DNA barcodes narrow down possible sources of introductions of an invasive banana skipper butterfly pest

CABI has led a team of scientists who have used DNA barcodes to narrow down the possible sources of introductions of an invasive banana skipper butterfly, with implications as to the threat of it spreading to Africa and tropical America.

CABI

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A male Erionota torus

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Credit: Matthew Cock

CABI has led a team of scientists who have used DNA barcodes to narrow down the possible sources of introductions of an invasive banana skipper butterfly, with implications as to the threat of it spreading to Africa and tropical America.

The banana skipper, Erionota torus Evans (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae, Hesperiinae, Erionotini) is a South-east Asian pest of banana that, in the last 60 years, has spread to the southern Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and La Réunion.

The new research, published in the journal CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, analysed a partial library of DNA barcodes from the indigenous and introduced ranges and suggests that aircraft are likely a pathway into new areas.

Gravid females may be attracted to airport lights

It is believed that gravid females may be attracted to airport lights while aircraft are being loaded at night and settling within aircraft before departure.

Indeed, it has been suggested that at least one of three separate invasions in Japan, all in the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures, southern Japan, was unwittingly made on US military planes moving between the South Vietnam and the US Okinawa airbase during the Vietnam war.

The scientists found that based on their DNA barcodes indigenous populations can be divided into an ‘East’ group, in China and Vietnam, and a ‘West’ group in India, Nepal, Myanmar and west Malaysia.

Furthermore, within the ‘West’ group, there is a coherent ‘Malaysia’ subgroup from west Malaysia. Introduced populations in south India, La Réunion and Taiwan showed almost no variation in barcodes, suggesting they are each based on a single homogenous introduction.

They conclude that the introduced populations in Taiwan and Japan match the ‘East’ group, the introduced populations in Mauritius and La Réunion match the ‘Malaysia’ subgroup and the introduced population in south India matches the ‘West’ group.

Useful insight regarding the origin and potential pathways

Dr Matthew Cock, lead author of the research and CABI Emeritus Fellow, said, “Our study has added useful insight regarding the origin and potential pathways of introductions of E. torus in Asia and the Indian Ocean.

“We would have achieved more if larger numbers of samples and a wider geographical range of DNA barcodes had been available. Accordingly, this is a tool well worth including in future studies on introductions and pathways of alien invasive species.”

He added that the low level of replication and a limited library of barcodes from indigenous populations means that it can only be concluded with confidence that the introduced populations of E. torus in Taiwan and Japan match the ‘East’ group, the introduced populations in Mauritius and La Réunion match the ‘Malaysia’ subgroup and the introduced population in southern India matches the ‘West’ group.

The scientists say the results support earlier suggestions that the introduction to Mauritius was from west Malaysia, quite possibly on military aircraft, and the introduction to La Réunion was from Mauritius (or possibly west Malaysia).

They believe the introduction to southern India was either from north-eastern India or perhaps one of the adjacent countries, the introduction to Taiwan was from Vietnam or China (e.g. Hong Kong), the introduction to Okinawa was from Vietnam (as previously suggested) or China.

However, they say the introduction to Yonaguni Island, Japan, was from Taiwan. They were unable to obtain DNA barcodes from Sri Lanka or the Philippines to assess the likely origins of these introductions, but when DNA barcodes become available from these countries it will be easy to compare them with the barcodes reported here.

Full paper reference

Matthew J.W. Cock, Alan G. Buddie, Giovanni Cafa, Hideyuki Chiba, Athulya Girish Kizhakke, Yu-Feng Hsu and Krushnamegh Kunte, ‘DNA barcodes narrow down the possible sources of introductions of an invasive banana skipper, Erionota torus Evans (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae)’. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, 27 February (2025). DOI: 10.1079/ab.2025.0016

The paper can be read in full here: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/ab.2025.0016

CABI Agriculture and Bioscience

CABI Agriculture and Bioscience is an open access journal publishing high-quality, rigorously peer-reviewed multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research focused on agriculture, food security, and the environment. 
 
Global agriculture faces many challenges today. How can we produce more safe, nutritious food in the face of climate change? Can we balance greater efficiencies with the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity?  Can we meet changing market demands and yet develop more equitable economies? Can agriculture provide a livelihood and opportunities for women and young people? 
 
These problems require increasingly complex and urgent solutions from researchers and policymakers. The journal editors are committed to encouraging an inclusive culture of scientific discussion and rapid information sharing among researchers worldwide.  

 

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Journal

CABI Agriculture and Bioscience

DOI

10.1079/ab.2025.0016 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

DNA barcodes narrow down the possible sources of introductions of an invasive banana skipper, Erionota torus Evans (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae)

Article Publication Date

27-Feb-2025

 

Solar technology could meet UK’s electricity needs without sacrificing farmland

University of Sheffield

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• New University of Sheffield research shows that combining solar panels with farming (agrivoltaics) can meet UK solar energy targets without sacrificing agricultural land

• The coverage potential for the technology is so high that it could meet UK electricity demand more than four times over

• Regions identified for the effective deployment of agrivoltaics include Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, and the broader East and South East of England

• The approach counters criticism of traditional solar farms, which are often opposed due to concerns about lost farmland, food production and visual impact

• Previous studies in Tanzania and Kenya have shown that agrivoltaics not only generates clean energy but can also boost crop yields and conserve water

Ambitious government plans for the expansion of solar farms could be achieved without sacrificing farmland, according to new research on a technology that could meet the UK’s electricity needs four times over.

The University of Sheffield study assessed how agrivoltaics technology - integrating solar panels into farmland in a way that maintains agricultural activities - could help the UK reach its solar energy targets (PV) and meet its commitment to reach net zero by 2050.

Current government plans to significantly increase ground-mounted solar parks, which are already in use across the UK, have proven contentious and unpopular with farmers and the public alike. Concerns about the loss of high-quality agricultural land, potential impacts on food production and cost of living, and the visual impact on landscapes are among factors fuelling the criticism.

The Great Britain-focussed study demonstrates that the deployment of agrivoltaics, which would see solar photovoltaic panels installed in ways to allow for farming activities underneath or between panels, could enable the simultaneous production of crops, livestock and renewable energy. Agrivoltaics has such high coverage potential that it could meet UK government PV targets on its own, while avoiding land use conflicts.

Professor Sue Hartley, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield who co-authored the study, said: “The Government and solar developers have ambitious plans for the expansion of solar farms but these risk the loss of agricultural land needed for food production at a time when global food security is threatened by geopolitical uncertainty and climate change.

“Agrivoltaic technology is a potential way out of this dilemma. It allows us to use the same area of land for both food and clean energy production, addressing some of the criticism levelled at solar farms. This technology is in regular use in many areas of the world, including areas like Scandinavia with less sunlight than the UK, but has not yet been adopted here. 

“Our research identifies the areas in the UK where this technology can be most effectively deployed, both to mitigate land use conflicts and deliver the UK’s energy needs.”

Regions identified for the effective deployment of agrivoltaics include Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, and the broader East and South East of England. Several factors contribute to this suitability, including the availability of flat land, the extent of existing agricultural use, grid connectivity and the prevalence of solar radiation.

A £1.4 million research project led by the University of Sheffield previously saw agrivoltaic systems installed on farmland in Tanzania and Kenya. Not only did the technology produce low carbon electricity, it was found to significantly boost crop yields and conserve water in regions that are acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Researchers found that certain crops, such as maize, Swiss chard and beans, thrived under the partial shade provided by solar panels. The shade offered further benefits: it reduced water evaporation for more efficient water use and the panels themselves provided rainwater to supplement irrigation needs.

The new study on the technology’s UK potential aims to inform land use policy debates by promoting multifunctional land use and encouraging more research to support and guide the development of domestic agrivoltaics.

Co-author Dr Richard Randle-Boggis, who conducted agrivoltaics research at the University of Sheffield and is now a research scientist at SINTEF, said: “Research on agrivoltaics is extensive in mainland Europe, but very little has been done in the UK.

“Our next step should be field experiments to test the performance of the systems, investigate different designs with different crops and better understand the perspectives of local communities and other stakeholders.

“The loss of farmland is typically a major reason communities oppose solar park development in their local areas. Our research takes a leading step in demonstrating where solar parks could be developed alongside agricultural activities so that farmland is not lost.”

The study, co-authored by Talitha Neesham-McTiernan, Alastair Buckley and Sue Hartley from the University of Sheffield and Richard Randle-Boggis from SINTEF, is available in the Science Direct journal.

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Journal

Applied Energy

DOI

10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125527 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

The spatial potential for agrivoltaics to address energy-agriculture land use conflicts in Great Britain

 

Study finds aged biomass emissions could pose greater risk to lungs than fresh wildfire smoke

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Biomass burning—whether from wildfires, wood stoves or agricultural fires—sends massive amounts of tiny particles and chemicals into the air. These emissions are not just an environmental issue; they pose serious health risks, especially for our lungs. An Environmental Pollution study, co-authored by Dr. Jason Surratt, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill, reveals how two key components of biomass smoke—levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol—affect human lung cells. Their findings suggest that aged smoke, which has undergone chemical changes in the atmosphere, could be even more dangerous than fresh smoke.

Biomass burning refers to the combustion of organic materials like wood, leaves and crop residues. This process releases large amounts of carbon-based aerosols, which contribute to air pollution. Among the many chemicals produced in the smoke, levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol serve as important markers. Levoglucosan is a sugar-like compound released when wood burns, while 4-nitrocatechol forms when smoke interacts with nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, a process known as chemical aging. While scientists have long studied the environmental effects of biomass burning, less is known about how these compounds directly impact human health.

In the study, “Evidence for Cytotoxicity and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Human Lung Cells Exposed to Biomass Burning Aerosol Constituents: Levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol,” Dr. Surratt and colleagues at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Polish Academy of Sciences and Príncipe Felipe Research Center Foundation (CIPF) conducted laboratory experiments to compare how levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol affect human lung cells.

They used two different types of lung cells: BEAS-2B cells, which represent normal lung-lining cells, and A549 cells, which come from lung cancer tissue and are commonly used in respiratory studies. The researchers exposed these cells to different concentrations of levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol over 24 and 48 hours. They then measured cell survival, stress levels and signs of damage to the cells’ mitochondria—the “power plants” of cells that generate energy.

Their key findings were that aged smoke is more toxic:

• The study found that 4-nitrocatechol was significantly more toxic to lung cells than levoglucosan. At relatively low doses, 4-nitrocatechol reduced cell survival and caused oxidative stress—an imbalance that damages cells and can lead to lung diseases.
• Exposure to 4-nitrocatechol disrupted the function of mitochondria in lung cells, leading to a process called apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This damage could contribute to long-term lung problems.
• While levoglucosan exposure also led to cellular stress, its effects were much less severe compared to 4-nitrocatechol. Cells exposed to levoglucosan showed signs of mitochondrial stress, but they were able to recover over time.
• Since 4-nitrocatechol forms when biomass smoke reacts with urban air pollutants like nitrogen oxides, areas affected by both wildfires and traffic pollution may be particularly at risk.

While wearing an N95 or P100 mask can help filter out fine particles, it may not fully protect against toxic gases and chemicals present in aged smoke. Here are some steps individuals can take: Use HEPA air purifiers to remove fine particles from indoor air and keeping windows and doors closed can help minimize smoke infiltration; ensure that homes are properly sealed to prevent smoke from entering through cracks, vents or poorly fitted windows and doors; avoid using candles, gas stoves or burning wood indoors, as these can add to indoor air pollution; in extreme conditions, individuals with respiratory issues or prolonged exposure may consider investing in gas masks with activated carbon filters, which can help remove both particles and harmful gases; and if air quality levels are hazardous and exposure is prolonged, relocating to an area with cleaner air—either indoors with filtered ventilation or to a different location—might be the safest option.

“Our study reinforces concerns that exposure to biomass smoke—especially aged smoke containing 4-nitrocatechol—can have serious health consequences,” said Dr. Surratt. “Long-term exposure to these pollutants has been linked to respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. People who live in wildfire-prone areas or who frequently burn wood for heating should take extra precautions.”

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Journal

Environmental Pollution

DOI

10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125173 

Article Title

Evidence for cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction in human lung cells exposed to biomass burning aerosol constituents: Levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol

 

Four research teams rethink particleboard construction and reuse

American Chemical Society

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For a few hundred dollars, a bedroom can be refreshed with the latest flat-pack offerings. Wood particleboard furniture is affordable and generally easy to assemble, but particleboard is often held together with formaldehyde-based resins that make it hard or impossible to recycle. Now, with the help of science, old pressed-wood furnishings could be repurposed, and new modular decor could incorporate more environmentally friendly materials. Four articles published in ACS journals reveal how. Reporters can request free access to these papers by emailing newsroom@acs.org.

1. Adhesive-free particleboard joined by plant fibers. To bind wood chips together in particleboard, resins containing formaldehyde alternatives have been proposed, such as lignin or cellulose. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Nano Letters have developed plant macrofibers with tiny nanofibers on their surfaces (like pieces of yarn that have been roughed up) to ensnare and link the wood chips together. In demonstrations, particleboard made with the new macrofibers was strong, sound-absorbing and lighter than particleboard made with the other plant-based alternative resins.

2. Self-bonding bamboo fiberboard. Researchers in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering have developed a specialized bamboo fiber that forms a self-bonding fiberboard. Made from fast-growing bamboo, the board is strong and flexible, and it doesn’t use formaldehyde or other volatile organic compounds as a binder. The new material is held together by treating the bamboo fibers with tea polyphenols and cobalt ions, and then cross-linking the fibers’ hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups with heat and pressure.  

3. Thermal insulation made from cardboard. Thermal insulation for buildings is typically made from petrochemical-based polymers, such as polystyrene and polyurethane. Now, a study published in ACS Nano proposes a renewable foam made from discarded cardboard. The foam, manufactured with what the researchers call a one-pot synthesis strategy, is lightweight, temperature insulating and fire-resistant. These characteristics suggest the material could be an effective and sustainable insulation option for residential buildings.

4. Repairing joints with recycled wood. In an ACS Nano study, researchers propose using discarded wood materials, such as particleboard, to create hydrogels with mechanical properties similar to cartilage for the repair of joint defects and injuries. Demonstrations of the wood-derived hydrogel in animal models showed that it healed osteochondral injuries in femur joints significantly better than joints treated with traditional collagen gels at 12 weeks after injury onset. To the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study investigating the use of wood in tissue engineering.

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is committed to improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Its mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community and champion scientific integrity, and its vision is a world built on science. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

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The wellbeing of people and nature as the goal of national-level decision-making

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare published a Governance Model proposal for the Wellbeing Economy

Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare

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The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has published a governance model for the wellbeing economy. The proposed model is part of Finland’s National Action Plan for the Economy of Wellbeing 2023–2025 that called for the development of guidance to implement the wellbeing economy approach.

The model can be used for policy planning and monitoring policy impact from the point of view of economic, social and ecological sustainability. It offers a sustainability perspective that can be utilized in preparing the Government Programme as well as the state budget.

Close and wide cooperation needed to strengthen the knowledge base of wellbeing economy

In an effort to operationalize wellbeing objectives, the model proposes using an extensive citizens’ consultation process as well as introducing long-term wellbeing targets that guide government programs. The model also includes an indicator set that provides a tool for launching national-level monitoring of sustainable wellbeing. Furthermore, the model proposes close cooperation between the public administration and sectoral research institutes to strengthen the knowledge base for wellbeing economy.

"Finland has been pioneering the concepts of wellbeing economy and sustainable development, but we haven’t had a governance model or monitoring indicators for balancing social, economic and ecological sustainability in decision-making at the national level. Estonia, for one, plans and monitors long-term policy measures to ensure sustainable development. In this way, the parties have been able to commit to objectives that extend beyond government terms," says Research Professor Heikki Hiilamo, who was in charge of developing the model.

International symposium in May brings together policymakers, researchers and officials

The model also recognizes the importance of international cooperation in national-level implementation. Finland has played an active role in the OECD, WHO, and Wellbeing Economy country networks to better understand the approach and tools needed. Many of the recommendations included in the model are based on tools and practices used in other countries.

As part of the continued international cooperation, THL, together with Frontline Forum is organizing a symposium “Wellbeing Economy – The New Strategic Paradigm for Finland” in Helsinki on May 20, 2025. The symposium brings together policymakers, researchers, and officials to discuss how wellbeing economy principles can be integrated into governance and policy making.

The event is free of charge, held in English and all sessions can be accessed both online and in-person. Register here for the event: Symposium: Wellbeing Economy - The New Strategic Paradigm for Finland.

The governance model was developed as part of the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland (RRP), in a project called “Building a knowledge-based wellbeing economy in Finland – a project to develop policy tools”. THL received funding for the Sustainable Growth Programme from the from the one-off EU recovery instrument ‘Next Generation EU’ (NGEU), that speeds up the recovery of Europe’s economies, societies and people from the COVID-19 crisis.

 

A new mathematical model improves prediction of human mobility between cities

The formula, developed by a URV research team, accurately describes the movement patterns of people. The results have been published in the journal Nature Communications

Universitat Rovira i Virgili

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Oriol Cabanas, Marta Sales-Pardo and Roger Guimerà, who has leaded the study.

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Credit: URV

How many people will travel during a given week between two specific cities? Answering this question is important for many reasons, for example, to design efficient public transport infrastructures, or, as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic, to understand how mobility patterns could be used to predict the spread and evolution of the virus. Now, a new mathematical model developed by the URV’s SeesLab research group, together with researchers from Northeastern University and the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, has made it possible to predict human mobility with high precision and in a simpler and more efficient way than the systems currently in use. The scientific journal Nature Communications has published the results of the study, which provides a valuable new tool for understanding how people move in different contexts.

Models of human mobility have existed for decades. Since the middle of the 20th century, so-called “gravitational models” have been used to understand and predict human mobility. These systems are inspired by Newton’s law of gravitation and, in order to give their results, take into account two fundamental parameters: the size of the population of the two cities and the distance between them. These models assume that larger populations attract more movement, while larger distances act as a disincentive. Gravitational models have been used in transport planning, migration studies and epidemiology because they make it possible to understand the results very simply and to predict spatial interactions and flow patterns. However, this simplicity means that these models are not extremely accurate and can only give approximate predictions of mobility flows.With the advent of artificial intelligence, in recent years the research community has begun to develop much more accurate mobility models based on machine learning. Unlike the original gravity models, which predict flows only from population and distance, these new models use many more variables besides origin and destination, such as the density of restaurants and schools or road connectivity. Although their predictions are much more reliable, unlike gravity models, the results are very difficult to interpret and do not offer a clear view of the mechanisms that explain people’s mobility decisions.

Now, the URV research team has managed to combine the best of each system: the accuracy of the machine learning models and the simplicity of the gravitational systems. Based on an algorithm they call the “scientific robot”, they have developed a new innovative mathematical model that equals and even improves the accuracy of the machine learning models and, moreover, is as simple and easy to interpret as the gravitational model. “With this new algorithm we can identify the most plausible models for explaining the data observed, in our case, mobility flows”, explains Marta Sales-Pardo, researcher at the SeesLab research group. The method combines machine learning techniques, statistical physics and Bayesian statistics to efficiently balance the complexity of the model and its accuracy. “We have developed a very powerful tool for scientific discovery and data-driven modelling,” says Roger Guimerà, ICREA research professor in the same group.

The pre-doctoral researcher Oriol Cabanas, who also took part in the study, pointed out that the model can also be extrapolated to other geographical areas. “As it only uses population and distance variables, only minimal adjustments to the parameters are needed to extrapolate its predictions to other geographical areas”. Thus, this new approach can be used to analyse displacements both in large cities and in less urbanised areas without having to create a new algorithm, as would be the case with machine learning models, due to their complexity.

Understanding human mobility is fundamental in many areas. For example, in urban planning and transport, the model can help road infrastructure and public transport services be planned more efficiently by optimising resources and reducing congestion. It is also useful and necessary in the field of public health because it can be used to model the spread of infectious diseases by understanding how people move and how viruses and other pathogens can be transmitted from one area to another, and by designing containment strategies in the event of a pandemic.

Furthermore, the model’s ability to predict human mobility also has implications for sustainability, as it can help to better manage energy consumption and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with transport.

The research by the SeesLab research group does not stop there. In fact, they have already begun to test the model with other variables in addition to population and distance, such as road connectivity, and the results suggest that it can produce an even more accurate picture of mobility.

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Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-025-56495-5 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Human mobility is well described by closed-form gravity-like models learned automatically from data