plant considered as a malignant weed due to its harmful effects on crops. However, its richness in high-value secondary metabolites makes it a significant medicinal resource. The development of microspores and megaspores is essential for sexual reproduction in plants but research on this aspect of O. coerulescens is lacking. Methods This study aimed to systematically observe the developmental processes of microspores and megaspores in O. coerulescens using microscopic techniques. We measured the levels of soluble sugar, starch, and phytohormones during different developmental stages. We also investigated the key regulatory genes in the metabolic pathways of phytohormones that are closely related to the development of microspores and megaspores using transcriptome sequencing technology. Results and discussion The findings revealed that the flower development process of O. coerulescens could be categorized into six stages. Mature pollen was tricellular, with downy ornamentation and pores on the outer wall. The embryo sac was the monosporangiate polygonum type, and the ovule was inverted. The megaspores developed and matured about 15 days later than the microspores. The soluble sugar level of the flower buds decreased initially and then increased during development, whereas the starch level showed an opposite trend. The levels of strigolactone, auxin, and gibberellins gradually increased throughout the development process. The key genes regulating phytohormone synthesis during the development of microspores and megaspores were identified as ALDHs (Aldehyde Dehydrogenases). In contrast, the key genes regulating phytohormone signaling included TIR1 (Transport Inhibitor Response 1) and IAA3 (Indole-3-acetic Acid Inducible 3), and the key TF was ARF5 (AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 5). The findings of this study enhanced the understanding of O. coerulescens biology, providing theoretical references for regulating its reproduction, implementing biological control measures, maintaining its population, and optimizing resource utilization.

Replicating the complex mechanical forces of muscle movement and fluid flow in in vitro cell culture systems is crucial for understanding cell differentiation and development. However, previous research focused on cell differentiation on static micro/nanotextures without a force field or flat 2‐dimensional substrates under a continuous in‐plane mechanical force. In this study, cell differentiation is reported using a spatial geometric platform that can periodically modulate complex mechanical forces through a custom‐made soft pneumatic device (SPD) to mimic the interfaces between periosteum and interstitial fluid. To elucidate fluidic dynamics and cell fates relevant to bone physiology, the platform exhibited distinct functional responses based on mechanical force levels: low mechanotransduction induced mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells differentiation into osteoprogenitor cells (≈1.5‐fold increase in osteo‐differentiation), while high mechanotransduction resulted in structural disruptions resembling cell detachment without protein degradation (≈2‐fold increase in effective cell detachment). Numerical simulations of SPD elucidated the principal mechanical components for programmable cell differentiation and detachment by deconvoluting the in‐plane and out‐of‐plane mechanical forces of the SPD complex mode. This study offers comprehensive and novel insights into the correlation between mechanical forces and cell differentiation, recovery, and injury in organisms.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest anthropogenic source of mercury globally. Few studies have explored how this toxicant affects avian wildlife in Indonesia, an ASGM hotspot. Here, we use feather samples from museum specimens (n = 92) of Indonesian birds to examine changes through time in methylmercury (MeHg), diet, and foraging habitat (inferred from stable isotope ratios of nitrogen, δ¹⁵N, and carbon, δ¹³C, respectively). We ask how MeHg changes between time period (1860–1980 vs. 1980–2019) given increases in mercury emissions due to ASGM and describe how foraging guild and among-species variation in diet influence Indonesian bird feather MeHg concentrations. Time period was not a significant factor, with specimens associated with increased ASGM activity (collected post-1980) not significantly higher in MeHg concentrations compared to specimens collected pre-1980. Feather MeHg concentrations varied significantly among species, foraging guilds, and by habitat use. Carnivore and insectivore MeHg concentrations were above thresholds associated with sublethal effects. This is the first report of MeHg in Indonesian passerines, kingfishers, and woodpeckers. It provides critical information on mercury exposure in a region with high avian diversity that is severely impacted by mercury pollution.

Urbanization transforms landscapes and may alter background matching for polymorphic species that rely on cryptic coloration for survival, potentially generating urban–rural clines in traits related to coloration. Such clines are evident in eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) populations, for which a melanic morph is currently more prevalent in cities but was historically more prevalent in rural woodlands prior to urbanization. We compared the degree of crypsis between the two primary color morphs of gray squirrels – gray and melanic – among the suite of habitats that predominate along an urbanization gradient to test whether an altered visual environment may contribute to the maintenance of an urban–rural cline in morph prevalence. Detectability of taxidermy mounts of each morph against their backgrounds in replicate sites within each habitat was quantified with human observers and image pixel classification. The melanic morph was more conspicuous than the gray morph in all habitat types and across seasons, as evidenced by greater detection probabilities by human observers and lower background matching. Coat color in gray squirrels likely mediates visual detection by predators, potentially resulting in selection against the more conspicuous, melanic morph in rural woodlands where predation is the primary constraint on survival. The greater conspicuity of the melanic morph on road surfaces may be beneficial in cities where vehicular collisions are the primary cause of squirrel mortality. We conclude that differential crypsis between color morphs across the habitat continuum of urban–rural gradients may play an important role in maintaining urban–rural clines in coat color in eastern gray squirrels.

In response to northern pike (Esox lucius) population declines, wetland habitat modifications were created in drowned river-mouth tributaries and coastal bays to enhance reproduction in a functional restoration effort. Modified habitats (spawning pools and channels) were excavated within dense monodominant invasive cattail (Typha x glauca) to increase habitat diversity and connectivity to improve degraded habitat and access to remaining upslope wet-meadow for spawning northern pike. Over a five-year period (2017–2021) of fish sampling, similar densities of young-of-the-year (YOY) northern pike were captured emigrating from the modified habitats and unmodified reference habitats that had retained habitat function (e.g. connectivity) indicating rapid use of created habitat. Water-level dynamics (i.e., spring water-levels and change in water-levels) operated interactively, to improve connectivity, fish access, and ultimately produce YOY northern pike. High spring water-levels followed by historically strong flood pulses were positively associated with densities of YOY northern pike emigrating from both modified and unmodified habitats, despite near-anoxic conditions that developed during high water-levels. In contrast, when low spring water-levels were not followed by a strong flood pulse, relatively lower densities of YOY northern pike were captured, despite warm and normoxic waters. Results demonstrate dynamic and interactive relationships among hydrological and abiotic conditions and YOY northern pike reproduction outcomes that should be considered in water-level regulation policies and habitat enhancement strategies.

Ecological adaptation to rapid climate change requires information about which species might establish, persist, or disappear from plant communities. While range shift projections are available for selected individual species, these analyses are rarely focused on the plant community. Here, we leverage plant community surveys across the United States to identify potential shifts in silver maple community assemblages across a temperature gradient (hardiness zones). We analyzed 1,052 vegetation survey plots using multivariate techniques and found marginally significant community‐level differences in silver maple community assemblages across U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones. We identified species associated with silver maple communities across both broad and narrow ranges of hardiness zones. We illustrate how this approach can be used for climate‐informed management. Taxa associated with a narrow range of hardiness zones may be candidates for assisted migration, the relocation of species outside of their historical native range in anticipation of climate change. In contrast, taxa associated with a broad range of hardiness zones may be able to adapt to climate change, particularly if the population is genetically diverse or if restoration includes assisted gene flow, where seeds or individuals are sourced from populations in the direction of projected climate change within their native ranges. Our study demonstrates how macroscale community analysis can leverage existing datasets to identify taxa for future climate‐informed conservation and restoration.

Biochar can enhance soil health and plant productivity, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here we tackled this question through the lens of the rhizosphere using wheat as a model plant. We examined the impact of four feedstocks (corn stover, cattle manure, pine sawdust, or wheat straw) and two application rates. Biochar modulated root metabolism, where amino acid metabolism was the most common, leading to cascade effects on a wide range of secondary metabolites, including many plant signaling molecules involved in plant–microbe interactions. All biochar treatments increased rhizosphere microbial diversity, altered community composition, enhanced microbial interactions, and resulted in potential functional changes. Increased Burkholderiales (denitrifying bacteria) abundance and decreased Thermoplasmata (archaeal methanogens) abundance could explain biochar’s widely reported effects of mitigating nitrous oxide and methane. Biochar enhanced positive correlations among microbes and network modularity, suggesting local adaptation through synergism and the formation of modules of functionally interrelated taxa. A diversity of keystone taxa from dominant and non-dominant phyla emerged, including those known to mediate methane, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling. Treatment-specific alterations also occurred, and biochar feedstock choice exerted greater influence than application rate. Wheat biochar at 0.25% showed the strongest and distinct modulating effects, resulting in orchestrated changes in root metabolome and rhizosphere microbiome, especially those relevant to plant–microbe interactions and plant growth promotion. Our work provides new insights into the potential of top-down rhizosphere microbiome engineering through biochar-based reprogramming of root-microbe interactions. Graphical Abstract

The development of a low‐cost photopolymer resin to fabricate optical glass of high refractive index for plastic optics is reported. This new free radically polymerizable photopolymer resin, termed, disulfide methacrylate resin (DSMR) is synthesized by the direct addition of allyl methacrylate to a commodity sulfur petrochemical, sulfur monochloride (S2Cl2). The rapid rates of free radical photopolymerization confer significant advantages in preparing high‐quality, bulk optical glass. The low‐cost, optical glass produced from this photopolymer possesses a desirable combination of high refractive index (n ≈ 1.57–1.59), low birefringence (Δn < 10⁻⁴), high glass transition values (Tg ≈ 100 °C), along with optical transparency rivaling, or exceeding that of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as indicated by very low optical absorption coefficients (α < 0.05 cm⁻¹ at 1310 nm) measured for thick glass DSMR photopolymer samples (diameter (D) = 25 mm; thickness = 1–30 mm). The versatile manufacturability of DSMR photopolymers for both molding and diamond turn machining methods is demonstrated to prepare precision optics and nano‐micropatterned arrays. Finally, large‐scale 3D printing vat photopolymerization of DSMR using high‐area rapid printing digital light processing additive manufacturing is demonstrated.