Biology subjects

Bozal-Leorri, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Bozal-Leorri, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Divergent nitrogen transition pathways during global agricultural development

Reactive nitrogen (N) inputs underpin global food production, but increasing protein provision while limiting agricultural N pressure remains a major sustainability challenge. Here, we analyzed changes in N use, cropland N surplus and protein supply across 130 countries from 1992 to 2022 to assess whether recurrent N-transition patterns emerge during agricultural and economic development. Countries followed divergent trajectories rather than converging toward a common N transition. Absolute decoupling, with increasing protein supply and declining cropland N surplus, occurred in 35.4% of countries, while others showed relative improvements or increasing N pressure. Cropland N surplus rose more steeply as agricultural N inputs intensified. Long-term trajectories revealed contrasting forms of N-system reorganization, from persistently lower-pressure systems to intensifying systems. Absolute decoupling occurred across diverse economic contexts and was not systematically associated with development level. Higher-development countries that decoupled generally reduced N surplus from higher starting levels but still ended with higher surpluses. Thus, increasing protein provision while reducing N surplus is achievable, but improvement does not necessarily imply convergence toward low N pressure.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2026

With great power comes great responsibility: how scientific supervisors shape the wellbeing of early-career researchers

Scientific supervision is central to the experience of early-career researchers (ECRs), yet its role in shaping wellbeing and retention remains underexamined from the ECR perspective. We analyzed 2,604 anonymous survey responses from predoctoral, postdoctoral and former researchers across 65 countries. Overall, 76% of respondents reported that their supervisors attitude had a moderate or severe impact on mental health. Although most entered academia for vocational reasons, negative experiences with supervisors were among the most frequently reported reasons for leaving among former researchers (48%), comparable to job insecurity and financial instability. Harm was most often associated with poor communication, disregard for wellbeing, micromanagement and competitiveness. In contrast, ECRs valued supportive rather than boss-like supervision, regular communication, realistic expectations and respect for personal time. These findings identify supervisory behavior as a major and modifiable determinant or ECRs wellbeing and retention, and highlight the need for stronger institutional accountability, mentor training and funding incentives that recognize mentorship as a core component of research culture.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2025

Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) in wheat for climate adaptation in acidic and alkaline soils

Anthropogenic disturbances to nitrogen (N) cycling, particularly through agricultural N use, have intensified nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Developing wheat lines with biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) is a promising strategy to reduce such emissions. However, the effectiveness of BNI depends not only on plant characteristics, but also on how they interact with environmental factors such as soil pH and elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2). This study evaluated the response of a BNI-capable wheat line (Triticum aestivum cv. ROELFS) to eCO2 under contrasting soil pH during the 30 days following ammonium fertilization. Two wheat lines (ROELFS-Control and ROELFS-BNI) were grown under ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (800 ppm) CO2 in acidic (pH 5.3) and alkaline (pH 8.8) soils. N2O emissions, nitrifying and denitrifying microbial communities, and soil chemical properties were monitored to assess plant-soil-microbe interactions. ROELFS-BNI consistently reduced N2O emissions under all conditions by reducing archaeal (Nitrososphaeraceae) and bacterial nitrifiers (Nitrosomonadaceae, Nitrospiraceae) without major shifts in overall microbial composition, indicating high specificity of BNI exudates. Elevated CO2 effects on N2O emissions were pH-dependent. In acidic soil, eCO2 increased emissions in ROELFS-Control but not in ROELFS-BNI, likely due to the enrichment of complete denitrifiers (e.g. Rhodanobacteraceae). However, in alkaline soil, eCO2 reduced N2O emissions in both Control and BNI lines, especially the latter, which was associated with a higher abundance of N2O-reducing denitrifiers (e.g. Burkholderiaceae). This study highlights the potential of ROELFS-BNI wheat as a sustainable practice to mitigate N pollution adaptable to diverse soils and predicted CO2 atmospheric conditions.

plant biology↗