Development of SCAR molecular markers for early and late differentiation of Eucalyptus globulus ssp globulus from E. globulus ssp maidenii

The genus Eucalyptus includes over 700 species, some of which are the most widely planted hardwoods worldwide. Each species and subspecies of Eucalyptus present different characteristics regarding its wood quality and yield. This fact makes it very important to work with known species/subspecies so as to optimize handling and conservation of forest resources. Some of them are morphologically very similar, making it difficult to differentiate by simple observation. This is the case with Euclyptus globulus ssp globulus and E. globulus ssp maidenii, which can only be distinguished in the adult tree. These issues can be avoided using well-characterized seeds. This can be quite expensive, especially for the small growers. An alternative approach is to develop simple methods for the differentiation of the two subspecies. In this work, we develop a quick method, based on SCAR molecular markers derived from RAPD molecular markers, for the differentiation of the subspecies of E. globulus, in particular E. globulus ssp globulus and E. globulus ssp maidenii.     

Communication interference in sympatrically occurring moth species

In moth species, females emit a species‐specific sex pheromone that is perceived over long distance by conspecific males. The species‐specificity in the chemical communication channel is achieved by a combination of unique components in specific ratios and sometimes also by interspecific behavioural antagonists to deter sympatrically occurring heterospecific males. In this study, we determined possible antagonistic effects in Helicoverpa gelotopoeon Dyar (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) males to the major sex pheromone component of sympatrically occurring heliothine moths, Z11‐16:Ald, as well as to the sex pheromone of the sympatrically occurring Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (Z11‐16:Ald and Z9‐14:Ald). We also explored whether other co‐occurring species are attracted to these pheromone blends. Our field experiments showed that the addition of Z11‐16:Ald alone or in combination with Z9‐14:Ald inhibited trap catches of H. gelotopoeon males and that this inhibition depended on the concentration of these compounds. In addition, other moth species were attracted to the blends. Together, our results confirm the antagonistic effect of heterospecific sex pheromone compounds of H. virescens to H. gelotopoeon.     

Focal adhesion kinase: predictor of tumour response and risk factor for recurrence after neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal cancer

Rectal cancer represents about 30% of colorectal cancers, being around 50% locally advanced at presentation. Chemoradiation (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision is the standard of care for these locally advanced stages. However, it is not free of adverse effects and toxicity and the complete pathologic response rate is between 10% and 30%. This makes it extremely important to define factors that can predict response to this therapy. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression has been correlated with worse prognosis in several tumours and its possible involvement in cancer radio‐ and chemosensitivity has been suggested; however, its role in rectal cancer has not been analysed yet. To analyse the association of FAK expression with tumour response to CRT in locally advanced rectal cancer. This study includes 73 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer receiving standard neoadjuvant CRT followed by total mesorectal excision. Focal adhesion kinase protein levels were immunohistochemically analysed in the pre‐treatment biopsies of these patients and correlated with tumour response to CRT and patients survival. Low FAK expression was significantly correlated with local and distant recurrence (P = 0.013). Low FAK expression was found to be a predictive marker of tumour response to neoadjuvant therapy (P = 0.007) and patients whose tumours did not express FAK showed a strong association with lower disease‐free survival (P = 0.01). Focal adhesion kinase expression predicts neoadjuvant CRT response in rectal cancer patients and it is a clinically relevant risk factor for local and distant recurrence.     

Impact of the surface roughness of AISI 316L stainless steel on biofilm adhesion in a seawater-cooled tubular heat exchanger-condenser

The present study evaluated biofilm growth in AISI 316L stainless steel tubes for seawater-cooled exchanger-condensers that had four different arithmetic mean surface roughness values ranging from 0.14 μm to 1.2 μm. The results of fluid frictional resistance and heat transfer resistance regarding biofilm formation in the roughest surface showed increases of 28.2% and 19.1% respectively, compared with the smoothest surface. The biofilm thickness taken at the end of the experiment showed variations of up to 74% between the smoothest and roughest surfaces. The thermal efficiency of the heat transfer process in the tube with the roughest surface was 17.4% greater than that in the tube with the smoothest surface. The results suggest that the finish of the inner surfaces of the tubes in heat exchanger-condensers is critical for improving energy efficiency and avoiding biofilm adhesion. This may be utilised to reduce biofilm adhesion and growth in the design of heat exchanger-condensers.     

Sterility of the coffee berry borer,Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), caused by the nematode Metaparasitylenchus hypothenemi (Tylenchidae: Allantonematidae)

Metaparasitylenchus hypothenemi is an endoparasitic nematode that causes partial or total sterility of coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) females, although the causes are unknown. Fecundity and the average size of the common and lateral oviduct, vitellarium, and germarium in the four ovarioles (I, II, III and IV) were compared between parasitised and non-parasitised insects to determine the causes of sterility. The nematode significantly lowers the number of oocytes and 86% of parasitised insects (24 out of 28 insects) were sterile, while fecundity in the remaining 13% was non-significantly different to that in non-parasitised insects. No significant differences were recorded in the size of the common oviduct, lateral oviduct, vitellarium, and germarium between parasitised and non-parasitised insects and the nematode does not cause any apparent damage on the surface of the ovary.     

Surviving background extinction: Inferences from historic and current dynamics in the contrasting population structures of two endemic Mexican cycads

Ecological and microevolutionary perspectives were used to investigate signs of background extinction in two endemic species. We studied relict populations of the cycad Dioon caputoi, contrasting its population structure and neighborhood size with those of Dioon planifolium as a demographically healthier reference population. Population dynamics analysis was performed on two populations of D. caputoi through Integral Projection Models and genetic neighborhoods compared between species through 172 Inter Simple Sequence Repeat loci performed in one population of each of the two study species. The D. caputoi populations mostly comprised adult plants, while D. planifolium presented mainly juvenile individuals. Dioon caputoi showed equilibrium in population growth (i.e., λ ≈ 1), with low recruitment, and its genetic neighborhood revealed highly related individuals in a unique distance class (r_ij = 0.407, 33 m). A contrasting pattern was found in D. planifolium, which showed higher relatedness in the first distance class (r_ij = 0.543, 5 m), gradually decreasing to 20 m. The discrepancies between the two species reflect different strategies of persistence. Dioon caputoi conserves a relict dynamics with signs of a multigenerational, attritional loss of reproductive fitness, while D. planifolium does not. This study furthers our understanding of the background extinction process and the information will thus contribute to the management and conservation of this endangered species.     

A mid-Cretaceous trichomycete,Priscadvena corymbosa gen. et sp. nov., in Burmese amber

Priscadvena corymbosa gen. et sp. nov., is described from thalli and sporangia emerging from the oral cavity of a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The fossil contains several features unknown in extant Trichomycetes including a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) host, spiny, aerial thalli with the entire thallus bearing numerous small uninucleate globular spores and stalks attached to the oral cavity of its host. Based on these features, P. corymbosa gen. et sp. nov. is placed in a new family, Priscadvenaceae fam. nov., and new order, Priscadvenales ord. nov. The new morphological and behavioral features of the fossil add to the diversity of the trichomycetes as currently defined.     

Does helimulching after severe wildfire affect vegetation recovery in a coastal area of Northwest Spain?

Helimulching is commonly applied after high-severity wildfires in North America because of its effectiveness in reducing post-fire runoff and erosion. However, its use in other parts of the world is still very limited and information about its effects in different environments is scarce. In this study, the effects of helimulching on vegetation recovery and species composition were assessed in 70 experimental plots (80 m² each) established in five shrubland areas in Northwest Spain affected by wildfire in summer 2013. The effects on shrub, forb, fern and grass cover, and on total vegetation cover, as well as on species richness, Shannon diversity index and heterogeneity were studied over the 2 years following the fire. The impacts of soil burn severity and mulch depth on these variables were also considered. Overall, the mulching treatment had little effect on the cover variables. Although it had a positive effect on forb cover, these species represented only a small portion of the total vegetation cover. Soil burn severity was not a significant factor in explaining the variation in the variables under study. The treatment had a low impact on species composition. In the mulched plots only three non-native species were recorded and these displayed a limited capacity to act as invasive species as they were absent at the end of the period of study. The results indicate that helimulching is a feasible soil stabilization treatment with neutral effects on vegetation cover and the composition of shrubland in coastal areas of Northwest Spain.

     

High‐resolution melting of the cytochrome B gene in fecal DNA: A powerful approach for fox species identification of the Lycalopex genus in Chile

Easy, economic, precise species authentication is currently necessary in many areas of research and diagnosis in molecular biology applied to conservation studies of endangered species. Here, we present a new method for the identification of three fox species of the Lycalopex genus in Chile. We developed an assay based on high‐resolution melt analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene, allowing a simple, low cost, fast, and accurate species determination. To validate the assay applicability for noninvasive samples, we collected fecal samples in the Atacama Desert, finding unexpectedly one species outside of its known distribution range. We conclude that the assay has a potential to become a valuable tool for a standardized genetic monitoring of the Lycalopex species in Chile.