Isolation and characterization of microsatellite marker loci in the Wagner’s mustached bat <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Pteronotus psilotis</Emphasis> (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) and cross-amplification in other related species

Pteronotus psilotis, a mormoopid bat, is an insectivorous, gregarious and strict cave-dwelling species that is found areas between the sea level and an elevation of about 1000 masl. This species is present in diverse habitats ranging from rain forest to dry deciduous forest. Nine microsatellite loci were developed for Wagner’s mustached bat, Pteronotus psilotis using the next-generation sequencing approach, and their utility for population genetics studies was assessed. All loci were polymorphic (7–15 alleles) and characterized in 30 individuals from three P. psilotis populations, with the levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.280 to 0.867 and 0.584 to 0.842, respectively. One locus showed significant departures from Hardy–Weinberg expectations after Bonferroni correction. Cross-amplification in 11 other bat species was tested, for which eight microsatellites were successfully amplified, and of these seven were polymorphic. The development of these new microsatellite loci will contribute to investigations of genetic population structure, genetic diversity and gene flow in P. psilotis populations, as well as in other closely related bat species.     

The network BiodiversityKnowledge in practice: insights from three trial assessments

In order to develop BiodiversityKnowledge, a Network of Knowledge working at the European science–policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services, we conducted three trial assessments. Their purpose was to test structure and processes of the knowledge synthesis function and to produce knowledge syntheses. The trial assessments covered conservation and management of kelp ecosystems, biological control of agricultural pests, and conservation and multifunctional management of floodplains. Following the BiodiversityKnowledge processes, we set up expert consultations, systematic reviews, and collaborative adaptive management procedures in collaboration with requesters, policy and decision-makers, stakeholders, and knowledge holders. Outputs included expert consultations, systematic review protocols, a group model and a policy brief. Important lessons learned were firstly that the scoping process, in which requesters and experts iteratively negotiate the scope, scale and synthesis methodology, is of paramount importance to maximize the scientific credibility and policy relevance of the output. Secondly, selection of a broad array of experts with diverse and complementary skills (including multidisciplinary background and a broad geographical coverage) and participation of all relevant stakeholders is crucial to ensure an adequate breath of expertise, better methodological choices, and maximal uptake of outcomes: Thirdly, as the most important challenge was expert and stakeholder engagement, a high visibility and reputation of BiodiversityKnowledge, supported by an incentive system for participation, will be crucial to ensure such engagement. We conclude that BiodiversityKnowledge has potential for a good performance in delivering assessments, but it requires adequate funding, trust-building among knowledge holders and stakeholders, and a proactive and robust interface with the policy and decision making community.     

Effects of outdoor cultures on the growth and lipid production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaeodactylum tricornutum</Emphasis> using closed photobioreactors

One of the principal challenges for large scale production of microalgae is the high costs of biomass production. Aiming for minimize this problem, microalgal biodiesel production should focus on outdoors cultures, using available solar light and allowing lower energy cost process. Testing species that proved to be common and easy to culture may be a good approach in this process. The present work reports indoor-outdoor cultures of Phaeodactylum tricornutum using different bioreactors types, using cell growth, biochemical composition, and the profiles of the fatty acids produced as the parameters to test the optimization processes. The results show that the use of outdoor cultures is a good choice to obtain P. tricornutum biomass with a good potential for biodiesel production. The microalgae produced reached better growth efficiency, major lipid content and showed an increment in the percentage of saturated fatty acids (required on the biodiesel production) respect indoor cultures. These results are important to show the relevance of using outdoor cultures as a way to improve the efficiency and the energetic balance of the biodiesel production with P. tricornutum algae.     

Ancient DNA reveals differences in behaviour and sociality between brown bears and extinct cave bears

Ancient DNA studies have revolutionized the study of extinct species and populations, providing insights on phylogeny, phylogeography, admixture and demographic history. However, inferences on behaviour and sociality have been far less frequent. Here, we investigate the complete mitochondrial genomes of extinct Late Pleistocene cave bears and middle Holocene brown bears that each inhabited multiple geographically proximate caves in northern Spain. In cave bears, we find that, although most caves were occupied simultaneously, each cave almost exclusively contains a unique lineage of closely related haplotypes. This remarkable pattern suggests extreme fidelity to their birth site in cave bears, best described as homing behaviour, and that cave bears formed stable maternal social groups at least for hibernation. In contrast, brown bears do not show any strong association of mitochondrial lineage and cave, suggesting that these two closely related species differed in aspects of their behaviour and sociality. This difference is likely to have contributed to cave bear extinction, which occurred at a time in which competition for caves between bears and humans was likely intense and the ability to rapidly colonize new hibernation sites would have been crucial for the survival of a species so dependent on caves for hibernation as cave bears. Our study demonstrates the potential of ancient DNA to uncover patterns of behaviour and sociality in ancient species and populations, even those that went extinct many tens of thousands of years ago.     

Stimulation of dopamine D1 receptor improves learning capacity in cooperating cleaner fish

Accurate contextual decision-making strategies are important in social environments. Specific areas in the brain are tasked to process these complex interactions and generate correct follow-up responses. The dorsolateral and dorsomedial parts of the telencephalon in the teleost fish brain are neural substrates modulated by the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA), and are part of an important neural circuitry that drives animal behaviour from the most basic actions such as learning to search for food, to properly choosing partners and managing decisions based on context. The Indo-Pacific cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus is a highly social teleost fish species with a complex network of interactions with its ‘client’ reef fish. We asked if changes in DA signalling would affect individual learning ability by presenting cleaner fish two ecologically different tasks that simulated a natural situation requiring accurate decision-making. We demonstrate that there is an involvement of the DA system and D₁ receptor pathways on cleaners'' natural abilities to learn both tasks. Our results add significantly to the growing literature on the physiological mechanisms that underlie and facilitate the expression of cooperative abilities.     

Clinical and cytokine profile evaluation in Northeast Brazilian psoriasis plaque-type patients

Objective and Design

Psoriasis is a common, enigmatic, and recurrent disease. The precise etiology and pathogenesis of psoriasis are still unclear. Psoriasis has been treated as an inflammatory disorder related to an underlying Th1/Th17-dominated immune response. Interleukins are involved in the development of psoriasis lesions through Th-17-associated inflammation. Th1 and Th17 cytokines are found in skin lesions and in the peripheral blood of psoriasis patients.We sought to analyze serum levels of IL-1-β, IL-8, IL-9, IL-27, IL-29, IL-35, IFN-γ, TNF and TGF-β in patients with psoriasis and healthy control volunteers.

Material

Blood samples were collected from fifty-three patients with psoriasis and thirty-five healthy controls.

Methods

Serum cytokines concentrations were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Serum IL-8, IL-9, IL-27, IL-29 and TNF levels were statistically significant in psoriasis patients. Detectable serum IL-9 levels were found in 47 patients of the 53 in the psoriasis group.

Conclusions

Interleukins-8, 27, 29 and TNF levels measured in the serum of psoriasis patients were slightly elevated as compared to healthy controls in a weakly significant way. On the other hand, there were highly significant differences in IL-9 levels between the two groups.