Lateral gene transfer is an important mechanism of natural variation among prokaryotes, but the significance its quantitative contribution to genome evolution debated. Here, we report networks that capture both vertical and lateral components evolutionary history 539,723 genes distributed across 181 sequenced prokaryotic genomes. Partitioning these by eigenspectrum analysis identifies community structure in gene-sharing networks, modules which do not correspond a strictly hierarchical...

Abstract Green water, or plant‐available soil moisture, is a substantial subset of terrestrial fresh water. Land‐use change (LUC) alters green water dynamics through interactions on the micro‐level (i.e., between and vegetation) macro‐level land surface atmosphere). Ongoing global deforestation, growing interest in reforestation projects, begs question whether such large‐scale LUCs have major eco‐hydrological impacts via process moisture recycling. This requires systematic, mechanistic...

In late March 2020, SARS-CoV-2 arrived in Manaus, Brazil, and rapidly developed into a large-scale epidemic that collapsed the local health system resulted extreme death rates. Several key studies reported ∼76% of residents Manaus were infected (attack rate AR≃76%) by October suggesting protective herd immunity had been reached. Despite this, an unexpected second wave COVID-19 struck again November proved to be larger than first, creating catastrophe for unprepared population. It has...

The analysis of real networks taken from the biological, social, and physical sciences often requires a carefully posed statistical null-hypothesis approach. One common method comparing to an ensemble random matrices that satisfy realistic constraints in which each different matrix member is equiprobable. We discuss existing methods for generating uniformly distributed (constrained) matrices, describe their shortcomings, present efficient technique should have many practical applications.

Background Transmission mechanisms of black-band disease (BBD) in coral reefs are poorly understood, although this is considered to be one the most widespread and destructive infectious diseases. The major objective study was assess transmission BBD field based on spatio-temporal patterns disease. Methodology/Principal Findings 3,175 susceptible infected corals were mapped over an area 10×10 m Eilat (northern Gulf Aqaba, Red Sea) distribution examined monthly throughout almost two full...

Existing theory on competition for hosts between pathogen strains has proposed that immune selection can lead to the maintenance of strain structure consisting discrete, weakly overlapping antigenic repertoires. This prediction conceptual overlap with fundamental ideas in ecology niche partitioning and limiting similarity coexisting species an ecosystem, which oppose hypothesis neutral coexistence. For Plasmodium falciparum , been specifically relation major surface antigen blood stage,...

Pathogens compete for hosts through patterns of cross-protection conferred by immune responses to antigens. In Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the var multigene family encoding major blood-stage antigen PfEMP1 has evolved enormous genetic diversity ectopic recombination and mutation. With 50-60 genes per genome, it is unclear whether selection can act as a dominant force in structuring repertoires local populations. The combinatorial complexity system remains beyond reach existing strain...

Curative therapy for metastatic cancers is equivalent to causing extinction of a large, heterogeneous, and geographically dispersed population. Although eradication dinosaurs dramatic example dynamics, similar application massive eco-evolutionary force in cancer treatment typically limited by host toxicity. Here, we investigate the evolutionary dynamics Anthropocene species extinctions as an alternative model curative therapy. Human activities can produce diverse, distributed populations....

A massive typhus epidemic was brought to a grinding halt in Warsaw Ghetto 1941 by the ghetto inmates.

The two nearby Amazonian cities of Iquitos and Manaus endured explosive COVID-19 epidemics may well have suffered the world's highest infection death rates over 2020, first year pandemic. State-of-the-art epidemiological modeling studies estimated that populations both came close to attaining herd immunity (>70% infected) at termination wave were thus protected. This makes it difficult explain more deadly second struck again in just months later, simultaneous with appearance a new P.1...

The invasion of vector-borne diseases depends on the type specific features vector and hosts at play. Within Culex pipiens complex, differences in ecology, biology, competence can influence risk West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks. To determine which life-history traits affect WNV into susceptible communities most, we constructed an epidemiological Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model with three (eco)types, pipiens, Cx. pip. molestus, their hybrids, two vertebrate hosts, birds (as...

Abstract A review of the literature on water governance reveals that most studies focus blue governance; while there is some green and atmospheric water, explicit how to govern lacking. Hence, this paper addresses question: What are arguments for governing water? In order address question, we have undertaken a scoping analysis water. We conclude must proactively since: (a) represents only part available fresh water; (b) river basins represent subset wider systemic nature (c) land use change...

Abstract In late March 2020, SARS-CoV-2 arrived in Manaus, Brazil, and rapidly developed into a large-scale epidemic that collapsed the local health system, resulted extreme death rates. Several key studies reported ∼76% of residents Manaus were infected (attack rate AR≃76%) by October suggesting protective herd immunity had been reached. Despite this, November an unexpected second wave COVID-19 struck again, proved to be larger than first creating catastrophe for unprepared population. It...

Although the spread of drug resistance and influence climate change on malaria are most often considered separately, these factors have potential to interact through altered levels transmission intensity. The intensity evolution has been addressed in theoretical studies from a population genetics' perspective; less is known however how epidemiological dynamics at level modulates this influence. We ask perspective, whether can explain non-trivial, non-monotonic, patterns treatment failure...

The coexistence of multiple independently circulating strains in pathogen populations that undergo sexual recombination is a central question epidemiology with profound implications for control. An agent-based model developed extends earlier ‘strain theory’ by addressing the var gene family Plasmodium falciparum. explicitly considers extensive diversity multi-copy genes antigenic variation via sequential, mutually exclusive expression. It tracks dynamics all unique repertoires population...

Synthesising the relationships between complexity, connectivity, and stability of large biological systems has been a longstanding fundamental quest in theoretical biology ecology. With many exciting developments modern network theory, interest these issues recently come to forefront range multidisciplinary areas. Here we outline new analysis specifically relevant for study ecological metapopulations focusing primarily on marine systems, where subpopulations are generally connected via...

Coral reefs are in global decline, with coral diseases increasing both prevalence and space, a situation that is expected only to worsen as future thermal stressors increase. Through intense surveillance, we have collected unique highly resolved dataset from the reef of Eilat (Israel, Red Sea), documents spatiotemporal dynamics White Plague Disease (WPD) outbreak over course full season. Based on modern statistical methodologies, develop novel spatial epidemiological model uses...

The redistribution of biological (transpiration) and non-biological (interception loss, soil evaporation) fluxes terrestrial evaporation via atmospheric circulation precipitation is an important Earth system process. In vegetated ecosystems, transpiration dominates thought to be crucial for regional moisture recycling ecosystem functioning. However, the spatial temporal variability in dependency on remains understudied, particularly sparsely sampled regions like Africa. Here, we investigate...

Size‐frequency distributions (SFDs) have been used to assess the ecological status of different populations in a variety ecosystems and recently become widely examine reef corals. SFDs may reflect response time‐varying influences environment, including intensity frequency disturbances degree environmental degradation. Here we elucidate biases that can arise application popular traditional sampling methods (e.g. quadrat, belt‐transect, line‐intercept). We show these on estimated SFD due...

Standard techniques for analyzing network models usually break down in the presence of clustering. Here we introduce a new analytic tool, ``free-excess degree'' distribution, which extends generating function framework, making it applicable clustered networks ($C>0$). The methodology is general and provides expression threshold point at giant component emerges shows that scales as $(1\ensuremath{-}C{)}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. In addition, size may be predicted even more complicated scenarios...

Abstract Complex virus–virus interactions can arise when multiple viruses coinfect the same host, impacting infection outcomes with broader ecological and evolutionary significance for host. Yet, our knowledge regarding virus competition is still limited, especially single-celled eukaryotic host-virus systems. Here, we report on mutual interference of two dsDNA viruses, MpoV-45T MpoV-46T, competing their Arctic algal host Micromonas polaris. Both affected each other’s gene expression...

Abstract Vegetation is a major contributor of terrestrial evaporation and influences subsequent precipitation over land. Studies suggest that forests are crucial for moisture recycling, although the specific contribution different vegetation to remains unclear. Using recycling approach, we investigate transpiration from trees non‐tree Africa. We use source regions simulated atmospheric trajectories, constrained by observation‐based products, fractional cover data. Our findings show provide...