More stories

  • in

    Marine predators aggregate in anticyclonic ocean eddies

    RESEARCH BRIEFINGS
    07 September 2022

    A diverse range of marine predators — including tunas, billfishes and sharks — in the North Pacific Ocean cluster together in clockwise-rotating eddies, seemingly to hunt deep-ocean prey, which are unusually abundant there. This suggests that there is a relationship between the foraging opportunities of predators and the energetics of this marine biome. More

  • in

    Register animal-tracking tags to boost conservation

    In early 2020, my colleagues and I realized that animal-tracking data collected before, during and after the pandemic lockdowns could provide invaluable insights into human–wildlife interactions and conservation benefits on a global scale. We launched a research consortium — the COVID-19 Bio-Logging Initiative — to investigate how animals behaved while much of the world’s human population sheltered at home.But we had no way to establish how many, and which, animals were wearing tags. Miniature tracking devices are routinely attached to a vast range of species — from songbirds to whales — to collect detailed data on their movements, behaviour and physiology. Yet, of the thousands of ‘bio-loggers’ deployed every year, many generate data sets that remain effectively undiscoverable — they are saved on personal hard drives or institutional servers, inaccessible to the wider community. This problem can be solved by setting up a global registry for all tags on wild animals.Although individual tracking studies make important contributions to our understanding of the ecological needs of animal species, pooling data (across taxa, longer time periods or multiple locations) can reveal general patterns, aiding the design of particularly effective conservation strategies. For example, integrating the tracks of 4,060 animals across 17 marine species (including albatrosses, penguins, seals and whales) has helped to identify conservation priority areas in the Southern Ocean (M. A. Hindell et al. Nature 580, 87–92; 2020).In an ideal world, all animal-tracking data would be archived — with either open or restricted access — in public repositories, such as Movebank. Excellent progress has been made towards this goal, but universal uptake is hindered by time constraints, governmental or institutional restrictions and concerns over inappropriate data use.To encourage as many data owners as possible to join the COVID-19 Bio-Logging Initiative, we launched a recruitment campaign through Movebank, social media, mailing lists, newsletters, personal contacts and a published call to action (C. Rutz et al. Nature Ecol. Evol. 4, 1156–1159; 2020). Our consortium has grown to more than 600 international collaborators, accumulating a staggering one billion location records for some 200 animal species. Despite this impressive community response, we know that this is only the tip of the iceberg.The global tag registry that I suggest would contain metadata for tags (including tag type and settings, information on the animal, and date and location of deployment), as well as researchers’ contact details — but not the actual tracking data. This decoupling of information would unlock the field’s full conservation potential in the short term and would build the trust required to allow raw data to be archived routinely in public repositories in the longer term. Over time, the tag registry is likely to evolve naturally into a ‘meta-repository’, linking to raw data sets hosted across a multitude of repositories.The registry would enable researchers to check data availability at the push of a button — for example, for a particular taxonomic group, such as terrestrial carnivores, or a specific region, such as the Pacific Ocean — and to get in touch with the relevant data owners. Registry management must comply with international best practices, so robust processes would need to be set up to vet queries, pass on collaboration proposals to data owners and minimize overlap between studies.For the registry to fulfil its intended purpose, it must be used by the entire animal-tracking community. How can this be achieved? I see an opportunity to integrate tag registration into existing ethical-review processes. Governmental authorities, research institutions, funders, publishers and fieldworkers agree that permits must be in place before animals can be tagged. Building on this international consensus, ethical review boards could make tag registration a condition of study approval.To complement this bottom-up approach, well established initiatives — such as those associated with the United Nations Environment Programme or the International Union for Conservation of Nature — could help to build an international policy mandate and provide independent oversight. The International Bio-Logging Society, which has been working to unite animal-tracking efforts on land and at sea, could provide crucial support.This vision is no doubt ambitious, but it is achievable. Every civil aircraft on the planet must be registered — so I am convinced that, with effective coordination, we can accomplish the same for tagged animals. Furthermore, the basic principle of hosting metadata, but not raw data, is being used productively by other databases, such as AviSample — a registry for biological samples collected from wild birds.Many researchers, myself included, feel a moral obligation to the animals carrying our tags. A global tag registry would help to realize the full conservation potential of all tracking data, minimize duplication of tagging efforts and facilitate sharing of welfare-related expertise. The conservation cost of missing data in large-scale collaborative projects cannot be easily measured, but is probably substantial. We simply cannot afford this, and must ensure that all animal-tracking data are immediately discoverable.

    Competing Interests
    This article is a contribution of the COVID-19 Bio-Logging Initiative, which is funded in part by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF9881) and the National Geographic Society (NGS-82515R-20) (both grants to C.R.), and endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. More

  • in

    Lost trees, booster benefits — the week in infographics

    Treasure our treesNearly one-third of tree species are threatened with extinction. This is more than twice the number of threatened mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles combined.The loss of tree species is often overlooked, as our News Feature reports. In 2021, after a huge tree-hunting exercise called the Global Tree Assessment, plant conservationists announced that they had found 58,497 tree species, of which 17,510 were threatened. Since then, almost 2,800 of those have been labelled critically endangered. Some 142 species are thought to be extinct in the wild.

    Killer cancersThis chart shows some of the results from the largest study yet of the link between cancer burden and risk factors. Researchers used extensive data on death and disability from more than 200 countries to estimate that potentially avoidable risk factors were responsible for more than 44% of global cancer deaths in 2019. Of these, tumours of the lung, trachea and bronchus were the leading cause of death.Smoking, alcohol use and a high body-mass index were the risk factors with the biggest contribution to cancer. The findings emphasize familiar health advice not to smoke, drink too much or become overweight.

    New breed of vaccinesIt was hoped that a new breed of COVID-19 vaccine — based on Omicron variants of the virus SARS-CoV-2 — would offer substantially greater protection than older vaccines that are based on the strain of the virus that emerged in 2019. But an analysis of data from several studies suggests that updated boosters offer much the same level of protection as does an extra dose of the older vaccines. The study is a preprint that has not yet been peer reviewed.The team’s modelling showed that, in a population where half of people are already protected against a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection through previous vaccination or infection, an updated vaccine booster bumped protection up to 90%, compared with 86% protection provided by an extra dose of the original vaccine. For protection against severe disease, however, the difference was less than 1%. But the relative benefits of variant-based boosters could grow stronger if a new variant appears, as our News story explains. More

  • in

    Reply to: The risks of overstating the climate benefits of ecosystem restoration

    Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifical Catholic University, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBernardo B. N. Strassburg, Alvaro Iribarrem, Carlos Leandro Cordeiro, Renato Crouzeilles, Catarina Jakovac, André Braga Junqueira, Eduardo Lacerda & Agnieszka E. LatawiecInternational Institute for Sustainability, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBernardo B. N. Strassburg, Alvaro Iribarrem, Carlos Leandro Cordeiro, Renato Crouzeilles, Catarina Jakovac, André Braga Junqueira, Eduardo Lacerda, Agnieszka E. Latawiec, Robin L. Chazdon & Carlos Alberto de M. ScaramuzzaPrograma de Pós Graduacão em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBernardo B. N. Strassburg, Renato Crouzeilles & Fabio R. ScaranoBotanical Garden Research Institute of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBernardo B. N. StrassburgSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, AustraliaHawthorne L. BeyerAgricultural Science Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, BrazilCatarina JakovacInstitut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainAndré Braga JunqueiraDepartment of Geography, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, BrazilEduardo LacerdaDepartment of Production Engineering, Logistics and Applied Computer Science, Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Kraków, PolandAgnieszka E. LatawiecSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UKAgnieszka E. LatawiecDepartment of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKAndrew Balmford, Stuart H. M. Butchart & Paul F. DonaldInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Gland, SwitzerlandThomas M. BrooksWorld Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), University of The Philippines, Los Baños, The PhilippinesThomas M. BrooksInstitute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaThomas M. BrooksBirdLife International, Cambridge, UKStuart H. M. Butchart & Paul F. DonaldDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USARobin L. ChazdonWorld Resources Institute, Global Restoration Initiative, Washington, DC, USARobin L. ChazdonTropical Forests and People Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, AustraliaRobin L. ChazdonInstitute of Social Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, AustriaKarl-Heinz Erb & Christoph PlutzarDepartment of Forest Sciences, ‘Luiz de Queiroz’ College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, BrazilPedro BrancalionRSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Edinburgh, UKGraeme Buchanan & Paul F. DonaldSecretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), Montreal, Quebec, CanadaDavid CooperInstituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, ArgentinaSandra DíazUnited Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UKValerie Kapos & Lera MilesBiodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, AustriaDavid Leclère, Michael Obersteiner & Piero ViscontiDivision of Conservation Biology, Vegetation Ecology and Landscape Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaChristoph PlutzarB.B.N.S. wrote the first version of the paper. All authors provided input on subsequent versions of the Reply. More

  • in

    The micronutrient content in underutilized crops: the Lupinus mutabilis sweet case

    Taco-Taype, N. & Zúñiga-Dávila, D. Efecto de la inoculación de plantas de Tarwi con cepas de Bradyrhizobium spp. aisladas de un lupino silvestre, en condiciones de invernadero. Revista peruana de biología. 27, 35–42 (2022).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Atchison, G. W. et al. Lost crops of the Incas: Origins of domestication of the Andean pulse crop tarwi Lupinus mutabilis. Am. J. Bot. 103, 1592–1606 (2016).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Peru Origins. Tarwi (Lupinus Mutabilis). https://peruorigins.com/tarwi/ (2022).Guilengue, N., Alves, S., Talhinhas, P. & Neves-Martins, J. Genetic and genomic diversity in a tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) germplasm collection and adaptability to Mediterranean climate conditions. Agronomy 10, 21 (2020).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Repo-Carrasco-Valencia, R., Basilio-Atencio, J., Luna-Mercado, G. I., Pilco-Quesada, S. & VidaurreRuiz, J. Andean ancient grains: Nutritional value and novel uses. Biol. Life Sci. Forum. https://doi.org/10.3390/blsf2021008015 (2022).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Gulisano, A., Alves, S., Martins, J. N. & Trindade, L. M. Genetics and breeding of Lupinus mutabilis: An emerging protein crop. Front. Plant Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01385 (2019).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Chen, Y., She, Y., Zhang, R., Wang, J. & Zhang, X. Use of starch-based fat replacers in foods as a strategy to reduce dietary intake of fat and risk of metabolic diseases. Food Sci. Nutr. 8, 16–22 (2020).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Frick, K. M., Kamphuis, L. G., Siddique, K. H. M., Singh, K. B. & Foley, R. C. Quinolizidine alkaloid biosynthesis in lupins and prospects for grain quality improvement. Front. Plant Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00087 (2017).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Chirinos-Arias, M. C. Andean Lupin (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) a plant with nutraceutical and medicinal potential. Revista Bio. Ciencias. 3, 163–172 (2015).
    Google Scholar 
    Wink, M. Chemical defense of leguminosae. Are quinolizidine alkaloids part of the antimicrobial defense system of lupins?. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C. 39, 548–552 (1984).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Hidalgo, M. et al. Evaluation of in vitro suceptibility to spartein in four strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Rev. Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. 39, 77–82 (2022).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Muñoz, E. B., Luna-Vital, D. A., Fornasini, M., Baldeón, M. E. & Gonzalez de Mejia, E. Gamma-conglutin peptides from Andean lupin legume (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) enhanced glucose uptake and reduced gluconeogenesis in vitro. J. Funct. 45, 339–347 (2018).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Bryant, L., Rangan, A. & Grafenauer, S. Lupins and health outcomes: A systematic literature review. Nutrients 14, 327 (2022).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Jacobsen, S. & Mujica, A. Geographical distribution of the Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet). Plant Genet. Resour. Newslett. 155, 1–8 (2008).
    Google Scholar 
    Antunez de Mayolo, S. Nutricion en el antiguo Peru. Banco Central de la Republica. Lima, Peru. 127 (1981).FAO. Perfiles nutricionales por paises: Peru. (ed. FAO) 36 p. (2000).UNICEF. Estado Mundial de la Infancia 2019 incluye a Perú entre las experiencias exitosas de lucha contra la desnutrición crónica infantile. https://www.unicef.org/peru/nota-de-prensa/estado-mundial-infancia-nutricion-alimentos-derechos-peru-experiencias-exitosas-desnutricion-cronica-infantil-reporte (2022).MINSA (Ministry of health – Peru). Situacion actual de la anemia. https://anemia.ins.gob.pe/situacion-actual-de-la-anemia-c1 (2022).WHO. Anemia. https://www.who.int/es/health-topics/anaemia#tab=tab_1 (2022).Galani, Y. J. H., Orfila, C. & Gong, Y. Y. A review of micronutrient deficiencies and analysis of maize contribution to nutrient requirements of women and children in Eastern and Southern Africa. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 62, 1568–1591 (2022).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    White, P. J. & Martin, R. B. Biofortifying crops with essential mineral elements. Trends Plant Sci. 10, 586–593 (2005).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    White, P. J. & Martin, R. B. Biofortification of crops with seven mineral elements often lacking in human diets-iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, selenium and iodine. New Phytol. 182, 49–84 (2009).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Waters, B. M. & Sankaran, R. P. Moving micronutrients from the soil to the seeds: genes and physiological processes from a biofortification perspective. Plant Sciences. 180, 562–574 (2011).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Brooker, R. W. et al. Improving intercropping: A synthesis of research in agronomy, plant physiology and ecology. New Phytol. 206, 107–117 (2015).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Ducsay, L. et al. Possibility of selenium biofortification of winter wheat grain. Plant Soil Environ. 62, 379–383 (2016).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Kumar, S. & Pandey, G. Biofortification of pulses and legumes to enhance nutrition. Heliyon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03682 (2020).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Diehn, T. A. et al. Boron demanding tissues of Brassica napus express specific sets of functional Nodulin26-like Intrinsic Proteins and BOR 1 transporters. Plant J. 100, 68–82 (2019).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Jayalakshmi, V. A., Reddy, T. & Nagamadhuri, K. V. Genetic diversity and variability for protein and micro nutrients in advance breeding lines and chickpea varieties grown in Andhra Pradesh.”. Legume Res. Int. J. 42, 768–772 (2019).
    Google Scholar 
    Bouis, H. & Saltzman, A. Improving nutrition through biofortification: A review of evidence from HarvestPlus, 2003 through 2016. Glob Food Sec. 12, 49–58 (2017).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Sanca, D. Composición nutricional de diez genotipos de lupino (L. mutabilis y L. albus) desamargados por proceso acuoso. Thesis. Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina. (2015).Rodríguez, A. Evaluación “in vitro” de la actividad antibacteriana de los alcaloides del agua de desamargado del chocho (Lupinus mutrabilis Sweet). Thesis. Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Ecuador (2009).Villacres, E. et al. Germination, an effective process to in-crease the nutritional value and reduce non-nutritive factors of lupine grain (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet). Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. Eng. 5, 163–168 (2015).
    Google Scholar 
    Villacres, E., Rubio, A., Egas, L., Segovia, G. Usos alternativos del chocho: Chocho (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) alimento andino redescubierto. IOP publishing: repositorio. https://repositorio.iniap.gob.ec/handle/41000/298 (2006).Ortega-David, E. A., Rodríguez, A. D. & Burbano, A. Z. Caracterización de semillas de lupino (Lupinus mutabilis) sembrado en los Andes de Colombia. Acta Agronómica. 59, 111–118 (2010).
    Google Scholar 
    White, P. J. & Broadley, M. R. Physiological limits to zinc biofortification of edible crops. Front Plant Sci. 80, 1–11 (2011).
    Google Scholar 
    Zhao, F., Su, Y. H., Dunham, S. J. & Rakszegiet, M. Variation in mineral micronutrient concentrations in grain of wheat lines of diverse origin. J. Cereal Sci. 49, 290–295 (2009).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Uauy, C., Distelfeld, A., Fahima, T., Blechl, A. & Dubcovsky, J. A NAC Gene regulating senescence improves grain protein, zinc, and iron content in wheat. Science 24, 1298–1301 (2006).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Shorrocks, V. M. The occurrence and correction of boron deficiency. Plant Soil 193, 121–148 (1997).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    D’Imperio, M. et al. Boron biofortification of Portulaca oleracea L. through soilless cultivation for a new tailored crop. Agronomy. 10, 999–1013 (2020).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Boyacioglu, O., Orenay-Boyacioglu, S., Yildirim, H. & Korkmaz, M. Boron intake, osteocalcin polymorphism and serum level in postmenopausal osteoporosis. J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol. 48, 52–56 (2018).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Oliveira Araújo, E., Ferreira Dos Santos, E. & Camacho Oliveira, M. A. Boron-zinc interaction in the absorption of micronutrients by cotton. Agronomía Colombiana. 36, 51–57 (2018).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Squitti, R., Siotto, M. & Polimanti, R. Low-copper diet as a preventive strategy for Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiol. Aging 2, 40–50 (2014).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Schilsky, M.L. Management of Wilson Disease (A Pocket Guide), 1st ed.; Publisher: Humana Press, Farmington, CT, USA. 154–196 (2018).Martins, A. C. et al. Manganese in the diet: Bioaccessibility, adequate intake, and neurotoxicological effects. J. Agric. Food Chem. 46, 12893–12903 (2020).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Falah, S. A. & Saja, N. M. Essential trace elements and their vital roles in human body. Indian J. Adv. Chem. Sci. 3, 127–136 (2017).
    Google Scholar 
    National institutes of health. Manganese. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. IOP Publishing ods.od.nih.gov. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Manganese-HealthProfessional/. (2021).Savadi, S. Molecular regulation of seed development and strategies for engineering seed size in crop plants. Plant Growth Regul. 84, 401–422 (2018).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Ge, L. et al. (2016) Increasing seed size and quality by manipulating BIG SEEDS1 in legume species. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 113, 12414–12419 (2016).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Zou, L. Effects of gradual and sudden heat stress on seed quality of Andean lupin, Lupinus mutabilis. Thesis. University of Helsinki. https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/16501 (2009).Buircell, B.J., Cowling, A.W. Genetic Resources in Lupins (eds. Gladstones, J.S., Atkins, C.A., Hamblin, J.) (United Kingdom: CAB International, 1998).Aguilar-Angulo, L. A. Evaluación del rendimiento de grano y capacidad simbiótica de once accesiones de tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet), bajo condiciones de Otuzco-La Libertad (Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, 2015).
    Google Scholar 
    De La Cruz, N. Caracterización fenotípica y de rendimiento preliminar de ecotipos de tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis sweet), bajo condiciones del Callejón de Huaylas – Ancash (Universidad Nacional Agraria la Molina, 2018).
    Google Scholar 
    Huisa, J. Evaluación del comportamiento agronómico de catorce accesiones del ensayo nacional de tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis sweet.) en el CIP Camacani Puno – Perú”. Thesis. Universidad Nacional Agraria la Moina (2018).Cayo, B. Evaluación del comportamiento agronómico de ocho genotipos selectos de tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis sweet) bajo condiciones del CIP. CAMACANI – UNA – PUNO. Thesis. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano (2020).Buircell, B.J., Cowling, A.W. Lupin. Lupinus spp. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and ne-glected crops (eds. Gladstones, J.S., Atkins, C.A., Hamblin, J.) (United Kingdom: CAB International, 1998).Plata, J. Comportamiento Agronómico de dos Variedades de tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet), bajo tres densidades de siembra en la comunidad Marka Hilata Carabuco (Universidad San Andres, 2016).
    Google Scholar 
    Mendoza, C. Rendimiento de ecotipos regionales y variedades de tarwi (Lupínus mutabilis Sweet.) en el valle del Mantaro, Jauja, Junín. Thesis. Universidad Nacional Agraria la Moina (2020).Aguilar, S. Sistemas de producción de Lupinus mutabilis Sweet ‘chocho’ en terrazas y laderas con fertilización fosfatada en Cajamarca. Dissertation. La Molina National Agrarian University (2011).Aquino, S. Sustentabilidad del cultivo de tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis sweet) en la zona altoandina del Valle del Mantaro (Universidad Nacional Agraria la Molina, 2018).
    Google Scholar 
    Barda, M. S., Chatzigeorgiou, T., Papadopoulos, G. K. & Bebeli, P. J. Agro-morphological evaluation of Lupinus mutabilis in two locations in greece and association with insect pollinators. Agriculture https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030236 (2021).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Herniter, I. A., Jia, Z. & Kusi, F. Market preferences for cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) dry grain in Ghana. African J Ag Res. 14, 928–934 (2019).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Dordas, C. Foliar boron application affects lint and seed yield and improves seed quality of cotton grown on calcareous soils. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 76, 19–28 (2006).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Kristek, S. et al. Effect of various rates of boron on yield and quality of high-grade sugar beet varieties. Listy Cukrovarnické a Řepařské. 4, 146–150 (2018).
    Google Scholar 
    Thomas, C. L. et al. Root morphology and seed and leaf ionomic traits in a Brassica napus L. diversity panel show wide phenotypic variation and are characteristic of crop habit. BMC Plant Biol. 16, 214–232 (2016).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Dursun, A. et al. Effects of boron fertilizer on tomato, pepper and cucumber yields and chemical composition. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal. 1, 1576–1593 (2010).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Sotiropoulos, T. E., Therios, T. N., Dimassi, K. N., Bosabalidis, A. & Kofidis, G. Nutritional status, growth, CO2 assimilation, and leaf anatomical responses in two kiwifruit species under boron toxicity. J Plant Nutr. 25, 1249–1261 (2002).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Muccifora, S. & Bellani, L. Effects of copper on germination and reserve mobilization in Vicia sativa L. seeds. Environ. Pollut. 179, 68–74 (2013).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Kobraee, S. Effect of foliar fertilization with zinc and manganese sulfate on yield, dry matter accumulation, and zinc and manganese contents in leaf and seed of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). J. Appl. Biol. Biotechnol. 7, 20–28 (2019).CAS 

    Google Scholar 
    IBPGR (1981) Lupin descriptors. https://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/bioversity/publications/Web_version/103/ (1981).Zasoski, R. J. & Burau, R. G. A rapid nitric-perchloric acid digestion method for multi-element tissue analysis. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 8, 425–436 (1997).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Pereira, T., Coelho, C. M. M., Bogo, A., Guidolin, A. F. & Miquelluti, D. J. Diversity in common bean landraces from south Brazil. Acta Bot. Croat. 1, 79–92 (2009).
    Google Scholar 
    Pujar, M., Govindaraj, M., Gangaprasad, S., Kanatti, A. & Shivade, H. Genetic variation and diversity for grain iron, zinc, protein and agronomic traits in advanced breeding lines of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R Br] for biofortification breeding. Genet. Resour. Crop Evol. 67, 2009–2022 (2020).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Lira, J. P. E. et al. Safflower genetic diversity based on agronomic characteristics in Mato Grosso state, Brazil, for a crop improvement program. Genet. Mol. Res. 1, 1–12 (2021).
    Google Scholar 
    de Sá, S. F. et al. Genetic diversity via REML-BLUP of ex situ conserved macauba [Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.] ecotypes. Genet. Resour. Crop Evol. 68, 3193–3204 (2021).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Kuru, R., Yilmaz, S., Tasli, P. N., Yarat, A. & Sahin, F. Boron content of some foods consumed in Istanbul, Turkey. Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 187, 1–8 (2019).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Shokunbi, O., Adepoju, O., Mojapelo, P., Ramaite, I. & Akinyele, I. Copper, manganese, iron and zinc contents of Nigerian foods and estimates of adult dietary intakes. J. Food Compos. Anal. 82, 103–245 (2019).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Norwegian scientific committee for food and environment. Assessment of dietary intake of manganese in rela-tion to tolerable upper intake. IOP Publishing wkm. www.vkm.no. (2018).Gil, V., Guzmán, L. & Quintero, E. Caracterización de la variabilidad morfológica de un “genotipo local” de maíz y dos de sus selecciones. Centro Agrícola. 4, 79–83 (2004).
    Google Scholar  More

  • in

    Validation of a behavior observation form for geese reared in agroforestry systems

    This study proposed a protocol to evaluate the behavior of geese reared outdoors in agroforestry systems. A data collection form (i.e., BOF) was developed and validated both in relation to its reliability and its validity. In this context, moreover, ABMs useful for a welfare assessment protocol could be defined, and changes in the behavior of geese due to daily time and environmental context could be identified.Behavioral observations, based on the capture of the major changes in an animal’s body language17, are used daily in the assessment of animal health and welfare. Body language is a type of dynamic expression of the interactions among conspecifics or between animals and their environment. Behavioral changes can happen quickly or as subtle shifts not easily detectable18. Indeed, especially in the case of direct observation in the field, it becomes difficult to identify each behavioral variation. Furthermore, the on-farm use of the BOF proposed in the present study involved focal subgroup sampling, as ten geese were simultaneously observed, which may increase the difficulties. Indirect observation by videos, which allow the review of a certain action several times and the focal-animal approach, is a useful tool to partially overcome these issues and thus improve the accuracy of observation. The validation process of the BOF adopted in this study, therefore, included the definition of both its interobserver reliability and correlation with indirect observations.In this study, the direct observations in the field were performed by both an expert (i.e., main observer) and an inexperienced trained observer. As expected, the main observer was able to detect a higher frequency of behaviors, especially the rarer ones. For example, the inexperienced observer did not report any examples of allo-grooming, squawking, wagging tail, stretching, or panting behavior. However, the two observers showed excellent interobserver reliability (ICC  > 0.75). Major agreements were found for walking, roosting, and foraging. Accordingly, several studies have shown that observers with little experience can also provide a valuable contribution in observational research19,20. Overall, these results support the reliability of the BOF even if the observer’s experience helps him or her to better grasp rarer behaviors, as these behaviors could play an important role as welfare indicators.In the last two decades, important technological developments have occurred in the livestock sector. The use of sensors, cameras, and other devices can generate objective information about individual behavior, thereby allowing its evaluation in large observation areas and for large groups of animals and resulting in the better detection of natural animal behavior. Thus, in our study, the data collected by a video recording system (Noldus XT) were used as a gold standard measure to define the criterion validity of the BOF. Our results indicated excellent agreement between direct and indirect observations, supporting the BOF criterion validity. A poor correlation was only found for 2 variables (i.e., squawking and wagging tail), which were more difficult to collect by direct observation. The use of the BOF involved the simultaneous observation of 10 animals, but the geese had a synchronized behavior and moved in groups within the grazing area. This greatly facilitated focal subgroup sampling, allowed all animals to always be under observation, and could explain the high correlation between the two observation methods. However, the comparison between the observations collected in the field by the main observer and those recorded using the computerized system confirmed the greater accuracy of the latter. The analysis of the video in continuous with the use of some tools, such as the zoom or slow-motion functions, and the focal-animal sampling provided an easier identification of some behaviors and, in general, greater accuracy. Due to its nonintrusive approach, video recording has become a common practice for behavior assessment21, but it can be expensive and time-consuming. On the other hand, direct observations made by the BOF were valid and less expensive, suggesting that it could be a feasible tool with which to evaluate the welfare principle of Appropriate behavior. As recommended for welfare assessment protocols22, the BOF ethogram included indicators of both positive and negative states; however, it would be necessary to integrate it with behavioral tests and other ABMs evaluating the human-animal relationship.As mentioned above, there is no standardized geese behavior ethogram. Thus, to verify the content validity of the BOF, its behavior variables were analyzed through a PCA. The 4 extracted PCs could represent the broad behavioral dimensions of geese. In particular, the geese’s activity reported in PC1 was characterized by locomotor, foraging, and exploratory behaviors, with opposite signs with respect to roosting. The positive correlation between explorative and grazing activities and their negative correlation with static behaviors has been widely demonstrated in chickens. Chicken genotypes characterized by low exploratory aptitude exhibited low kinetic behaviors but a high frequency of roost and rest behaviors23. Göransson et al.24 showed that 50% of the observed birds exhibited sitting behavior, whereas less than 10% performed foraging activity.PC2 included all the variables that characterized the geese’s social aspects, including both positive and negative interactions. Usually, greylag geese live in a large flock because the offspring remain with their parents for an entire year. Such groups are characterized by complex relationships based on social interactions25. The formation of a group is characterized by agonistic behaviors such as fighting, pecking, and threatening, as well as submissive behaviors such as avoiding contact, crouching, and escaping26 to establish a hierarchical order. After this phase, a tolerance status develops, and birds maintain their social interactions through the use of body postures and vocalizations. Accordingly, the variables reported in PC2 were related not only to aggressive behaviors but also to geese’s vocalization and posture, which probably helped to maintain flock stability. Therefore, a higher PC2 score could indicate the need to establish and maintain a hierarchical order within the group, resulting in high social interactions.PC3 reported comfort and body care behaviors. The opportunity to spend a lot of time on body care, which should also include access to water for bathing, is of paramount importance with regard to fulfilling the biological requirements of geese27. Thus, a higher loading of this PC means that animals showed a good degree of both welfare and adaptability. In our study, a high frequency of self-cleaning and wing flapping behaviors was recorded, and the geese often took advantage of the water tub. In contrast, a very low frequency of aggression behaviors was observed, suggesting that the groups of geese were quite stable and that the animals felt safe in the environment in which they were rear. These findings confirm that agroforestry has a favorable impact on bird welfare by allowing the display of the full range of behavior, improving the animals’ comfort28.PC4 was mainly represented by the neck forward behavior. This position only occasionally represents an attack behavior and is not utilized during the establishment of hierarchical order but when it is necessary to maintain and reinforce the order inside the group. Furthermore, a goose that assumes this posture often does so while continuing another activity29. The neck forward behavior was positively associated with the stretching behavior. Stretching is usually categorized as a comfort behavior for broilers30, but it could also be used when the animal needs to relax stress-related tension in their muscles31,32 or as an adaptive strategy for dealing with unknown contexts33. Neck forward and stretching were eventually considered social avoidance behaviors, although they could be ambivalent and thus require further study, case-by-case assessment, and perhaps a better description in the ethogram.Finally, some interesting results emerged regarding the comparison of geese’s behavior during the morning and afternoon and between the two different agroforestry systems. In particular, geese showed a higher frequency of active behaviors such as walking, foraging, drinking, neck forward, and feeding during the morning compared to the afternoon. All of these behaviors suggest that geese concentrate their grazing and exploration activities during the morning. When and where to move is crucial for the food search and to avoid both predators and adverse climate conditions34. Cartoni Mancinelli et al.35 included exploratory attitude, walking, and eating grass activities in a multifactorial score as important parameters to consider to evaluate the adaptability of different organically reared chicken genotypes. Thus, exploratory and kinetic behaviors are fundamental, especially in animals reared outdoors. Moreover, the positive correlation between walking and grazing behaviors is widely known36,37. In contrast, during the afternoon, geese showed higher frequencies of static behaviors such as resting, roosting, and self-grooming, suggesting that geese are more dedicated to comfort and body care activities during this time. These trials were performed in the hottest season; thus, the geese’s behavioral differences during the day could also depend on the fact that animals preferred to carry out active behaviors during the cooler hours (morning), while in the hottest hours (afternoon), they engaged in static activities. Active behaviors cause an increase in metabolism and body temperature38, whereas static behavior, such as roosting, is considered adaptative behavior to promote heat dissipation31,39.This could also explain why higher frequencies of walking and foraging and lower frequencies of static behaviors were found in the orchard system than in the vineyard system. Studies carried out on chickens have reported that, among different pasture enrichments, the presence of trees promotes walking animal activity compared with crop inclusion40,41. The cover provided by trees made the animals feel protected from predators and provided shade during the hottest part of the day40, thereby stimulating the animals to explore all the available space in the pen. Accordingly, geese reared in the apple orchard ingested more grass than those reared in a vineyard36. However, there were no differences between the two systems for social behaviors. Moreover, the highest frequency of roosting and self-cleanliness behaviors was recorded in the vineyard, suggesting that this space offered a comfortable environment and that both systems seem respectful of the biological needs and welfare of the geese.The behavioral assessment protocol proposed in this study involving the BOF ethogram was feasible, low-cost, fast, and responsive both over time and between housing systems. It could thus be used for the assessment of Appropriate behavior in a welfare assessment protocol for geese reared in outdoor or free-range systems, although it lacks indicators of the human-animal relationship, such as avoidance distance or handling tests; such a scoring system should be developed. Regarding the specific behaviors in the two agroforestry systems, it should also be noted that they are difficult to generalize, as the characteristics of the plants, the environment, and management could have influenced these traits. Specifically, the behaviors could have been affected by the temperatures; therefore, further trials at different altitudes, seasons (i.e., autumn and winter), and climate are necessary for external validation. More

  • in

    The conditional defector strategies can violate the most crucial supporting mechanisms of cooperation

    We used two agent-based simulation models to investigate the concepts of “cooperate for the spread” and “pay for the escape,” both were net logo models created by Dr. Susan Hanisch.Afterward, we modified the first model to represent the concept of sharing the dispersal costs. We used the second model without modifications. Instead, we assigned definite values of some parameters that highlight the pay for the escape strategy.First modelThe original model was entitled “Evolution and patchy resource”18. She first developed it for educational purposes. It illustrates the concepts of cooperator-cheater competition, natural selection, spatial structure mechanisms, multilevel selection, and founder effects.Changeable variables

    Distance-resource-areas: the distance between the centers of the resource areas.

    Size-resource areas: the size of resource areas as a radius in the number of patches.

    Living costs: the costs that each agent has to deduct from energy per iteration for basic survival.

    Mutation rate: The probability that offspring agents have different traits than their parents.

    Evolution: the ability of agents to produce offspring.

    Constant variables

    The number of patches is 112 × 112 patches.

    Carrying capacity per patch: Resource = 10, Agents = 1

    The growth rate of the resource = 0.2

    The resources on a patch regrow by a logistic growth function up to the carrying capacity: New resource level = current resource level + (Growth-Rate × current resource level) × (1 – (Current resource level/carrying capacity)).

    The cost for producing offspring is ten subtracted units of energy.

    The initial level of energy of agents is set at living costs.

    Role of randomness

    Agents are distributed randomly in resource areas at the beginning of a simulation.

    Sustainable behavior is distributed randomly with a probability of percent sustainables among the initial agent population.

    The order in which agents move and harvest within one iteration is random.

    Agents move to a randomly selected patch if several patches fulfill the objectives.

    The order in which agents produce offspring within one iteration is random.

    Agents reproduce offspring with a probability of (0.0005 × Energy).

    Agents place offspring on a randomly selected unoccupied neighboring patch.

    Offspring mutate with a potential mutation rate.

    Model processesIn each iteration, each agent moves around in random order. There are three likelihoods:

    If there are no unoccupied patches in a two-patch radius, they stay on the current patch.

    If there are unoccupied patches with resources amounting to more than living costs, the agents move to them.

    If the resource amount is less than the living costs, the agents move randomly to other unoccupied patches.

    The agents harvest the resources from separated patches to gain energy for metabolism and proliferation. If the energy level of any agent falls to zero, it dies. The cooperator type harvests half of the resource, while the greedy type consumes 99%.The living costs are deducted from the energy amount of the agent constantly everywhere all the time. This process occurs whether an agent moves within the patch, between the patches, or even not. Therefore, the model does not consider dispersal cost explicitly.If there is an unoccupied neighbor patch, the agent can reproduce with a probability of 0.0005 of his energy, place the offspring on the unoccupied neighbor patch, and then transfer ten units of the energy to his offspring.Resources regrow only on resource patches. When the resource amount is more than or equal to 0.1, then it regrows. When the resource is less than 0.1, its value is set to 0.1.Output diagrams and monitors

    The average energy of agents: average energy levels of sustainable and greedy agents, resulting from resource harvest minus living costs and reproduction.

    Trait frequencies: the relative frequencies of sustainable and greedy agents in the total population, resulting from mutations, different reproduction rates, and death.

    Agent population: the absolute number of the total population size resulting from reproduction and death.

    ModificationsIn the first modification, we added a different type of cost that agents only incur when they disperse from one patch to another (in-between the patches). It is the slider entitled “dispersal costs”.In the second modification, we added another sharing dispersal costs tool to reduce them by dividing their value by the number of included agents (flock-mates) in the identified range from the same type. It is the slider entitled “group-dispersal-range.” which is the flock mate’s areas as a radius in the number of patches. Therefore, changing the value of the group dispersal range will change the area around every agent. Accordingly, the number of its flock mates who share the dispersal costs also adjusts.The group dispersal range is not confined to greedy agents but applies to all agents. Therefore, it represents the case of the wild-type cooperators who can also cooperate for the spread. The group dispersal range also does not only target the agents in between patches. However, it counts the agents inside and outside the patches. For example, once an agent starts its dispersion with a determined range containing ten agents, four from another type, three non-dispersal agents from the same type that existed inside a patch, and three dispersal agents from the same type outside the patches. The dispersal costs for this agent will be divided by 6.Our assumption that non-dispersal agents at the pre-departure stage share dispersion costs with dispersal agents; seems justified because they reap mutual benefits by reducing kin competition inside patches if they promote the migrators. However, can agents remotely pay the dispersion costs? Yes. For instance, some bacterial species can trigger the migration of other species if located in their vicinity, even if the two bacterial colonies are separated by a barrier19,20 or if they are non-motile21. On the other hand, dispersion is an extended process with many factors, including escape from predators, suppression of host defense mechanisms, and production of biosurfactants to reduce surface tension to facilitate motility. Therefore, the agent’s contribution (inside/outside the patches) to support such factors is considered a shared dispersal cost.Finally, cheaters can arise within cooperator patches by mutation or immigration. Therefore, to investigate the efficacy of migration, the mutation rate value should be 0 to cancel its effect in the meta-population dynamics.Second modelThe model is entitled “Evolution, resources, monitoring, and punishment.”22 is a simulation of a population with four types of agents competing for the same resource. It demonstrates many concepts, such as kin selection, cooperation, selfishness, public good, monitoring, punishment, sharing the costs, positive/negative frequency-dependent selection, and multilevel selection. The four agent colors and types: (1) Red: greedy, non-punishing. (2) Orange: greedy, punishing. (3) Turquoise: sustainable, non-punishing. (4) Green: sustainable, punishing.Punishing agents can perceive other agents in their environment to some degree (perception accuracy) and react to their behavior. There are three kinds of punishment: Punishers can kill agents with greedy harvesting behavior, stop them from harvesting in the next iteration, or have them pay a penalty fee to their neighbors.Agents have a cost (energy) to pay for, both detection and punishment, so this behavior is altruistic. Punisher agents of one type share punishment costs equally.Changeable variables

    Death rate: the probability that agents die independent of their energy level.

    Carrying capacity: the maximum amount of resource units on a patch from 1 to 100.

    Growth rate: the rate at which resources on patches regrow. The maximum sustainable yield is calculated based on the carrying capacity and growth rate.

    Harvest-sustainable: the number of resource units harvested by sustainable agents.

    Harvest-greedy: the number of resource units harvested by sustainable agents.

    Perception accuracy: the probability with which punishing agents notice greedy agents.

    Costs-perception: the costs in units of energy, punishing agents have to pay for perceiving other agents.

    Costs-punishment: the costs as units of energy that punishing agents have to pay in each iteration to punish other agents. All punishing agents of an agent divide the costs of punishment.

    Punishment: the kinds of punishing behavior that punishing agents perform.

    Fine: if the kind of punishment is “pay fine”, the fine in energy units that punished agents have to pay (shared between all their neighbors).

    Living costs and mutation rate: see the first model.

    Constant variables

    The number of patches: There are 60 × 60 patches in the world.

    The initial energy level of agents is set at living costs + 1.

    The initial number of resource units on a patch is set to the carrying capacity.

    The resources on a patch regrow: see the first model.

    Role of randomness* In addition to items in the first model.

    Agents take on their traits (harvest preference and ability to notice and punish) randomly based on the probability of percent-sustainable and percent-punishers.

    The order in which punishing agents notice greedy agents within one iteration is random.

    Greedy agents are noticed by punishing agents with a probability of perception accuracy.

    The order in which detected greedy agents are punished within one iteration is random.

    Agents produce offspring with a probability of (0.001 × Energy).

    Agents die with a probability of (death-rate).

    Model processesIn each iteration, each agent attempts to harvest resources from the patches it is on and the eight neighboring patches until the harvest preference level is reached, except for the punished agent with the sanction (suspend harvest once), its harvest amount = 0 in the current iteration. If the amount of resources available is lower than the amount that the unpunished agent attempts to harvest. Then, the agent moves to a neighboring unoccupied patch with the most resources after losing one energy unit as a move cost.Punishers pay the costs of perceiving the greedy agents. The greedy neighbors have been noticed with the probability of perception accuracy. The agent lost an amount of energy as living costs. The agent dies with the likelihood of death rate or if the energy level falls to zero.If there is an unoccupied neighbor patch, the agent can reproduce with a probability of 0.001 of its energy, place the offspring on the unoccupied neighbor patch, and then transfer half of its energy to its offspring that mutate according to the probability of the mutation rate.Resources regrow on all patches. When the resource amount is more than or equal to 0.1, then it regrows. When the resource is less than 0.1, its value is set to 0.1.Output diagrams and monitors

    Populations (% of carrying capacity): the state of the resource and the agent population in the world as a percentage of total carrying capacity resulting from resource harvesting behavior and resource regrowth, agent reproduction, and death.

    Average harvest per iteration: the average harvested amounts of agents per iteration by trait, resulting from harvested resource units, minus costs for monitoring and punishing (for punishing agents), minus fines (for punished agents in case of punishment “Pay fine”)

    The average energy of agents and trait frequencies: see the first model.

    How does the model represent a conditional defector strategy?The model aims to highlight the role of kin selection and punishment mechanisms in supporting cooperation evolution against cheats. We did not need to modify the model but just thought about what the conditional defector should do to upside down the game. The answer was to pay for the escape.For instance, if the standard Harvest-greedy of a cheater (greedy, non-punishing) was 13 and the Perception-accuracy of its actual punishers was 75%. Now suppose this cheater faces troubles, and it cannot dominate. However, if it gives up some of its profit to become 12, to escape punishment, and to reduce the perception accuracy to 60%, it could dominate and take over the population.The conditional cheater can pay something and reduce its profit to escape punishment by reducing perception accuracy if there is a positive correlation between these two variables. Therefore, this model is appropriate if it can support/deny such a correlation. More

  • in

    Anticyclonic eddies aggregate pelagic predators in a subtropical gyre

    Chaigneau, A., Gizolme, A. & Grados, C. Mesoscale eddies off Peru in altimeter records: identification algorithms and eddy spatio-temporal patterns. Prog. Oceanogr. 79, 106–119 (2008).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    McGillicuddy, D. J. Jr et al. Influence of mesoscale eddies on new production in the Sargasso Sea. Nature 394, 263–266 (1998).ADS 
    CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Dufois, F. et al. Anticyclonic eddies are more productive than cyclonic eddies in subtropical gyres because of winter mixing. Sci. Adv. 2, 1–7 (2016).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Godø, O. R. et al. Mesoscale eddies are oases for higher trophic marine life. PLoS ONE 7, e30161 (2012).ADS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 
    Article 
    CAS 

    Google Scholar 
    Chelton, D. B., Gaube, P., Schlax, M. G., Early, J. J. & Samelson, R. M. The influence of nonlinear mesoscale eddies on near-surface oceanic chlorophyll. Science 334, 328–333 (2011).ADS 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Sarmiento, J. L. et al. Response of ocean ecosystems to climate warming. Global Biogeochem. Cycles 18, GB3003 (2004).ADS 
    Article 
    CAS 

    Google Scholar 
    Bell, J. D. et al. Diversifying the use of tuna to improve food security and public health in Pacific Island countries and territories. Mar. Policy 51, 584–591 (2015).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Della Penna, A. & Gaube, P. Mesoscale eddies structure mesopelagic communities. Front. Mar. Sci. 7, 454 (2020).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Braun, C. D. et al. The functional and ecological significance of deep diving by large marine predators. Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci. 14, 129–159 (2022).PubMed 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    McGillicuddy, D. J. Jr Mechanisms of physical-biological-biogeochemical interaction at the oceanic mesoscale. Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci. 8, 125–159 (2016).PubMed 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Fennell, S. & Rose, G. Oceanographic influences on deep scattering layers across the North Atlantic. Deep-Sea Res. Part I Oceanogr. Res. Pap. 105, 132–141 (2015).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Duffy, L. M. et al. Global trophic ecology of yellowfin, bigeye, and albacore tunas: understanding predation on micronekton communities at ocean-basin scales. Deep-Sea Res. Part II Topical Stud. Oceanogr. 140, 55–73 (2017).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Gaube, P. et al. Mesoscale eddies influence the movements of mature female white sharks in the Gulf Stream and Sargasso Sea. Sci. Rep. 8, 7363 (2018).ADS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 
    Article 
    CAS 

    Google Scholar 
    Braun, C. D., Gaube, P., Sinclair-Taylor, T. H., Skomal, G. B. & Thorrold, S. R. Mesoscale eddies release pelagic sharks from thermal constraints to foraging in the ocean twilight zone. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 116, 17187–17192 (2019).ADS 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Doyle, T. K. et al. Leatherback turtles satellite-tagged in European waters. Endanger. Species Res. 4, 23–31 (2008).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Pauly, D. & Christensen, V. Primary production required to sustain global fisheries. Nature 374, 255–257 (1995).ADS 
    CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Lynham, J., Nikolaev, A., Raynor, J., Vilela, T. & Villaseñor-Derbez, J. C. Impact of two of the world’s largest protected areas on longline fishery catch rates. Nat. Commun. 11, 979 (2020).ADS 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Polovina, J. J., Abecassis, M., Howell, E. A. & Woodworth, P. Increases in the relative abundance of mid-trophic level fishes concurrent with declines in apex predators in the subtropical North Pacific, 1996-2006. Fish. Bull. 107, 523–531 (2009).
    Google Scholar 
    Royer, T. C. Ocean eddies generated by seamounts in the North Pacific. Science 199, 1063–1064 (1978).ADS 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Liu, Y. et al. Eddy analysis in the subtropical zonal band of the North Pacific Ocean. Deep-Sea Res. Part I Oceanogr. Res. Pap. 68, 54–67 (2012).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Bernstein, R. L. & White, W. B. Time and length scales of baroclinic eddies in the central North Pacific Ocean. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 4, 613–624 (1974).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Maunder, M. N. & Punt, A. E. Standardizing catch and effort data: a review of recent approaches. Fish. Res. 70, 141–159 (2004).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Woodworth, P. A. et al. Eddies as offshore foraging grounds for melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra). Mar. Mammal Sci. 28, 638–647 (2012).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Gaube, P. et al. The use of mesoscale eddies by juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the southwestern Atlantic. PLoS ONE 12, e0172839 (2017).PubMed 
    PubMed Central 
    Article 
    CAS 

    Google Scholar 
    Chambault, P. et al. Swirling in the ocean: immature loggerhead turtles seasonally target old anticyclonic eddies at the fringe of the North Atlantic Gyre. Prog. Oceanogr. 175, 345–358 (2019).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Gaube, P., McGillicuddy Jr, D., Chelton, D., Behrenfeld, M. & Strutton, P. Regional variations in the influence of mesoscale eddies on near-surface chlorophyll. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans 119, 8195–8220 (2014).Waga, H., Kirawake, T. & Ueno, H. Impacts of mesoscale eddies on phytoplankton size structure. Geophys. Res. Lett. 46, 13191–13198 (2019).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Irigoien, X. et al. Large mesopelagic fishes biomass and trophic efficiency in the open ocean. Nat. Commun. 5, 3271 (2014).ADS 
    PubMed 
    Article 
    CAS 

    Google Scholar 
    Chen, Y.-lL. et al. Biologically active warm-core anticyclonic eddies in the marginal seas of the western Pacific Ocean. Deep Sea Res. Part I 106, 68–84 (2015).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Harke, M. J. et al. Microbial community transcriptional patterns vary in response to mesoscale forcing in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Environ. Microbiol. 23, 4807–4822 (2021).CAS 
    PubMed 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Hawco, N. J. et al. Iron depletion in the deep chlorophyll maximum: mesoscale eddies as natural iron fertilization experiments. Global Biogeochem. Cycles 35, e2021GB007112 (2021).ADS 
    CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Klevjer, T. A. et al. Large scale patterns in vertical distribution and behaviour of mesopelagic scattering layers. Sci. Rep. 6, 19873 (2016).ADS 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Behrenfeld, M. J. et al. Global satellite-observed daily vertical migrations of ocean animals. Nature 576, 257–261 (2019).CAS 
    PubMed 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Madigan, D. J. et al. Water column structure defines vertical habitat of twelve pelagic predators in the South Atlantic. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 78, 867–883 (2021).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Arostegui, M., Gaube, P. & Braun, C. Movement ecology and stenothermy of satellite-tagged shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris). Fish. Res. 215, 21–26 (2019).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Lehodey, P., Senina, I. & Murtugudde, R. A spatial ecosystem and populations dynamics model (SEAPODYM)—modeling of tuna and tuna-like populations. Prog. Oceanogr. 78, 304–318 (2008).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Varghese, S. P., Somvanshi, V. S. & Dalvi, R. S. Diet composition, feeding niche partitioning and trophic organisation of large pelagic predatory fishes in the eastern Arabian Sea. Hydrobiologia 736, 99–114 (2014).CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Ward, P. & Myers, R. A. Inferring the depth distribution of catchability for pelagic fishes and correcting for variations in the depth of longline fishing gear. Can. J. Fish. Aquat.Sci. 62, 1130–1142 (2005).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Kai, E. T. et al. Top marine predators track Lagrangian coherent structures. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 106, 8245–8250 (2009).ADS 
    CAS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Lima, I. D., Olson, D. B. & Doney, S. C. Biological response to frontal dynamics and mesoscale variability in oligotrophic environments: biological production and community structure. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans 107, 25-1–25-21 (2002).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Spall, S. A. & Richards, K. J. A numerical model of mesoscale frontal instabilities and plankton dynamics—I. model formulation and initial experiments. Deep-Sea Res. Part I Oceanogr. Res. Pap. 47, 1261–1301 (2000).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Siegelman, L., O’Toole, M., Flexas, M., Rivière, P. & Klein, P. Submesoscale ocean fronts act as biological hotspot for southern elephant seal. Sci. Rep. 9, 5588 (2019).ADS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 
    Article 
    CAS 

    Google Scholar 
    Lévy, M., Ferrari, R., Franks, P. J., Martin, A. P. & Rivière, P. Bringing physics to life at the submesoscale. Geophys. Res. Lett. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL052756 (2012).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Guidi, L. et al. Does eddy-eddy interaction control surface phytoplankton distribution and carbon export in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre? J. Geophys. Res. Biogeosciences https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JG001984 (2012).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Chow, C. H., Cheah, W., Tai, J. H. & Liu, S. F. Anomalous wind triggered the largest phytoplankton bloom in the oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Sci. Rep. 9, 15550 (2019).ADS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 
    Article 
    CAS 

    Google Scholar 
    Guo, M., Xiu, P., Chai, F. & Xue, H. Mesoscale and submesoscale contributions to high sea surface chlorophyll in subtropical gyres. Geophys. Res. Lett. 46, 13217–13226 (2019).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Klein, P. et al. Ocean-scale interactions from space. Earth Space Sci. 6, 795–817 (2019).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Martin, A. et al. The oceans’ twilight zone must be studied now, before it is too late. Nature 580, 26–28 (2020).ADS 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    St. John, M. A. et al. A dark hole in our understanding of marine ecosystems and their services: perspectives from the mesopelagic community. Front. Marine Sci. 3, 31 (2016).
    Google Scholar 
    Bigelow, K., Musyl, M. K., Poisson, F. & Kleiber, P. Pelagic longline gear depth and shoaling. Fish. Res. 77, 173–183 (2006).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Brodziak, J. & Walsh, W. A. Model selection and multimodel inference for standardizing catch rates of bycatch species: a case study of oceanic whitetip shark in the Hawaii-based longline fishery. Can. J. Fish. Aquat.Sci. 70, 1723–1740 (2013).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Woodworth-Jefcoats, P. A., Polovina, J. & Drazen, J. Synergy among oceanographic variability, fishery expansion, and longline catch composition in the central North Pacific Ocean. Fish. Bull. 116, 228–239 (2018).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Boggs, C. H. Depth, capture time, and hooked longevity of longline-caught pelagic fish: timing bites of fish with chips. Fish. Bull. 90, 642–658 (1992).
    Google Scholar 
    Walsh, W. A. & Brodziak, J. Applications of Hawaii longline fishery observer and logbook data for stock assessment and fishery research. NOAA Tech. Memo. 57, 62 (2016).
    Google Scholar 
    Walsh, W. A. & Brodziak, J. Billfish CPUE standardization in the Hawaii longline fishery: model selection and multimodel inference. Fish. Res. 166, 151–162 (2015).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Gilman, E., Chaloupka, M., Fitchett, M., Cantrell, D. L. & Merrifield, M. Ecological responses to blue water MPAs. PLoS ONE 15, e0235129 (2020).CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Portner, E. J., Polovina, J. J. & Choy, C. A. Patterns in micronekton diversity across the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre observed from the diet of longnose lancetfish (Alepisaurus ferox). Deep-Sea Research Part I 125, 40–51 (2017).ADS 
    Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Brooks, M. E. et al. glmmTMB balances speed and flexibility among packages for zero-inflated generalized linear mixed modeling. R J. 9, 378–400 (2017).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Hartig, F. DHARMa: Residual diagnostics for hierarchical (multi-level/mixed) regression models. R package version 0.3.3.0 http://florianhartig.github.io/DHARMa/ (2020).Jackson, C. H. Multi-state models for panel data: the msm package for R. J. Stat. Softw. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v038.i08 (2011).Article 

    Google Scholar 
    Bates, D. et al. lme4: Linear mixed-effects models using ’Eigen’ and S4. R package version 1.1-25 https://github.com/lme4/lme4/ (2020).Lenth, R. et al. emmeans: Estimated marginal means, aka least-squares mean. R package version 1.7.2 https://github.com/rvlenth/emmeans (2022).R Core Team. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, 2020); http://www.r-project.org/ More