Structural basis of glmS ribozyme activation by glucosamine-6-phosphate

The glmS ribozyme is the only natural catalytic RNA known to require a small-molecule activator for catalysis. This catalytic RNA functions as a riboswitch, with activator-dependent RNA cleavage regulating glmS messenger RNA expression. We report crystal structures of the glmS ribozyme in precleavage states that are unliganded or bound to the competitive inhibitor glucose-6-phosphate and in the postcleavage state. All structures superimpose closely, revealing a remarkably rigid RNA that contains a preformed active and coenzyme-binding site. Unlike other riboswitches, the glmS ribozyme binds its activator in an open, solvent-accessible pocket. Our structures suggest that the amine group of the glmS ribozyme-bound coenzyme performs general acid-base and electrostatic catalysis.     

Colonizing Islands of water on dry land—on the passive dispersal of fish eggs by birds

The vast majority of global freshwater ecosystems are small lakes with less than 100 m² surface area. These lakes are often unconnected to other water bodies but frequently host fish populations. Existing explanations for how fish colonize such remote habitats often involve birds as vectors transporting fish eggs as propagules. In this study, we aim to quantify the prevalence of these explanations among relevant societal groups as well as their scientific knowledge basis. We analyzed entries in online blogs and forums and surveyed the opinions of local stakeholders and decision makers using a questionnaire. To collect published scientific knowledge, we conducted a structured literature review. Our results reveal a discrepancy between commonly found beliefs and the empirical knowledge supporting those beliefs: Dispersal of fish eggs by water birds was overall the most frequent explanation online and in the questionnaire. In the scientific literature, however, we found hardly any empirical research on passive fish egg dispersal. We propose research directions for how to close this gap of knowledge and suggest that future empirical studies on passive fish egg dispersal may be inspired by existing work on passive dispersal in aquatic invertebrates. Mitigating the belief‐evidence discrepancy on fish dispersal will be essential to better understand the patterns of fish biodiversity across landscapes, to counteract its losses, and inform management strategies for invasive fish species.     

Nitrogen Dynamics of Strawberry Cultivation in Vermicompost-Amended Systems

The use of vermicompost as a soil amendment is suggested as a method to reduce nitrogen (N) losses in crop production; however, it is unclear whether and how vermicompost can affect water quality after a significant irrigation or rainfall event. Bare-root strawberry plugs were grown in 1-gallon plastic pots. The treatments consisted of two media: (1) a peat:perlite soil-less mix and (2) a fine sand soil. Each media was amended with three levels of dairy manure vermicompost: 0, 10, and 25% by weight, and a biweekly synthetic fertilizer treatment of 150 mg N-P-K L^?1 evaluated in a full factorial randomized block design. Drainage water from each plant was collected each week for 18 weeks and analyzed for NO₃^? concentration. In the first 2 weeks, high (1000–5000 mg L^?1) amounts of NO₃^? leaching occurred in all vermicompost-amended media relative to non vermicompost-amended media, but this leaching significantly (p < 0.01) decreased over time across all vermicompost treatments. Strawberry growth response to 10% vermicompost was similar to synthetic fertilizer only treatments. Plants grown with vermicompost at 25% with synthetic fertilizer had the highest above-ground vegetative biomass (15.3 g) relative to plants with synthetic fertilizer only (5.3 g). These data suggest vermicompost addition rates of 10 and 25% by weight promote high vegetative biomass in greenhouse strawberry but may facilitate high initial nitrate leaching, which can negatively affect water quality and environmental health.     

Modelling and valuing the environmental impacts of arable,forestry and agroforestry systems: a case study

The use of land for intensive arable production in Europe is associated with a range of externalities that typically impose costs on third parties. The introduction of trees in arable systems can potentially be used to reduce these costs. This paper assesses the profitability and environmental externalities of a silvoarable agroforestry system, and compares this with the profitability and environmental externalities from an arable system and a forestry system. A silvoarable experimental plot of poplar trees planted in 1992 in Bedfordshire, Eastern England, was used as a case study. The Yield-SAFE model was used to simulate the growth and yields of the silvoarable, arable, and forestry land uses along with the associated environmental externalities, including carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen and phosphorus surplus, and soil erosion losses by water. The Farm-SAFE model was then used to quantify the monetary value of these effects. The study assesses both the financial profitability from a farmer perspective and the economic benefit from a societal perspective. The arable option was the most financially profitable system followed by the silvoarable system and forestry. However, when the environmental externalities were included, silvoarable agroforestry provided the greatest benefit. This suggests that the appropriate integration of trees in arable land can provide greater well-being benefits to society overall, than arable farming without trees, or forestry systems on their own.