The investigation of structural variants that may govern complex traits has significant importance. This is particularly true for the crossbred dairy cattle of Pakistan, which are deemed ideal for achieving optimal milk production and enhanced environmental adaptability in tropical conditions. This research detected and described copy number variation regions (CNVR) within the crossbred cattle genome. A GGP_HDv3_C chip containing 139,376 SNPs was utilized to genotype a cohort of 81 animals. In this study, 1055 CNVs were obtained after quality control, distributed across animals and encompassing all autosomes. From these, 268 CNVRs were detected, which covered 31.03 megabases, representing approximately 1.24% of the bovine genome. Functional analysis of these regions yielded 97 genes primarily associated with the immune and defense systems. Additionally, other observed categories encompassed production, health and reproduction. These findings enhanced the CNV map of bovines, offering the variant identification linked to traits subject to selection in both crossbred and indicine breeds of cattle.

TNF-α polymorphisms may influence dyslipidaemia, but their role remains unclear. This case–control study investigated associations between TNF-α gene polymorphisms (–1031T/C, −863C/A, −857C/T, −308G/A and −238G/A) and dyslipidaemia in 595 participants (162 cases, 433 controls) from the Chaoshan region of China. Anthropometric, biochemical and genetic data were analysed using χ2 tests and logistic regression, with the false discovery rate (FDR) method applied to correct for multiple comparisons. Results revealed that only the −1031T/C and −863C/A polymorphisms were significantly associated with dyslipidaemia. Carriers of the TC + CC genotype for −1031T/C (OR = 0·48; 95 % CI: 0·30, 0·78; PFDR = 0·006) and the CA + AA genotype for −863C/A (OR = 0·41; 95 % CI: 0·24, 0·70; PFDR = 0·004) had lower odds of dyslipidaemia. Protective effects were observed for the C allele at −1031T/C (OR = 0·58, PFDR = 0·012) and the A allele at −863C/A (OR = 0·47, PFDR = 0·004). Stratified analyses showed that these associations were significant in males but not females. Functional annotation linked these TNF-α gene polymorphisms to transcription factors (e.g. HNF-1A, STAT1β) in the adipogenesis pathway. This study reveals genetic associations between TNF-α polymorphisms and dyslipidaemia, particularly in males, and provides mechanistic insights into their role in transcriptional regulation.

Passive smoking is associated with an increased risk of hypertension in children. Antioxidant nutrients are known to alleviate oxidative stress, a key factor in the development of hypertension. Riboflavin, with its antioxidant properties, may help mitigate oxidative damage caused by passive smoke exposure. This study aimed to examine whether riboflavin intake could influence the relationship between passive smoking and hypertension in children and adolescents aged 6–19 years. Data were extracted from the 2007–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weighted logistic regression models were used to identify potential covariates, and weighted multiple logistic regression models assessed the associations between passive smoking, riboflavin intake and hypertension. The association was also investigated in diverse age, gender and race subgroups. Results were presented as OR and 95 % CI. A total of 11 445 children and adolescents with a mean age of 12·89 (0·06) years were included. After adjusting covariates, cotinine ≥ 0·05 ng/ml was associated with increased odds of hypertension (OR = 1·20, 95 % CI: 1·06, 1·36). When individuals had a riboflavin intake < 1·87 mg, passive smoking (OR = 1·98, 95 % CI: 1·25, 3·13) and active smoking (OR = 1·69, 95 % CI: 1·14, 2·51) were both related to higher odds of hypertension. When individuals had a riboflavin intake ≥ 1·87 mg, no association was observed between passive smoking (OR = 0·83, 95 % CI: 0·48, 1·44) and active smoking (OR = 1·05, 95 % CI: 0·68, 1·62) and hypertension. Riboflavin intake may modulate the association between smoking status and hypertension in children and adolescents aged 6–19 years. The moderating effect was also found in age < 13 years old, ≥ 13 years old, males and non-Hispanic Whites.

Coastal wetlands, known for their remarkable productivity and diverse ecological functions, face growing threats from aquaculture expansion, which can fragment natural habitats and disrupt water flow. In this study, we focused on White-bellied Sea-Eagles Haliaeetus leucogaster along the eastern coast of Odisha, India, to see how these top predators adapt to accelerating aquaculture. Across 22 nesting sites over three breeding seasons (2021–2024), we analysed 3,319 prey items, and found that fish dominated at 66.89%, followed by birds (25.64%), reptiles (3.31%), invertebrates (3.16%), and mammals (0.99%). Using generalised additive models (GAMs), we evaluated various landscape factors influencing the proportion of fish in WBSE diets. Our results revealed that shorter distances to natural water-bodies and higher water coverage strongly influenced higher fish intake, while aquaculture-related variables did not increase fish consumption. These patterns indicate that WBSEs favour wild fish in less-disturbed wetlands, likely because of better energy returns, lower risks, and convenient perching spots. Consequently, our findings highlight the need to safeguard natural aquatic habitats for sustaining apex predators and point to ways of reconciling aquaculture growth with wetland conservation. By clarifying how the eagles respond to changes in coastal landscapes, we offer key insights for preserving biodiversity under fast-paced environmental transformation.

Sheep (Ovis aries) are stoic, prey animals that have evolved to mask signs of pain and vulnerability, making behavioural indicators of poor welfare difficult to detect. Body condition scoring (BCS) remains one of the most practical, animal-based indicators of chronic undernutrition and compromised welfare in grazing ruminants. Disruption of the incisor apparatus due to dental disorders or tooth loss can impair grazing efficiency, resulting in reduced nutritional intake and contributing to poor body condition. Despite this, there has been little research into the prevalence or welfare impact of dental disorders in sheep. This preliminary study aimed to assess the prevalence of incisor wear in extensively grazed Dohne Merino ewes, examine its distribution across age groups, and evaluate associations with bodyweight and BCS. A total of 818 ewes aged 2 to 10 years were evaluated during routine husbandry. Incisor wear was scored based on dentine exposure using a 0–3 ordinal scale. BCS was determined through hands-on palpation, and liveweight was recorded. Wear affecting more than one-third of tooth enamel was present in at least one incisor in 99% of ewes over five years of age. Greater incisor wear was significantly associated with lower bodyweight and BCS in ewes over two years, irrespective of age. These findings underscore the potential role of incisor wear as a contributing factor to nutritional compromise and welfare risk in older sheep. Monitoring incisor health may facilitate more accurate welfare assessments and enhance management strategies in extensive systems.

Knowledge of the status of ecosystems is vital to help develop and implement conservation strategies. This is particularly relevant to the Arctic where the need for biodiversity conservation and monitoring has long been recognised, but where issues of local capacity and logistic barriers make surveys challenging. This paper demonstrates how long-term monitoring programmes outside the Arctic can contribute to developing composite trend indicators, using monitoring of annual abundance and population-level reproduction of species of migratory Arctic-breeding waterbirds on their temperate non-breeding areas. Using data from the UK and the Netherlands, countries with year-round waterbird monitoring schemes and supporting relevant shares of Arctic-breeding populations of waterbirds, we present example multi-species abundance and productivity indicators related to the migratory pathways used by different biogeographical populations of Arctic-breeding wildfowl and wader species in the East Atlantic Flyway. These composite trend indicators show that long-term increases in population size have slowed markedly in recent years and in several cases show declines over, at least, the last decade. These results constitute proof of concept. Some other non-Arctic countries located on the flyways of Arctic-breeding waterbirds also annually monitor abundance and breeding success, and we advocate that future development of “Arctic waterbird indicators” should be as inclusive of data as possible to derive the most robust outputs and help account for effects of current changes in non-breeding waterbird distributions. The incorporation of non-Arctic datasets into assessments of the status of Arctic biodiversity is recognised as highly desirable, because logistic constraints in monitoring within the Arctic region limit effective population-scale monitoring there, in effect enabling “monitoring at a distance”.

Hepatitis B virus vaccination is currently recommended in Australia for adults at an increased risk of acquiring infection or at high risk of complications from infection. This retrospective cohort study used data from an Australian sentinel surveillance system to assess the proportion of individuals who had a recorded test that indicated being susceptible to hepatitis B infection in six priority populations, as well as the proportion who were then subsequently vaccinated within six months of being identified as susceptible. Priority populations included in this analysis were people born overseas in a hepatitis B endemic country, people living with HIV, people with a recent hepatitis C infection, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, people who have ever injected drugs, and sex workers. Results of the study found that in the overall cohort of 43,335 individuals, 14,140 (33%) were identified as susceptible to hepatitis B, and 5,255 (37%) were subsequently vaccinated. Between 26% and 33% of individuals from priority populations were identified as susceptible to hepatitis B infection, and the proportion of these subsequently vaccinated within six months was between 28% and 42% across the groups. These findings suggest further efforts are needed to increase the identification and subsequent vaccination of susceptible individuals among priority populations recommended for hepatitis B vaccination, including among people who are already engaged in hepatitis B care.

Understanding the stock structure of a commercial species is essential for sustainable management. Failure to do so can lead to the depletion of regional sub-populations, erosion of genetic diversity, and ecosystem services loss. Plaice, Pleuronectes platessa, is a commercially exploited species inhabiting the continental shelf around Iceland. Despite a tagging study providing support for strong spawning site and feeding ground fidelity, and otolith microstructure analysis revealing local population structure, plaice is managed as a single stock in Icelandic waters. Here, we describe and quantify the parasite fauna of plaice and assess the potential of parasites as biological tags for stock identification of plaice in Icelandic waters. A total of 82 plaice were sampled from different geographical locations (north and south) and seasons (summer and winter) in Iceland. Our sampling identified 11 parasites, five of which are new parasite records for plaice in Icelandic waters: the trematodes Zoogonoides viviparus (adults) and Rhipidocotyle sp. (metacercariae), and the nematodes Contracaecum osculatum (larvae), Dichelyne sp. (adults), and Hysterothylacium aduncum (larvae and adults). Additionally, we recovered metacercariae of the trematode genus Apatemon, which has not been recorded previously from plaice. Two parasites were identified as potential biological tags for stock identification – namely, the nematode Anisakis simplex and the trematode Z. viviparus. Our findings support a complex stock structure for plaice in Icelandic waters and the need for an integrative strategy to stock identification to provide fine spatial scale data required to inform fisheries managers.

The Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, but the development of effective conservation strategies is hindered by a lack of data on its distribution range and population dynamics. In addition, standardized survey and analysis methods are required to facilitate the sharing of results and maximize conservation effectiveness. To fill these knowledge and methodological gaps, we investigated the occurrence of pangolin burrows in the subtropical forest ecosystem of Fujian, China. We surveyed a total of 70 transects across five land-cover types within the Fujian Junzifeng National Nature Reserve and detected 87 burrows. The majority of burrows (87%) were located in mixed conifer and broadleaf forests. We used six environmental variables in a generalized linear model to examine the relationship between the occurrence of burrows and environmental factors. The average model results from the best model set showed that the distribution of burrows was significantly influenced by forest type. For effective pangolin conservation, we recommend that local conservation authorities prioritize the protection of mixed conifer and broadleaf forests. Our findings support the local conservation of the Chinese pangolin and the standardization of surveys and conservation efforts across the species’ range.

Dyckia ibiramensis is an endemic species from southern Brazil, known for its ability to adapt to extreme environmental variations. This study reports the development of species-specific microsatellite markers and the assembly and annotation of the plastid genome of D. ibiramensis, aiming to generate new genomic resources useful for studies on the conservation and evolution of this endangered species. A total of 33,112 microsatellite loci were identified, of which 10 were selected and validated for genotyping 30 individuals from natural populations, showing high genetic variability. These 10 microsatellite markers were very informative for the evaluation of genetic variability. These microsatellite markers evidenced moderate to high genetic diversity at the individual level, low population differentiation, and the capacity of the species to recover population size from ancient genetic bottlenecks. The assembled plastid genome revealed conserved structures and the occurrence of features at the gene level, likely related to stress response to environmental conditions. This study expands the understanding of the genetics of D. ibiramensis, highlighting the importance of genomic strategies for the conservation of endangered species. In situ and ex situ conservation strategies should be used to avoid the extinction of this endemic southern Brazilian genetic resource in nature.

The green lacewing Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben–Peterson) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), a polyphagous predator, is an effective biocontrol agent against various aphid species. Its efficacy was assessed against Pterochloroides persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a major pest of peach and nectarine orchards. This study investigates the developmental biology, population growth parameters, host-kill dynamics, and aphid consumption by C. zastrowi sillemi when fed on P. persicae. The development of C. zastrowi sillemi stages was recorded, with egg, larval instar, and adult durations averaging 2.21, 3.71, 2.29, and 3.21 days, respectively. Adult longevity was 34.33 days for males and 42.12 days for females. The female pre-ovipositional period was 6.25 days, with a total ovipositional period of 21.88 days. Population growth parameters indicated a true generation time of 35.39 ± 0.322 days, intrinsic rate of increase of 0.110 and a net reproductive rate of 52.64. A total fecundity of 131.77 eggs per female was recorded. The consumption of P. persicae by the first, second and third larval instars of C. zastrowi sillemi was 18.36, 25.07, and 85.21 aphids, respectively, with the third instar being the most voracious. The net predation rate was 90.868 aphids per day, with a transformation rate of 1.84 aphids per offspring produced. These results highlight the probability of C. zastrowi sillemi as a potential biocontrol agent for P. persicae management in agro-ecosystems, offering insights into its predation behaviour, reproductive parameters and will be useful in conducting further field evaluations before formulating it in integrated pest management programme.

Good welfare is of inherent value to all captive animals and promotes species conservation objectives. Concern for animal welfare is growing globally, and research shows that animal welfare is a top priority for zoo visitors. There is, therefore, an urgent need for zoos to develop and validate species-specific welfare assessment tools with a shift in focus away from avoiding negative affective states, and towards promoting positive ones. This shift in emphasis requires the development of comprehensive and robust welfare assessment protocols incorporating species-specific indicators. This study aimed to identify and propose welfare indicators for captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) that could be used to adapt the EU Welfare Quality® protocol for this species. A literature review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the authors followed the principles of a systematic review to identify a comprehensive set of welfare indicators for this species. Overall, 14 animal-based and 16 resource-based indicators are proposed to assess the 12 criteria and four principles of Welfare Quality®. This study represents the first effort to adapt the EU Welfare Quality® protocol to assess captive chimpanzee welfare and illustrates how this protocol can be adapted to develop a taxon-specific welfare assessment tool once species-specific natural history and biology are considered.

Water and light are essential resources for crop development, and their limitations can significantly affect agricultural productivity. While irrigation systems are widely used to mitigate water scarcity, the role of nighttime artificial lighting in open-field conditions remains an emerging research area. This review explores the potential of nighttime light supplementation as a crop management strategy by analysing its physiological, morphological, and biochemical effects on plants. A key question addressed is whether supplemental lighting can enhance crop productivity in the field and under which conditions this approach is most effective. We examine which crops are more likely to benefit from artificial lighting based on their light limitations and physiological responses. Additionally, we discuss whether alternative agronomic practices, such as planting arrangements and canopy management, could achieve similar benefits without artificial light supplementation. The review also considers how the timing and spectral composition of supplemental light influence plant development. While continuous or nighttime lighting may alter physiological processes, it remains unclear whether these changes are beneficial or detrimental to productivity. Studies on light penetration, particularly the role of green and far-red wavelengths, suggest that spectral composition can impact plant morphology and light-use efficiency, raising questions about optimal lighting strategies. Finally, we address the feasibility of large-scale nighttime lighting in agriculture by discussing energy demands, potential environmental impacts, and economic viability. While preliminary studies suggest promising physiological responses, experimental validation under field conditions is still needed to determine whether this technology represents a profitable and sustainable investment.

Soil respiration is the second largest natural flux of Carbon (C) between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere, with tropical forests amongst the largest contributors to such soil-derived C effluxes. With climate change expected to drive changes in both temperature and rainfall, our ability to predict responses of the C cycle in the future hinges upon an understanding of how these factors influence soil respiration. However, these relationships remain poorly characterised across the seasonal tropics, especially South Asia. Here, for two seasonal tropical sites in the Western Ghats of India, we characterised annual, seasonal and temporal variation in soil respiration and assessed its temperature and moisture sensitivity over six years. At both sites, soil respiration was positively correlated with temperature at the instantaneous scale, but showed no relationship with temperature at seasonal or annual scales. In contrast, soil respiration showed significant relationships with rainfall and soil moisture at all temporal scales. At the annual scale, soil respiration was negatively correlated with total annual rainfall. At the seasonal scale, wet season Rs was significantly lower than in the dry season. At the instantaneous scale, Rs showed a parabolic relationship with soil moisture, where soil respiration increased with soil moisture up to ∼21 cm3cm-3 and decreased beyond that point. Our results suggest that future changes in the Indian summer monsoon, especially the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events, are likely to significantly impact soil respiration rates in this seasonal tropical forest.

This study investigated the effects of enzyme and/or sodium butyrate supplementation on the performance, eggshell quality, pancreatic enzyme activities and jejunum histology of laying quails-fed diets containing sunflower meal (SFM). A total of 140 24-week-old quails were randomly allocated into five experimental groups with 14 replicates each. The treatment diets were: NC (negative control without SFM), PC (positive control with 25% SFM), PC+E (PC + 500 g/tonne multi-enzyme), PC+B (PC + 1000 g/tonne sodium butyrate) and PC+EB (PC + 500 g/tonne multi-enzyme + 1000 g/tonne sodium butyrate).

As a result of this study, egg production was significantly higher in PC, PC+E and PC+EB groups compared to NC, while feed intake increased in PC but decreased with enzyme and/or sodium butyrate supplementation. Eggshell-breaking strength was highest in PC+B, whereas eggshell ratio and thickness increased across all groups compared to NC. Pancreatic lipase activity increased in PC+E and PC+B, but pancreatic amylase and protease activities decreased in all treatments compared to NC. Villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) improved with enzyme and/or sodium butyrate supplementation, with villus width and surface area significantly greater in PC+E and PC+EB. However, the VH/CD ratio decreased in all groups except PC+EB. In conclusion, diets containing 25% SFM did not impair performance or egg quality and improved eggshell thickness and ratio. Enzyme and/or sodium butyrate supplementation reduced feed intake enhanced pancreatic lipase activity, decreased amylase and protease activities and improved jejunum histology, with sodium butyrate notably increasing eggshell-breaking strength.

To address limited data on whole grain (WG) consumption in the UK, we investigated trends and socio-demographic patterns of WG consumption from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey from 2008/2012 to 2016/2019 and examined the relationship between WG and dietary intakes. We analysed 15 655 individuals aged ≥ 1·5 years who completed a 4-day food diary. WG consumption was quantified by estimating the WG content of individual foods using publicly available ingredient information. Survey-weighted mean WG consumption over time and by population sub-group was calculated. Survey-weighted trend tests and Wald tests were used. Total WG intake in the general population did not change from 2008/2012 to 2016/2019. WG from high-fibre cereals and bread declined by 16·2 % (11·1–9·3 g/d) and 19·4 % (12·4–10 g/d), respectively, while other cereals (e.g. rice/pasta) increased by 72·5 % (4·0–6·9 g/d), but contributed considerably less than other categories. In the most recent data (2016–2019), older adults (65+ years) had the highest energy-adjusted WG consumption, followed by children 1·5–3 years. Individuals with lower incomes, adolescents and current smokers consumed the least WG. Whole grain intake was associated with generally higher quality diets, specifically consuming more fibre, potassium, Ca, Fe, Mg, fruits/vegetables, pulses/nuts and oily fish and consuming less free sugars, total fat, saturated fat, Na and red/processed meat (Ptrend < 0·001 for all). Despite some dietary improvements in the UK, WG intake appears unchanged from 2008/2012 to 2016/2019.