Color blindness among Aymara in Chile

Nine color blind subjects were discovered in a survey of 140 Aymaras of Arica, Chile, using as screening test a portable Anomaloscope, Ishihara tables and Hardy-Rand-Ritter plates. Pseudosisochromatic test failed on detecting four anomalous trichromates. Seven color blind subjects revealed foreign ancestors. Also a different prevalence of defectives among subsamples was observed. Thus color blindness variability within the sample could be explained by gene flow. It is proposed to use anomaloscopes as a screening device in order to survey with accuracy color vision genes in human populations.     

Ethnicity determination by names among the Aymara of Chile and Bolivia

The importance of surnames in genetic studies has been recognized for a century or so. While the ethnic affiliations of individuals are ordinarily established in genetic studies by admixture analysis based on gene frequencies, often there are implicit assumptions in these attempts that are difficult to validate in the absence of detailed ethnohistories. In northern Chile and western Bolivia, where genetic admixture has been known to occur among the Aymara Indians and Spanish Caucasoids, the naming pattern (parental patriand matrinyms) allowed us to classify individuals on the basis of the frequency of Aymara names into 9 'ethnic' groups. From a sample of 2525 individuals it is shown that admixture occurred in lineages nonrandomly, implying assortative mating of surnames. Admixture and genetic distance analysis on the basis of 31 genetic markers on approximately 1700 of these individuals reveals that there is a reasonable agreement of ethnic classification of individuals by name and phenotype data on genetic markers. The Aymara-named groups are shown to be predominantly Amerindian (89%) in their genetic profiles. Individuals whose current naming pattern is basically Spanish also exhibit a substantial fraction of genes of Amerindian origin (67%). Presence of some rare alleles not found in Amerindian or Spanish Caucasoids in the admixed groups suggest infiltration of Negroid genes in the past.     

Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Insect Communities: A Transplant Experiment

Climate change will have profound impacts on the distribution, abundance and ecology of all species. We used a multi-species transplant experiment to investigate the potential effects of a warmer climate on insect community composition and structure. Eight native Australian plant species were transplanted into sites approximately 2.5°C (mean annual temperature) warmer than their native range. Subsequent insect colonisation was monitored for 12 months. We compared the insect communities on transplanted host plants at the warmer sites with control plants transplanted within the species'' native range. Comparisons of the insect communities were also made among transplanted plants at warmer sites and congeneric plant species native to the warmer transplant area. We found that the morphospecies composition of the colonising Coleoptera and Hemiptera communities differed markedly between transplants at the control compared to the warmer sites. Community structure, as described by the distribution of feeding guilds, was also found to be different between the controls and transplants when the entire Coleoptera and Hemiptera community, including non-herbivore feeding guilds, was considered. However, the structure of the herbivorous insect community showed a higher level of consistency between plants at control and warm sites. There were marked differences in community composition and feeding guild structure, for both herbivores and non-herbivores, between transplants and congenerics at the warm sites. These results suggest that as the climate warms, considerable turnover in the composition of insect communities may occur, but insect herbivore communities may retain elements of their present-day structure.     

Neonatal Variables,Altitude of Residence and Aymara Ancestry in Northern Chile

Studies performed in the Andean plateau, one of the highest inhabited areas in the world, have reported that reduced availability of oxygen is associated to fetal growth retardation and lower birth weight, which are established predictors of morbidity and mortality during the first year of life. To test this hypothesis, perinatal variables of neonates born at the Juan Noé Hospital of Arica, Chile, were analyzed in relation to altitude of residence and Aymara ancestry of their mothers. The study population comprised the offspring of 5,295 mothers born between February 2004 and August 2010. Information included birth weight, height, head circumference, gestational age, altitude of residence and socioeconomic status, and was obtained from medical records. Mother´s ancestry was assessed based on surnames which were linked to percentages of Aymara admixture estimates relying on 40 selected ancestry informative markers. After correcting for the effect of multicollinearity among predictor variables, neonates born to mothers with an increased component of Aymara ancestry showed significantly higher birth weight and height at sea level, a marginally significant (p-value 0.06) decrease of birth weight and a significant decrease of height with altitude in comparison with the offspring of mothers with low Aymara ancestry. Since observed tendencies are suggestive of a possible genetic adaptation to hypoxia of the Chilean Aymara, we discuss briefly preliminary evidence related to fetal oxygen transport, particularly polymorphisms in the promoters of the HBG1 and HBG2 genes that are modulators of HbF synthesis, obtained in this ethnic group.     

An electrophoretic study of glycolytic enzymes in a human population living at high altitude: the Aymara of northern Chile and western Bolivia

Summary An electrophoretic survey of seven glycolytic enzymes and the two carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes in the Aymara of northern Chile and western Bolivia shows no genetically determined structural variation in these enzymes which can be attributed to adaptation to hypoxia. These studies are in agreement with previous studies showing restricted genetic variation in the enzymes of the glycolytic pathway in man.     

Weather, Water Quality and Infectious Gastrointestinal Illness in Two Inuit Communities in Nunatsiavut, Canada: Potential Implications for Climate Change

Climate change is expected to cause changes in precipitation quantity, intensity, frequency and duration, which will subsequently alter environmental conditions and might increase the risk of waterborne disease. The objective of this study was to describe the seasonality of and explore associations between weather, water quality and occurrence of infectious gastrointestinal illnesses (IGI) in two communities in Nunatsiavut, Canada. Weather data were obtained from meteorological stations in Nain (2005–2008) and Rigolet (2008). Free-chlorine residual levels in drinking water were extracted from municipal records (2005–2008). Raw surface water was tested weekly for total coliform and E. coli counts. Daily counts of IGI-related clinic visits were obtained from health clinic registries (2005–2008). Analysis of weather and health variables included seasonal-trend decomposition procedures based on Loess. Multivariable zero-inflated Poisson regression was used to examine potential associations between weather events (considering 0–4 week lag periods) and IGI-related clinic visits. In Nain, water volume input (rainfall + snowmelt) peaked in spring and summer and was positively associated with levels of raw water bacteriological variables. The number of IGI-related clinic visits peaked in the summer and fall months. Significant positive associations were observed between high levels of water volume input 2 and 4 weeks prior, and IGI-related clinic visits (P < 0.05). This study is the first to systematically gather, analyse and compare baseline data on weather, water quality and health in Nunatsiavut, and illustrates the need for high quality temporal baseline information to allow for detection of future impacts of climate change on regional Inuit human and environmental health.     

生态道德教育的巨大潜力

随着社会文明程度的提高,动物园的教育已经从科普转向了动物以及生态保护教育。然而,随着生态道德的觉醒和伦理范围的进一步扩展,越多的人认识到,把动物禁闭在动物园的铁笼中,是不道德的事;动物园关的动物越多,就意味着自然界有越多的动物背井离乡,妻离子散,从而对地球生灵制造的苦难就越深重。这种觉醒,就意味着动物园的教育必须再提升一步,加入生态道德的内容。     

The physical growth of high altitude Bolivian Aymara children

This study describes the growth characteristics of Aymara children living in Ancoraimes, Bolivia at altitudes between 3800 and 4000 meters. Anthropometric measurements were made on 510 children between the ages of 6. 0 and 20. 9 years, 360 males and 150 females. The growth pattern of Ancoraimes Aymara children is very similar to that of other high altitude Andean populations. They are greatly delayed in height and weight, exhibit little sexual dimorphism in body size and relative to stature, have larger chest dimensions than U.S. children. Compared to Quechua children living at higher altitudes in Peru, Ancoraimes children tend to be taller and heavier but have significantly smaller chest dimensions. Although the causes of the size differences between these two groups are not entirely clear, they may be due to the different altitudes at which the groups reside.     

Bird Communities and Biomass Yields in Potential Bioenergy Grasslands

Demand for bioenergy is increasing, but the ecological consequences of bioenergy crop production on working lands remain unresolved. Corn is currently a dominant bioenergy crop, but perennial grasslands could produce renewable bioenergy resources and enhance biodiversity. Grassland bird populations have declined in recent decades and may particularly benefit from perennial grasslands grown for bioenergy. We asked how breeding bird community assemblages, vegetation characteristics, and biomass yields varied among three types of potential bioenergy grassland fields (grass monocultures, grass-dominated fields, and forb-dominated fields), and assessed tradeoffs between grassland biomass production and bird habitat. We also compared the bird communities in grassland fields to nearby cornfields. Cornfields had few birds compared to perennial grassland fields. Ten bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) were observed in perennial grassland fields. Bird species richness and total bird density increased with forb cover and were greater in forb-dominated fields than grass monocultures. SGCN density declined with increasing vertical vegetation density, indicating that tall, dense grassland fields managed for maximum biomass yield would be of lesser value to imperiled grassland bird species. The proportion of grassland habitat within 1 km of study sites was positively associated with bird species richness and the density of total birds and SGCNs, suggesting that grassland bioenergy fields may be more beneficial for grassland birds if they are established near other grassland parcels. Predicted total bird density peaked below maximum biomass yields and predicted SGCN density was negatively related to biomass yields. Our results indicate that perennial grassland fields could produce bioenergy feedstocks while providing bird habitat. Bioenergy grasslands promote agricultural multifunctionality and conservation of biodiversity in working landscapes.     

Functional Potential of Soil Microbial Communities in the Maize Rhizosphere

Microbial communities in the rhizosphere make significant contributions to crop health and nutrient cycling. However, their ability to perform important biogeochemical processes remains uncharacterized. Here, we identified important functional genes that characterize the rhizosphere microbial community to understand metabolic capabilities in the maize rhizosphere using the GeoChip-based functional gene array method. Significant differences in functional gene structure were apparent between rhizosphere and bulk soil microbial communities. Approximately half of the detected gene families were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the rhizosphere. Based on the detected gyrB genes, Gammaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria were most enriched in the rhizosphere compared to those in the bulk soil. The rhizosphere niche also supported greater functional diversity in catabolic pathways. The maize rhizosphere had significantly enriched genes involved in carbon fixation and degradation (especially for hemicelluloses, aromatics and lignin), nitrogen fixation, ammonification, denitrification, polyphosphate biosynthesis and degradation, sulfur reduction and oxidation. This research demonstrates that the maize rhizosphere is a hotspot of genes, mostly originating from dominant soil microbial groups such as Proteobacteria, providing functional capacity for the transformation of labile and recalcitrant organic C, N, P and S compounds.     

The Multinational Andean Genetic and Health Program. IX. Gene frequencies and rare variants of 20 serum proteins and erythrocyte enzymes in the Aymara of Chile.

Electrophoretic variants at 22 genetic loci in the Aymara, mestizo, and Spanish populations of northern Chile are presented, and their possible role in adaptation to hypoxic environments are discussed. Some apparently unique variants were found.     

Of Kwanzaa, Cinco de Mayo, and Whispering: The Need for Intercultural Education

Multicultural education aims to improve understanding among students of different ethnic groups, but it can lessen intergroup conflict only if it is implemented systematically. In multiethnic school settings, the relationships among students of different minority groups are problematic; conflicts need to be both understood and addressed if multicultural education is to succeed. In one inner-city California high school, the celebration of Kwanzaa leads to exclusion and isolation, and the speaking of Spanish in the classroom sparks conflict and resentments.     

Sedge Succession and Peatland Methane Dynamics: A Potential Feedback to Climate Change

Under the warmer climate, predicted for the future, northern peatlands are expected to become drier. This drying will lower the water table and likely result in reduced emissions of methane (CH₄) from these ecosystems. However, the prediction of declining CH₄ fluxes does not consider the potential effects of ecological succession, particularly the invasion of sedges into currently wet sites (open water pools, low lawns). The goal of this study was to characterize the relationship between the presence of sedges in peatlands and CH₄ efflux under natural conditions and under a climate change simulation (drained peatland). Methane fluxes, gross ecosystem production, and dissolved pore water CH₄ concentrations were measured and a vegetation survey was conducted in a natural and drained peatland near St. Charles-de-Bellechasse, Quebec, Canada, in the summer of 2003. Each peatland also had plots where the sedges had been removed by clipping. Sedges were larger, more dominant, and more productive at the drained peatland site. The natural peatland had higher CH₄ fluxes than the drained peatland, indicating that drainage was a significant control on CH₄ flux. Methane flux was higher from plots with sedges than from plots where sedges had been removed at the natural peatland site, whereas the opposite case was observed at the drained peatland site. These results suggest that CH₄ flux was enhanced by sedges at the natural peatland site and attenuated by sedges at the drained peatland site. However, the attenuation of CH₄ flux due to sedges at the drained site was reduced in wetter periods. This finding suggests that CH₄ flux could be decreased in the event of climate warming due to the greater depth to the water table, and that sedges colonizing these areas could further attenuate CH₄ fluxes during dry periods. However, during wet periods, the sedges may cause CH₄ fluxes to be higher than is currently predicted for climate change scenarios.     

The Dynamic Change of Microbial Communities in Crude Oil-Contaminated Soils from Oil Fields in China

To study the biodegradability of microbial communities in crude oil contamination, crude oil-contaminated soil samples from different areas of China were collected. Using polyphasic approach, this study explored the dynamic change of the microbial communities during natural accumulation in oil field and how the constructed bioremediation systems reshape the composition of microbial communities. The abundance of oil-degrading microbes was highest when oil content was 3–8%. This oil content is potentially optimal for oil degrading bacteria proliferation. During a ～12 months natural accumulation, the quantity of oil-degrading microbes increased from 10⁵ to 10⁸ cells/g of soil. A typical sample of Liaohe (LH, oil-contaminated site near Liaohe River, Liaoning Province, China) was remediated for 50 days to investigate the dynamic change of microbial communities. The average FDA (a fluorescein diacetate approach) activities reached 0.25 abs/hr·g dry soil in the artificially enhanced repair system, 32% higher than the 0.19 abs/hr·g dry soil in natural circumstances. The abundance of oil-degrading microbes increased steadily from 0.001 to 0.068. During remediation treatment, oil content in the soil sample was reduced from 6.0% to 3.7%. GC–MS analysis indicated up to 67% utilization of C₁₀–C₂₀ normal paraffin hydrocarbons, the typical compounds that undergo microbial degradation.