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AbstractClimate change is a major threat to global biodiversity that will produce a range of new selection pressures. Understanding species responses to climate change requires an interdisciplinary perspective, combining ecological, molecular and environmental approaches. We propose an applied integrated framework to identify populations under threat from climate change based on their extent of exposure, inherent sensitivity due to adaptive and neutral genetic variation and range shift potential. We consider intraspecific vulnerability and population‐level responses, an important but often neglected conservation research priority. We demonstrate how this framework can be applied to vertebrates with limited dispersal abilities using empirical data for the bat Plecotus austriacus. We use ecological niche modelling and environmental dissimilarity analysis to locate areas at high risk of exposure to future changes. Combining outlier tests with genotype–environment association analysis, we identify potential climate‐adaptive SNPs in our genomic data set and differences in the frequency of adaptive and neutral variation between populations. We assess landscape connectivity and show that changing environmental suitability may limit the future movement of individuals, thus affecting both the ability of populations to shift their distribution to climatically suitable areas and the probability of evolutionary rescue through the spread of adaptive genetic variation among populations. Therefore, a better understanding of movement ecology and landscape connectivity is needed for predicting population persistence under climate change. Our study highlights the importance of incorporating genomic data to determine sensitivity, adaptive potential and range shift potential, instead of relying solely on exposure to guide species vulnerability assessments and conservation planning.

Ecosystem services provided by biodiversity are associated with supporting life on the planet. Climate change has negatively impacted biodiversity, altering the phenology and geographical distribution of species and the interaction between them. In megadiverse areas, such as tropical forests, studies of species interactions that consider all the species of flora and fauna are not feasible due to our limited knowledge of biodiversity and the necessity of extensive and costly fieldwork. Instead, Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) techniques can be used, together with other species information (e.g., pollination syndrome) as a proxy for these interactions to estimate spatial patterns of potential distribution dynamics. In this study, we modeled our process steps to obtain the estimated future climate shifts and identification of climatically stable areas over time. These areas may represent climatic refuges and future actions to increase the connectivity between them are strategies that could help mitigate potential future damage for biodiversity conservation. Our resulting evaluation data processing flow originated from our group process analysis applied to the Carajás region (Brazil) in which we identified the probable losses of nectarivorous bat species (pollinators), on the order of 66% (Costa et al. 2018); nectarivorous birds, on the order of 60% (Miranda et al. 2019); and bees, on the order of 85% (Giannini et al. 2020) until 2050. Our process, described using the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is represented in Fig. 1. Our group is preparing a data paper with all of our generated data and programs/libraries to be released as soon as possible.

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Since European settlement more than 10 % of Australia's native fauna have become extinct and the current picture reflects 46 % are at various vulnerability stages. Australia's iconic marsupial species, koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is listed as vulnerable under national environmental law. Human population growth, road expansion and extensive land clearance have fragmented their eucalyptus habitat and reduced the ability of koalas to move across the tree canopy; making the species most vulnerable on the ground. Disease-principally chlamydia, road death, dog-attack and loss of habitat are key environmental pressures and the reasons why koalas are admitted for veterinary care. It is important to understand the dynamics of the physiological impacts that the koala faces from anthropogenic induced environmental challenges, especially on its essential biological functions (e.g. reproduction and immune system function). This review explores published literature and clinical data to identify key environmental stressors that are operating in mainland koala habitats, and while the focus is mostly on the koala, much of the information is analogous to other wildlife; the review may provide the impetus for future investigations involving other vulnerable native wildlife species (e.g. frogs). Oxalate nephrosis associated renal failure appears to be the most prevalent disease in koala populations from South Australia. Other key environmental stressors included heat stress, car impacts and dog attacks. It is possible that maternal stress, nutritional deprivation, dehydration and possible accumulation of oxalate in eucalyptus leaf increase mostly during drought periods impacting on fetal development. We hypothesize that chronic stress, particularly in urban and fringe zones, is creating very large barriers for conservation and recovery programs. Chronic stress in koalas is a result of the synergistic interplay between proximate environmental stressor/s (e.g. heat stress and fringe effects) acting on the already compromised kidney function, immune- and reproductive suppression. Furthermore, the effects of environmental pollutants in the aggravation of diseases such as kidney failure, reproductive suppression and suppression of the unique marsupial immune system should be researched. Environmental policies should be strengthened to increase human awareness of the threats facing the koala, increased funding support towards scientific research and the protection and creation of reserve habitats in urban areas and fringe zones. Global climate change, nutritional deprivation (loss of food sources), inappropriate fire management, invasive species and the loss of genetic diversity represent the complexities of environmental challenges impacting the koala biology.

In this article, the author made an attempt to present and analyze issues related to global environmental problems, and in particular, the role of carbon dioxide in global warming. Well-known facts and unexpected findings are intended to awaken in the reader a critical attitude towards the prevailing beliefs in these matters. From the point of view of a chemist, the reality of extracting CO2 from air and converting it back into fuel is assessed. Simple energy calculations make it possible to assess the ability of "green" energy to replace carbon and influence the climate warming process. And finally, the key proposals are presented from the point of view of a technologist, since it is technologists who make real and implement the most daring discoveries and projects of scientists and inventors.

AbstractEbola virus disease outbreaks in animals (including humans and great apes) start with sporadic host switches from unknown reservoir species. The factors leading to such spillover events are little explored. Filoviridae viruses have a wide range of natural hosts and are unstable once outside hosts. Spillover events, which involve the physical transfer of viral particles across species, could therefore be directly promoted by conditions of host ecology and environment. In this report we outline a proof of concept that temporal fluctuations of a set of ecological and environmental variables describing the dynamics of the host ecosystem are able to predict such events of Ebola virus spillover to humans and animals. We compiled a dataset of climate and plant phenology variables and Ebola virus disease spillovers in humans and animals. We identified critical biotic and abiotic conditions for spillovers via multiple regression and neural networks based time series regression. Phenology variables proved to be overall better predictors than climate variables. African phenology variables are not yet available as a comprehensive online resource. Given the likely importance of phenology for forecasting the likelihood of future Ebola spillover events, our results highlight the need for cost-effective transect surveys to supply phenology data for predictive modelling efforts.

Background and Objective: Recent studies have shown a relationship between energy regulation and the circadian rhythm at behavioral, molecular, and physiological levels. The present study investigated the effect of chronotype on meal timing and obesity in Iranian housewives. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out using a convenience-sampling method through the participation of housewives living in Ahvaz in 2018. Anthropometric information was collected. To assess food intake timing, energy intake and sleep patterns during seven days of normal living were recorded by the researchers. Dietary information was obtained by using a 24-hour recall questionnaire and analyzed by NUT IV software. The morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) was used to determine chronotypes. Results: There was a significant difference between the morning and evening groups in terms of the timing of lunch (P=0.004) and mid-afternoon snacks (P=0.04). There was no significant difference between mean energy intake in the morning and evening chronotypes in women who were overweight or obese (P=0.31). There was also no significant difference between morning and evening chronotypes in terms of the percentage of energy intake of meals and snacks (P>0.05). The only significant difference, detected between morning and evening chronotypes in normal-weight women, was for the percentage of energy intake after 3:00 PM. (P=0.008). Conclusion: The present study showed no effect of chronotype on obesity. However, energy intake calculations were based on self-reports, which could lead to information bias. Therefore, in future studies, researchers should carry out clinical trials while controlling food intake and considering meal timing. Keywords: Chronotype, Energy regulation, Obesity, Meal timing, Sleep patterns