Insects MDPI’s Post

🌳 Excited to share my first publication in Tree Physiology! 🌳 Are you working with trees and interested in measuring stem water content to assess drought stress? We established a general standard calibration regarding relative water content in woody tissue by measuring dielectric permittivity using Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) technology. And the best part? It also works for monocotyledonous palms! 🌴 FDR is a cost-effective and robust method, allowing for data collection at high temporal resolution that can capture diurnal and seasonal differences in stem water storage. Given the growing interest in monitoring vegetation water content through remote sensing technologies, FDR technology presents a promising method for ground-truthing these estimates of vegetation permittivity. #TreePhysiology #DroughtStress #Ecology https://lnkd.in/es474Ywa

Glad to finally have this co-first authored publication in Molecular Biology and Evolution. Thanks to the hard work of the brilliant lead first author, Henry North. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/duzXEVRe

I wrote about this beautiful paper. 🧬 Cyanobacteria exposed to shorter days (in the lab) "rewire" their membrane lipids to anticipate cold weather. When those cells are plunged into cold water, they have "two or three-times higher survival" than cells exposed to longer days. This discovery would be entirely unremarkable in mammals; we already know of many examples of animals that hibernate, migrate, or estivate in response to seasonal changes. But this study documents the first time that “photoperiod adaptations” have been observed in a single-celled organism. Cyanobacteria — an organism that divides in just six hours — is able not only to sense changes in the hours of daylight but also to use that information to adapt and prepare for weather far in advance.  The essay is published at Asimov Press! Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/erNgejtp

What is the phyllosphere and why does it matter? Discover how adding BioStim to your foliar tank mix can lead to increased chlorophyll levels, enhanced biodiversity, and improved yields by 2-14%! Learn more at https://wix.to/Ud5FsY5 #AgricultureInnovation #BoostYields #Foliar #Phyllosphere #Plant2024

Exploring Terahertz wave stress in plants This review looks at the effects of terahertz (THz) wave stress on Pinellia ternata. It details Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Brassinosteroid Insensitive (BRI) homeostasis and signalling, and the current understanding of BRI involvement in stress perception, stress signalling, and domestication response regulation. By highlighting these mechanisms, this review opens new avenues for enhancing agricultural practices and optimizing the growth of medicinal plants under environmental stress. Discover the future potential of THz technology in plant science by catching up on the topic at https://bit.ly/3Xdbsel #Plantscience #THZwavestress

📢 New Publication in Arthropoda! 🕷️ We are excited to announce the publication of a new study titled "The Prevalence of Egg Parasitoids of Two Cobweb Spiders in a Tropical Urban Gradient" by Natalia Jiménez-Conejo, Paul E. Hanson, Eduardo Chacón-Madrigal, and Geovanna Rojas-Malavasi. 🔍 Key Findings: This research explores how urbanization and environmental factors influence the prevalence of egg parasitoids in two spider species: the native Parasteatoda tepidariorum and the recently introduced Latrodectus geometricus. The study was conducted across different urban sites, from highly urbanized to rural, and focused on how surrounding vegetation affects parasitoid activity. Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/dZbU3hJm #Arthropoda #SpiderEcology #UrbanEcology #Parasitoids #Entomology

How to read Phylogenetic Tree Diagrams A phylogenetic tree, also known as a phylogeny, is a diagram that depicts the lines of evolutionary descent of different species, organisms, or genes from a common ancestor. Phylogenies are useful for organizing knowledge of biological diversity, for structuring classifications, and for providing insight into events that occurred during evolution. Furthermore, because these trees show descent from a common ancestor, and because much of the strongest evidence for evolution comes in the form of common ancestry, one must understand phylogenies in order to fully appreciate the overwhelming evidence supporting the theory of evolution. Tree diagrams have been used in evolutionary biology since the time of Charles Darwin. Therefore, one might assume that, by now, most scientists would be exceedingly comfortable with "tree thinking"--reading and interpreting phylogenies. However, it turns out that the tree model of evolution is somewhat counterintuitive and easily misunderstood. This may be the reason why biologists have only in the last few decades come to develop a rigorous understanding of phylogenetic trees. This understanding allows present-day researchers to use phylogenies to visualize evolution, organize their knowledge of biodiversity, and structure and guide ongoing evolutionary research. But what exactly is a phylogeny? Moreover, how should one read and interpret one of these diagrams? In an attempt to answer such questions, the following sections present a brief introduction to tree thinking. A more complete view of this subject can be developed by learning about how traits evolve along trees, how trees are reconstructed, and how trees are used to study various aspects of evolution. Youtube video: https://lnkd.in/drsjq6yB \#nikolays_genetics_lessons

I'm happy to share my first article of 2025: 'Exploring Seasonality Indices for Low-Flow Analysis on Tibagi Watershed (Brazil).' 📖 In this study, we analyzed the Tibagi watershed, an important hydrological resource in the state of Paraná (Brazil), applying Seasonality Indices to assess low-flow variability. 💧📊 Beyond exploring flow patterns, we highlighted the practical applications of these indices, such as managing water-use conflicts and optimizing the sustainable use of this essential resource. 🌍🔬 I sincerely thank Professor Michael Mannich for his essentials contributions to the development and review of this article! 🙌 #Hydrology #WaterResources #Seasonality #Research https://lnkd.in/dSfDhTDG

Bug Specialist Briefly Nyt: Insights from The New York Times Bug Specialist Briefly Nyt, often referred to as an entomologist, plays a crucial role in understanding and managing insect populations. These professionals study insects’ behavior, biology, and impact on the environment and human activities. This article explores the role of bug specialists, their significance, and insights from a recent feature in The New York Times. https://lnkd.in/dJ2BPgYs #bug specialist briefly nyt

Anatolian Short-Horned Grasshoppers Unveiled: Integrating Biogeography and Pest Potential 📚included in the Special Issue "Locusts and Grasshoppers: Bionomics, Distribution, and Population Management" 👉Open Access: https://brnw.ch/21wQ5Lt #mdpiinsects #Grasshoppers