To understand how genetic architecture translates between phenotypic levels, we mapped the genetic architecture of growth and defense within the Arabidopsis thaliana Kas 3 Tsu recombinant inbred line population. We measured plant growth using traditional size measurements and size-corrected growth rates. This population contains genetic variation in both the nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes, allowing us to separate their contributions. The cytoplasmic genome regulated a significant variance in growth but not defense, which was due to cytonuclear epistasis. Furthermore, growth adhered to an infinitesimal model of genetic architecture, while defense metabolism was more of a moderate-effect model. We found a lack of concordance between quantitative trait loci (QTL) regulating defense and those regulating growth. Given the published evidence proving the link between glucosinolates and growth, this is likely a false negative result caused by the limited population size. This size limitation creates an inability to test the entire potential genetic landscape possible between these two parents. We uncovered a significant effect of glucosinolates on growth once we accounted for allelic differences in growth QTLs. Therefore, other growth QTLs can mask the effects of defense upon growth. Investigating direct links across phenotypic hierarchies is fraught with difficulty; we identify issues complicating this analysis.

Sustainable land-use planning should consider large-scale landscape connectivity. commonly-used species-specific connectivity models are difficult to generalize for a wide range of taxa. In the context of multi-functional land-use planning, there is growing interest in species-agnostic approaches, modelling connectivity as a function of human landscape modification. We propose a conceptual framework, apply it to model connectivity as current density across Alberta, canada, and assess map sensitivity to modelling decisions. We directly compared the uncertainty related to (1) the definition of the degree of human modification, (2) the decision whether water bodies are considered barriers to movement, and (3) the scaling function used to translate degree of human modification into resistance values. connectivity maps were most sensitive to the consideration of water as barrier to movement, followed by the choice of scaling function, whereas maps were more robust to different conceptualizations of the degree of human modification. We observed higher concordance among cells with high (standardized) current density values than among cells with low values, which supports the identification of cells contributing to larger-scale connectivity based on a cut-off value. We conclude that every parameter in species-agnostic connectivity modelling requires attention, not only the definition of often-criticized expert-based degrees of human modification.Land-use and land-cover changes have impacted many natural ecosystems to provide ecosystem goods and services for an ever-growing human population 1 . This often has unintended consequences that may threaten biodiversity and ecosystem health 2 . Such consequences include changes in local, regional, and global climate 3 , alteration of natural habitats 4 , pollution of land, air, and water 5-7 , and changes in landscape structure, i.e., the total area and spatial configuration of ecosystems 8 .Natural ecosystems offer habitat for many species, and human landscape modification typically involves habitat loss as well as the breaking up of continuous habitats into smaller remnant patches (fragmentation) 9,10 . Consequently, landscapes may lose connectivity, i.e., the degree to which they facilitate movement of organisms and their genes among patches 11,12 . Landscape connectivity can be quantified in three ways: structural landscape connectivity, potential functional connectivity, and actual functional connectivity 13 . Structural landscape connectivity can be determined from physical attributes, based on maps alone without reference to organismal movement behaviour. Potential functional connectivity relies on a set of assumptions on organismal movement behaviour to implement an organism perspective, e.g. by mapping a species' habitat and setting a dispersal threshold. In contrast, actual functional connectivity refers to observed data (e.g., patch occupancy, radio tracking, open Scientific RepoRtS | (2020) 10:6798 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63545-z www.nature.com/scientifi...

BackgroundThe important greenhouse gas (GHG) methane is produced naturally in anaerobic wetland soils. By affecting the production, oxidation and transport of methane to the atmosphere, plants have a major influence upon the quantities emitted by wetlands. Different species and functional plant groups have been shown to affect these processes differently, but our knowledge about how these effects are influenced by abiotic factors such as water regime and temperature remains limited. Here we present a mesocosm experiment comparing eight plant species for their effects on internal transport and overall emissions of methane under contrasting hydrological conditions. To quantify how much methane was transported internally through plants (the chimney effect), we blocked diffusion from the soil surface with an agar seal.ResultsWe found that graminoids caused higher methane emissions than forbs, although the emissions from mesocosms with different species were either lower than or comparable to those from control mesocosms with no plant (i.e. bare soil). Species with a relatively greater root volume and a larger biomass exhibited a larger chimney effect, though overall methane emissions were negatively related to plant biomass. Emissions were also reduced by lowering the water table.ConclusionsWe conclude that plant species (and functional groups) vary in the degree to which they transport methane to the atmosphere. However, a plant with a high capacity to transport methane does not necessarily emit more methane, as it may also cause more rhizosphere oxidation of methane. A shift in plant species composition from graminoids to forbs and/or from low to high productive species may lead to reduction of methane emissions.

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