Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests of wheat, with their population dynamics strongly influenced by host genotype, sowing time, and prevailing environmental conditions. This study evaluated aphid infestation across seven sowing dates and 12 wheat genotypes, evaluating relationship with natural enemies and weather factors with a goal of identifying sowing dates and genotypes associated with low aphid density. Seasonal mean aphid density differed significantly among genotypes for each sowing date. Of the 12 genotypes of wheat studied, two were highly susceptible and two consistently showed lower infestation. Aphid outbreaks peaked between 14 and 27 February, with maximum populations recorded on 20 and 27 February across several genotypes. Natural enemies such as Coccinellids, Chrysopids, Syrphids, and parasitoids displayed significant positive associations with aphid abundance, suggesting they are able to track cues to find prey, and may play a regulatory role. Abiotic factors were strongly predictive of infestation: averaging across all genotypes of wheat, aphid abundance decreased with temperature, with temperature alone explaining 73.5% of the variation in abundance. Aphid abundance also decreased with hours of daylight (explaining an additional 14.1% of the variation in abundance). These findings demonstrate that aphid population dynamics in wheat are genotype-specific and environmentally driven, with mid-to-late February identified as the most critical infestation window. Selecting resistant/tolerant genotypes, adjusting sowing dates, and leveraging the role of natural enemies provide a sustainable pathway for aphid management. These insights are vital for refining integrated pest management strategies under changing climatic conditions.

Floral traits determine the reproductive success and the fitness of a plant. We investigated the effect of ambient temperature on three floral and four fitness traits and their plasticities in 34 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions grown at 17 °C, 20 °C, 24 °C and 27 °C. Based on reaction norms of the mean trait values across temperatures, we found that these traits exhibited different degrees of temperature-mediated plasticity. Flower number, measured as number of siliques and number of seeds per silique, showed significant positive correlations with total seed number at each tested temperature, indicating that seed number in siliques is an indicator for reproductive output. The correlation of flower size with the latitudinal origin of the accessions indicates that in the north, larger flowers may confer an adaptive advantage. Altogether, this study provides information on the impact of increased temperature on fitness in selfing A. thaliana.

Insect immunology represents a critical component of circulatory physiology research. Considering the ecological significance of mantids and their predatory roles, this study investigated the types of hemocytes and their modulation by starvation, prey quality, and temperature in Hierodula tenuidentata and Empusa fasciata. This study also documents the presence of these two species in Semnan province, Iran for the first time, expanding our knowledge of their distribution. Field-collected oothecae were incubated under controlled conditions (temperature 25 ± 1°C, relative humidity 50%, and a photoperiod of 14:10 light:dark hours) until nymphal emergence. Following hemolymph extraction and staining with Giemsa solution, four hemocyte types – prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, and oenocytoids – were identified in both species; spherulocytes appeared exclusively in adult H. tenuidentata under a light microscope. Differential hemocyte counts revealed granulocytes as predominant in H. tenuidentata, whereas both granulocytes and plasmatocytes were abundant in E. fasciata across developmental stages. Prohemocytes were more abundant in the early-instar nymphs than in the late-instar nymphs of both mantids. Hemocyte density declined progressively with prolonged starvation, reaching a minimum after 4 days. The highest hemocyte concentrations were observed in mantids fed grasshoppers after 1 week, whereas markedly lower counts occurred with low-quality prey, such as Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) and Lycaena sp. (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Heat stress significantly elevated hemocyte density, whereas cold exposure induced substantial reductions in hemocyte density. Hemocyte fluctuations were more pronounced after 48 hours than after 24 hours. These findings suggest that short-term dietary deprivation, prey type, and thermal stress may rapidly alter immune profiles in H. tenuidentata and E. fasciata.

The global climate is changing, characterized by rising temperatures (projected to increase by 1.5–2 C by the end of the century) and elevated atmospheric CO2 levels (>410 ppm), which are recognized as the primary drivers of climate change. These changes significantly affect multiple aspects of weed biology, including seed germination, seedbank dynamics, photosynthesis, root growth, phenology, and biomass production, often enhancing weed growth and competitive ability by 60% to 90% under elevated temperature and CO2 conditions. Climate change not only modifies the biological traits of weeds but also influences the effectiveness of current management practices, including herbicide application, potentially increasing herbicide resistance. In this context, smart agriculture and artificial intelligence–based technologies offer promising tools for precise weed identification, monitoring of distribution patterns, and prediction of weed dynamics, thereby optimizing management strategies, reducing herbicide use, and improving control efficiency. Understanding climate-induced biological changes in weeds and integrating advanced technologies into management approaches are crucial for mitigating ecological threats and ensuring the sustainability of agricultural production.

Italian ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot] is one of the most common and malignant weeds that seriously affect wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) 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.

A series of laboratory experiments was conducted to evaluate the germination ecology of buttongrass [Dactyloctenium radulans (R. Br.) P. Beauv.] for designing weed management practices in eastern Australia. Two populations (BG3 and BG4) were evaluated under varying temperature, light, salinity, water-stress, residue cover, and burial depth conditions. Germination was completely inhibited at 15/5 C (alternating day/night temperature regime) but increased at high-temperature regimes, reaching 90% to 92% at 30/20 C and remaining high (72% to 88%) at 35/25 C, indicating strong adaptation to warm climates. Both populations germinated well in light/dark (12/12 h) conditions (87% to 93%), while BG3 showed a reduction (80%) in complete darkness (24 h) compared with light/dark conditions, suggesting weak positive photoblastic behavior. Germination decreased progressively with increasing sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations, with 50% inhibition at 40 mM NaCl, indicating moderate salt tolerance. Germination was reduced by 50% at osmotic potentials of −0.30 MPa and −0.25 MPa for BG3 and BG4 populations, respectively. Seedling emergence declined with increasing sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] residue loads, dropping by >80% at >6 Mg ha⁻1, and was completely inhibited at 8-cm burial depth. These results demonstrate that D. radulans is a thermophilic, light-responsive, shallow-emerging grass capable of germinating under moderate salinity and water-stress conditions, enabling persistence in semiarid and reduced-tillage systems. High residue retention and deep burial of seeds (≥8 cm) could significantly suppress emergence, providing ecologically sustainable management options. Future studies should quantify population-level physiological variations and integrate temperature, moisture, and residue interactions into predictive emergence models to guide region-specific weed management under changing climatic conditions.

Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] is a highly invasive, persistent, and problematic perennial weed in Australian cropping systems; however, its germination ecology has largely been inferred from studies conducted outside eastern Australia, where environmental conditions differ markedly. This limits accurate prediction of emergence timing and optimization of management strategies. The objectives of this study were to characterize seed dormancy mechanisms and to quantify the germination and emergence response of two populations of S. halepense from central Queensland to temperature, light, salinity, osmotic stress, and burial depth under controlled conditions. Seeds from both populations exhibited strong primary dormancy, which was partially alleviated by sodium hypochlorite immersion and more effectively by mechanical scarification using sandpaper, indicating that seed coat–related dormancy is the principal barrier to germination. Temperature significantly influenced germination, with no germination at 15/5 C and high germination (>90%) at 25/15 C to 35/25 C under both light/dark and dark conditions, demonstrating that warm temperatures largely override light requirements. Germination declined steadily with increasing sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations, and the NaCl concentration required to reduce maximum germination by 50% was approximately 173 mM. Moderate water stress −0.2 to −0.4 MPa produced less germination in comparison to the control, while −0.8 MPa greatly inhibited germination (11%). Emergence was highest from shallow burial depths of 1 to 4 cm and declined sharply beyond 8 cm. These results demonstrate that S. halepense recruitment occurs in a range of environmental conditions; however, environmental stresses or deep soil burial may help manage this weed. This study provides regionally relevant information to enhance emergence prediction and inform integrated weed management strategies in eastern Australian cropping systems.

Khasi nightshade (Solanum khasianum C.B. Clarke) is a perennial poisonous weed in tropical and subtropical regions that seriously threatens the development of grasslands. For a high-risk invasive weed, a comprehensive understanding of its seed germination characteristics is important for predicting its spread and developing effective management strategies. However, the impact of various abiotic factors on the germination of S. khasianum is not clear. This study first explored the effects of temperature, light, pH, osmotic stress, salt stress, high-temperature pretreatment, and burial depth on the germination of S. khasianum. Seeds germinated at constant temperature of 30, 33, 35, and 38 C, and the germination rate (GR) ranged from 10% to 94%. The optimum germination temperature was 35 C, while germination was completely inhibited at 25 or 40 C. The germination of S. khasianum was greatly promoted by alternating light and darkness (16/8, 12/12, 8/16 h), but was not sensitive to the time change of photoperiod. The GRs were more than 70% in the pH range of 4 to 10, and a strongly acidic environment was more suitable for germination. The GR gradually decreased with the osmotic potential from 0 to −0.2 MPa, and no germination occurred at −0.4 MPa. Accordingly, germination was also low in sodium chloride (NaCl) solution with concentrations higher than 60 mM. Seeds of S. khasianum were not tolerant to high temperature; GR decreased significantly after exposure to 40 C for 5 min, and it decreased to 3% at 120 C. The emergence rate was the highest (93%) when the seeds were buried on the soil surface, while seedlings hardly appeared when the burial depth was more than 2 cm. This study revealed the possible adaptive mechanism of invasive S. khasianum and will contribute to the effective prediction of its spread and management in grasslands.

The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the regions in Antarctica that has experienced notable and extensively studied warming since the mid-twentieth century. Meteorological data, although limited and mostly dating back to the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958), reveal dramatic climate changes in both the Antarctic Peninsula and West Antarctica, with the Antarctic Peninsula showing the highest warming trends on the continent. One major manifestation of this warming is the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme warm events. This study utilizes temperature data from the Artigas Antarctic Scientific Base provided by National Weather Service, Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (INUMET), which have not previously been used or quality-controlled. Data were processed and analysed, and a quality hourly database was built for the period 1 January 1998 to 11 December 2016 for the surface temperature, constructing a complete time series interpolating the data with two other nearby Antarctic stations (C.M.A. Eduardo Frei Montalva and King Sejong). Temperature presented an annual cycle with marked interannual and seasonal variability, with the cold season being the one with the highest variability and the largest anomalies, both positive and negative. No significant trend was found for the monthly mean temperature. A study of warm temperature events was conducted at three points on King George Island, defining warm events and extreme warm events as those in which the mean daily temperature was above the 90th and 99th percentile, respectively, for at least 3 consecutive days. A high frequency of occurrence was found (all years except 2015) mostly in the cold season of the year, and with large interannual variability. In turn, it was found that certain atmospheric dynamics favour the generation of these extreme warm events, and that their occurrence is higher during La Niña years. Although the majority of the extreme warm events occurred during positive phases of the Southern Annular Mode, the statistical correlations were not significant.

Kaolinite, a widely distributed clay mineral, is extensively applied in construction, industry and agriculture due to its physical, chemical and mechanical properties. This study employed quantum mechanics-based first-principles calculations to investigate the crystal structure, electronic properties and mechanical properties of kaolinite at various temperatures from a microscopic perspective. The main conclusions are as follows: structurally, lattice parameters (a, b, c) and volume increased with temperature, with c showing the largest such increase. The interlayer spacing between silicate tetrahedral and alumina octahedral layers slightly decreased from 0.3733 to 0.3702 Å, indicating that temperature exerts a stronger influence on the interlayer hydrogen bonds than on the covalent bonds within the layers. Electronically, in the 0–750 K range, kaolinite’s band gap narrowed from 5.13 to 5.06 eV; s orbital electrons of Al atoms jumped from the valence to the conduction band, reducing insulation. Mechanically, the elastic constants C11, C22, C33, C44 and C66 decreased while C55 increased with temperature. The bulk modulus declined continuously, whereas the shear modulus and Young’s modulus first increased then decreased. The universal anisotropy index decreased markedly, reducing elastic anisotropy. Temperature (0–750 K) significantly affects kaolinite’s properties. This study provides a reliable theoretical basis for optimizing the physicochemical and mechanical properties of kaolinite-based materials.

American sloughgrass [Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fernald] is a troublesome weed in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). We tested the germination of B. syzigachne seeds under different temperatures in growth chambers (12-h dark/12-h light, 12,000 lx), simulating temperatures during the winter wheat sowing periods: early (25/15 °C), standard (20/10 °C), late (15/5 °C), and very late (5/0 °C). We also tested the accumulated temperatures required for seedling growth to the 2- to 5-leaf stages, using 225 populations collected from wheat fields in eastern China. The average 1,000-seed weight of the 225 populations was 1.2 ± 0.01 g. Overall, the populations tested did not show seed germination after 21 d of treatment (DAT) at 5/0 °C or constant 30 °C. At 14 DAT with 25/15, 20/10, and 15/5 °C, the mean germination rates were 85.4%, 6.4%, and 0.1%, respectively. These rates increased to 99.9%, 58.6%, and 21.7% at 21 DAT. Populations collected from lower-latitude regions germinated significantly faster (P < 0.05) under optimal conditions. Accumulated temperatures required for growing the second, third, fourth, and fifth leaves were 139.0 ± 1.0, 127.8 ± 1.0, 115.6 ± 1.0, and 98.9 ± 0.7 °C, which showed a significant decreasing trend. The narrower optimal temperature range for B. syzigachne seed germination and higher thermal requirements for early seedling growth constrain its distribution, while the heterogeneous seed germination facilitates its infestations in wheat-planting areas in eastern China.

Egg hatching is a critical stage in the life cycle of parasitic nematodes and is strongly influenced by abiotic factors. This study investigates, under in vitro condition, the effects of temperature (5 °C, 10 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C) and salinity (0–70 psu) on egg hatching success in the two sibling species Contracaecum rudolphii sp. A and C. rudolphii sp. B, which have been hypothesized to be adapted to brackish/marine and freshwater environments, respectively. Hatching was completely inhibited at 5 °C in both species. At temperature of 10 °C and above, both taxa showed successful hatching with largely overlapping thermal profiles; however, C. rudolphii sp. A achieved a marginally significantly higher success, with maximum hatching observed at 30 °C – a value chosen to simulate a potential heatwave scenario. Temperature also influenced developmental timing, with faster hatching occurring at higher temperatures. In contrast, significant marked differences were observed along the salinity gradient: C. rudolphii sp. A hatched across a wide range (0–70 psu); while C. rudolphii sp. B was restricted to 0–20 psu, with a steep decline above 10 psu. The observed species-specific hatching dynamics, primarily driven by salinity factor, support differential ecological adaptation of the two taxa in their respective aquatic habitats. These findings also provide a basis for predicting parasite responses to environmental change, including rising temperatures and salinity shifts in aquatic ecosystems.

Will rising temperatures from climate change affect labour markets? This paper examines the impact of temperature on hours worked, using panel data from Peru covering the period from 2007 to 2015. We combine information on hours worked from household surveys with weather reanalysis data. Our findings show that high temperatures reduce hours worked, with the effect concentrated in informal jobs rather than in weather-exposed industries. These results suggest that labour market segmentation may shape how climate change affects labour outcomes in developing countries.

Sporobolus natalensis (Steud.) T. Durand & Schinz. and Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv., generally known as giant rat’s tail grasses, are two significant weed species that invade summer fields and pastures in the eastern regions of Australia. This study was conducted to examine seed germination behavior, seedling emergence, and the response of these species to various herbicides. Seed germination and seedling emergence were assessed in response to environmental factors, including alternating temperature regimes (15/5, 20/10, 25/15, 30/20, and 35/25 C), light conditions (dark and light/dark), osmotic potentials (0, −0.1, −0.2, −0.4, −0.8, and −1.6 MPa), and seed burial depths (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 cm). Furthermore, the efficacy of several post-emergence herbicides was evaluated in pots under outdoor environmental conditions. Germination was higher under light/dark (12-h light/12-h dark) conditions than under continuous darkness (24 h). The seeds of both species exhibited significantly higher germination (>95%) under 12-h light at higher temperatures (35/25 C) compared with low (20/10 C) or medium (25/15 C) temperatures. The osmotic potential required to inhibit 50% of maximum germination was −0.77 MPa for S. natalensis and −0.59 MPa for S. pyramidalis. Seedling emergence decreased with increasing burial depth, with no emergence observed from seeds buried at depths of 4 cm. Applying herbicides significantly reduced both species’ seedling survival and dry matter. The most effective herbicides for controlling spring-germinated S. pyramidalis and S. natalensis were haloxyfop, clethodim, butroxydim, glyphosate, glufosinate, and paraquat, which provided satisfactory control of both species. The findings from this study can be used to develop effective management strategies for controlling S. pyramidalis and S. natalensis in agricultural systems.