Recovery in aqueous two-phase systems of lutein produced by the green microalga Chlorella protothecoides

The objective of this study was to develop a chromatographic method for the analysis of the anti-androgen vinclozolin (V) and its metabolites 2-[[(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-carbamoyl]oxy]-2-methyl-3-butenoic acid (M1), 3',5'-dichloro-2-hydroxy-2-methylbut-3-enanilide (M2) and 3,5-dichloroaniline (M3) in rat serum. V, M1-M3 were resolved using an HPLC gradient program with a mobile phase consisting of 60-75% methanol:acetonitrile (70:30) and 0.05 M monobasic sodium phosphate buffer pH 3.3 at 1 ml/min, a C18 column, and monitored at 212 nm. Incubates of 0.01 M monobasic potassium phosphate buffer (PB) pH 7.4 and rat serum were spiked with V and its metabolites and processed by diluting samples (1:4) with 0.1M PB pH 3.3, to limit methodological hydrolysis of analytes, followed by addition of acetonitrile. Recoveries of V, M1 and M2 ranged from 85 to 105%, whereas recovery of M3 was <25%. V was hydrolyzed to M1 and M2 after incubation in PB pH 7.4 and rat serum, with M1 the predominant metabolite. This method was successfully applied in the analysis of V and its metabolites in the serum of a male rat after oral administration of V (100 mg/kg).     

Geographical ecology of dry forest tree communities in the West Indies

Aim

Seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) of the Caribbean Islands (primarily West Indies) is floristically distinct from Neotropical SDTF in Central and South America. We evaluate whether tree species composition was associated with climatic gradients or geographical distance. Turnover (dissimilarity) in species composition of different islands or among more distant sites would suggest communities structured by speciation and dispersal limitations. A nested pattern would be consistent with a steep resource gradient. Correlation of species composition with climatic variation would suggest communities structured by broad‐scale environmental filtering.

Location

The West Indies (The Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia), Providencia (Colombia), south Florida (USA) and Florida Keys (USA).

Taxon

Seed plants—woody taxa (primarily trees).

Methods

We compiled 572 plots from 23 surveys conducted between 1969 and 2016. Hierarchical clustering of species in plots, and indicator species analysis for the resulting groups of sites, identified geographical patterns of turnover in species composition. Nonparametric analysis of variance, applied to principal components of bioclimatic variables, determined the degree of covariation in climate with location. Nestedness versus turnover in species composition was evaluated using beta diversity partitioning. Generalized dissimilarity modelling partitioned the effect of climate versus geographical distance on species composition.

Results

Despite a set of commonly occurring species, SDTF tree community composition was distinct among islands and was characterized by spatial turnover on climatic gradients that covaried with geographical gradients. Greater Antillean islands were characterized by endemic indicator species. Northern subtropical areas supported distinct, rather than nested, SDTF communities in spite of low levels of endemism.

Main conclusions

The SDTF species composition was correlated with climatic variation. SDTF on large Greater Antillean islands (Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba) was characterized by endemic species, consistent with their geological history and the biogeography of plant lineages. These results suggest that both environmental filtering and speciation shape Caribbean SDTF tree communities.     

Muscular and intraocular pressure responses among ocular-hypertensive subjects: Is there a rationale for biofeedback?

Several animal and human investigations have indicated that intraocular pressure (IOP) levels may be associated with extreme drug-induced changes in the extraocular muscles. Further, recent data suggest that, among individuals with normal IOP level, moderate increases in facial muscle (EMG) activity around the eye while the eye is open are associated with increases in IOP. To investigate further the relationship between facial EMG activity and IOP levels and to examine a group of individuals with elevated IOP levels, subjects were recruited from outpatients at an optometry clinic. Three groups of subjects were selected: a group of ocular hypertensive subjects who showed elevated pressures at the optometry clinic and upon the day of testing, a group of labile ocular hypertensive subjects who evinced elevated pressures during their visit to the optometry clinic but lower pressures on the day of testing, and a group of normal IOP subjects who showed normal pressures both during their optometry clinic visit and on the day of testing. To investigate anxiety differences, subjects were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, but subsequent analysis revealed no group differences. To evaluate the role of stress upon muscle (EMG) functioning around the eye, subjects were subjected to imagery and standardized mental arithmetic stressors; analyses of these results also revealed no significant group differences. Finally, subjects were given EMG biofeedback for muscle activity around the eye while IOP was assessed during five alternating periods in which they made decreases and increases in EMG activity. Results revealed significant group, period, and group by period interaction effects. The pattern of results is interpreted as implicating EMG activity in IOP fluctuations; the implications of these data for potential biofeedback and stress management treatments are discussed.This research was supported by a Faculty Research Grant of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.     

Environmental relationships of vegetation patterns in saltmarshes of central Argentina

We describe vegetation-environment relationships in the saltmarshes of central Argentina. Gradient analysis (Detrended canonical correspondence analysis, DCCA) was performed involving 14 parameters of the groundwater that account for most of the variation in plant communities. We used a stepwise multivariate procedure to classify the vegetation data into 8 clusters, named according to the most abundant characteristic species:Chloris canterai, Cynodon dactylon, Distichlis, spicata, Spartina densiflora andPaspalum vaginatum clusters, containing relevés of tall grassland communities, andAtriplex undulata, Cyclolepis genistoides andHeterostachys ritteriana clusters, containing relevés from scrub. Our interpretation of DCCA ordinations suggests that vegetation pattern is primarily related to a salinity-moisture gradient. There is a strong relationship between vegetation type and the amount of salt in the groundwater and the pattern of its variation during the year. The depth of the groundwater and the conditions of submersion are also related to the compositional variation of the vegetation. Although flooding causes some differences between sites, the most important discriminant variable, and therefore the best predictor of floristic variation, is salinization.     

Natural diet of herbivorous zooplankton in Lake Xolotlán (Managua)

The natural diet of herbivorous zooplankton was analyzed for a better understanding of the trophic relationships in Lake Xolotlán (Managua). Gut content of the most common zooplankton species (Arctodiaptomus dorsalis, Moina micrura andDiaphanosoma fluviatile) were analyzed. The quality and the relative abundance of ingested algae was studied. The most consumed algae during the dry season (February) wereCyclotella, Oocystis andLyngbya, and during the rainy season (November)Cyclotella, Oocystis andChroococcus. The kind of food ingested byA. dorsalis andM. micrura was similar in both periods. There was no similarity with the diet ofD. fluviatile. During the dry season, when algal biomass in the lake was high,A. dorsalis andM. micrura ingested a higher proportion of diatoms. During the rainy season, when food was scarce, the diet was more diverse and bluegreen algae (Chroococcus) were ingested in a larger proportion.Diaphanosoma fluviatile ingested predominantly tiny particles (bacteria and detritus) and algal food consisted mainly of green algae (Oocystis) and probably (not studied) nanoplanktonic algae. The results were consistent with those obtained in other lakes, indicating the importance of diatoms and green algae for zooplankton nutrition.     

Designing connected marine reserves in the face of global warming

Marine reserves are widely used to protect species important for conservation and fisheries and to help maintain ecological processes that sustain their populations, including recruitment and dispersal. Achieving these goals requires well‐connected networks of marine reserves that maximize larval connectivity, thus allowing exchanges between populations and recolonization after local disturbances. However, global warming can disrupt connectivity by shortening potential dispersal pathways through changes in larval physiology. These changes can compromise the performance of marine reserve networks, thus requiring adjusting their design to account for ocean warming. To date, empirical approaches to marine prioritization have not considered larval connectivity as affected by global warming. Here, we develop a framework for designing marine reserve networks that integrates graph theory and changes in larval connectivity due to potential reductions in planktonic larval duration (PLD) associated with ocean warming, given current socioeconomic constraints. Using the Gulf of California as case study, we assess the benefits and costs of adjusting networks to account for connectivity, with and without ocean warming. We compare reserve networks designed to achieve representation of species and ecosystems with networks designed to also maximize connectivity under current and future ocean‐warming scenarios. Our results indicate that current larval connectivity could be reduced significantly under ocean warming because of shortened PLDs. Given the potential changes in connectivity, we show that our graph‐theoretical approach based on centrality (eigenvector and distance‐weighted fragmentation) of habitat patches can help design better‐connected marine reserve networks for the future with equivalent costs. We found that maintaining dispersal connectivity incidentally through representation‐only reserve design is unlikely, particularly in regions with strong asymmetric patterns of dispersal connectivity. Our results support previous studies suggesting that, given potential reductions in PLD due to ocean warming, future marine reserve networks would require more and/or larger reserves in closer proximity to maintain larval connectivity.     

An assessment of West African seahorses in fisheries catch and trade

This study provides the first assessment of a heavily traded West African seahorse species, Hippocampus algiricus, and the first information on short‐snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus biology in Africa. A total of 219 seahorses were sampled from fisher catch in Senegal and The Gambia, with estimated height at reproductive activity for H. algiricus (161 mm) larger than mean ± s.d . catch height (150 ± 31 mm). Catch composition, height at reproductive activity and potential biases in fishery retention are discussed with regard to the current Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) guidelines.     

Sororin actively maintains sister chromatid cohesion

Cohesion between sister chromatids is established during DNA replication but needs to be maintained to enable proper chromosome–spindle attachments in mitosis or meiosis. Cohesion is mediated by cohesin, but also depends on cohesin acetylation and sororin. Sororin contributes to cohesion by stabilizing cohesin on DNA. Sororin achieves this by inhibiting WAPL, which otherwise releases cohesin from DNA and destroys cohesion. Here we describe mouse models which enable the controlled depletion of sororin by gene deletion or auxin‐induced degradation. We show that sororin is essential for embryonic development, cohesion maintenance, and proper chromosome segregation. We further show that the acetyltransferases ESCO1 and ESCO2 are essential for stabilizing cohesin on chromatin, that their only function in this process is to acetylate cohesin''s SMC3 subunit, and that DNA replication is also required for stable cohesin–chromatin interactions. Unexpectedly, we find that sororin interacts dynamically with the cohesin complexes it stabilizes. This implies that sororin recruitment to cohesin does not depend on the DNA replication machinery or process itself, but on a property that cohesin acquires during cohesion establishment.