Ferutinin promotes proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation in human amniotic fluid and dental pulp stem cells

AimsThe phytoestrogen Ferutinin plays an important role in prevention of osteoporosis caused by ovariectomy-induced estrogen deficiency in rats, but there is no evidence of its effect on osteoblastic differentiation in vitro. In this study we investigated the effect of Ferutinin on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of two different human stem cells populations, one derived from the amniotic fluid (AFSCs) and the other from the dental pulp (DPSCs).Main methodsAFSCs and DPSCs were cultured in a differentiation medium for 14 or 21 days with or without the addition of Ferutinin at a concentration ranging from 10^? 11 to 10^? 4 M. 17β-Estradiol was used as a positive drug at 10^? 8 M. Cell proliferation and expression of specific osteoblast phenotype markers were analyzed.Key findingsMTT assay revealed that Ferutinin, at concentrations of 10^? 8 and 10^? 9 M, enhanced proliferation of both AFSCs and DPSCs after 72 h of exposure. Moreover, in both stem cell populations, Ferutinin treatment induced greater expression of the osteoblast phenotype markers osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), collagen I, RUNX-2 and osterix (OSX), increased calcium deposition and osteocalcin secretion in the culture medium compared to controls. These effects were more pronounced after 14 days of culture in both populations.SignificanceThe enhancing capabilities on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation displayed by the phytoestrogen Ferutinin make this compound an interesting candidate to promote bone formation in vivo.     

Comparative phylogeography of six herpetofauna species in Cyprus: late Miocene to Pleistocene colonization routes

The colonization patterns of oceanic islands are often interpreted through transmarine dispersal. However, in islands with intense human activities and unclear geological history, this inference may be inappropriate. Cyprus is such an island, whose geotectonic evolution has not been clarified yet to the desired level for biogeographical reconstructions, leaving the questions of ‘how the Cypriote biota arrived’ and ‘does the dispersal have the formative role in patterns of its diversification’ unanswered. Here, we address these issues through a reconstruction of the evolutionary history of six herptiles (Ablepharus budaki, Ophisops elegans, Acanthodactylus schreiberi, Telescopus fallax, Pelophylax cf. bedriagae, and Hyla savignyi) by means of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b and 16S rRNA), applying a Bayesian phylogenetic, biogeographical, and chronophylogenetic analyses. The phylogeographical analyses show that the colonization history of those species in Cyprus started in the late Miocene and extended into the Pliocene and Pleistocene, with geodispersal, transmarine dispersal, and human‐mediated dispersal having their share in shaping the diversification of Cypriote herptiles. The revealed patterns could be divided into three biogeographical categories: old colonizers that arrived in Cyprus during the late Miocene or early Pliocene either by a land bridge (geodispersal) which connected Cyprus with the mainland or by transmarine dispersal, younger colonizers that reached the island through transmarine dispersal from the Middle East, and new settlers that arrived through human‐induced (voluntary or not) introductions. This work advances our knowledge of the biogeography of Cyprus and highlights the need to consider both geo‐ and transmarine dispersal when dealing with islands whose associations do not have a straightforward interpretation. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

The carnivorous plant described as Sarracenia alata contains two cryptic species

Modern methods for species delimitation provide biologists with the power to detect cryptic diversity in nearly any system. To illustrate the application of such methods, we collected data (21 sequence loci) from a carnivorous plant in southeastern North America and applied several recently developed methods (Gaussian clustering, Structurama, BPP, spedeSTEM). The pale pitcher plant Sarracenia alata inhabits the southeastern USA along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Sarracenia alata populations are separated by the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya Basin, a known biogeographical barrier in this region, but the cohesiveness of S. alata as currently classified has not been tested rigorously. Multiple analytical approaches (including allelic clustering and species trees methods) suggest that S. alata comprises two cryptic lineages that correspond to the eastern and western portions of the plant's distribution. That such clear genetic evidence for cryptic diversity exists within S. alata and is in conflict with other sources of data (e.g. morphology, environmental differentiation) illustrates a conundrum faced by those who investigate species boundaries: genetic data are often the first type of data to accumulate evidence of differentiation, but most existing taxonomic treatments are based on nongenetic data. Our results suggest that S. alata as currently described contains two cryptic species, and we recommend the elevation of the western populations to species status. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109 , 737–746.     

Genome features and GC content in prokaryotic genomes in connection with environmental evolution

The GC content and genome size are integral genomic characteristics limiting potential range of licenses (environments) of prokaryotic taxa. In silico, associations of these characteristics and taxa deviating from the general trend are revealed. Relationships with ecology and early prokaryotic evolution are discussed.     

Another charadriiform-like bird from the lower Eocene of Denmark

We describe an exceptionally well-preserved partial skeleton of a new bird from the early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark. Like other fossils from these marine deposits, the partial skeleton is three-dimensionally preserved and articulated. This new Danish specimen consists of a skull, vertebral column, ribs, pelvis, and hindlimbs. Concerning characters of the pelvis, tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus, the new fossil bears morphological affinities to charadriiform birds (shorebirds and relatives). A phylogenetic analysis of higher neomithine (modern birds) taxa also supports a close relationship between the new specimen and modern Charadriiformes. The morphologies of the skull and vertebrae, however, distinguish the new fossil from all recent charadriiform families.     

BREEDING DENSITY AND NEST SITE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PEREGRINE FALCON FALCO PEREGRINUS MINOR IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CAPE,SOUTH AFRICA

Pepler, D., Van Hensbergen, H.J. & Martin, R. 1991. Breeding density and nest site characteristics of the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus minor in the southwestern Cape, South Africa. Ostrich: 62: 23–28.

A survey of nest sites and nest site characteristics is used to obtain an estimate of the breeding density of the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus minor in the southwestern Cape, South Africa. The breeding density from a small intensively studied area around the town of Stellenbosch is extrapolated to the region. This extrapolation is justified since nest site characteristics suggest that suitable sites are widespread in the region. Lower and upper estimates of 48 and 95 pairs respectively were obtained for the area above 300 m. This gives densities of one pair per 199 km² for the lower estimate and one pair per 100 km² for the upper estimate. For the entire study area the densities are one pair per 806 km² and 407 km² respectively.     

NOTES ON THE BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE AFRICAN SPOONBILL PLATALEA ALBA

Silbernagl, H. P. 1982. Seasonal and spatial distribution of the American Purple Gallinule in South Africa. Ostrich 53:236-240.

The American Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica has been recorded 21 times in the southwestern Cape Province of South Africa. Nearly all records fall in the period 22 April to 2 July and nearly all birds were juveniles. The majority of dated records for which weather data are available appear to be of birds starting their northward migration in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, or Uruguay and caught by strong westerly winds which carry them downwind to South Africa in about five days. Most birds arrive in South Africa in an exhausted condition and markedly below normal weight. Thus it is unlikely that the American Purple Gallinule will establish a breeding population in Africa.     

THE SOCIABLE WEAVER,PART 4: PREDATORS,PARASITES AND SYMBIONTS

Maclean, G. L. 1973. The Sociable Weaver, Part 4: Predators, parasites and symbionts. Ostrich 44: 241–253.

The main nest predator of the Sociable Weaver in the Kalahari sandveld is the Cape Cobra Nala nivea. This snake causes great losses of eggs and chicks; one cobra may eat the contents of an entire nest mass at one feed. Another nest predator which causes smaller losses of eggs and chicks but great destruction to the nest masses is the Honey Badger Mellivora capensis. These are the only two nest predators on the Sociable Weaver in the study area. Predators on adult Sociable Weavers include several birds of prey and some small carnivorous mammals.

Adult Sociable Weavers have few ectoparasites and hardly any Mallophaga. A common ectoparasite on the legs of chicks is a blood-sucking Dermestes larva, which appears not to be harmful. The only endoparasite found was the nematode, Diplotriaena ozouxi, which infected the abdominal air sacs of the adults.

The nest material of the Sociable Weavers' communal nest masses was inhabited by a wealth of invertebrate animals and a few harmless reptiles such as skinks and geckos.

Some of the chambers in a Sociable Weaver nest mass may be taken over by other species of birds. Most of these, such as Redheaded Finches Amadina erythrocephala, use the chambers for breeding purposes only, but the most important avian symbiont, the Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus, is a permanent resident in the chambers. The presence of Pygmy Falcons is resented by the weavers but the falcons may help to keep snakes away from the nest mass. Adult Sociable Weavers are not normally preyed on by Pygmy Falcons, although the falcons may occasionally take young weavers in the nest chambers.

The tops of the nest masses may be used as nest sites by the Giant Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus. Barn Owls Tyto alba may use cavities in the superstructure of nest masses for roosting in. Neither of these owls appeared to prey on the weavers.     

Nitrogen response efficiency of a managed and phytodiverse temperate grassland

Aims

Our goal was to assess how management and sward functional diversity affect nitrogen response efficiency (NRE), the ratio of plant biomass production to supply of available nitrogen (N) in temperate grassland.

Methods

A three-factorial design was employed: three sward compositions, two mowing frequencies, and two fertilization treatments.

Results

NRE was largely influenced by fertilization followed by mowing frequency and sward composition. NRE was larger in unfertilized than fertilized plots, in plots cut thrice than plots cut once per year, and in control swards than in monocot- or dicot-enhanced swards. Fertilization decreased NRE through decreases in both N uptake efficiency (plant N uptake per supply of available N) and N use efficiency (NUE, biomass produced per plant N uptake) whereas mowing frequency and sward composition affected NRE through N uptake efficiency rather than NUE. The largest NRE in the control sward with 70 % monocots and 30 % dicots attests that these proportions of functional groups were best adapted in this grassland ecosystem.

Conclusions

Optimum NRE may not be a target of most farmers, but it is an appropriate tool to evaluate the consequences of grassland management practices, which farmers may employ to maximize profit, on environmental quality.     

EDITORIAL

Olver, M. D. &; Kuyper, M. A. 1978. Breeding biology of the Whitebreasted Cormorant in Natal. Ostrich 49:25-30.

From 1972–1975 Whitebreasted Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo bred at the Cedara Dam, Natal, South Africa (29 32S, 30 17E), and from 1973 they fished for food at Midmar Dam, 5 km away and carried the food back to the nestlings. Breeding occurred from April to October and was preceded by a period of courtship. Nesting material was collected by the males and the nests built by the females. The mean clutch size for 1972–1973 was 3,1. Both parents incubated the eggs and guarded the nest and chicks. Growth of the chicks was studied in 1972–1973. The mean number of chicks reared was 1,6 per nest although seven nests contained three nestlings. At 28 days they left the nest when alarmed, but could not fly until 49 days old. The average flying age appeared to be about 53 days. The height of the nests above the ground seemed to determine the nest leaving age. Of the 186 eggs laid in the 60 nests observed over two years, 74% hatched. Fledging success was 52% of eggs laid and 69% of eggs hatched. Chick mortality seemed to be caused mainly by falling from the nests and dying of starvation.