Population responses of roe deer to the recolonization of the French Vercors by wolves

In a context of changing carnivore populations worldwide, it is crucial to understand the consequences of these changes for prey populations. The recolonization by wolves of the French Vercors mountain range and the long-term monitoring (2001–2017) of roe deer in this area provided a unique opportunity to assess the effects of wolves on this prey. Roe deer was the main prey of wolves in the west Vercors mountain range during this recolonization. We compared roe deer abundance and fawn body mass in two contrasted areas of a wolf pack territory: a central area (core of the territory characterized by an intense use by wolves) and a peripheral area (used more occasionally). Roe deer population growth rates were lower in the central area between 2001 and 2006, resulting in a decline in roe deer abundance. Roe deer abundance substantially dropped in the two study areas after an extremely severe winter but the abundance of roe deer in the central area facing with wolves was slower to recover and remained at lower abundance levels for 6 years. Fawn body mass was consistently lower in the central area, varied similarly as roe deer abundance, and was not influenced by weather conditions or red deer population abundance. Altogether, the effects of wolves on roe deer in the central area occurred during a 10-year period following the establishment of wolves, through the interplay between wolf predation (before wolves started preying on red deer), harsh winter conditions and possibly naivety of prey to this recolonizing predator.     

Roles of BdUNICULME4 and BdLAXATUM‐A in the non‐domesticated grass Brachypodium distachyon

In cultivated grasses, tillering, spike architecture and seed shattering represent major agronomical traits. In barley, maize and rice, the NOOT‐BOP‐COCH‐LIKE (NBCL) genes play important roles in development, especially in ligule development, tillering and flower identity. However, compared with dicots, the role of grass NBCL genes is underinvestigated. To better understand the role of grass NBCLs and to overcome any effects of domestication that might conceal their original functions, we studied TILLING nbcl mutants in the non‐domesticated grass Brachypodium distachyon. In B. distachyon, the NBCL genes BdUNICULME4 (CUL4) and BdLAXATUM‐A (LAXA) are orthologous, respectively, to the barley HvUniculme4 and HvLaxatum‐a, to the maize Zmtassels replace upper ears1 and Zmtassels replace upper ears2 and to the rice OsBLADE‐ON‐PETIOLE1 and OsBLADE‐ON‐PETIOLE2/3. In B. distachyon, our reverse genetics study shows that CUL4 is not essential for the establishment of the blade–sheath boundary but is necessary for the development of the ligule and auricles. We report that CUL4 also exerts a positive role in tillering and a negative role in spikelet meristem activity. On the other hand, we demonstrate that LAXA plays a negative role in tillering, positively participates in spikelet development and contributes to the control of floral organ number and identity. In this work, we functionally characterized two new NBCL genes in a context of non‐domesticated grass and highlighted original roles for grass NBCL genes that are related to important agronomical traits.     

Reproductives and eggs trigger worker vibration in a subterranean termite

In insect societies, the presence of reproductives or eggs has been shown to shape several biological traits in the colony members. Social interactions are one of these traits that involve modification of the communication system of the entire colony. Many studies described the role of chemical compounds and dominance behaviors in the presence of reproductive but vibratory behaviors received very few investigations. Yet, vibratory behaviors are ideal candidates, particularly for subterranean species like termites, as they could be quickly transmitted through the substrate and could be very diversified (origin, modulation). Here, we investigated whether the presence of reproductives/eggs affects the vibratory behavior (body‐shaking) of workers in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Our results reveal that the presence of reproductives or eggs triggers an increase of workers' body‐shaking, independent of their colony of origin after 24 hr. We hypothesize that vibratory communication could be used to transfer information about the presence of reproductives and eggs to the entire colony, suggesting that vibratory behaviors could serve as an important yet neglected mediator of social regulation.     

Measuring cortisol in fish scales to study stress in wild tropical tuna

Environmental Biology of Fishes - Cortisol is recognized as a physiological indicator of stress in fish. However, this hormone is typically measured in plasma samples. In this study, cortisol...     

Intensification of agriculture in southwestern Germany between the Bronze Age and Medieval period,based on archaeobotanical data from Baden-Württemberg

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany - A system of farming with an alternation of land use between being cultivated or left fallow as grassland (Feldgraswirtschaft) developed in southwestern...     

Predictive markers of safety and immunogenicity of adjuvanted vaccines

Vaccination represents one of the greatest public health triumphs; in part due to the effect of adjuvants that have been included in vaccine preparations to boost the immune responses through different mechanisms. Although a variety of novel adjuvants have been under development, only a limited number have been approved by regulatory authorities for human vaccines. This report reflects the conclusions of a group of scientists from academia, regulatory agencies and industry who attended a conference on the current state of the art in the adjuvant field. Held at the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) in Rockville, Maryland, USA, from 18 to 19 April 2013 and organized by the International Association for Biologicals (IABS), the conference focused particularly on the future development of effective adjuvants and adjuvanted vaccines and on overcoming major hurdles, such as safety and immunogenicity assessment, as well as regulatory scrutiny. More information on the conference output can be found on the IABS website, http://www.iabs.org/.