The evolutionary history of freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillida) in Australasia is poorly understood due to a paucity of fossils. A new genus and new species, Protooncosclera zealandiae n. gen. n. sp., family Potamolepidae, was discovered in southern New Zealand from lacustrine diatomites/spiculites of latest Oligocene–earliest Miocene of the Fossil-Lagerstätte at Foulden Maar. The fossil spicular complement is similar to that of the extant genus Oncosclera but differs from that and all other Spongillida genera by possessing a structured gemmular architecture armed by ornamented strongyles and strongyloxeas, with theca surrounded by a spicular cage of slender acanthoxeas, and a skeletal spicular complement of stout, smooth to spiny oxeas. This is the first fossil (pre-Quaternary) record of freshwater sponges from Australasia and fits into the Gondwana-like distribution of potamolepid freshwater sponges. Its discovery in a subtropical maar lake on the southwestern margin of Zealandia confirms a formerly wider geographic distribution of Potamolepidae in the Cenozoic, followed by range retractions related to post-Early Miocene climate cooling. The stratigraphic distribution of sponge remains at Foulden Maar demonstrates that sponges colonized the isolated maar lake soon after its formation, most likely by passive dispersal by water birds, and then thrived in the shallow water margins of the paleolake for ca. 130,000 years. Sponge remains, skeletal spicules and gemmules, frequently associated with coprolites indicate that sponges were consumed by one or more spongivorous taxa, presumably fish belonging to the Southern Hemisphere family Galaxiidae.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/72a81923-9766-4ae0-b980-28b2e3d98ebe

Effective waterhemp management in crop rotations that include sugar beet requires a proactive approach, starting with robust weed management in the preceding crop. Sugar beet is vulnerable to weeds due to its poor competitiveness during its early growth stages and a limited availability of effective herbicide options within this rotation. This research aimed to evaluate multi-tactic weed management strategies, including planting soybean in narrow rows with low- and high-input treatments, and a high-input treatment plus harvest-time weed seed control (HWSC) simulation, on waterhemp control and seed production in soybean, and their effects on waterhemp density in the following sugar beet crop. Field experiments were conducted from 2021 to 2023 in Franklin, Moorhead, and Rosemount, Minnesota. Soybean planted in narrow rows closed the canopy earlier at Franklin in 2021 and at Moorhead in 2022. Soybean row spacing did not affect waterhemp control, density, biomass, or seed production at any site-year. A high-input treatment consisting of flumioxazin applied preemergence followed by (fb) an early postemergence application of lactofen + acetochlor fb a late-postemergence application of 2,4-D + glyphosate provided ≥95% waterhemp control at harvest at all site-years and seed production was reduced to 0 seeds m−2 at Franklin and Rosemount. At those locations, waterhemp control at harvest was comparable among all high-input herbicide treatments. Soybean planted in narrow rows yielded 9.4% and 18.5% more than soybean planted in wide rows at Franklin and Rosemount, respectively, while no yield difference was observed at Moorhead. Waterhemp emergence in the subsequent season’s sugar beet crop fell by 72% to 92% at the Franklin site in 2022, Moorhead in 2023, and Rosemount in 2023 after high-input herbicide treatments. However, adding HWSC to a high-input treatment did not result in a further reduction of waterhemp density. In this research, 1 yr of effective waterhemp control with high-input herbicide treatments in soybean reduced waterhemp emergence in the following season’s sugar beet crop.

Climate change affects not only temperatures but also rainfall patterns, which can either accentuate or mitigate the effects of warming on water stress in terrestrial insects. Water stress is more likely to affect eggs and larvae due to their small size. Hemlock looper (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) overwinters as eggs, and first-instar larvae must move to settle on host trees in the spring. Their survival depends both on their energy and water reserves that remain after overwintering and on the abiotic conditions present each spring. The effects of humidity (40, 60, and 80%) on the hatching success, time to hatch, and lifespan of unfed first-instar hemlock looper larvae were assessed at two temperatures, at 10 °C and at 22 °C. Lower humidity levels reduced hatching success and increased time to hatch, suggesting that humidity modulates development. On the other hand, higher temperatures reduced hatching success and time to hatch. The survival probability of unfed first-instar larvae was not influenced by ambient humidity but was longer for larvae from eggs reared at high humidity and 10 °C, suggesting that the physiological state of larvae at the time of hatching influences their survival. The ecological significance of these results and how they can influence our management tools are discussed.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is a vector-borne parasite traditionally associated with sylvatic environments. We investigated the prevalence of T. cruzi in triatomines collected from El Paso County, Texas, and southern New Mexico. Specimens were morphologically identified as Triatoma rubida and subjected to quantitative PCR for parasite detection. Molecular sequencing of satellite and microsatellite DNA targets was performed to confirm species identity and assess strain lineage. Infected vectors were collected from both sylvatic and urban locations, including Franklin Mountains State Park and residential areas in El Paso (TX) and Las Cruces (NM). Of the 26 triatomines tested, 88.5% were positive for T. cruzi, representing a significant increase compared to a previous regional study, which reported an infection rate of 63.3%. The high prevalence of T. cruzi-infected T. rubida, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas of El Paso and Las Cruces, underscores the increasing public health significance of Chagas disease along the U.S.–Mexico border. These findings highlight the urgent need for sustained vector surveillance, advanced molecular characterization, and focused public health interventions to reduce transmission risks and raise clinical awareness in affected regions.

The Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus, a Critically Endangered species, faces population declines across its range, yet limited data exist on its nesting ecology and causes of breeding failure. This study used camera trapping and systematic nest searches to locate and monitor nests in southern Ghana to investigate nest-site characteristics and causes of nest failure. Eight active nests were found, mostly on tall native or introduced trees, with an average tree height of 24.94 ± 3.68 m. The nests were positioned at an average hight of 18.7 ± 4.73 m above the ground, typically in a fork formed by at least three branches. Nest-sites were in areas with greater canopy cover, that were closer to water, and with taller surrounding trees compared with non-nesting sites. Nesting success was high with a 75% fledging rate from the studied nests. Camera traps revealed that egg failures at two nests were caused by inadvertent crushing of the eggs by adult vultures while arranging nest materials, and one chick mortality resulted from parental cannibalism. However, adults at one nest successfully re-laid and fledged a chick after the initial egg loss. The findings show higher nest placement in southern Ghana than in previous studies from savanna regions, reflecting differences in habitat structure and available tree species. The study also identified nest destruction by humans and targeted tree removal as major threats to nest success in the study area. The findings highlight the complexity of natural nesting environments, where even unintentional behaviours, such as egg crushing, can affect reproductive outcomes. They also underscore the need to integrate behavioural studies into vulture conservation strategies. Addressing anthropogenic threats, including persecution, nest removal, and loss of nesting and roosting trees, is critical for the survival of this Critically Endangered species.

Male volleyball athletes may be at risk of inadequate energy and carbohydrate intake. This may increase their risk of relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) and impair a variety of physiological and psychological systems involved with performance and health. This study explored the eating behaviours and diet quality of international elite volleyball male athletes and their association on hormones associated with acute energy deficit and primary serum REDs indicators outlined in the International Olympic Committee REDs Clinical Assessment Tool 2. Methods: Using a retrospective design, 30 male athletes from a national indoor volleyball programme were assessed using DXA bone mineral density, hematological analysis, anthropometry, restrained eating behaviour via the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 and the Athlete Diet Index (ADI) questionnaire. Results: All participants met or exceeded dietary recommendations for health and sport with ADI mean score of 95.2/125 ± 10.5. Restraint eating was inversely associated with insulin (r = − 0.37; p  < 0.05). Both the ADI total and core nutrition sub-scores were inversely associated with free-triiodothyronine (r = − 0.58; p < 0.01) but not with total testosterone, insulin or leptin. Conclusion: Male volleyball athletes at risk of inadequate energy intake may not necessarily demonstrate signs of poor diet quality.

In southern Australia, sowthistle and prickly lettuce are difficult to control when they grow among pulse crops because few postemergence herbicide options exist to control them and resistance to herbicides that inhibit acetolactate synthase (ALS) has become widespread. The introduction of new herbicide-tolerance traits to these crops is one possible avenue for improving control options. This study evaluated ways to control ALS inhibitor–resistant common sowthistle and prickly lettuce in a novel breeding line of metribuzin-tolerant lentil being developed in Australia. Field experiments conducted over 3 site-years in South Australia aimed to evaluate various rates and application timings of metribuzin, with and without the postemergence addition of diflufenican, compared to preemergence terbuthylazine applications. Herbicide treatments achieved significant levels of control of both common sowthistle and prickly lettuce compared to untreated control plots, and there was no negative effect of these treatments on lentil establishment or yield, despite two sites experiencing environmental conditions that were conducive to crop damage by the herbicides. Greater control was obtained when higher rates of metribuzin were applied post-sowing preemergence and after the postemergence application of diflufenican. Terbuthylazine treatments also performed well compared to the untreated control; however, terbuthylazine was not as effective as the higher rates of metribuzin. These results indicate that the introduction of a metribuzin-tolerant lentil cultivar will provide an effective in-crop broadleaf weed control option while also avoiding some of the damage associated with currently available herbicides.

Animal welfare is a growing concern in dairy production, influencing consumer preferences and industry practices. While extensive research has been conducted in Europe and North America, limited data exist on consumers´ attitudes in Latin America, particularly Argentina. This study aimed to assess Argentine consumers’ perceptions, knowledge, and preferences regarding dairy cow welfare in grazing and confined systems. An online survey was conducted among Argentine residents (n = 3,051), assessing sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of animal welfare, perceptions of dairy production systems, and willingness to pay for animal welfare-certified products. Most respondents (99%) believed that cows feel pain, and 85% believed they have emotions. Most respondents (91%) agreed that pasture access improves animal welfare. A significant portion (70%) expressed willingness to pay a premium for animal welfare-certified dairy products, with women (p < 0.001) and younger consumers (p < 0.001) showing higher interest. Women and respondents connected to the agricultural sector considered animal welfare more frequently when buying animal-based products compared with men and those without an agricultural connection (p < 0.001). Consumers without a direct agricultural background were more likely to perceive confined systems negatively. Grazing systems were widely preferred, with respondents associating them with better welfare, healthier products, and environmental sustainability. Our findings indicate a consumer preference for pasture-based dairy systems in Argentina. These insights can help industry stakeholders refine their communication strategies and promote welfare-oriented production practices that better align with consumer expectations

Despite its efficacy, little research has been conducted to evaluate the potential for electrocution to control common weeds in pastures. Electrocution could also potentially be utilized as a management tool to minimize the production of tall fescue seedheads to prevent fescue toxicosis in cattle. Separate experiments were conducted in Missouri in 2023 and 2024 to: 1) evaluate the effectiveness of electrocution on tall fescue seedhead management, and 2) evaluate forage injury and weed control following electrocution in comparison to common pre-packaged pasture herbicide combinations in mixed tall fescue and legume pastures. Sequential electrocution passes spaced 2 wk apart was the only electrocution treatment that resulted in reduced tall fescue seedhead density more than the nontreated control. However, metsulfuron-containing herbicide treatments reduced tall fescue seedhead density by 70 to 77%. In the weed control experiments, electrocution was compared to herbicide application in six mixed tall fescue and legume pastures and two johnsongrass-infested pastures in Missouri in 2023 and 2024. Most pre-packaged herbicide combinations tested eliminated white clover whereas electrocution and weed wiping had minimal effects on this species. The best electrocution treatments resulted in control of common ragweed, ironweed, common cocklebur, johnsongrass, and tall goldenrod and were comparable to that observed with the best herbicide treatments. Blackberry, sericea lespedeza and coralberry were most effectively controlled by weed wiping with glyphosate compared to all other treatments. Two passes of glyphosate with the weed wiper at 5 km/h spaced 2 wk apart providing the highest and most consistent control of johnsongrass. Results from these experiments indicate that electrocution can be used as a viable alternative to broadcast herbicide treatment for the control of several weeds that commonly occur in mixed tall fescue and legume pastures without significantly impacting forage yield or causing legume injury.

The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has increased. MASLD notably increases after menopause in women owing to the drastic reduction in estrogen, which regulates lipid metabolism. While prenatal undernutrition leads to hepatic steatosis after birth, whether prenatal undernutrition affects the onset of postmenopausal MASLD remains unknown. Therefore, we examined the impact of early prenatal undernutrition on the predisposition to postmenopausal MASLD in a rat model of menopause. Pregnant female rats were assigned to the control (CNTL) group, while the undernourished (UN) group was fed 40% of the diet of the control group. Furthermore, both groups were assigned to the ovariectomized (CNTL-OVX/UN-OVX) and sham-operated (CNTL-Sham/UN-Sham) groups at 12 weeks of age. Two-way analysis of variance revealed significant main effects of ovariectomy and prenatal undernutrition on body weight and hepatic triglyceride content. Triglycerides accumulated in the liver at 12 and 24 weeks after ovariectomy, while hepatic steatosis was histologically observed at 24 weeks after ovariectomy in UN-OVX rats. Hepatic gene expression analyses showed an interaction effect between prenatal undernutrition × ovariectomy in ESR1 expression; however, PPARα, RXRα, RARα, Raldh1, and Raldh3 expression was not affected by prenatal undernutrition and ovariectomy. These results suggest that early prenatal undernutrition predisposes postmenopausal women to MASLD by uncovering aberrant estrogen signaling, which may be influenced by estrogen reduction.

The impact of maternal nutrition during the peri-conception period on offspring sex remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between maternal nutritional intake around conception and offspring sex. Data were collected from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, which enrolled 97,510 mother–child pairs. The effect of maternal intake of fats, proteins, and fatty acids on offspring sex was analyzed, adjusting for maternal demographics and lifestyle factors. Overall, maternal intake of total fatty acids, saturated fatty acids (SFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n–3 PUFA, n–6 PUFA, and protein and the ratios of n–6/n–3 and SFA/energy showed no consistent associations with offspring sex.

However, further analyses revealed notable patterns related to maternal age and energy intake. Among mothers with high energy intake (≥4,000 kcal/day), higher residual protein intake was associated with increased odds of having a male child (aOR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.17–2.98). In mothers aged under 20 years, increased n-3 PUFA intake was linked to higher odds of male births, while a higher n–6/n–3 ratio was associated with lower odds of male births. Additionally, among mothers aged 20–35 years, higher n−3 PUFA intake was associated with decreased odds of having a male child (aOR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82–0.98).

These findings indicate that while no consistent overall relationship was observed, certain maternal nutritional patterns may influence offspring sex, highlighting the need for further research on maternal diet and reproductive outcomes.

The most accurate confidence intervals for estimates of heritability are based on Fisher’s Z-transformation. Using these methods, Loehlin and Nichol’s (1976) analysis is confirmed, viz., that it is pointless to estimate heritabilities from the classical twin method unless one is prepared to recruit upwards of 800 twin pairs for study. Even then the assumptions of that method are so improbable as to leave reasonable doubt about the true value of H. Estimates of H from the correlation of monozygotic twins reared apart (MZA twins), on the other hand, is remarkably more stable than that obtained by comparing MZ with DZ correlations. Moreover, estimates of H based on the MZA design rest upon more reasonable (and often testable) assumptions.

Lobesiodes euphorbiana (Freyer) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), commonly known as the spurge leaf tying moth, was intentionally introduced into Canada in the 1980s as a biocontrol agent for leafy spurge, Euphorbia virgata Waldstein and Kitaibel (Euphorbiaceae). The moth has never been reported in the United States of America, where it was not approved for release as a biocontrol agent. Here, we report the first records of L. euphorbiana in Montana and North Dakota, United States of America.