Maternal Hypermethioninemia Affects Neurons Number,Neurotrophins Levels,Energy Metabolism,and Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>,K<Superscript>+</Superscript>-ATPase Expression/Content in Brain of Rat Offspring

In the current study, we verified the effects of maternal hypermethioninemia on the number of neurons, apoptosis, nerve growth factor, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, energy metabolism parameters (succinate dehydrogenase, complex II, and cytochrome c oxidase), expression and immunocontent of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, edema formation, inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6), and mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide levels in the encephalon from the offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into two groups: the first one received saline (control) and the second group received 2.68 μmol methionine/g body weight by subcutaneous injections twice a day during gestation (approximately 21 days). After parturition, pups were killed at the 21st day of life for removal of encephalon. Neuronal staining (anti-NeuN) revealed a reduction in number of neurons, which was associated to decreased nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. Maternal hypermethioninemia also reduced succinate dehydrogenase and complex II activities and increased expression and immunocontent of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase alpha subunits. These results indicate that maternal hypermethioninemia may be a predisposing factor for damage to the brain during the intrauterine life.     

Bidirectional movement of aphid parasitoids (Braconidae: Aphidiinae) between crops and non-crop plants in agroecosystems of central Argentina

The movement of predators and parasitoids between natural and cultivated habitats is a common process in agroecosystems, which may be affected by different biotic and abiotic factors, mostly related to the availability of resources. Here, through a broad approach, we aimed to obtain an overview of factors affecting the bidirectional movement of aphid parasitoids (Braconidae: Aphidiinae) across cultivated habitats and their natural vegetated borders. Using bidirectional flight traps, we measured the number of parasitoids moving from borders to crops and vice versa, in fields of three common crop species (alfalfa, oat and wheat) in the Pampean region, Santa Fe, Argentina. The effects of the abundance of aphid prey, abundance and richness of flowers in both habitats, as well as temperature and wind speed on parasitoid movement, were assessed through generalized mixed models, considering sampling date and field as random factors. The relationship between parasitism percentages and parasitoid movement from the borders to the crops was explored separately for three pest aphid species: Aphis craccivora Koch, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and Schizaphis graminum (Rondani). Overall, we found a prevalence of parasitoids moving in the border-crop direction, mainly in wheat and alfalfa crops. Aphid abundance in the arrival habitat affected parasitoid movement in both directions. A link between parasitoid movement and parasitism percentages was observed for the aphid species S. graminum in wheat, suggesting a beneficial role of natural vegetation in pest control.     

Imprints of multiple glacial refugia in the Pyrenees revealed by phylogeography and palaeodistribution modelling of an endemic spider

Mediterranean mountain ranges harbour highly endemic biota in islandlike habitats. Their topographic diversity offered the opportunity for mountain species to persist in refugial areas during episodes of major climatic change. We investigate the role of Quaternary climatic oscillations in shaping the demographic history and distribution ranges in the spider Harpactocrates ravastellus, endemic to the Pyrenees. Gene trees and multispecies coalescent analyses on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences unveiled two distinct lineages with a hybrid zone around the northwestern area of the Catalan Pyrenees. The lineages were further supported by morphological differences. Climatic niche‐based species distribution models (SDMs) identified two lowland refugia at the western and eastern extremes of the mountain range, which would suggest secondary contact following postglacial expansion of populations from both refugia. Neutrality test and approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) analyses indicated that several local populations underwent severe bottlenecks followed by population expansions, which in combination with the deep population differentiation provided evidence for population survival during glacial periods in microrefugia across the mountain range, in addition to the main Atlantic and Mediterranean (western and eastern) refugia. This study sheds light on the complexities of Quaternary climatic oscillations in building up genetic diversity and local endemicity in the southern Europe mountain ranges.     

First volumetric record of fungal spores in the atmosphere of Montevideo City,Uruguay: a 2-year survey

In Uruguay, aeromycological studies are restricted to a gravimetric analysis performed from December 1942 to March 1944 in Montevideo where spores of Pucciniaceae, Alternaria and Helminthosporium were the only specimens identified. Daily monitoring of airborne fungal spores was carried out for the first time in Montevideo, from April 2012 to March 2014, using a Rotorod sampler in order to evaluate the seasonal variation and influence of meteorological parameters. A total of 548,309.68 spores/m³ were recorded which belong to anamorphs of Higher Fungi (69.18 %), Phyla Ascomycota (12.62 %), Basidiomycota (8.01 %), Oomycota (0.37 %) and Myxomycota (0.06 %). Airborne spores occurred in Montevideo throughout the whole year. However, a seasonal pattern was revealed, with the highest concentrations recorded in autumn and summer. The most abundant spore types were Cladosporium (53.22 %), Alternaria (6.62 %), Didymella Group (5.86 %), Leptosphaeria Group (4.37 %) and Coprinus (4.3 %). Temperature appeared to be the most influential meteorological factor correlating significantly and positively with total spore, Cladosporium, Alternaria and Didymella Group abundance. Relative humidity influenced positively total spore, Cladosporium and Didymella Group concentrations while a weak negative association was obtained for Alternaria. Wind speed correlated negatively with total spore, Cladosporium, Alternaria and Didymella Group. Precipitation showed a negative influence on Alternaria, while positive correlations were observed for Didymella Group. For the first time, fungal spores considered allergenic were recorded in Montevideo atmosphere and the risk of exposure would have been high from December to June. However, long-term sampling is needed to define seasonal prevalence patterns and the influence of meteorological conditions on spore abundance.     

Criteria for Native Food Plant Collection in Northeastern Brazil

Different criteria are used by human populations around the world in the selection of preferred natural resources. In this study, the following hypotheses were tested: 1) the preference for food native species is related to the number of uses for which the species are cited; 2) the categories of food and medicinal use equally influence the selection of a species as preferred; 3) the preference among native food species is related to its frequency and abundance in the areas of collection. Data collection on species preference was conducted in communities located near the Araripe National Forest (FLONA) in Ceará, Northeastern, Brazil. Both the hypothesis that the preference would relate to the number of uses attributed to species and the hypothesis that food and medicinal categories equally influence the selection of species as preferred ones were corroborated. It was concluded in this study that people optimize both use and collection of native resources using criteria such as the versatility of uses for species and the abundance of the resource in the preferred collection areas. It is believed that this trend may be an adaptive strategy adopted by local communities for the exploitation of native resources.