Widespread evolution of glyphosate resistance among kochia populations is a serious challenge for growers across the North American Great Plains. Dicamba has historically been used to control glyphosate-resistant (Gly-R) kochia. However, the increasing spread of dicamba-resistant kochia and current restrictions on dicamba use (low volatile formulations) warrant alternative herbicide options to control Gly-R kochia. In this context, field-based dose response experiments were conducted in fallow at Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center, Hays, KS, during 2021 and 2022 to determine and compare the effectiveness of 2,4-D, dicamba, and dichlorprop-p applied alone, and in a premixture of 2,4-D/dicamba/dichlorprop-p for controlling Gly-R kochia. Averaged across two years, results indicated that substantially lower doses of 2,4-D, dicamba, and dichlorprop-p were required in a premixture to achieve effective control of Gly-R kochia compared with their standalone applications. Specifically, the ED90 values for Gly-R kochia control were reduced by 90-, 4-, and 6-times for 2,4-D, dicamba, and dichlorprop-p, respectively, when applied as a premixture. Similarly, achieving 90% biomass reduction required approximately 1021-, 3-, and 4-times lower doses of 2,4-D, dicamba, and dichlorprop-p, respectively, in the premixture than when applied alone. Altogether, these results demonstrated that the premixture of 2,4-D/dicamba/dichlorprop-p can be an effective alternative for managing Gly-R kochia in fallow. The reduced dose requirements in a premixture also suggested potential benefits for resistance management, cost efficiency, and environmental stewardship.

To effectively prioritize the management of invasive plants, it is necessary to reduce the risks posed by trade. This is particularly critical for the ornamental plant sector, which acts as a primary pathway for the introduction and distribution of non-native plant species. In this context, it is necessary to understand the perceptions of ornamental plant producers, who are the primary actors in the ornamental plant trade, about non-native plants, their impacts and risks. Using the Altınova district of Yalova province, Türkiye, we conducted a survey to explore the perceptions of 20 ornamental plant producers regarding non-native and invasive ornamental plant taxa. We also generated a list of ornamental plant taxa produced in the study area by using local sources referencing ornamental plants (such as producers’ catalogues). We found that of the 121 plants produced, 92 taxa were non-native, 23 were native and six were non-native hybrids, of which 31 taxa (11 taxa native and 20 taxa non-native to Türkiye) were found to be invasive elsewhere. Most of the plants produced were perennials (103 taxa). The vast majority of producers (70%) had heard the term “invasive plant” before. However, the concept of invasive plants is considered in the context of “plants other than for production purposes, i.e. weeds”. There is a lack of awareness among producers about the possible impacts caused by non-native taxa and their management status. We conclude that appropriate regulations should be made for the sale and use of non-native plants and awareness activities should be organized for all stakeholders and the public. Further research is required to identify, prioritize, and manage non-native ornamental plants and their potential impacts across all countries engaged in the ornamental plant trade to prevent future ornamental plant invasions.

Direct-seeding of rice by sowing dry seeds on dry soils often results in poor seedling emergence due to erratic rainfall. Adjusting the sowing depth to a given rainfall pattern may improve rice emergence. To assess risks of crop failure in direct-seeded rice, we developed a platform for modeling and simulation of rice emergence at different sowing depths. We combined the HYDRUS-1D soil simulation model, which simulates the surface soil’s moisture dynamics, with two rice emergence models recently developed by our research group. The platform used 48 years of daily weather data (1977–2024) for the study site as inputs for the soil model to simulate soil moisture and temperature at designated depths. We then input the simulated values and sowing depths into the emergence models to simulate final emergence and the emergence date. The simulated soil water tension at a depth of 1 cm showed huge interannual variation, reaching 10 MPa in dry years. The simulation showed that relative to a 1-cm sowing depth, depths of 4 and 6 cm greatly reduce the probability of crop failure under rainfed conditions (from 8% to between 1% and 2%). Our novel platform for risk assessment should therefore facilitate the use of direct-seeded rice in suboptimal environments. The platform also fills a knowledge gap for simulation of crop establishment in direct-seeded rice under future climate scenarios.

The ventral structure of the trilobite family Lichakephalidae has hitherto been mainly inferred. A new discovery of a nearly complete internal mold of Archikainella vomerinus Liu, 1982, from the Sandu Formation (Cambrian, Furongian) of South China, shows its rostral plate and conterminant hypostomal condition. It is the first identified lichakephalid rostral plate. The conterminant hypostomal condition of this lichakephalid specimen is similar to that of the more derived Lichidae and supports the hypothesis that lichakephalid trilobites are a primitive group of lichids.

This study investigated how hormonal induction, female presence, and production system affect sperm quality in Astyanax lacustris across three experiments. In Experiment 1, males and females were kept together in the same recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) before testing. Hormonal induction consistently boosted initial motility and prolonged sperm activity, while female presence offered only a modest benefit to non-induced males and no measurable effect when males were induced. Sperm concentration remained similar across treatments. Experiment 2 evaluated the same factors using broodstock originating from different rearing environments. When males and females came from separate RAS units, hormonal induction again sustained higher motility, and induced males paired with females showed higher sperm concentration than some non-induced groups. In the RAS–biofloc technology (BFT) pairing, hormonal induction maintained motility regardless of female presence; however, in the absence of hormonal induction, both sperm motility and concentration were modulated by the rearing system of females, with non-induced males paired with BFT females exhibiting lower reproductive performance. Overall, hormonal induction proved to be the most reliable strategy for ensuring high semen quality in A. lacustris. Nonetheless, when induction was not applied, male reproductive performance became more sensitive to female origin and rearing environment, highlighting the importance of broodstock compatibility and production system history in reproductive management protocols.

Italian ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot] is one of the most common and malignant weeds that seriously affects wheat yield. Investigating its germination ecology and competitive dynamics with wheat is essential for predicting its potential invasion areas and developing effective management strategies. This study evaluated the effects of key environmental factors (pH, temperature, light, salinity, osmotic stress, and burial depth) on the seed germination and emergence of L. perenne ssp. multiflorum, and further quantified the impact of varying weed densities on wheat yield. The results showed that L. perenne ssp. multiflorum exhibits broad adaptability to environmental conditions. Optimal germination (70% to 86%) occurred at constant temperatures of 10 to 25 C. High germination rates (84% to 98%) were sustained across a wide pH range (4 to 10). Germination remained above 50% at osmotic potentials as low as -0.7 MPa. The germination rate of L. perenne ssp. multiflorum decreases with the increase in salt concentration, and was completely inhibited at 300 mM NaCl. Emergence was highest (92%) at 2 cm burial depth, remained above 80% from 0.5 to 6 cm, declined sharply beyond 10 cm, and was negligible at 14 cm. Field experiments demonstrated a density-dependent reduction in wheat yield by competition from L. perenne ssp. multiflorum, primarily through decreased wheat spike density and grains per spike, thereby reducing yield. Increasing wheat sowing density from 67.5 to 202.5 kg ha-1 could significantly mitigate these losses. These findings provide critical insights into the ecological adaptability of L. perenne ssp. multiflorum and its potential impact on agricultural systems, which can inform integrated weed management strategies.

Grey seals, Halichoerus grypus (GSs), inhabit cold temperate and subarctic waters along the North Atlantic Ocean. Individuals of GS can regularly disperse towards southern areas (ca. 38°N–39°N) but occurrence at lower latitudes is exceptional. On 18 February 2022, a 217-cm-long male of GS was detected in waters off the SW Atlantic coast of Spain (37°N), then entered the western Mediterranean Sea and wandered for 15 days until he died. Here, we use gastrointestinal parasites to investigate the geographical origin of the GS and the length of the journey towards Mediterranean waters. Seven helminth taxa were found, namely, the digeneans Ascocotyle septentrionalis and Cryptocoyle lingua, the nematodes Contracaecum osculatum s.s., Anisakis simplex s.s., and A. pegreffii, and the acanthocephalans Corynosoma sp.1 and C. magdaleni (= strumosum) or C. nortmeri. The parasite composition closely resembles that reported in native harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) of the Wadden Sea (ca. 51°–55°N), from where A. septentrionalis is apparently endemic. Considering that (i) A. septentrionalis cannot be acquired out of the Wadden Sea, and (ii) the lifespan and population structure of the parasites found, we infer that the GS came from waters near the Wadden Sea, and the length of the journey was ca. 1 month, with presumably little ingestion of (parasitized) food. To our knowledge, this is the first study using parasites to unveil the geographical mobility of pinnipeds.

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is rapidly invading southern Oman, posing growing challenges to agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods in Dhofar’s crop–livestock systems. This study assesses its agronomic and socioeconomic impacts using field surveys and a stratified household survey of 40 farms conducted between June and August 2022. Data was analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine the relationships between farmer characteristics, infestation levels, weed management practices, and farm revenue. Results indicate that while most farmers are aware of P. hysterophorus, limited recognition at early growth stages delays control and increases management costs. Education (β = 1.009, p = 0.06), cultivated area (β = 1.033, p = 0.003), and chemical control expenditures (β = 0.295, p = 0.05) were positively associated with gross revenue, whereas age had a negative effect (β = −0.762, p = 0.08). Infestation significantly increased labour-intensive weeding costs (β = 2.072, p = 0.07) but reduced chemical use (β = −1.303, p = 0.032), indicating substitution toward manual control. Although time spent uprooting reduced infestation levels (β = −0.128, p = 0.001), it also increased weeding and chemical control costs, highlighting the financial burden of relying on manual methods. Crop-specific analysis showed heterogeneous vulnerability, with peas more affected than wheat and tomato. Overall, the findings demonstrate that P. hysterophorus imposes measurable income and welfare risks on farming households. These impacts can be mitigated through farmer education, early detection, and judicious chemical use within an integrated weed management framework. Strengthening extension services and promoting crop-specific interventions are essential for protecting rural livelihoods and food security in arid, invasion-prone farming systems.

The Ordovician to Silurian diploporite family Gomphocystitidae is here defined by the possession of at least some unilateral spiral ambulacra composed of adambulacral plates each of which bears a single facet for unknown erect feeding structures (probably biserial brachioles). Pyrocystites, which also has unilateral spiral ambulacra, is rejected as a gomphocystitid because it lacks a regular ambulacral structure. Accepted genera are distinguished on oral and ambulacral structure. Fungocystites has at least one bilateral ambulacrum with facets on both sides. All other genera have five unilateral spiral ambulacra. Celticystis has a mouth surrounded by four oral plates; Gomphocystites and Fresticystis have five or more orals forming the mouth frame. In Fungocystites, Celticystis, and Fresticystis, the two posterior orals also contribute to the periproct frame; in Gomphocystites, the two plates between the mouth and anus are arranged one above the other. “Protocrinus” sparsiporus Bather, 1906, from the Ordovician of Myanmar, is assigned to “Gomphocystites?” because it has spiral ambulacra and adambulacral plates identical to other gomphocystitids, but its oral plating is unknown. Gomphocystitids are known from North America, Europe, and Asia.

The functional morphology of unilateral spiral ambulacra is reviewed. It is geometrically impossible to maintain both equal spacing and regular left–right alternation of brachioles in a spiral ambulacrum. Arranging brachioles on the outside of the curve allows more to be developed and orients them with the food groove downstream, the preferred orientation for feeding in living crinoids. Unilateral spiral ambulacra arose due to functional constraints.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/31f9f4dc-98f5-43fc-8dd1-d2e08dad3650

Soil biodiversity is crucial to the maintenance of multiple critical ecosystem functions and services. However, remarkably little is known about the conservation status of most soil-dependent species. To better understand the current situation, we determined the number of soil-dependent species listed in the various categories of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Firstly, a definition of soil-dependent species was developed for IUCN Red List purposes, and this definition facilitated the identification of 8,653 currently listed soil-dependent species. These species included 503 invertebrate and fungal species assessed during the current study; these species were chosen as they were based on priorities for the Red List Strategic Plan, and IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Specialist Group interests. We discuss progress and constraints on the IUCN Red List assessment of soil-dependent species worldwide. Our recommendations for the IUCN SSC to improve the IUCN Red List as a source of information on conservation of soil-dependent species are: (1) scaling up of SSC assessment processes for soil-dependent invertebrates and fungi, including establishment of a Soil Biota Working Group, in line with the IUCN Red List Strategic Plan; (2) building closer connections with other organizations and agencies researching and monitoring soil biodiversity; and (3) broader engagement with and education of governments, landholders and the public as to the fundamental importance of the conservation of global soil biodiversity.

Cambrian tidal flat deposits of the Elk Mound Group at Blackberry Hill, Wisconsin, USA, provide some of the earliest body fossils of euthycarcinoids, phyllocarids, and scyphozoans. Also, some of the earliest evidence of animal activities on land, alongside a diverse ichnofauna, have been observed. Here we expand the ichnotaxonomic diversity of that site, emend the diagnosis of Protichnites, discuss the recent reinterpretation of Protichnites eremita, and establish Seilacherichnus new ichnogenus and Climactichnites blackberriensis new ichnospecies. What may be the first fossil evidence of an animal feeding on a scyphozoan at Blackberry Hill or equivalent Cambrian tidal flats is reported. Ichnotaxa not previously illustrated or described from Blackberry Hill include Siskemia isp., Diplopodichnus isp., Stiallia pilosa, and Cochlichnus? isp. This expansion of the ichnotaxonomic diversity observed in the Blackberry Hill strata further illustrates the early exploitation of tidal flats.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/f8c5d0a5-aa4d-4eb3-87dd-9bf44b4af8c3.

This article examines recruitment practices in Swedish polar expeditions during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing on A.G. Nathorst’s Arctic voyages 1898 and 1899, the Swedish-Russian Arc-of-Meridian surveys 1898–1901, and the 1903 Antarctic rescue expedition. Drawing on preserved correspondence, this article explores who conducted recruitment, how it was done, and what competencies were sought. The expedition leader recruited other scientists on his own, relying on recommendations from fellow academics. Hiring of sailors involved several persons; the leader, the ship’s captain, other seamen and semi-professional commissioners. The default mode was to re-hire old shipmates. When that was not possible, new recruits were evaluated through acquaintances or based on their reputation. Experience of travel in icy waters was considered valuable. Sailors with references from scientific expeditions were especially sought after, and could use this to attain higher wages than was the norm in ordinary work at sea.

This study examines birth rates and infant mortality rates in Brazil among singletons, twins, and higher order multiples between 2010 and 2023. Data were obtained from the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s Live Birth Information System and Infant Mortality Information System. The dataset comprised 39,663,928 live births and 464,843 infant deaths occurring within the first year of life. Twin birth rates increased steadily over time, while singleton birth rates declined. The highest twin birth rates were observed in the Southeast (11.64‰) and South (11.47‰), whereas the lowest were observed in the North (7.81‰) and Northeast (9.23‰). Infant mortality among twins was approximately five times higher than among singleton, and higher order multiples faced an approximately threefold greater risk compared to singletons. Infant mortality rates were highest in the North and Northeast and lowest in the Southeast and South. Sex ratios varied by gestation type, with singletons showing the expected male bias and twins a slightly reduced male proportion, reflecting biological and regional influences on birth rates in Brazil. The data reveal a marked demographic shift between 2010 and 2023, with birth rates declining among women in their teens and 20s and increasing among those in their late 30s and 40s. Using Weinberg’s differential method, we identified divergent trends in zygosity: dizygotic birth rates increased significantly over time, whereas monozygotic rates remained stable. This contrast underscores the environmentally responsive nature of dizygotic twinning, particularly its association with advancing maternal age and assisted reproductive technologies, compared to the relatively biologically stable pattern of monozygotic twinning.