ABSTRACT Ecotoxicologists are using metabolomics increasingly to gain insight into toxicological mechanisms and sublethal effects of chemical exposures. Metabolomics offers a sensitive multi‐parameter approach that can detect biochemical responses not obvious using apical and behavioural endpoints. This includes the responses to very low‐dose toxicant exposures, variations in the physico‐chemical state of experimental media, and even the progression of circadian rhythms. Consequently, repeatability and comparability of metabolomics experiments relies on the control and reporting of these features. In this systematic quantitative literature review, we examine recent ecotoxicology research to determine the rate and quality of reporting of circadian timing and other variables that influence circadian rhythms and the associated metabolome. We found that most circadian variables are underreported and call for further research into the influence of their manipulation on the metabolome.
ABSTRACT Omphalosauridae are an under‐appreciated part of the biotic recovery from the end‐Permian Mass Extinction. This clade, including the genera Omphalosaurus , Sclerocormus and Cartorhynchus , is an enigmatic radiation of secondarily marine reptiles related to ichthyosaurs (Ichthyopterygia). Found across the Northern Hemisphere, omphalosaurid fossils invariably originate from open marine rocks of Olenekian (Early Triassic, 250–247 Ma) to earliest Ladinian (Middle Triassic, 237 Ma) age. The most distinctive feature (and the most common kind of fossil) of Omphalosauridae is its peculiar maxillary and dentary tooth batteries, presumably adapted for grinding up shelled cephalopods (ammonoids). Here, we report the first three‐dimensionally preserved omphalosaurid skull and associated neck. The fossil originates from the Olenekian Vikinghøgda Formation of the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and is assigned to a new genus and species, Ammonitritor scientiacivium . Phylogenetic analysis recovers a well‐supported Omphalosauridae as the sister group to a clade comprising the Chinese Chaohusaurus and Ichthyopterygia. The most basal member of the clade is Cartorhynchus , followed by Ammonitritor. The clade Nasorostra, previously proposed for the Chinese omphalosaurids Cartorhynchus and Sclerocormus , was not recovered. Olenekian omphalosaurids likely attained maximum body lengths exceeding 6 m, while Middle Triassic forms reached well over 10 m. Thus, some of the oldest marine reptiles from Panthalassa were already large‐bodied at their first appearance, approximately 2 million years after the end‐Permian extinction. Together with other Ichthyosauriformes, omphalosaurids represent the only marine reptile clade generally present in Panthalassa during the Early and Middle Triassic.
Understanding migration ecology is essential for effective conservation of migratory species. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the ecology of migrating species, it is necessary to study how species react to the complex interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic conditions when optimizing their migratory journey in terms of survival, energy and time. Nocturnal migratory songbirds, which often migrate alone and alternate migratory endurance flights with stopovers, provide an excellent group for studying such individual decisions. Specifically, the decision to interrupt the migratory flight and land and the decision to depart from a stopover are critical for the success of migration. We screened 1490 studies, of which 286 studies were eligible, using a systematic literature review, to identify five significant knowledge gaps in the migration ecology of songbirds: (i) exploring when and where bird mortality occurs during migration; (ii) inferring stopover functions from landing decisions; (iii) assessing the consequences of migration distance on migratory decisions; (iv) measuring how predation danger affects bird decisions; and (v) studying the consequences of habitat quality on the migratory decisions. To address these knowledge gaps, we propose novel frameworks that integrate methods applied at different spatial and temporal scales to study songbird decisions in flight and at stopovers. We also discuss testable hypotheses and future directions to stimulate research for enhancing the understanding of migration ecology and advancing the conservation of threatened migratory songbird species.
During their long evolutionary history, land plants have evolved a range of adaptations to different abiotic stressors. These help explain present-day diversity and distribution patterns, as well as the potential resilience of natural and agricultural systems to a changing climate. Most previous research has focused on adaptation to individual stressors and much less is known about how plants deal with exposure to multiple abiotic stressors. Consequently, the evolutionary processes leading to abiotic stress polyresistance (i.e. resistance to multiple abiotic stressors) remain poorly understood. Here, we showcase plants in hot and cold deserts as a compelling system for studying evolution of polyresistance. We focus on three abiotic stressors with substantial physiological overlap - drought, frost and salinity - and present six plant groups that occur in both hot and cold deserts, thus being exposed to these stressors in at least parts of their ranges: Gnetales, Amaranthaceae sensu lato, Nitrariaceae, Poaceae, Tamaricaceae-Frankeniaceae and Zygophyllaceae. We examine key questions regarding the sequence and mechanisms underlying abiotic stress polyresistance evolution and summarize the diverse adaptive strategies that allow persistence under multiple environmental pressures. In doing so, we highlight how trade-offs and facilitation among abiotic stress responses may have influenced the evolutionary pathways that lead to present-day polyresistance. Despite limited evidence, broad patterns emerge for the plant groups examined here, with facilitation appearing especially important, at least during early stages of polyresistance evolution. However, fundamental knowledge gaps remain. Macroevolutionary and macroecological approaches, coupled with historical biogeography and palaeoclimatic and palaeoecological reconstructions, can be used to advance understanding of abiotic stress polyresistance evolution in plants. This will pave the way for applied trait-based research to support climate change mitigation, conservation and sustainable crop improvement in a rapidly changing world.
Carrion is a ubiquitous resource in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, yet it has long been overlooked in ecological research. Over the past two decades, studies on carrion and the many organisms that exploit it have flourished, revealing not only wide-ranging ecological functions but also significance far beyond ecology. This growing body of knowledge underscores the need for the formal recognition and consolidation of carrion ecology as a distinct ecological discipline. In this review, we begin by outlining the ecological features that make carrion a unique resource, provide practical definitions of scavenger and scavenging to reduce persistent ambiguities, describe carcass decomposition by linking stages with insect succession, and position carrion within a broader scientific context. Building on this foundation, we then pursue three main goals. First, we show how incorporating carrion ecology enriches ecological concepts and paradigms across levels of biological organisation, from individuals to ecosystems. Second, we emphasise how expanding knowledge of carrion ecology informs many disciplines beyond ecology. Third, we present a conceptual framework that integrates the diverse ecological functions of carrion across eco-evolutionary timescales and addresses the structured and dynamic connections among the multiple disciplines concerned with carrion. By underscoring the ecological and interdisciplinary relevance of this resource, our framework not only clarifies the components and flows of the carrion system but also highlights opportunities for novel cross-disciplinary collaborations. As carrion ecology continues to mature as a scientific field, we expect that this review and synthesis will consolidate current knowledge, stimulate innovative research across disciplines, and firmly position carrion ecology within the broader ecological and scientific landscape.
