Effects of age,territoriality and breeding on survival of Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata

Survival typically contributes most to population trends in long‐lived birds and its accurate estimation is therefore vital for population management and conservation. We evaluated the effects of age, territoriality and reproduction on survival in Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata through multistate capture‐mark‐recapture analyses on a long‐term dataset. Monitoring was carried out in southeast France (1990–2008) and involved the surveying of territorial Eagles, the marking of fledged chicks, and the recording of resightings and recoveries of marked non‐territorial and territorial birds. Survival improved with age, but territoriality was not retained in the best model; yearly survival was estimated at 0.479 for fledglings (to 1 year of age), 0.570 for 1‐ and 2‐year‐olds, and 0.870 for 3‐year‐old and older individuals. The second best model supported a further increase in survival from 3‐year‐olds (0.821) to older individuals (0.880). In the third best supported model, territoriality enhanced survival, but only in 2‐year‐olds (0.632 vs. 0.562 for non‐territorial). We found no correlation between the previous breeding stage and future survival, consistent with the long lifespan of the study species. Nevertheless, 4‐year‐old and older successful breeders were more likely to breed the following year than failed adult breeders (0.869 vs. 0.582), suggesting that the cost of reproduction is small in comparison with the variation in quality among individuals or their territories.     

A new Late Jurassic turtle from Spain: phylogenetic implications,taphonomy and palaeoecology

Abstract: The Jurassic was an important period in the evolution of Testudinata and encompasses the origin of many clades, and this is especially true of Jurassic turtles from Western Europe. A new genus and species of Late Jurassic turtle, Hispaniachelys prebetica gen. et sp. nov. from the upper Oxfordian of the Prebetic (Southern Spain), is described on the basis of postcranial material. The specimen is the only known tetrapod from the Mesozoic of the Prebetic and the oldest turtle from southern Europe. A mosaic of characters indicates this is a new genus: it displays basal features including dorsal epiplastral processes/reduced cleithra, no medial contact of the extragulars and a long first thoracic rib, alongside derived characters including an absence of mesoplastra and the vertebral 3/4 sulcus crossing neural 5. The phylogenetic position of the new taxon is hard to resolve, and it might be either a paracryptodire or a basal testudine, but it is distinct from Plesiochelys. A complex taphonomic history is shown by a range of overlying grazing traces and bioerosion on the carapace. The carapace was subsequently overturned and buried ventrally up, terminating grazing activity, and was then bored by sponges before final burial. Scanning electron microscopy reveals phosphatic microspheroids associated with bacterial decay in the vascular cavities of the cancellous bone, suggesting the carapace may have acted as a closed microenvironment in which decay‐derived authigenic minerals formed.     

Dopamine Genes (DRD2/ANKK1-TaqA1 and DRD4-7R) and Executive Function: Their Interaction with Obesity

Obesity is a multifactorial disease caused by the interaction between genotype and environment, and it is considered to be a type of addictive alteration. The A1 allele of the DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA gene has been associated with addictive disorders, with obesity and with the performance in executive functions. The 7 repeat allele of the DRD4 gene has likewise been associated with the performance in executive functions, as well as with addictive behaviors and impulsivity. Participants were included in the obesity group (N = 42) if their body mass index (BMI) was equal to or above 30, and in the lean group (N = 42) if their BMI was below 25. The DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA and DRD4 VNTR polymorphisms were obtained. All subjects underwent neuropsychological assessment. Eating behavior traits were evaluated. The ‘DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA A1-allele status’ had a significant effect on almost all the executive variables, but no significant ‘DRD4 7R-allele status’ effects were observed for any of the executive variables analyzed. There was a significant ‘group’ x ‘DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA A1-allele status’ interaction effect on LN and ‘group’ x ‘DRD4 7R-allele status’ interaction effect on TMT B-A score. Being obese and a carrier of the A1 allele of DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA or the 7R allele of DRD4 VNTR polymorphisms could confer a weakness as regards the performance of executive functions.     

Dectin-1 and DC-SIGN polymorphisms associated with invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis infection

The recognition of pathogen-derived structures by C-type lectins and the chemotactic activity mediated by the CCL2/CCR2 axis are critical steps in determining the host immune response to fungi. The present study was designed to investigate whether the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within DC-SIGN, Dectin-1, Dectin-2, CCL2 and CCR2 genes influence the risk of developing Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis (IPA). Twenty-seven SNPs were selected using a hybrid functional/tagging approach and genotyped in 182 haematological patients, fifty-seven of them diagnosed with proven or probable IPA according to the 2008 EORTC/MSG criteria. Association analysis revealed that carriers of the Dectin-1(rs3901533 T/T) and Dectin-1(rs7309123 G/G) genotypes and DC-SIGN(rs4804800 G), DC-SIGN(rs11465384 T), DC-SIGN(7248637 A) and DC-SIGN(7252229 C) alleles had a significantly increased risk of IPA infection (OR = 5.59 95%CI 1.37-22.77; OR = 4.91 95%CI 1.52-15.89; OR = 2.75 95%CI 1.27-5.95; OR = 2.70 95%CI 1.24-5.90; OR = 2.39 95%CI 1.09-5.22 and OR = 2.05 95%CI 1.00-4.22, respectively). There was also a significantly increased frequency of galactomannan positivity among patients carrying the Dectin-1(rs3901533_T) allele and Dectin-1(rs7309123_G/G) genotype. In addition, healthy individuals with this latter genotype showed a significantly decreased level of Dectin-1 mRNA expression compared to C-allele carriers, suggesting a role of the Dectin-1(rs7309123) polymorphism in determining the levels of Dectin-1 and, consequently, the level of susceptibility to IPA infection. SNP-SNP interaction (epistasis) analysis revealed significant interactions models including SNPs in Dectin-1, Dectin-2, CCL2 and CCR2 genes, with synergistic genetic effects. Although these results need to be further validated in larger cohorts, they suggest that Dectin-1, DC-SIGN, Dectin-2, CCL2 and CCR2 genetic variants influence the risk of IPA infection and might be useful in developing a risk-adapted prophylaxis.     

Desert species adapted for dispersal and germination during floods: Experimental evidence in two Astrophytum species (Cactaceae)

Dispersal of organisms by water is known as hydrochory and is an important means of seed transportation. Here we present experimental evidence of possible dispersal and germination of seeds in water for arid land cacti. Seeds from Astrophytum spp. have unusual traits for plants from arid environments, traits that are typical of water dispersed seeds. Astrophytum capricorne and A. ornatum seeds disperse by floating in the Chihuahuan Desert. Seeds of other native species (Acacia farnesiana, Opuntia streptacantha and Prosopis laevigata (mesquite) were used as control, as well as commercial beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Seed structures of A. capricorne and A. ornatum are consistent with water dispersal (hat shape, a funicular envelope covering a prominent hilum, and air chambers throughout the tegument). Seeds of A. capricorne showed the greatest water permeability, higher than those of A. ornatum which had similar permeability to common beans and mesquite. Acacia farnesiana and Opuntia streptacantha had the lowest permeability. Seeds of A. capricorne without a funicular layer floated more than those with a funicular layer. All seeds of A. ornatum floated initially, but 10% of those with funicular layer sank after a 30 days floating period. P. laevigata seeds floated also, but less than those of Astrophytum spp., and seeds of A. farnesiana and Phaseolus vulgaris did not float. Germination of A. capricorne was high under all treatments, both when immersed in a water layer or only moistened. Germination of A. ornatum was generally low (<30%), with <5% germination for seeds immersed in water and for those placed on a water film. Seeds of A. capricorne germinated slower in a water layer than in other treatments. No difference in germination rate was found across all treatments in A. ornatum.     

More than multiple introductions: Multiple taxa contribute to the genesis of the invasive California’s wild artichoke thistle

The history of some invasive species is so complex that their origins can be difficult to determine. One example of such invasive species is the California invasive known as “wild artichoke thistle” (Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris), found in natural and disturbed ecosystems. Wild artichoke thistle is a Mediterranean native and the progenitor of two domesticated horticultural taxa, artichoke and cardoon. Different hypotheses regarding the origins of California plants have included introductions by 19th century Italian immigrants and the de-domestication (evolutionary reversion to wild-type morphology) of feral (escaped, free-living) cultivars. Using microsatellite markers, we compared the genetic constitutions of 12 artichoke thistle populations in California with possible progenitor populations: 17 Spanish and Italian wild populations and eight different artichoke and cardoon cultivars. Each California population was compared with its putative progenitors using STRUCTURE analysis. Our results suggest that California's artichoke thistle populations are polyphyletic. Surprisingly, two-thirds of California's populations closely matched populations from the Iberian Peninsula. Three populations matched domesticated artichoke. One population appears to have wild and cultivar hybrid ancestry. Alleles specific to Italian populations were found at low frequencies in some California plants, suggesting that Italian wild plants may have been in California, but have left a trivial genetic legacy. Given that the de-domesticated plants in this study appear to be as invasive as the wild taxon, we conclude with a discussion of the role that ferality and de-domestication may have in plant invasions.     

Comparative effects of three 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives [OSI-1210, OSI-1211 (etaftoron), and OSI-3802] on rat liver mitochondrial bioenergetics and on the physical properties of membrane lipid bilayers: relevance to the length of the alkoxyl chain in positions 3 and 5 of the DHP ring

The 1,4-dihydropyridines OSI-1210, OSI-1211 (etaftoron), and OSI-3802 are compounds with similar chemical structure. They differ by the length of the alkoxyl chain in positions 3 and 5 of the dihydropyridine (DHP) ring and by their pharmacological action characteristics. However, as far as we know, a clear relationship between the effects of these compounds and the length of the alkoxyl chain in positions 3 and 5 of the DHP has not been established. The goal of this study was to compare the influence of OSI-1210, OSI-1211 (etaftoron), and OSI-3802 on rat liver mitochondrial bioenergetics and on the physical properties of membrane lipid bilayers, correlating their actions with the length of the alkoxyl chain in positions 3 and 5 of the DHP ring. Using either glutamate/malate or succinate as respiratory substrates, all the compounds, in concentrations of up to 500 microM, depressed state 3 and uncoupled respiration, respiratory control (RCR) and ADP/O ratios, and phosphorylation rate, whereas state 4 respiration was stimulated. However, the stimulatory effect on state 4 induced by OSI-3802, the compound with the longest chain in positions 3 and 5 of the DHP ring, as well as its inhibitory effects on RCR and ADP/O ratios and phosphorylation rate were more pronounced than that induced by OSI-1210 and OSI-1211 (etaftoron), the compounds with the shortest and intermediate chains, respectively. Moreover, OSI-3802 maximized state 4 stimulation and minimized RCR and ADP/O ratios, and phosphorylation rate at a concentration of 100 microM, whereas low graduate effects were detected with OSI-1210 and OSI-1211 (etaftoron) for concentrations of up to 500 microM. At low concentrations (< or =30 microM), OSI-3802, like its analogue OSI-1212 (cerebrocrast), reduced the phase transition temperature, the cooperative unit size, and the enthalpy associated with the phase transition temperature of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) membrane bilayers. A good correlation was established between the effects of 200 microM OSI-1210, OSI-1211 (etaftoron), and OSI-3802 on glutamate/malate- and succinate-dependent RCR of rat liver mitochondria and on the enthalpy change (Delta H) for the thermotropic profile of DMPC membrane bilayers at a 0.2 drug/DMPC molar ratio, indicating that the changes induced by these compounds on both mitochondrial membrane integrity and physical properties of DMPC membrane bilayers are strongly related to the length of the alkoxyl chain in positions 3 and 5 of the DHP ring. A putative relationship between membrane physical perturbation, bioenergetics impairment and the molecular characteristics of the compounds will be established as an approach to better understand their differentiated toxicological and pharmacological actions.     

A deletion in the bone morphogenetic protein 15 gene causes sterility and increased prolificacy in Rasa Aragonesa sheep

Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily, is specifically expressed in oocytes and is essential for sheep prolificacy. Reported mutations in this gene cause increased ovulation rate and infertility in a dosage-sensitive manner. In this work, a new naturally occurring mutation in the BMP15 gene from the ovine Rasa Aragonesa breed is described. This mutation is a deletion of 17 bp that leads to an altered amino acid sequence and introduces a premature stop codon in the protein. Highly significant associations (P < 0.0001) were found between the estimated breeding value for prolificacy and the genotype of BMP15 in Rasa Aragonesa animals with high and low breeding values for this trait. As for other mutations in BMP15, this new mutation is associated with increased prolificacy and sterility in heterozygous and homozygous ewes respectively.