BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH: Current distribution and predicted geographic expansion of the Rufous‐backed Robin in Mexico: a fading endemism?

Aim The Rufous‐backed Robin Turdus rufopalliatus is a bird endemic to the Pacific slope of Mexico. The species recently established populations in several localities in the Mexican Central Highlands. Based on available data, we modelled the range expansion of the Rufous‐backed Robin in Mexico to understand the pattern, mechanisms and ecological and biogeographic implications of its expansion. Location Mexico. Methods We assessed the species’ presence and habitat requirements at two spatial scales. At the site level, we evaluated the relationship between land use and species presence in an urban environment. At the country level, we generated a niche model. We then produced a dispersion model through the interpolation of points generated from information derived from the niche model, the location of records within and outside its native distribution range, the species’ natural history, habitat requirements and its estimated dispersion rate (4.2 km year^?1). Results The dispersion model predicted that the species will significantly increase its distribution range in Mexico in the coming decades. Its expansion would occur by a stepping‐stone colonization of suitable habitat in areas of native vegetation and human settlements. The model predicted that the species should arrive on the Gulf slope of Mexico before 2025. Main conclusions Mechanisms that could explain the species’ success in establishing viable populations outside its native distribution include its dispersion ability, competitive release, the urban heat island phenomenon and the trade of wild birds. The geographic range expansion of the Rufous‐backed Robin will probably create new interactions with other species, particularly with close taxonomic and ecological relatives. The increase in the distribution range of the Rufous‐backed Robin has resulted from direct and indirect human‐induced dispersion; therefore, it cannot be considered a fading endemism. In part of its expanded range (to date the Mexican Central Highlands), it should be considered an invasive alien species.     

Cooperative recruitment of HMGB1 during V(D)J recombination through interactions with RAG1 and DNA

During V(D)J recombination, recombination activating gene (RAG)1 and RAG2 bind and cleave recombination signal sequences (RSSs), aided by the ubiquitous DNA-binding/-bending proteins high-mobility group box protein (HMGB)1 or HMGB2. HMGB1/2 play a critical, although poorly understood, role in vitro in the assembly of functional RAG–RSS complexes, into which HMGB1/2 stably incorporate. The mechanism of HMGB1/2 recruitment is unknown, although an interaction with RAG1 has been suggested. Here, we report data demonstrating only a weak HMGB1–RAG1 interaction in the absence of DNA in several assays, including fluorescence anisotropy experiments using a novel Alexa488-labeled HMGB1 protein. Addition of DNA to RAG1 and HMGB1 in fluorescence anisotropy experiments, however, results in a substantial increase in complex formation, indicating a synergistic binding effect. Pulldown experiments confirmed these results, as HMGB1 was recruited to a RAG1–DNA complex in a RAG1 concentration-dependent manner and, interestingly, without strict RSS sequence specificity. Our finding that HMGB1 binds more tightly to a RAG1–DNA complex over RAG1 or DNA alone provides an explanation for the stable integration of this typically transient architectural protein in the V(D)J recombinase complex throughout recombination. These findings also have implications for the order of events during RAG–DNA complex assembly and for the stabilization of sequence-specific and non-specific RAG1–DNA interactions.     

Planning adaptation to climate change in fast-warming marine regions with seafood-dependent coastal communities

Many coastal communities rely on living marine resources for livelihoods and food security. These resources are commonly under stress from overfishing, pollution, coastal development and habitat degradation. Climate change is an additional stressor beginning to impact coastal systems and communities, but may also lead to opportunities for some species and the people they sustain. We describe the research approach for a multi-country project, focused on the southern hemisphere, designed to contribute to improving fishing community adaptation efforts by characterizing, assessing and predicting the future of coastal-marine food resources, and co-developing adaptation options through the provision and sharing of knowledge across fast-warming marine regions (i.e. marine ‘hotspots’). These hotspots represent natural laboratories for observing change and concomitant human adaptive responses, and for developing adaptation options and management strategies. Focusing on adaptation options and strategies for enhancing coastal resilience at the local level will contribute to capacity building and local empowerment in order to minimise negative outcomes and take advantage of opportunities arising from climate change. However, developing comparative approaches across regions that differ in political institutions, socio-economic community demographics, resource dependency and research capacity is challenging. Here, we describe physical, biological, social and governance tools to allow hotspot comparisons, and several methods to evaluate and enhance interactions within a multi-nation research team. Strong partnerships within and between the focal regions are critical to scientific and political support for development of effective approaches to reduce future vulnerability. Comparing these hotspot regions will enhance local adaptation responses and generate outcomes applicable to other regions.     

Effects of Acute Restraint Stress,Prolonged Captivity Stress and Transdermal Corticosterone Application on Immunocompetence and Plasma Levels of Corticosterone on the Cururu Toad (Rhinella icterica)

Glucocorticoid steroids modulate immunocompetence in complex ways with both immunoenhancing and immunosuppressive effects in vertebrates exposed to different stressors. Such bimodal effects have been associated with variation in duration and intensity of the stress response. Given that natural populations have been exposed to a multitude of stressors, a better understanding of the functional association between duration and intensity of the stress response, the resulting changes in glucocorticoid plasma levels and their impact on different aspects of immunocompetence emerges as a cornerstone for vertebrate conservation strategies. We investigated the effects of a restraint challenge (with and without movement restriction), long-term captivity, and transdermal corticosterone application on plasma levels of corticosterone (hereinafter referred to as CORT) and different parameters of innate immunocompetence in the male cururu toads (Rhinella icterica). We show that for R. icterica restraint for 24h proved to be a stressful condition, increasing CORT by 3-fold without consistent immunological changes. However, the application of a more intense stressor (restraint with movement restriction), for the same period, potentiated this response resulting in a 9-fold increase in CORT, associated with increase Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio (N:L) and a lower bacterial killing ability (BKA). Transdermal application of corticosterone efficiently mimics repeated acute stress response events, without changing the immune parameters even after 13 days of treatment. Interestingly, long-term captivity did not mitigate the stress response, since the toads maintained 3-fold increased CORT even after 3 months under these conditions. Moreover, long-term captivity in the same condition increased total leukocyte count (TLC) and generated an even greater decrease in BKA, suggesting that consequences of the stress response can be aggravated by time in captivity.     

MEK1 inactivates Myt1 to regulate Golgi membrane fragmentation and mitotic entry in mammalian cells

The pericentriolar stacks of Golgi cisternae are separated from each other in G2 and fragmented extensively during mitosis. MEK1 is required for Golgi fragmentation in G2 and for the entry of cells into mitosis. We now report that Myt1 mediates MEK1's effects on the Golgi complex. Knockdown of Myt1 by siRNA increased the efficiency of Golgi complex fragmentation by mitotic cytosol in permeabilized and intact HeLa cells. Myt1 knockdown eliminated the requirement of MEK1 in Golgi fragmentation and alleviated the delay in mitotic entry due to MEK1 inhibition. The phosphorylation of Myt1 by MEK1 requires another kinase but is independent of RSK, Plk, and CDK1. Altogether our findings reveal that Myt1 is inactivated by MEK1 mediated phosphorylation to fragment the Golgi complex in G2 and for the entry of cells into mitosis. It is known that Myt1 inactivation is required for CDK1 activation. Myt1 therefore is an important link by which MEK1 dependent fragmentation of the Golgi complex in G2 is connected to the CDK1 mediated breakdown of Golgi into tubules and vesicles in mitosis.     

Lessingianthus (Vernonieae–Asteraceae): generic and infrageneric relationships based on pollen morphology

Pollen morphology of 31 species of Lessingianthus was investigated in order to evaluate the generic and infrageneric relationships of Lessingianthus and related genera. Acetolyzed pollen grains were measured, described and illustrated using light microscopy. Non‐acetolyzed pollen grains were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grains of Lessingianthus are isopolar monads, suboblate, oblate spheroidal or prolate spheroidal, lophate (30, 29 and 27 lacunae), with small or large polar area, tricolporate. Pollen grains with 30 lacunae occur in the majority of the species examined, and show three apertural, six abapertural, twelve parapertural, six interapertural and three equatorial lacunae. Pollen grains with 29 lacunae occur in L. desertorum, L. simplex and L. virgulatus and are characterized by three apertural, six abapertural, twelve parapertural, six interapertural and two polar lacunae, and by absence of equatorial lacunae. Pollen grains with 27 lacunae occur in L. adenophyllus and L. durus and are characterized by three apertural, six abapertural, twelve parapertural and six interapertural lacunae, but lack polar and equatorial lacunae. Species of Lessingianthus subgen. Lessingianthus, with few exceptions, have pollen grains with type B lophate pattern, which differs mostly in shape. Pollen grains of Lessingianthus subgenus Oligocephalus share a very similar pattern of 29 lacunae with those of Chrysolaena, supporting recently proposed taxonomic changes. Pollen grains with 27 regular lacunae occur in Lessingianthus durus and L. adenophyllus, but the first differ from the latter by having cross muri enclosing the apertural lacuna (type G pollen).     

Diterpenoids from Viguiera insignis

The isolation of several known diterpenoids and one new diterpene diol from aerial parts of Viguiera insignis is reported.