The impact of demographic changes on the epidemiology of herpes zoster: Spain as a case study

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella upon first exposure and may reactivate later in life into herpes zoster (HZ), with a risk that is thought to be reduced by re-exposures to VZV. Given the decades-long time scales of reactivation and its dependence on the accumulation of re-exposure episodes, adopting a long-term perspective may be useful to correctly interpret current epidemiological trends of VZV. In this study, we investigate the possible impact of demographic changes on varicella and HZ in Spain, using an age-structured mathematical model informed with historical demographic data and calibrated against age-specific profiles of varicella seroprevalence and HZ incidence data. The model qualitatively reproduces the remarkable growth of HZ incidence observed in Spain between 1997 and 2004, before the introduction of varicella vaccination programmes. We demonstrate that this growth may be partially ascribed to the reduction of varicella circulation that followed the overall decline of the birth rate in the twentieth century. Model predictions further suggest that, even under the most optimistic projections, HZ incidence will continue its rise until at least 2040. Considering the effect of demographic changes can help interpreting variations in epidemiological trends of HZ, contributing to a more accurate evaluation of vaccination programmes against VZV.     

Early environment influences later performance in fishes

Conditions fish encounter during embryogenesis and early life history can leave lasting effects not only on morphology, but also on growth rate, life‐history and behavioural traits. The ecology of offspring can be affected by conditions experienced by their parents and mother in particular. This review summarizes such early impacts and their ecological influences for a variety of teleost species, but with special reference to salmonids. Growth and adult body size, sex ratio, egg size, lifespan and tendency to migrate can all be affected by early influences. Mechanisms behind such phenotypically plastic impacts are not well known, but epigenetic change appears to be one central mechanism. The thermal regime during development and incubation is particularly important, but also early food consumption and intraspecific density can all be responsible for later life‐history variation. For behavioural traits, early experiences with effects on brain, sensory development and cognition appear essential. This may also influence boldness and other social behaviours such as mate choice. At the end of the review, several issues and questions for future studies are given.     

赤水河两种荷马条鳅属鱼类的遗传多样性及谱系生物地理学过程分析

研究以线粒体Cyt b基因为分子标记，对赤水河两种荷马条鳅属（Homatula）鱼类（红尾荷马条鳅和短体荷马条鳅）的遗传多样性及种群结构进行了分析；同时，结合了对在长江上游其他几个水系分布的同种鱼类进行比较，分析其生物地理学过程。遗传多样性分析结果表明，5个水系135尾红尾荷马条鳅Cyt b基因序列共检测出42个单倍型，单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性分别为0.936和0.00493；其中，赤水河种群的分别为0.891和0.00208。3个水系52尾短体荷马条鳅Cyt b基因序列共检测出12个单倍型，单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性分别0.821和0.01105；赤水河种群的分别为0.646和0.00390。基于ML和BI法构建的单倍型分子系统发育树结果表明，两物种各自构成单系，且得到较强支持。红尾荷马条鳅各种群地理格局分布明显，赤水河种群为并系类群位于分支基部。在短体荷马条鳅支系中，岷江与沱江两个水系的个体相互聚类在一起，而赤水河群体聚成一个分支。赤水河与其他水系不存在共享单倍型，表现了明显的隔离和差异性的地理分布格局。由于这些水系之间地理位置相距较远，推测这种格局的形成不是地质运动造成的水系隔离，而是历史时期水位的高低变化造成鱼类种群的扩散和隔离。错配分析支持赤水河两物种种群扩张的推断，但中性检验却并非全部支持，显示种群历史相对复杂。     

The Life Cycle of Cryptochlora perforans (Chlorarachniophyta)

Observations on the behaviour of different life cycle stages, gamete fusions, and measurements of nuclear DNA contents in Cryptochlora perforans resulted in a first concept concerning life histories in Chlorarachniophyta: the life cycle of Cr. perforans is diplohaplontic (gamete fusion with karyogamy - mitosis - meiosis - mitosis). In the haploid as well as in the diploid life cycle phases amoeboid and coccoid stages occur. The isomorphic gametes are modified amoebae frequently without filopodia. Only haploid flagellate stages are known representing mito- or meiozoospores. Diploid coccoid stages have a granular cytoplasmic structure and may be somewhat larger than haploid ones. Nevertheless, positive identification of haploid (gametophytic) and diploid (sporophytic) stages is only possible on the basis of nuclear DNA contents.     

Dimensionless numbers and life history evolution: Age of maturity versus the adult lifespan

Summary Within many taxa the age of maturity is not simply positively correlated with the adult lifespan; the two variables are proportional to each other. The dimensionless number which is the constant of proportionality thus becomes something to be predicted by life history theory.     

Is xenodontine snake reproduction shaped by ancestry,more than by ecology?

One of the current challenges of evolutionary ecology is to understand the effects of phylogenetic history (PH) and/or ecological factors (EF) on the life‐history traits of the species. Here, the effects of environment and phylogeny are tested for the first time on the reproductive biology of South American xenodontine snakes. We studied 60% of the tribes of this endemic and most representative clade in a temperate region of South America. A comparative method (canonical phylogenetic ordination—CPO) was used to find the relative contributions of EF and PH upon life‐history aspects of snakes, comparing the reproductive mode, mean fecundity, reproductive potential, and frequency of nearly 1,000 specimens. CPO analysis showed that PH or ancestry explained most of the variation in reproduction, whereas EF explained little of this variation. The reproductive traits under study are suggested to have a strong phylogenetic signal in this clade, the ancestry playing a big role in reproduction. The EF also influenced the reproduction of South American xenodontines, although to a lesser extent. Our finding provides new evidence of how the evolutionary history is embodied in the traits of living species.     

Age‐dependent trajectories differ between within‐pair and extra‐pair paternity success

Reproductive success is associated with age in many taxa, increasing in early life followed by reproductive senescence. In socially monogamous but genetically polygamous species, this generates the interesting possibility of differential trajectories of within‐pair and extra‐pair siring success with age in males. We investigate these relationships simultaneously using within‐individual analyses with 13 years of data from an insular house sparrow (Passer domesticus) population. As expected, we found that both within‐ and extra‐pair paternity success increased with age, followed by a senescence‐like decline. However, the age trajectories of within‐ and extra‐pair paternity successes differed significantly, with the extra‐pair paternity success increasing faster, although not significantly, in early life, and showing a delayed decline by 1.5 years on average later in life compared to within‐pair paternity success. These different trajectories indicate that the two alternative mating tactics should have age‐dependent pay‐offs. Males may partition their reproductive effort between within‐ and extra‐pair matings depending on their current age to reap the maximal combined benefit from both strategies. The interplay between these mating strategies and age‐specific mortality may explain the variation in rates of extra‐pair paternity observed within and between species.