All Ecology & Evolution articles – Page 3
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NewsScientists gather lessons from the wild
The wild plants tucked into yards, sidewalk cracks, ditches and fields offer a treasure trove of biological data. Studying wild plants allows for insights into possible adaptations to disease that no human-designed systems could provide.
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NewsScientists find hidden individuality in viral infections
An international team of researchers developed a new way to uncover hidden differences in how viruses infect and destroy individual microbial cells—solving a biological puzzle that has persisted for more than 80 years.
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NewsThe family tree of viruses just grew – and it paves the way for a new approach to agricultural research
Researchers have discovered that a group of viruses known to infect an agriculturally important plant pathogen has remained genetically stable for an astonishing four decades. The work also led to the classification and naming of the group of phages.
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NewsSix years of drought reshape soil microbiomes in tallgrass prairie, study finds
A new study tracking soil microbial communities across six years of experimental drought in a tallgrass prairie finds that prolonged water stress diminishes biodiversity, pushing communities toward less predictable, harder-to-reverse configurations.
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NewsGentian receives carbon through mycorrhizal fungi in addition to photosynthesis
Researchers have found that Gentiana squarrosa Ledeb. is partially mycoheterotrophic. The plant not only produces carbon through photosynthesis but also receives carbon through underground fungal networks.
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NewsBiologist will use €1.63m grant to investigate how microorganisms reactivate their metabolism after prolonged dormancy.
Dr. Sofia Doello has been awarded a grant of around 1.63 million euros for her research through the Emmy Noether program. In her project ’Metabolic foundation of developmental transitions’, she will investigate how microorganisms reactivate their metabolism after a prolonged period of dormancy.
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NewsPlant DNA harbours virus ‘fossils’ that reflect 300 million years of evolution
New research shows that Caulimoviridae viruses have infected an extremely wide range of vascular plant hosts, from lycophytes to flowering plants, revealing the existence of 35 previously undescribed taxonomic clusters in Caulimoviridae.
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NewsThe broader a fungus’s diet, the better it kills insects and helps plants
Entomologists have discovered that a single underlying trait—metabolic breadth, or the range of nutrients a fungus can use—links its ability to kill insects, partner with plants and thrive in different ecological roles.
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NewsFeline fleas carry bacteria linked to human disease In South Texas, study finds
Researchers have identified the murine typhus pathogen in fleas found in the Rio Grande Valley, highlighting the importance of flea prevention for both pets and people.
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NewsA subtle difference offers insight into bacteria survival strategies
Researchers have discovered that Bacillus subtilis employs a different survival strategy to E coli, raising the question of whether other types of bacteria use alternative strategies, and how this might help researchers think differently about antibiotic tolerance.
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NewsWith microbial help, sponges use photosynthesis, boosting productivity of tropical coral reefs
In marine environments, sponges tend to eat other organisms to get their nutrients. A new study demonstrates how sponges may also use photosynthesis, with the help of symbiotic microbes, and suggests sponge-rich ecosystems should be added to assessments of carbon sequestration.
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NewsWhen parasites stop having sex, they may become less picky about their hosts
A new evolutionary theory suggests that some asexual parasites may temporarily be able to infect a wider range of hosts as harmful genetic mutations build up.
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NewsQuiet emergence of superbug threat revealed in new study
Decades-old hospital samples have helped researchers uncover how a deadly antibiotic-resistant “superbug” quietly tightened its grip across the globe.
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NewsScientists discover how algae colonized corals, jumpstarting the growth of the world’s reefs
A research team questioned why algae are able to thrive inside the cells of coral? The finding could lead to new insights into why algae and coral are failing to thrive symbiotically and suggest ways to reestablish the connection and save the world’s reefs.
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NewsNew evolution platform creates tougher yeast for sustainable biomanufacturing
Researchers have now developed a powerful new tool that accelerates microbial evolution. Their study introduces RAMPAGE, a programmable system that continuously generates genetic diversity across the genome of the industrial yeast P. pastoris.
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NewsWidespread saprotrophs identified as the hidden engine of soil carbon decomposition
A nationwide study across China reveals that broad geographic distribution, rather than local diversity alone, determines which soil fungi actively fuel carbon decomposition and shape future carbon dynamics under climate change.
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NewsCorals show climate change is reshaping the rules of survival
Which species benefit from climate change, and which are coming under pressure? Using corals as an example, researchers demonstrated that even seemingly successful life strategies can lose their advantage when environmental conditions change.
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NewsSea anemone flips a human antiviral strategy on its head
A new study has uncovered a previously unknown antiviral defense mechanism in sea anemones, revealing that animals may have evolved more than one way to fight viral infections.
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NewsPhylogenetic analysis reveals ten new species of Inocybe mushrooms
New taxonomic and phylogenetic investigation of Inocybe mushrooms reveals ten new species, one newly discovered in the Gaoligong Mountains, China.
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NewsOrdinary enzyme evolves into a ‘control switch’ revealing a new weak spot in tuberculosis
A protein that acts as a ‘control switch,’ preventing Mycobacterium tuberculosis from accessing the energy sources it needs to survive, has been identified by researchers. The discovery points to a specific vulnerability in the bacterium that could be targeted by new TB treatments.