Resin production is a major innovation in land plants, signaling the evolution of specialized secretory systems, complex terpenoid biosynthesis, and defensive and wound-sealing functions. Yet its origin remains poorly constrained because fossilized resin (amber) is exceedingly rare in Paleozoic deposits, with the earliest widely accepted amber record from the Late Carboniferous. Here we report the earliest known amber from the Middle Devonian of China (~385 million years old), extending the geological record of amber by ~65 million years. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry reveal chemical signatures comparable to conifer-type amber. These data indicate that some Middle Devonian vascular plants-most plausibly progymnosperms or arborescent lycopsids-had already evolved biosynthetic capacity consistent with terpene synthase. The early emergence of resin production may have promoted the ecological success of Devonian-Carboniferous terrestrial floras by enhancing protection and wound sealing.

The global decline of apex predator populations risks the loss of their crucial ecological functions. This raises a pressing yet contentious question: can human hunters, often termed 'super-predators', functionally substitute for the complex regulation once provided by their natural counterparts? To investigate this question, we analysed 30,778 camera-trap records from 400 sites in southwestern China (2017-2021). Using propensity score matching (PSM) to control for environmental heterogeneity, we compared wildlife communities across hunter-dominated, apex predator-dominated, and predator-absent sites. Our results showed that hunters fail to replicate the collective and individual ecological functions of natural apex predators (dhole, Asian golden cat, and clouded leopard). Apex predator sites supported the highest species richness and abundance, with 33.0% and 32.5% more species and 49.8% and 44.8% greater abundance than hunter-dominated and predator-absent sites, respectively. The prey species-site network was the most robust at apex predator sites and the weakest at hunter-dominated sites, indicating that hunting increases prey vulnerability to cascading extirpations following habitat loss. Compared with hunter-dominated sites, sites dominated by single-apex predators had distinct species compositions and dominant prey. Prey exhibited prolonged avoidance (up to 2.6 times longer) of hunters compared with any apex predator, coinciding with the weakest network robustness at hunter-dominated sites. Collectively, our findings provide compelling evidence that human hunters cannot replace apex predators in sustaining biodiversity and promoting stable spatial patterns. Our work therefore strongly supports the conservation of natural apex predators and offers crucial insights for regulating human hunting in ecosystem management.

ABSTRACT Under global warming, the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) ecosystem faces severe threats, and vegetation restoration is critical for ecological rehabilitation. Unlike previous studies focusing on endangered or invasive species, this research innovatively selects six typical vegetation restoration species (Poa pratensis, Poa araratica, Poa pratensis var. anceps, Festuca sinensis, Elymus nutans, Lolium perenne) and integrates species distribution modeling (MaxEnt), centroid migration analysis, and niche theory to systematically evaluate their restoration potential under current and future climate scenarios—advancing beyond conventional single‐species distribution predictions. Key findings: (1) Elevation (alt) and annual precipitation (bio12) are the dominant factors determining species distribution, with their combined contribution rates to the six species ranging from 46.6% (L. perenne) to 81.7% (F. sinensis), providing precise indicators for site selection in restoration. (2) Except for L. perenne, high‐suitability zones of other species concentrate in the northeastern QTP, with E. nutans having the largest suitable area (80.73 × 104 km2, 61% of total QTP area). Under climate warming, 80% of species (e.g., P. araratica, E. nutans) show significant habitat expansion (e.g., E. nutans moderate/high suitability zones increase by 90.79%/111.66% under RCP8.5 2070s) and an overall westward migration trend (e.g., F. sinensis migrates 246.51 km southwestward under RCP8.5). (3) E. nutans exhibits the widest niche breadth (B1 = 0.156, strongest adaptability) but high niche overlap with other species (e.g., P. araratica vs. P. pratensis, D = 0.75), indicating a potential competition risk requiring field validation when mixed‐sown in resource‐limited areas. This study applies a multidimensional assessment framework that integrates climate response, spatial migration, and niche interaction to QTP vegetation restoration, providing a scientific basis for species selection and configuration with important practical implications for climate‐resilient ecological restoration.

Understanding how specific leaf area (SLA) influences insect herbivory is crucial for predicting plant-herbivore interactions in forest ecosystems. However, most existing studies rely on species- or community-level trait averages, overlooking the fine-scale variations at the leaf level where herbivore feeding decisions actually occur. Here, we examined leaf-level relationships between SLA and herbivory using 3,028 insect-damaged leaves from 609 juvenile individuals of 39 woody species, sampled over three seasons in a subtropical forest of southwest China. We identified a consistent U-shaped pattern at the community level, where leaves with intermediate SLA experienced the lowest herbivory, while both high- and low-SLA leaves suffered greater damage. This pattern persisted across seasons and reflects two distinct processes operating relative to an SLA threshold. Below this threshold, SLA is negatively associated with herbivory, potentially due to extended leaf lifespan in low-SLA leaves. Above the threshold, SLA is positively associated with herbivory, potentially due to enhanced nutritional quality in high-SLA leaves outweighing defensive traits. In addition, we observed a diversity of species-specific responses, including U-shaped, negative, positive, hump-shaped, and non-significant relationships. Our findings demonstrate that while community-level patterns suggest general ecological trends, species-specific responses vary considerably, highlighting the importance of multi-scale approaches in functional ecology. The study advances our understanding of plant defense strategies by showing how SLA's role in herbivory depends on both universal leaf economic principles and species-specific adaptations.

Background: The Chungtien schizothoracin (Ptychobarbus chungtienensis) is a threatened freshwater fish endemic to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent high-altitude regions of northwestern Yunnan, China. Although a complete mitochondrial genome of P. chungtienensis has been previously reported, direct comparison with a mitogenome generated using high-accuracy long-read sequencing can provide additional information on mitochondrial genome structure and sequence variation. This study aimed to assemble and annotate a complete mitogenome of P. chungtienensis using PacBio HiFi sequencing and to compare its mitogenomic characteristics with previously published Ptychobarbus mitogenomes. Methods: High-molecular-weight genomic DNA from a single specimen was sequenced using PacBio HiFi long-read technology. The mitochondrial genome was assembled using MitoHiFi, annotated using MitoFinder followed by manual curation, and compared with previously published Ptychobarbus mitogenomes. Phylogenetic relationships were evaluated using maximum-likelihood analysis with expanded taxon sampling, and selection pressure on the 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes was assessed using dN/dS-based branch and branch-site models. Results: The assembled mitogenome is 16,583 bp in length and contains the typical 37 mitochondrial genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes, together with a control region and the origin of light-strand replication (OL). The overall A + T content was 54.97%. Direct comparison with the previously reported 16,970 bp mitogenome showed that the 387 bp length difference was concentrated in non-coding regions, particularly the control region and the tRNA-Thr–tRNA-Pro intergenic region. Phylogenetic analysis based on 22 complete mitogenomes placed the newly assembled P. chungtienensis sequence in a strongly supported mitochondrial clade with Schizothorax macropogon (bootstrap = 100%), whereas the previously reported P. chungtienensis sequence clustered with P. kaznakovi (bootstrap = 100%), indicating that the two P. chungtienensis records represent distinct mitochondrial lineages. The dN/dS values of all 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes were below 1, and neither branch nor branch–site analyses detected significant evidence of lineage-specific positive selection. Conclusions: This long-read-based mitogenome provides a high-quality genomic resource for P. chungtienensis and reveals substantial mitochondrial sequence and lineage variation among available records. These results provide a basis for comparative mitogenomic and conservation genetic studies while also indicating that species-level phylogenetic relationships and high-altitude adaptation should not be inferred from mitochondrial data alone.

ABSTRACT Scatter‐hoarding rodents act as both seed predators and dispersers, strongly influencing seed fate and plant recruitment. Their foraging decisions are influenced not only by the traits of individual seeds but also by the traits of neighboring seeds. Although the effects of seed traits such as size and chemical defense are well‐established, how the relative frequency of co‐occurring seeds influences these decisions remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a field experiment in a subtropical forest in southwestern China using artificial seeds. A total of 19,200 artificial seeds with different seed sizes (diameters of 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 cm) or tannin content (0%, 5%, and 10%) were deployed across 240 seed patches. Within each patch, the ratios of paired seeds were set across five levels (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, and 1:9). We found that seed removal exhibited clear frequency‐dependent patterns. Specifically, large seeds were removed less frequently as their relative abundance increased, whereas small seeds showed the opposite trend when paired with larger seeds. Similar frequency‐dependent responses were observed for tannin treatments, although these effects were context‐dependent. In contrast, caching probability and dispersal distance remained largely unaffected by relative frequency. These results demonstrate that rodent foraging is jointly shaped by seed traits and frequency‐dependent processes, primarily during the initial removal stage. Our findings provide a mechanistic basis for understanding context‐dependent seed dispersal and highlight the role of frequency‐dependent selection in shaping plant community dynamics.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major zoonotic pathogen causing hepatitis E, with strains identified in various animal species, including pigs, wild boar, rabbits, deer, camels, and rats. These variants are capable of crossing species barriers and infecting humans. HEV belongs to the family Hepeviridae, which has recently divided into two subfamilies: Orthohepevirinae and Parahepevirinae, and five genera: Paslahepevirus, Avihepevirus, Rocahepevirus, Chirohepevirus, and Piscihepevirus. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing, particularly of bat viromes, have revealed numerous HEV-related viruses, raising concerns about their zoonotic potential. Bat-derived HEVs have been classified into the genus Chirohepevirus, which includes three distinct species. In this study, we analyzed 64 chirohepevirus sequences from 22 bat species across six bat families collected from nine countries. Twelve sequences represent complete or nearly complete viral genomes (>6410 nucleotides) containing the characteristic three HEV open reading frames (ORFs). These strains exhibited high sequence divergence (>25%) within their respective host genera or species. Phylogenetic analyses with maximum likelihood methods identified at least seven distinct subclades within Chirohepevirus, each potentially representing an independent species. Additionally, the close phylogenetic relationship between chirohepevirus strains and their bat hosts indicates a pattern of virus–host co-speciation. Our findings expand the known diversity within the family Hepeviridae and provide new insights into the evolution of bat-associated HEV. Continued surveillance of chirohepevirus will be essential for understanding its potential for zoonotic transmission and public health risks.

Land-use transition has diverse influences on habitat quality. At present, land-use patterns and habitat quality in the ecologically fragile Yellow River Basin are undergoing significant change. However, the relationship between land-use transition and habitat quality and the driving factors of habitat quality dynamics across the whole basin remain unclear. In this study, we utilized a land-use transition matrix and an InVEST model to analyze the dynamics of land use, habitat quality, and the relationship between the two in the Yellow River Basin from 2005 to 2020. The driving factors of habitat quality dynamics were explored with a spatial econometric model. The results showed the following: (1) The areas of farmland and grassland accounted for more than 70%, but decreased by 14,600 km2 and 2500 km2, respectively. The areas of forest and construction land increased by 1800 km2 and 16,900 km2, respectively. (2) The habitat quality showed a trend of decrease-then-increase. The areas of low value (0–0.2) were the largest, accounting for about 50% of the total area; the regions of relatively high (0.6–0.8) and high value (0.8–1) were small and scattered in the mountainous forest area, accounting for about 10%. (3) The habitat quality was the lowest in the land categorized as transitioning to construction, and highest in unchanged forest and in the land characterized as transitioning to forest. The coupling coordination degree of land-use degree and habitat quality showed a steady upward trend. (4) The growth rate in the value added by secondary industries, GDP per capita, population density, ecological-protection policy score, average annual temperature, and average annual precipitation were the primary factors affecting habitat quality. This study fills the gap in the analysis of the relationship between land-use transition and habitat quality across the whole Yellow River Basin; the work assists in the understanding of the ecological effects of land-use transition in the region and provides suggestions for the development of other densely populated and ecologically fragile areas.

Amid the ongoing trend of global warming, the distribution of habitable areas for Rhododendron is facing significant risks. To investigate the possible spatial distribution of Rhododendron on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in light of future global warming scenarios, we employed the Maximum entropy model (MaxEnt model) to map its suitable habitat using geographic distribution data and environmental factors projected for 2050s and 2070s, considering three representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios, while identifying the key factors influencing their distribution. The results show that: [1] The area under curve (AUC) values of the five Rhododendron were all greater than 0.98, indicated that the model prediction effect was excellent; [2] Isothermality is the most important environmental factor affecting the distribution of Rhododendron (excluding Rhododendron przewalskii). The most important environmental factor for Rhododendron przewalskii is altitude (alt: 51%), with an optimum range of 2700–3300 m, and Rhododendron trichostomum are affected by altitude (alt 18%), with an optimum range of 3200–3900 m. Rhododendron przewalskii (bio12: 21%) and Rhododendron trichostomum(bio12: 19%) are also affected by annual precipitation, and Rhododendron laudandum(bio12: 6%) is less affected by annual precipitation, The optimal amount of precipitation is 400–500 mm as well as 500–800 mm. Rhododendron przewalskii and Rhododendron trichostomum are suitable for survival in high altitude, semi-arid areas [3]. The suitable areas for survival for Rhododendron przewalskii, Rhododendron trichostomum, Rhododendron hypenanthum, and Rhododendron nyingchiense is expanding, while the suitable areas for survival for Rhododendron laudandum is shrinking [4]. The optimal zone for Rhododendron przewalskii is primarily found in the eastern section of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, while suitable areas for survival for the other four Rhododendron species are predominantly located in the southern region of the same plateau. Therefore, these regions will be designated as the primary conservation zones for in-situ preservation. The results of the study provide a basis for the in situ conservation of Rhododendron in response to global warming, relocation conservation, and the construction of nature reserve communities and ecological corridors.

Extant ice-crawlers (Notoptera: Grylloblattidae) are wingless, ground-dwelling, relict, polyneopteran insects that live in Holarctic cold environments. Their closest living relatives are the similarly apterous bush-crawlers (Notoptera: Mantophasmatodea) from southern Africa, forming together a disjunct bipolar distribution. Meanwhile, numerous winged fossil insects have been assigned to Grylloblattodea, though the lack of defining synapomorphies has complicated efforts to clarify the evolutionary relationships between these fossils and modern wingless ice-crawlers. Here, we report a well preserved winged ice-crawler, Zygogrylloblatta longipalpa gen. et sp. nov., from the Albian/Cenomanian of northern Myanmar ( ca 99 Ma). Zygogrylloblatta has the typical forewing venation of Mesozoic ‘stem-Grylloblattodea’, but also exhibits a unique unambiguous synapomorphy of extant Grylloblattidae in male genitalia (coxae IX with apical styli), making it the only fossil accurately related to crown-group Grylloblattidae. In contrast to ground-dwelling habits of extant ice-crawlers, Zygogrylloblatta has well developed wings, arolia and true foot pads, supporting a specialized arboreal lifestyle during the mid-Cretaceous. We demonstrate that Grylloblattidae diverged from some winged, arboreal ancestors prior to the mid-Cretaceous, bridging the gap between ancient stem-group and extant Grylloblattidae. Our results reveal previously unknown ecological and morphological diversity in early ice-crawlers and highlight the significance of transitional fossils in tracing the origin of this enigmatic insect lineage.

Mineral elements are important to nutrient absorption and secondary metabolite accumulation in plants. Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Regel increasingly becomes scarce due to overexploitation. Consequently, it is imperative to address market demand through artificial cultivation and to explore the value of various plant tissues. We selected two sites with distinct altitude differences to collect roots, petioles, and leaves of both wild and cultivated R. tanguticum, determining the contents of sennoside A, gallic acid, emodin, and chrysophanol and analyzing 17 elements, including Ca, Na, Ba, and more, in the samples. Our results indicated that, except for emodin, the content of other bioactive compounds exhibited a decreasing trend from root to leaf. The wild rhubarbs were of higher quality at high altitudes, while the cultivated at lower altitudes had higher levels of anthraquinones. Meanwhile, significant differences were observed in the elemental content across different tissues, with a decreasing trend from aboveground to underground. A strong correlation existed between elements and bioactive compounds, with more positive correlations observed in the roots. Elements such as B, Cr, Na, and Zn demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the bioactive compounds. This study provides scientific foundations for the quality identification and control of R. tanguticum.

Nonreciprocal thermal radiation has many applications in energy harvesting, military camouflage, and other fields. However, in the past, most nonreciprocal devices operated under single polarization, which undoubtedly limited the development of the nonreciprocal thermal radiation. In addition, previous research has focused on single-band nonreciprocal radiation. However, there is little study on dual-band nonreciprocal thermal radiation. We investigate a dual-band nonreciprocal radiation device under dual-polarization, which is composed of a metal layer, magneto-optical layer, and silicon-based square-hole arrays in two-dimensional form. The device can achieve dual-band nonreciprocal radiation at wavelengths of 15.945 mu m and 16.475 mu m under TE polarization. Under TM polarization, dual-band nonreciprocal radiation can be achieved at wavelengths of 13.956 mu m and 14.352 mu m. And the electromagnetic field distribution can explain potential physical mechanisms. It indicates that nonreciprocal radiation can be maintained well within a certain range of structural parameters. This work can provide new directions for the study of frequency selective detectors.

The Jehol Biota includes exceptionally well-preserved fossils that are major components of Early Cretaceous land ecosystems. The youngest example of the Jehol Biota occurs in the Jiufotang Formation, which potentially records palaeoenvironmental factors triggering evolutionary turnover. However, the lack of stratigraphic correlations and uncertain age horizons for many fossil taxa lead to conflicting interpretations of events. This study describes a new significant fossiliferous bed (Xiyingzi Bed) from the upper Jiufotang Formation of the Baomayingzi-Yuanjiawa outcrop in western Liaoning, Northeast China. High-precision CA-ID-TIMS U-Pb analysis of a tuff sample from the Xiyingzi Bed provides an age of 121.272 +/- 0.040/0.068/0.15 Ma, representing the first reliable age for the upper Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning. Vertebrate fossils preliminarily reported from this bed include the confuciusornithid and enantiornithine birds, the istiodactylid pterosaur, the non-hadrosaurid iguanodontian dinosaur, the long-necked choristoderan reptiles, the sinemydid turtles, and the polyodontid and sinamiid fish. These fossils were previously reported from the lower horizons, indicating stable development of the late Jehol Biota. New results from the Xiyingzi Bed provides a glimpse of the late Jehol biota before transforming into a typical mid-Cretaceous biota in western Liaoning. Systematic biostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic analysis of the Xiyingzi Bed helps the evolutionary interpretations of the late Jehol Biota and the correlation of the Jiufotang Formation within different basins of western Liaoning. (c) 2024 Elsevier B.V. and Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Solar system gravitational interactions are embedded in Earth's record of climate, providing a way to bypass the 60 Myr limit imposed by chaos. Presently with a 2.4 Myr period, the Mars-Earth beat cycle of orbital perihelion frequencies is particularly sensitive to chaotic diffusion, potentially varying by more than a million years. Early Mesozoic (252 to 145 Ma) strata provide some constraints on this cycle, with evidence of a swing through most of the solution space from 1.8 Myr at 210 Ma to 2.5 Myr at 190 Ma and back to 1.6 Myr at 180 Ma. However, only the 1.8 Myr cycle is corroborated by geochronologic data and the 1.6 Myr period is disputed. Here, we show that variations in land-plant-dominated stable carbon isotopic ratios (δ13Corg) from the lacustrine, paleo-high-latitude Sangonghe Formation (Junggar Basin, northwestern China), reveal at least three 1.6 Myr Mars-Earth beat cycles centered at 183 Ma, tracking atmospheric CO2 isotopic composition in Earth's exchangeable carbon reservoirs. Furthermore, the middle cycle includes the famous Jenkyns Event, expressed here by poleward migration of cheirolepidaceous conifers driven by CO2 warming from the Karoo-Ferrar large igneous province (LIP). Our data do not, however, support major, LIP-triggered input of isotopically light carbon and instead support CO2 amplification of local processes via warming and ecosystem change. Although requiring additional independent geochronological support, Sangonghe data help provide empirical constraints for filtering orbital solutions, tightening initial conditions, and testing gravitational models, as well as showing how extrinsic cyclical processes interact with a tectonic event, the Karoo-Ferrar LIP.

Rhubarb is widely used in food, medicine, and industry. As wild supplies decline, cultivated rhubarb is increasingly used instead. However, its quality varies by region, so systematic evaluation is needed. This study measured five active compounds in 235 wild R. tanguticum samples from 46 sites. The results demonstrate that the machine learning models outperformed the linear model, exhibiting lower root mean square error (RMSE: MLM, 0.75; RF, 0.57; XGB, 0.60; KNN, 0.59) and mean absolute error (MAE: MLM, 0.59; RF, 0.44; XGB, 0.47; KNN, 0.46), along with higher R² values (MLM, 0.23; RF, 0.56; XGB, 0.51; KNN, 0.53) for total anthraquinones. The Random Forest (RF) model was selected for final predictions, showing that Xining and its surrounding areas exhibit the highest contents of total anthraquinones (2.5~3.5%), sennoside A (0.4~1.2%), sennoside B (0.8~1.3%), and gallic acid (0.15~0.37%) in wild R. tanguticum. Field cultivation at four sites confirmed the model’s accuracy. Integrating field sampling, model simulation, and cultivation validation, this study identifies optimal regions for high-quality R. tanguticum cultivation, thereby supporting the sustainable utilization and industrial development of rhubarb resources.

R. tanguticum (Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Regel) is a herbaceous plant belonging to Polygonaceae family and Rheum L. genus. It holds considerable value in culinary and medicinal realms, primarily due to their rich Anthraquinones (AQs) content. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate AQs biosynthesis is a prerequisite for increasing their yield. MYB transcription factors (TFs) can regulate the synthesis of a variety of plant secondary metabolites. However, only a few research have explored the role of MYB TFs in Rheum L. species. In this study, 1054 MYB genes from four Rheum L. species were identified. The number of MYB genes in each species was similar, distributed across 11 chromosomes. To investigate the phylogeny of identified MYB TFs, they were classified into four subfamilies. Sequence characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, evolutionary trends, and tissue expression of MYB genes in Rheum L. species were further studied. Subsequently, 12 MYB genes were selected, which shown differential expression in different tissues. Further research on these genes indicated a significant correlation with genes in shikimate pathway and polyketide pathway of AQs biosynthesis. Protein-protein interaction simulations in Arabidopsis thaliana and qRT-PCR experiments further confirmed this situation. This research lays the foundation for studying molecular mechanisms by which MYB TFs regulates AQs biosynthesis in four Rheum L. species.

The morphology, number, and distribution of antennal sensilla differ between males and females, reflecting adaptations to sex-specific ecological roles and life histories. In this study, scanning electron microscopy was employed to examine the antennal structure and sensilla types of adult males and females of Sclerodermus guani Xiao et Wu 1983 (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), with a focus on identifying morphological differences between the sexes. The results revealed that the antennae of both sexes are geniculate; however, female antennae are shorter and broader than those of males. Each antenna comprises 13 segments, including a scape (1 segment), a pedicel (1 segment), and a flagellum (11 segments). Eight distinct types of sensilla were identified on the antennae of both males and females, with notable sex-specific differences in sensilla types and subtypes. Trichoid sensilla subtype III was found exclusively in males, whereas long basiconic sensilla and basiconic sensilla subtype II were unique to females. More than 70% of the antennal sensilla in both sexes were olfactory in nature, highlighting their predominant role in chemical detection. The observed sexual dimorphism in the morphology and distribution of olfactory sensilla suggests functional specialization, potentially linked to host localization in females and mate location in males.