Deep-sea origin and in-situ diversification of chrysogorgiid octocorals

The diversity, ubiquity and prevalence in deep waters of the octocoral family Chrysogorgiidae Verrill, 1883 make it noteworthy as a model system to study radiation and diversification in the deep sea. Here we provide the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Chrysogorgiidae, and compare phylogeny and depth distribution. Phylogenetic relationships among 10 of 14 currently-described Chrysogorgiidae genera were inferred based on mitochondrial (mtMutS, cox1) and nuclear (18S) markers. Bathymetric distribution was estimated from multiple sources, including museum records, a literature review, and our own sampling records (985 stations, 2345 specimens). Genetic analyses suggest that the Chrysogorgiidae as currently described is a polyphyletic family. Shallow-water genera, and two of eight deep-water genera, appear more closely related to other octocoral families than to the remainder of the monophyletic, deep-water chrysogorgiid genera. Monophyletic chrysogorgiids are composed of strictly (Iridogorgia Verrill, 1883, Metallogorgia Versluys, 1902, Radicipes Stearns, 1883, Pseudochrysogorgia Pante & France, 2010) and predominantly (Chrysogorgia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) deep-sea genera that diversified in situ. This group is sister to gold corals (Primnoidae Milne Edwards, 1857) and deep-sea bamboo corals (Keratoisidinae Gray, 1870), whose diversity also peaks in the deep sea. Nine species of Chrysogorgia that were described from depths shallower than 200 m, and mtMutS haplotypes sequenced from specimens sampled as shallow as 101 m, suggest a shallow-water emergence of some Chrysogorgia species.     

The complete phylogeny of Pseudobulweria, the most endangered seabird genus: systematics, species status and conservation implications

Pseudobulweria is one of the least known and most endangered of all seabird genera. It comprises six taxa, of which two are extinct, three are critically endangered and one is near threatened. Phylogenetic relationships between these taxa and position of the genus in the Order Procellariiformes have never been studied, and the taxonomic status of several taxa remains unsettled. Conservation management of Pseudobulweria taxa will be enhanced if these uncertainties are resolved. We used a multilocus gene tree approach with two mitochondrial DNA markers (cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 and cytochrome b gene) and one nuclear intron (β Fibrinogen intron 7) to investigate phylogenetic relationships within the genus using sequences from all taxa. We combined gene trees to estimate a phylogeny of the genus using a multispecies coalescent methodology. We confirmed the link between Pseudobulweria and a clade comprising Puffinus and Bulweria genera. The Fiji petrel’s status, as belonging to the genus, is confirmed, as is the specific status of newly rediscovered Beck’s petrel. Maintenance of the two sub-species of Tahiti petrel as currently described is not supported. Discovering the breeding grounds of all taxa is the key for their conservation, which is vital to both the marine and fragile insular tropical ecosystems where Pseudobulweria are apical predators.     

Socioeconomic inequalities in incidence of lung and upper aero-digestive tract cancer by age, tumour subtype and sex: a population-based study in Scotland (2000-2007)

BackgroundLung and upper aero-digestive tract (UADT) cancer risk is associated with socioeconomic inequality (SEI) but the degree of socioeconomic burden by age, tumour subtype, and sex is not known.MethodsWe reviewed 216,305 cases excluding non melanoma skin cancer (All Cancer) comprising 37,274 lung; 8216 head and neck; and 6534 oesophageal cancers from 2000 to 2007 classified into anatomical or morphology subtypes. Deprivation was measured using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and SEI was measured using the Slope Index of Inequality and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII). Analyses were partitioned by 5-year age group and sex. RII was adapted to rank tumour type contribution to All Cancer SEI and to examine subtype by age and sex simultaneously. Rank was defined as proportion of All Cancer SEI.ResultsAll Cancer SEI was greater for males (RII = 0.366; female RII = 0.279); the combination of lung and UADT SEI contributed 91% and 81% respectively to All Cancer SEI. For both sexes lung and UADT subtypes showed significant SEI (P < 0.001) except oesophageal adenocarcinoma in males (P = 0.193); for females, SEI was borderline significant (P = 0.048). Although RII rank differed by sex, all lung and larynx subtypes contributed most to All Cancer SEI with RII rank for oral cavity, oesophagus-squamous cell, and oropharynx following. For males 40–44 years, SEI increased abruptly peaking at 55–59 years. For females, SEI gradually peaked 10 years later. In both sexes, the SEI peak preceded peak incidence.ConclusionSEI in lung and UADT cancers vary greatly by age, tumour subtype and sex; these variations are likely to largely reflect differences between the sexes in risk behaviours which vary by birth cohort and are socioeconomically patterned.     

Two new species of Hyalella from Lake Titicaca,and redescriptions of four others in the genus (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

The amphipod genus Hyalella has its highest diversity in the Andean Lake Titicaca. This genus is the only epigean amphipod present in South America. Eleven endemic and one non-endemic species are known from Lake Titicaca. An additional endemic species, Hyalella nefrens n. sp. and one non-endemic species Hyalella tiwanaku n. sp. are described here. Hyalella cuprea(Faxon, 1876), Hyalella latimanus (Faxon, 1876), Hyalella montforti Chevreux, 1907, and Hyalella neveulemairei Chevreux, 1904 are redescribed. The high diversity of Hyalella in the lake is not well understood, and it has been compared with the spectacular diversity of Lake Baikal.     

A New Representative of Star-Shaped Fungi: Astraeus sirindhorniae sp. nov. from Thailand

Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS) is a major hotspot of biological diversity in Thailand but its fungal diversity has not been thouroughly explored. A two-year macrofungal study of this remote locality has resulted in the recognition of a new species of a star-shaped gasteroid fungus in the genus Astraeus. This fungus has been identified based on a morphological approach and the molecular study of five loci (LSU nrDNA, 5.8S nrDNA, RPB1, RPB2 and EF1-a). Multigene phylogenetic analysis of this new species places it basal relative to other Astraeus, providing additional evidence for the SE Asian orgin of the genus. The fungus is named in honour of Her Majesty Princess Sirindhorn on the occasion the 84th birthday of her father, who have both been supportive of natural heritage studies in Thailand.     

Signaling through a mutant IFN-gamma receptor

Activation of STAT1 and the IFN-gamma response are thought to be mediated exclusively through the Y440 motif of the human IFNGR1 receptor subunit. Contrary to this accepted dogma, here it is shown that IFNGR1 with a mutant (Y440F) motif, when stably expressed in IFNGR1-negative human fibroblasts at levels similar to wild type, can sustain a substantial IFN-gamma response. The mutant receptor supports selective induction of IFN-gamma-inducible genes but is notably defective in the CIITA, class II HLA, suppressor of cytokine signaling and antiviral responses. Remarkably, similar selective defects are observed in human fibrosarcoma cells expressing a mutant JAK1. The phenotypes are novel and appear distinct from those observed in response to the inhibition of known additional pathways. Data from different cell types further emphasizes the importance of cellular background in determining the response.     

Environmental control of metabolic fluxes in thermotolerant methylotrophic Bacillus strains

Recently we have isolated a number of thermotolerant, spore-forming methylotrophic bacilli in pure culture. With a methanol-limited chemostat culture of strain Ts1, incremental increases in the incubation temperature from 45°C to 62.5°C revealed an optimum with respect to growth yield of 52.5°C, and a maximum of 62.5°C. Similar investigations revealed a pH optimum of 7.5 and a broad growth rate optimum with respect to growth yield. The organism displayed a low maintenance energy requirement and high growth yield (attained simultaneosly with high growth rates) during growth on methanol. Under all conditions of methanol limitation, substrate was oxidized solely to biomass and CO₂ and carbon recoveries greater than 90% were manifest. Our data suggested that this resulted from an ability of the organism to precisely adjust its catabolic and anabolic pathways to suit prevailing growth conditions. These results are discussed in relation to previously reported data on thermophiles in both batch and chemostat culture.     

Tidal stream development and its effect on the distribution of the American oyster

The distribution of the American oyster is dependent upon the morphological development of tidal streams. Dense populations are most often found associated with large meanders. The differential current velocities associated with meander formation result in areas of scour, which are beneficial to development of oyster beds; and areas of deposition, which are detrimental to survival of oysters.     

First description of hatchlings and eggs of Octopus oliveri (Berry, 1914) (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae)

Chromatophore patterns can be used to identify paralarvae at the species level and are used here to distinguish Octopus oliveri (Berry, 1914 Berry, S. (1914) Notes on the collection of cephalopods from the Kermadec Islands. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 46, 134–149. [Google Scholar]) from other Hawaiian cephalopod paralarvae. Eggs, clutches, and hatchlings are described for the first time in O. oliveri. Preservation times are compared to illustrate variation in founder chromatophore patterns even among individuals of the same brood.