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Current Biology : CB Jun 2024Sauropterygians were the stratigraphically longest-ranging clade of Mesozoic marine reptiles with a global fossil record spanning ∼180 million years. However, their...
Sauropterygians were the stratigraphically longest-ranging clade of Mesozoic marine reptiles with a global fossil record spanning ∼180 million years. However, their early evolution has only been known from what is now the Northern Hemisphere, extending across the northern and trans-equatorial western margins of the Tethys paleo-ocean after the late-Early Triassic (late Olenekian, ∼248.8 million years [Ma] ago), and via possible trans-Arctic migration to the Eastern Panthalassa super-ocean prior to the earliest Middle Triassic (Olenekian-earliest Anisian, ∼247 Ma). Here, we describe the geologically oldest sea-going reptile from the Southern Hemisphere - a nothosaur (basal sauropterygian) from the Middle Triassic (Anisian, after ∼246 Ma) of New Zealand. Time-scaled ancestral range estimations thus reveal an unexpected circum-Gondwanan high-paleolatitude (>60° S) dispersal from a northern Tethyan origination center. This coincides with the adaptive diversification of sauropterygians after the end-Permian mass extinction and suggests that rapid globalization accompanied their initial radiation in the earliest Mesozoic.
Topics: Animals; Fossils; Reptiles; Biological Evolution; New Zealand; Animal Distribution; Aquatic Organisms; Internationality; Phylogeny
PubMed: 38889674
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.035 -
PloS One 2024The loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta is a large marine turtle with a cosmopolitan repartition in warm and temperate waters of the planet. The South Pacific...
The loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta is a large marine turtle with a cosmopolitan repartition in warm and temperate waters of the planet. The South Pacific subpopulation is classified as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List, based on the estimated demographic decline. This precarious situation engages an urgent need to monitor nesting populations in order to highlight conservation priorities and to ensure their efficiency over time. New Caledonia encompasses a large number of micro and distant nesting sites, localized on coral islets widely distributed across its large lagoon. Adequately surveying nesting activities on those hard-to-reach beaches can prove to be challenging. As a result, important knowledge gaps prevail in those high-potential nesting habitats. For the first time, an innovative monitoring scheme was conducted to assess the intensity of nesting activities, considered as a proxy of the population size, on an exhaustive set of islets located in the 'Grand Lagon Sud' area. These data were analyzed using a set of statistical methods specially designed to produce phenology and nesting activity estimates using Bayesian methods. This analysis revealed that this rookery hosts a large nesting colony, with a mean annual estimate of 437 nests (95% Credible Interval = 328-582). These numbers exceed that of the previous estimated annual number of loggerhead turtle nests in New Caledonia, highlighting the exceptional nature of this area. Considering the fact that similar high-potential aggregations have been identified in other parts of New Caledonia, but failed to be comprehensively assessed to this day, we recommend carrying out this replicable monitoring scheme to other locations. It could allow a significant re-evaluation of the New Caledonian nesting population importance and, ultimately, of its prevailing responsibility for the protection of this patrimonial yet endangered species.
Topics: Animals; Turtles; New Caledonia; Nesting Behavior; Conservation of Natural Resources; Endangered Species; Ecosystem; Bayes Theorem; Population Density
PubMed: 38889122
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299748 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Electricity generation in Islanded Urban Microgrids (IUMG) now relies heavily on a diverse range of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). However, the dependable utilization...
Electricity generation in Islanded Urban Microgrids (IUMG) now relies heavily on a diverse range of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). However, the dependable utilization of these sources hinges upon efficient Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EESs). As the intermittent nature of RES output and the low inertia of IUMGs often lead to significant frequency fluctuations, the role of EESs becomes pivotal. While these storage systems effectively mitigate frequency deviations, their high costs and elevated power density requirements necessitate alternative strategies to balance power supply and demand. In recent years, substantial attention has turned towards harnessing Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries as Mobile EV Energy Storage (MEVES) units to counteract frequency variations in IUMGs. Integrating MEVES into the IUMG infrastructure introduces complexity and demands a robust control mechanism for optimal operation. Therefore, this paper introduces a robust, high-order degree of freedom cascade controller known as the 1PD-3DOF-PID (1 + Proportional + Derivative-Three Degrees Of Freedom Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller for Load Frequency Control (LFC) in IUMGs integrated with MEVES. The controller's parameters are meticulously optimized using the Coati Optimization Algorithm (COA) which mimics coati behavior in nature, marking its debut in LFC of IUMG applications. Comparative evaluations against classical controllers and algorithms, such as 3DOF-PID, PID, Reptile Search Algorithm, and White Shark Optimizer, are conducted under diverse IUMG operating scenarios. The testbed comprises various renewable energy sources, including wind turbines, photovoltaics, Diesel Engine Generators (DEGs), Fuel Cells (FCs), and both Mobile and Fixed energy storage units. Managing power balance in this entirely renewable environment presents a formidable challenge, prompting an examination of the influence of MEVES, DEG, and FC as controllable units to mitigate active power imbalances. Metaheuristic algorithms in MATLAB-SIMULINK platforms are employed to identify the controller's gains across all case studies, ensuring the maintenance of IUMG system frequency within predefined limits. Simulation results convincingly establish the superiority of the proposed controller over other counterparts. Furthermore, the controller's robustness is rigorously tested under ± 25% variations in specific IUMG parameters, affirming its resilience. Statistical analyses reinforce the robust performance of the COA-based 1PD-3DOF-PID control method. This work highlights the potential of the COA Technique-optimized 1PD-3DOF-PID controller for IUMG control, marking its debut application in the LFC domain for IUMGs. This comprehensive study contributes valuable insights into enhancing the reliability and stability of Islanded Urban Microgrids while integrating Mobile EV Energy Storage, marking a significant advancement in the field of Load-Frequency Control.
PubMed: 38886513
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64794-y -
PeerJ 2024Much of the ecological discourse surrounding the polarising theropod has centred on qualitative discussions. Using a quantitative multivariate data analytical approach...
Much of the ecological discourse surrounding the polarising theropod has centred on qualitative discussions. Using a quantitative multivariate data analytical approach on size-adjusted linear measurements of the skull, we examine patterns in skull shape across a range of sauropsid clades and three ecological realms (terrestrial, semi-aquatic, and aquatic). We utilise cluster analyses to identify emergent properties of the data which associate properties of skull shape with ecological realm occupancy. Results revealed terrestrial ecologies to be significantly distinct from both semi- and fully aquatic ecologies, the latter two were not significantly different. Spinosaurids (including ) plotted away from theropods in morphospace and close to both marine taxa and wading birds. The position of nares and the degree of rostral elongation had the greatest effect on categorisation. Comparisons of supervised (k-means) and unsupervised clustering demonstrated categorising taxa into three groups (ecological realms) was inappropriate and suggested instead that cluster division is based on morphological adaptations to feeding on aquatic terrestrial food items. The relative position of the nares in longirostrine taxa is associated with which skull bones are elongated. Rostral elongation is observed by either elongating the maxilla and the premaxilla or by elongating the maxilla only. This results in the nares positioned towards the orbits or towards the anterior end of the rostrum respectively, with implications on available feeding methods. Spinosaurids, especially , show elongation in the maxilla-premaxilla complex, achieving similar functional outcomes to elongation of the premaxilla seen in birds, particularly large-bodied piscivorous taxa. Such a skull construction would bolster "stand-and-wait" predation of aquatic prey to a greater extent than serving other proposed feeding methods.
Topics: Animals; Skull; Ecosystem; Dinosaurs; Cluster Analysis; Fossils
PubMed: 38881866
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17544 -
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Jun 2024The genus Amblyomma contains the highest percentage of reptile-associated ticks, and comprises approximately nine subgenera. One of these subgenera is Adenopleura, which...
The genus Amblyomma contains the highest percentage of reptile-associated ticks, and comprises approximately nine subgenera. One of these subgenera is Adenopleura, which also encompasses Amblyomma javanense, and its type species Amblyomma compressum. This study describes a new Amblyomma species associated with Bengal monitor lizards (Varanus bengalensis) based on morphology and its mitogenome in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Reptiles belonging to different genera were examined for Amblyomma ticks and only the monitor lizard was infested with ticks in the District Bajaur. Collected Amblyomma cf. javanense ticks were analyzed and formally described as a new species. Overall, 57 A. cf. javanense ticks were collected on monitor lizards (4/27) with a 15% prevalence of infestation, 2.1 mean abundance, and 14.3 mean intensity. Ticks comprised males (n = 23, 40%), females (n = 14, 25%) and nymphs (n = 20, 35%), while no larvae were found. BLAST analysis of A. cf. javanense sequences showed the following maximum identities; 98.25% with undetermined Amblyomma species based on 12S rRNA, 96.07% with A. javanense based on 16S rRNA, 99.56% and 90.95% with an Amblyomma sp. and A. javanense, respectively, based on ITS2. Moreover, the mitochondrial genome of A. cf. javanense showed maximum identities of 80.75%, 80.48% and 79.42% with Amblyomma testudinarium, A. javanense, and Amblyomma sp., respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of A. cf. javanense revealed that its 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA are closely related to an Amblyomma sp. and A. javanense, respectively, from Sri Lanka, its ITS2 is closely related to A. javanense from China and an Amblyomma sp. from Sri Lanka, and its mitogenome is closely related to A. javanense and Amblyomma sp. from China. The pairwise distance analysis resulted in divergence of 0-1.71% (12S rRNA), 0-17.5% (16S rRNA), 0-9.1% (ITS2) and 0-20.5% (mitochondrial genome). We also contributed the full-length mitochondrial genome sequence of A. compressum and showed that this species does not share a most recent common ancestor with A. javanense. As the subgenus Adenopleura is paraphyletic, this study could help to understand the systematics and phylogeny of this taxon.
PubMed: 38880004
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102361 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is involved in cholesterol transport among cells and also plays an important role in amyloid formation, co-depositing with amyloid fibrils in...
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is involved in cholesterol transport among cells and also plays an important role in amyloid formation, co-depositing with amyloid fibrils in various types of amyloidosis. Although the in vivo amyloidogenicity of ApoE has not been previously demonstrated, this study provides evidence of ApoE amyloidogenicity in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius), belonging to the class Reptilia. Histologically, amyloid deposits were localized within cholesterol granulomas and exhibited positive Congo red staining, with yellow to green birefringence under polarized light. On mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis, ApoE was detected as a dominant component of amyloid; of the full length of the 274 amino acid residues, peptides derived from Leu185-Arg230 were frequently detected with non-tryptic truncations. Immunohistochemistry with anti-leopard gecko ApoE antibody showed positive reactions of amyloid deposits. These results show that ApoE is an amyloid precursor protein within the cholesterol granulomas of leopard geckos. Although further investigations are needed, the C-terminal region of ApoE involved in amyloid formation is a lipid-binding region, and there should be a relationship between amyloidogenesis and the development of cholesterol granulomas in leopard geckos. This study provides novel insights into the pathogenesis of ApoE-related diseases.
Topics: Animals; Lizards; Cholesterol; Apolipoproteins E; Amyloid; Granuloma; Proteomics
PubMed: 38877049
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64643-y -
PloS One 2024Long-term ecological monitoring is crucial to understanding the complex dynamics of ecosystems, communities, and populations. Despite this, monitoring data are lacking...
Long-term ecological monitoring is crucial to understanding the complex dynamics of ecosystems, communities, and populations. Despite this, monitoring data are lacking or rare for the vast majority of biodiversity. Here we report the results of 19 years (2003-2022) of continuous annual monitoring of reptile species at Booderee National Park (BNP) on the east coast of south-eastern Australia. We tested the effects of time, habitat type, fire, and climate on detections of five reptile species. Our study revealed declines in detections of two skink species over time (Lampropholis delicata and Ctenotus taeniolatus), which we suspect was partly driven by weather conditions influencing activity of these species. We also identified broad vegetation type associations for two congeneric species with L. delicata being associated with forested sites, and Lampropholis guichenoti associated with more shrubby sites. Our results also demonstrated a clear association between Cryptophis nigrescens and L. delicata and fire, with the probabilities of detection of both species decreasing with time since fire in the short term. At about the midway point of our study (in 2011), we were forced to make a change in the way our data were collected. The change heavily influenced our findings, and so breached the integrity of the time series in our dataset. We acknowledge that a simple but crucial step to mitigate this breach would have been to conduct calibration that allowed subsequent analysis to control for a change in field survey methodology. Whilst improvements in the effectiveness of field survey methods might be possible through new technologies, it is crucial to maintain the integrity of long-term datasets as data collection continues.
Topics: Animals; Reptiles; Ecosystem; Biodiversity; Australia; Fires
PubMed: 38875283
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305518 -
BMC Ecology and Evolution Jun 2024Unenlagiine paravians are among the most relevant Gondwanan theropod dinosaur clades for understanding the origin of birds, yet their fossil record remains incomplete,...
Diuqin lechiguanae gen. et sp. nov., a new unenlagiine (Theropoda: Paraves) from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Neuquén Group, Upper Cretaceous) of Neuquén Province, Patagonia, Argentina.
BACKGROUND
Unenlagiine paravians are among the most relevant Gondwanan theropod dinosaur clades for understanding the origin of birds, yet their fossil record remains incomplete, with most taxa being represented by fragmentary material and/or separated by lengthy temporal gaps, frustrating attempts to characterize unenlagiine evolution.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Here we describe Diuqin lechiguanae gen. et sp. nov., a new unenlagiine taxon from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Bajo de la Carpa Formation of the Neuquén Basin of Neuquén Province in northern Patagonia, Argentina that fills a substantial stratigraphic gap in the fossil record of these theropods. Although known only from a very incomplete postcranial skeleton, the preserved bones of Diuqin differ from corresponding elements in other unenlagiines, justifying the erection of the new taxon. Moreover, in several morphological aspects, the humerus of Diuqin appears intermediate between those of geologically older unenlagiines from the Neuquén Basin (e.g., Unenlagia spp. from the Turonian-Coniacian Portezuelo Formation) and that of the stratigraphically younger, larger-bodied Austroraptor cabazai from the Campanian-Maastrichtian Allen Formation. Consequently, the morphology of the new taxon appears to indicate a transitional stage in unenlagiine evolution. Phylogenetic analysis recovers Diuqin as a paravian with multiple plausible systematic positions, but the strongest affinity is with Unenlagiinae. The humerus of the new form exhibits subcircular punctures near its distal end that are interpreted as feeding traces most likely left by a conical-toothed crocodyliform, mammal, or theropod, the latter potentially corresponding to a megaraptorid or another unenlagiine individual. Thus, in addition to filling important morphological and temporal gaps in unenlagiine evolutionary history, the new taxon also offers information relating to the paleoecology of these theropods.
Topics: Argentina; Animals; Fossils; Dinosaurs; Phylogeny; Biological Evolution
PubMed: 38872101
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02247-w -
BMC Ecology and Evolution Jun 2024New Zealand is home to over 120 native endemic species of skinks and geckos that radiated over the last 20-40 million years, likely driven by the exploitation of diverse...
BACKGROUND
New Zealand is home to over 120 native endemic species of skinks and geckos that radiated over the last 20-40 million years, likely driven by the exploitation of diverse habitats formed during the Miocene. The recent radiation of animal hosts may facilitate cross-species virus transmission, likely reflecting their close genetic relationships and therefore relatively low barriers for viruses to emerge in new hosts. Conversely, as animal hosts adapt to new niches, even within specific geographic locations, so too could their viruses. Consequently, animals that have niche-specialised following radiations may be expected to harbour genetically distinct viruses. Through a metatranscriptomic analysis of eight of New Zealand's native skink and gecko species, as well as the only introduced lizard species, the rainbow skink (Lampropholis delicata), we aimed to reveal the diversity of viruses in these hosts and determine whether and how the radiation of skinks and geckos in New Zealand has impacted virus diversity and evolution.
RESULTS
We identified a total of 15 novel reptilian viruses spanning 11 different viral families, across seven of the nine species sampled. Notably, we detected no viral host-switching among the native animals analysed, even between those sampled from the same geographic location. This is compatible with the idea that host speciation has likely resulted in isolated, niche-constrained viral populations that have prevented cross-species transmission. Using a protein structural similarity-based approach, we further identified a highly divergent bunya-like virus that potentially formed a new family within the Bunyavirales.
CONCLUSIONS
This study has broadened our understanding of reptilian viruses within New Zealand and illustrates how niche adaptation may limit viral-host interactions.
Topics: Animals; Lizards; New Zealand; Viruses; Phylogeny
PubMed: 38872095
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02269-4 -
Biology Letters Jun 2024
PubMed: 38869045
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0151