Ecology

AbstractEscalating insecticide resistance threatens the efficacy of LLINs, undermining malaria control in Africa. We conducted the first experimental hut trials in Uganda using highly resistant free-flying wild Anopheles mosquitoes and F2 hybrids of FANG and Uganda An. funestus to evaluate the performance of bednets. The interceptor G2 (chlorfenapyr) bednet demonstrated superior efficacy compared to Interceptor (pyrethroid-only) net [mortality odds ratio (OR): 18.7 (8.05–48.6) P < 0.0001], achieving an overall mortality rate of 70.6% and 63.2% against An. funestus and An. gambiae respectively. In contrast, PermaNet 3.0 and Olyset Plus (piperonyl butoxide (PBO)) and Royal Guard (pyriproxyfen (PPF)-treated) bednets exhibited significantly lower mortality against An. funestus [Olyset Plus: 36.1%, PermaNet 3.0: 31.0% and Royal Guard (37.6%], though performance against An. gambiae was moderate [PermaNet 3.0: 61.4%, Olyset Plus: 50.0%, Royal Guard: 51.6%]. Interceptor net produced the lowest mortality (~ 25%) against both species. Regarding blood-feeding inhibition (BFI), PBO nets, particularly Olyset Plus, outperformed Interceptor G2 and Royal Guard, while Interceptor produced minimal BFI (< 36%). Further evaluation of Royal Guard’s PPF effect on oviposition revealed no significant reduction in oviposition rates compared to controls with An. funestus (63.9% vs. 63.3%, P > 0.05). Genetic analysis using the hybrid crosses revealed that pyrethroid resistance markers (4.3 Kb-SV and G454A-Cyp9K1) were significantly associated with mosquito survival and blood-feeding success against PermaNet 2.0 (pyrethroid-only) and PermaNet 3.0 but showed no significant association with Interceptor G2 net. These findings support Interceptor G2 as a promising intervention for regions dominated by both highly resistant An. funestus s.l. and An. gambiae s.l. Piperonyl butoxide and PPF nets emerge as a good alternative for areas mostly dominated by resistant An. gambiae s.l. populations. Critically, the demonstrated variable impact of insecticide resistance on bednet efficacy underscores the imperative need for a comprehensive vector distribution mapping, continuous field efficacy assessments, and systematic resistance monitoring. This evidence-based triad should guide strategic LLIN distribution and rotations to sustain malaria control efficacy in resistance-prone settings.

Data availability

All datasets generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary files.
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Download referencesAcknowledgementsWe extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Village Health Teams (VHTs) and assistants in Mayuge district for their invaluable support in recruiting volunteers. We deeply appreciate the volunteers who participated in the hut trial and assisted with mosquito collection. We also express our sincere thanks to the technicians and administration at the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID) in Cameroon for their contributions to mosquito rearing and laboratory work, and to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe for their efforts in organizing field activities and preparing samples for shipping.FundingThis study was funded by BMGF (INV-006003) and Wellcome Trust (217188/Z/19/Z).Author informationAuthors and AffiliationsEntomology Department, Uganda Virus Research Institute, P.O. BOX 49, Entebbe, UgandaAmbrose Oruni & Jonathan KayondoCentre for Research in Infectious Diseases, LSTM-Research Unit, P.O BOX 3591, Yaoundé, CameroonAmbrose Oruni, Benjamin D. Menze, Yvan G. Fotso-Toguem, Vanessa B. Ngannang-Fezeu, Riccado F. Thiomela, Magellan Tchouakui & Charles S. WondjiLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Biology Department, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UKAmbrose Oruni, Jack Hearn & Charles S. WondjiCentre of Epidemiology and Planetary Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Scotland’s Rural College, Inverness, UKJack HearnInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), P.O. Box 2008, Yaoundé, CameroonCharles S. WondjiAuthorsAmbrose OruniView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarBenjamin D. MenzeView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarYvan G. Fotso-ToguemView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarVanessa B. Ngannang-FezeuView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarRiccado F. ThiomelaView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarMagellan TchouakuiView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarJack HearnView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarJonathan KayondoView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCharles S. WondjiView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarContributionsC.S.W. conceived and designed the research with inputs from B.D.M, M.T and J.K. A.O carried out the resarch, field work, sample processing, laboratory analysis, data entry, data analysis and writing the first draft of the manuscript. A.O was assisted by B.D.M and R.F.T in the field and V.B.N-F in the laboratory. M.T., J.H, J.K and C.S.W supervised the study and revision of the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the writing of the final draft of the manuscript. All authors read, revised and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Corresponding authorsCorrespondence to
Ambrose Oruni or Charles S. Wondji.Ethics declarations

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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The protocol to conduct this study was approved by The Uganda Virus Research Institute Research Ethics Committee (UVRI REC) (Ref: GC/127/833) and Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) (HS2063ES). Prior to trials, written, informed and signed consents were obtained from the volunteers (sleepers). All the volunteers involved in the study were supervised, followed up and treated when showing signs and symptoms of malaria. All methods in this trial were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.

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Reprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this articleOruni, A., Menze, B.D., Fotso-Toguem, Y.G. et al. Chlorfenapyr bednets effectively overcome pyrethroid resistance escalation in highly resistant Anopheles malaria vectors in Uganda.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34493-3Download citationReceived: 06 August 2025Accepted: 29 December 2025Published: 02 January 2026DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34493-3Share this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy shareable link to clipboard
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KeywordsExperimental hutsNew generation-LLINsInterceptor G2Malaria vectors
Anopheles funestus

Anopheles gambiae
Resistance escalationUganda More

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Fig. 1: Tolerant hosts may amplify pathogen transmission to vulnerable species.

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Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsDepartment of Zoology & Physiology, University of Wyoming, Casper, WY, USAGabriel Maturani BarrileSchool of Computing, University of Wyoming, Casper, WY, USAGabriel Maturani BarrileAuthorsGabriel Maturani BarrileView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to
Gabriel Maturani Barrile.Ethics declarations

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Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this articleBarrile, G.M. Hidden outbreaks in an amphibian pandemic.
Nat Ecol Evol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02950-xDownload citationPublished: 02 January 2026Version of record: 02 January 2026DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02950-xShare this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy shareable link to clipboard
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AbstractThis study evaluates the feasibility of utilizing suspension fertilizers as alternatives to conventional organic fertilizers in drip irrigation systems. The investigation focused on several key aspects, including storage stability, particle size distribution, soil organic matter (OM) content, seed germination, and nutrient utilization efficiency. Suspension fertilizers maintained excellent storage stability, with no stratification or deterioration observed over prolonged storage (≥ 30 days). Their particle size distribution remained suitable for drip irrigation systems, ensuring uniform application and reducing clogging risks. The application of suspension fertilizers significantly increased soil OM content across different soil layers (5–20 cm depth) by 25.3 to 44.1%. The phosphorus-use efficiency of banana seedlings increased 9.1- to 12.6-fold relative to the control. The germination index of cucumber and radish seeds improved by 41.7 to 184.6%. The results demonstrate that suspension fertilizers are a viable alternative to traditional organic fertilizers in drip irrigation systems. They enhance soil fertility, promote seed germination, and improve nutrient utilization efficiency. Future research should focus on long-term field trials to validate these benefits across diverse agricultural settings and soil types.

Data availability

Yes. The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to [part of the data is still undergoing further analysis and validation to ensure its accuracy and completeness, and the datasets contain confidential benchmarking information related to commercial products provided by our industry partners], but they are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Code availability

The code used in this study is available from the corresponding author upon request.
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Download referencesFunding This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFD1901502), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32002125).Author informationAuthors and AffiliationsCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, ChinaSainan Xiang, Tianxing Ma & Yang LyuBiotechnology Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, 530007, ChinaBaoshen LiResearch and Development Centre, Yunnan Yuntianhua Co., Ltd., Kunming, 650228, ChinaHang MaAuthorsSainan XiangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarBaoshen LiView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarHang MaView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarTianxing MaView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarYang LyuView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarContributionsXiang. conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, assisted in data analysis and interpretation and analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. Li. supervised the research, provided resources, and revised the manuscript. Ma.(Hang Ma) provided resources. Ma. (Tianxing Ma)assisted in data analysis and interpretation. Lyu. provided guidance on the research design and manuscript writing. All authors reviewed the manuscript.Corresponding authorsCorrespondence to
Baoshen Li or Yang Lyu.Ethics declarations

Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.

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Yes.

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Reprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this articleXiang, S., Li, B., Ma, H. et al. Comparative analysis of suspension fertilizers as alternatives to conventional organic fertilizers in drip irrigation systems.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33769-yDownload citationReceived: 04 July 2025Accepted: 22 December 2025Published: 02 January 2026DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33769-yShare this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy shareable link to clipboard
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KeywordsSuspension fertilizersConventional organic fertilizersDrip irrigation systemsNutrient utilization efficiencyGermination index More

AbstractLong-term effects of massive building material use in China, which experienced intense urbanization in the past two decades, remain insufficiently explored. Here, to fill these gaps, we developed a high-resolution time-series database of building material stocks from 2000 to 2019 and found that China held 15% of the global stock, which accounted for 19% of the country’s total carbon emissions. Although rapid urbanization generally increased per capita building material stock, the extent of this increase varied across cities and building types. We show that the growth rate has slowed since 2016; however, it remains challenging to simultaneously achieve both carbon-neutrality and urbanization goals. Future urbanization in China is projected to consume 12.5% of the nation’s total 1.5 °C carbon budget and 37.4% of its average annual budget allocation. Addressing these challenges requires targeted urban interventions, such as aligning low-carbon material production with projected regional demand and strategically planning materials recycling from future building demolitions.

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Fig. 1: Methodological process flow for establishing a high-resolution, long-term building material stock database for China.Fig. 2: Spatiotemporal patterns of building material stock mapped at 30-m resolution.Fig. 3: Spatiotemporal dynamics of per capita building material stock.Fig. 4: Embodied carbon emissions from increased building material stock.

Data availability

All the data used in this study are publicly available. The building material stock database generated in this study is available via Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17174497 (ref. 68). Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data are available at https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/. Building footprint data used in this study are available via Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8174931 and at https://doi.org/10.11888/Geogra.tpdc.271702. The CNBH dataset is available via Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7015081. EULUC-China data are available at https://data-starcloud.pcl.ac.cn/zh. GAIA data can be accessed at https://data-starcloud.pcl.ac.cn/zh. The Global Urban Entities dataset can be found at http://geodata.nnu.edu.cn/. WorldPop population data are available at https://www.worldpop.org/. Carbon budget data can be found at https://carbonbudgetcalculator.com/.
Code availability

The code used to generate figures of this study is available via Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17174497 (ref. 68).
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Zhang, C. & Chen, Z. Building material stock drives embodied carbon emissions and risks future climate goals in China. Zenodo https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17174497 (2025).Download referencesAcknowledgementsQiao Wang is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Major Program No. 42192580). Z.C. is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 41901414) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant no. 2243200008).Author informationAuthor notesThese authors contributed equally: Chaoqun Zhang, Lin Yang.Authors and AffiliationsFaculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaChaoqun Zhang, Ziyue Chen, Liqiang Zhang, Xing Yan, Jianqiang Hu, Yuheng Fu, Qiancheng Lv, Jing Yang, Qianqian Wang & Qiao WangSchool of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaLin Yang, Manchun Li & Yanzhao WangBOKU University, Institute of Social Ecology, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Vienna, AustriaDominik WiedenhoferState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather Meteorological Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaJianping GuoSchool of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, ChinaShaoying LiSchool of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, ChinaZhen Wang & Ying LiangInstitute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaMei-po KwanDepartment of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaYuyu ZhouInstitute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaYuyu ZhouSchool of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, ChinaLu LinSchool of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Hubei, ChinaQiqi ZhuSchool of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaBailang YuFuture Urbanity and Sustainable Environment Lab, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaBin ChenKey Laboratory of Beijing on Regional Air Pollution Control, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, ChinaXiaoqi WangCollege of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaBingbo GaoAuthorsChaoqun ZhangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarLin YangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarDominik WiedenhoferView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarJianping GuoView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarZiyue ChenView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarShaoying LiView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarZhen WangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarMei-po KwanView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarYuyu ZhouView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarLu LinView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarLiqiang ZhangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarManchun LiView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarQiqi ZhuView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarBailang YuView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarBin ChenView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarXing YanView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarXiaoqi WangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarBingbo GaoView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarYing LiangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarJianqiang HuView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarYuheng FuView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarQiancheng LvView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarJing YangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarYanzhao WangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarQianqian WangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarQiao WangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarContributionsC.Z. and Z.C. conceived and designed the research; C.Z., S.L., Z.W., L.L., B.Y., X.W., B.G., Y.L., J.H., Y.F., Q.L., J.Y., Y.W. and Qianqian Wang performed data analysis; C.Z., L.Y., D.W. and Z.C. wrote the manuscript; and M.K., Y.Z., L.Z., M.L., Q.Z., B.C., J.G., X.Y. and Qiao Wang contributed ideas to interpretation of results and manuscript revisions.Corresponding authorCorrespondence to
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Nature Climate Change thanks Hadi Arbabi, Chao Ding and Lola Rousseau for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

Additional informationPublisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Supplementary informationSupplementary InformationSupplementary Methods 1–5, Figs. S1–S7, Tables S1–S8 and Discussions 1–3.Reporting SummaryRights and permissionsSpringer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.Reprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this articleZhang, C., Yang, L., Wiedenhofer, D. et al. Building material stock drives embodied carbon emissions and risks future climate goals in China.
Nat. Clim. Chang. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02527-3Download citationReceived: 24 May 2025Accepted: 24 November 2025Published: 02 January 2026Version of record: 02 January 2026DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02527-3Share this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy shareable link to clipboard
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AbstractMangrove biomass is a key indicator for quantifying carbon cycling in blue-carbon ecosystems, yet conventional approaches face significant challenges. To improve large-scale mangrove biomass assessment and provide a baseline for targeted conservation, present study proposes a Single-tree–Plot–Community–Region (AGBT/F~U~S) upscaling method that integrates UAV-SfM, SAR, MSI, and field surveys, and applies it to Chonburi, Thailand. In 2023, total mangrove aboveground biomass in Chonburi Province was 145.24 kt, with a mean AGB density of 101.61 Mg/ha, slightly below the global mangrove average. Long-term records reveal an initial decline followed by post-2015 recovery to about 85% of the 1996 level. Relative to the conventional plot–satellite model, the AGBT/F~U~S framework substantially improves estimation performance and reduces prediction error (ΔR²≈0.47; ΔRMSE ≈ 66.03 Mg/ha), and remains robust under limited training data, with accuracy gains saturating once plot numbers exceed a moderate threshold. These results demonstrate that multi-scale upscaling provides a transferable pathway for mangrove biomass mapping in data-scarce regions and offers a practical baseline for blue-carbon accounting and targeted restoration planning.

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Data will be made available on request; you can access the data in the study through the DOI: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.28639718.v1 or by contacting the following email address: [email protected] (Zhen Guo).
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Download referencesAcknowledgementsThis research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 42171292, 42376228), the Special Fund for Asian Regional Cooperation from the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Grant No. WJ0922011), and the China Oceanic Development Foundation (Grant No. B222023017). We extend our sincere gratitude to the Thailand Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (IOC-WESTPAC) for their invaluable support in facilitating this research.Author informationAuthors and AffiliationsSchool of GeoAI and Hindon STAI Institute, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, ChinaJinchao MaResearch Center of Coastal Science and Marine Planning, Ministry of Natural Resources, First Institute of Oceanography, Qingdao, 266061, ChinaJinchao Ma, Zhen Guo, Zhiwei Zhang, Wenxue Xu, Huanshan Ning & Jiawei ShenDepartment of Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CanadaHaibo FengCollege of Geodesy and Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266590, ChinaHuanshan NingAuthorsJinchao MaView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarZhen GuoView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarHaibo FengView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarZhiwei ZhangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarWenxue XuView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarHuanshan NingView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarJiawei ShenView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarContributionsConceptualization, Z.G. and H.F.; methodology, Z.G. and Z.Z.; investigation, W.X. and H.N.; resources, W.X. and H.N.; data curation, J.M. and J.S.; writing—original draft preparation, J.M.; writing—review and editing, Z.G.; supervision, H.F.; funding acquisition, Z.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Corresponding authorsCorrespondence to
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Reprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this articleMa, J., Guo, Z., Feng, H. et al. Combining UAV-SfM, SAR, MSI and field surveys for estimation of above ground biomass in mangrove forest of Chonburi, Thailand.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34281-zDownload citationReceived: 28 March 2025Accepted: 26 December 2025Published: 02 January 2026DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34281-zShare this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy shareable link to clipboard
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KeywordsMangroveAboveground biomassUpscaling methodStructure from motionSingle-tree segmentation More

By disentangling the mechanisms that underpin changes in community biomass, we show that local arthropod biomass declines are overwhelmingly associated with species losses, independent of which species are lost and with only minor contributions of abundance change. High plant diversity and low land-use intensity mitigate arthropod biomass declines and community homogenization.

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Fig. 1: Declines in arthropod biomass are primarily associated with loss of species richness.

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Download referencesAdditional informationPublisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.This is a summary of: Wildermuth, B. et al. Arthropod species loss underpins biomass declines. Nat. Ecol. Evol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02909-y (2025).Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this article When local arthropod biomass declines, every species counts.
Nat Ecol Evol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02918-xDownload citationPublished: 02 January 2026Version of record: 02 January 2026DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02918-xShare this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy shareable link to clipboard
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Abstract

Climate change affects marine ecosystems by promoting pathogens that threaten key fish populations. To protect these, monitoring programs must adapt to manage threats and sustain fisheries. Here, we combined traditional PCR methods and transcriptomic analysis from a single drop of blood stored on FTA cards to determine the prevalence of erythrocytic necrosis virus (ENV) and the Ichthyophonus parasite in the Atlantic herring population. Across 2023–2024, 33% of individual blood samples tested positive for ENV and 10% for Ichthyophonus by PCR, with ENV-positive fish more frequently found in estuarine and coastal areas. Spatial analyses revealed a clustered distribution for ENV and a more sporadic occurrence of Ichthyophonus. RNA-Seq detected viral RNA fragments in ENV PCR-positive fish, revealing high levels of viral transcripts consistent with active viral replication. However, no significant changes were observed in the host blood transcriptome between infected and uninfected individuals, suggesting that ENV replication may proceed with limited systemic host transcriptional response under subclinical conditions. Overall, our study provides the first comprehensive baseline on the prevalence and molecular activity of ENV and Ichthyophonus in Atlantic herring, demonstrating the power of FTA-based RNA-Seq diagnostics to uncover hidden infections and informing future surveillance and management of wild fish populations.

Data availability

The raw sequencing data for the transcriptomic analyses generated in this study have been deposited in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive (SRA) under accession number PRJNA1258723. All other relevant data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its Supplementary Information files.
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Download referencesAcknowledgementsThis research was performed with the logistical support of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The authors would like to thank all the DFO personnel, particularly Jacob Burbank and Laurie Maynard, for their assistance and hospitality during the survey of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. They would also like to thank Marlène Fortier for her excellent technical help.FundingThis work was funded by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologie (Y.S.P. and D. R.) and the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Grant No. x-2019-06607, YSP). F.F. is supported by a scholarship from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologie (FRQNT). D.R. is supported by the Canada Research Chair Program. This work was supported by CFI-MSI GlycoNet Integrated Services (GIS-11, Y.S.P).Author informationAuthors and AffiliationsINRS-Center Armand-Frappier Santé Technologie, 531 Boul. des Prairies, Laval, Québec, H7V 1B7, CanadaFrance Caza, Fanny Fronton, Lina Ennia & Yves St-PierreInstitut des Sciences de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 310, allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, QC, C.P. 3300, G5L 3A1, CanadaDominique RobertAuthorsFrance CazaView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarFanny FrontonView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarLina EnniaView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarDominique RobertView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarYves St-PierreView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarContributionsDR, FC, FF, and YSP conceived the study. All authors were responsible for the interpretation of data and critical appraisal. All authors executed the experiments and contributed to the experimental design and analyses of the results. FC and YSP drafted the manuscript with input from all authors.Corresponding authorCorrespondence to
Yves St-Pierre.Ethics declarations

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Reprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this articleCaza, F., Fronton, F., Ennia, L. et al. Comprehensive pathogen diagnostics in wild fish populations using blood-based molecular strategies: an Atlantic herring case study.
Sci Rep (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-28653-8Download citationReceived: 16 August 2025Accepted: 11 November 2025Published: 31 December 2025DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-28653-8Share this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy shareable link to clipboard
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KeywordsAtlantic herringPathogens
Ichthyophonus
Erythrocytic necrosis virusTranscriptomicsFTA cards More

AbstractRhizosphere microbiomes play an essential role in promoting plant growth and health. Although host genotype is known to shape rhizosphere microbial communities, it remains unclear whether core microbial taxa can persist across genetically diverse hosts and contribute to plant performance. Here, we conducted a large-scale analysis of 1005 rhizosphere samples from 335 maize populations to investigate the effects of host genetic variation on rhizosphere microbiota. We observed significant genotype-dependent variation in both bacterial and fungal community diversity and composition. However, community assembly was predominantly governed by stochastic processes, suggesting an evolutionary conservation of rhizosphere microbiota across genotypes. Based on the hypothesis that core microbes may consistently associate with maize independent of genotypes, we identified a core bacterial taxon, ASV245 (Pseudomonas sp.), which was consistently enriched across all maize genotypes. The corresponding strain, designated as WY16, was isolated from maize roots and significantly promoted both stem and root growth by activating maize hormone signaling pathways. These findings highlight the persistence and functional roles of genotype-independent core microbes, deepening our understanding of plant-microbiome interactions and providing new insights for microbiome-based strategies in sustainable agriculture.

Data availability

Bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS1 sequences are available at ScienceDB (https://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.29129). Additional data and code are available on GitHub (https://github.com/fxtranquility/R-code).
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Xuming Wang or Tianlei Qiu.Ethics declarations

Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional informationPublisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Supplementary informationSupplementary MaterialRights and permissions
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Reprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this articleFang, J., Wang, G., Zhang, C. et al. Conserved genotype-independent rhizobacteria promote maize growth.
npj Biofilms Microbiomes (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00895-4Download citationReceived: 11 September 2025Accepted: 11 December 2025Published: 31 December 2025DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00895-4Share this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy shareable link to clipboard
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