351
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Funabashi M. Human augmentation of ecosystems: objectives for food production and science by 2045. NPJ Sci Food 2018; 2:16. [PMID: 31304266 PMCID: PMC6550257 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-018-0026-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Current food production systems require fundamental reformation in the face of population growth, climate change, and degradation of health and the environment. Over the course of human history, every agricultural system that has emerged has featured some sort of trade-off between productivity and environmental load. These trade-offs are causing the planet to exceed the boundaries of its biogeochemical cycles and are triggering an unprecedented extinction rate of wild species, thus pushing global ecosystems to the brink of collapse. In this era, characterized as it is by human activity that can profoundly influence climate and the environment (i.e., the Anthropocene epoch), tipping points can be either negative or positive. While a negative tipping point can produce sudden, rapid, and irreversible deterioration of social and environmental systems, a positive tipping point can produce improved health and sustainable social-ecological systems. The key to promoting positive global tipping points is a thorough understanding of human activity and life history on an evolutionary scale, along with the comprehensive integration of science and technology to produce intelligent policies and practices of food production, particularly in the developing world (See Supplementary Material 1 summary for policymakers). Simply increasing the efficiency and scale of monoculture-intensive agriculture is unlikely to drive social-ecological change in a positive and sustainable direction. A new solution to the health-diet-environment trilemma must be developed to achieve a net positive impact on biodiversity through the anthropogenic augmentation of ecosystems based on the ecological foundation of genetic, metabolic, and ecosystem health. This paper discusses the fundamental requirements for sustainable food production on the molecular, physiological, and ecological scales, including evolutionary and geological insights, in an attempt to identify the global conditions needed for the primary food production to ensure we survive this century. Particular emphasis is placed on how to make extensive use of this planet's genetic resources without irretrievably losing them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Funabashi
- Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc., 3-14-13 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku Tokyo, 141–0022 Japan
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352
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Conservation of grasslands and savannas: A meta-analysis on mammalian responses to anthropogenic disturbance. J Nat Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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353
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Packer C, Polasky S. Reconciling corruption with conservation triage: Should investments shift from the last best places? PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2005620. [PMID: 30169504 PMCID: PMC6136820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Considerable outside funding will be required to overcome the financial shortfalls faced by most of Africa's protected areas. Given limited levels of external support, it will be essential to allocate these funds wisely. While most recent studies on conservation triage have recommended prioritizing reserves with the highest remaining conservation value (the "last best places"), such investments are complicated by the fact that these same reserves often attract the greatest revenues from ecotourism and thus the most attention from corrupt local governments. Alternatively, philanthropic organizations might achieve greater returns from investing in the management of neglected areas with lower current conservation value but with less financial leakage from corruption. We outline here how high levels of corruption could favor a strategy that shifts investments away from the last best places.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Packer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, South Africa
- * E-mail:
| | - Stephen Polasky
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
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354
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Greenberg DA, Palen WJ, Chan KC, Jetz W, Mooers AØ. Evolutionarily distinct amphibians are disproportionately lost from human-modified ecosystems. Ecol Lett 2018; 21:1530-1540. [PMID: 30133091 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Humans continue to alter terrestrial ecosystems, but our understanding of how biodiversity responds is still limited. Anthropogenic habitat conversion has been associated with the loss of evolutionarily distinct bird species at local scales, but whether this evolutionary pattern holds across other clades is unknown. We collate a global dataset on amphibian assemblages in intact forests and nearby human-modified sites to assess whether evolutionary history influences susceptibility to land conversion. We found that evolutionarily distinct amphibian species are disproportionately lost when forested habitats are converted to alternative land-uses. We tested the hypothesis that grassland-associated amphibian lineages have both higher diversification and are pre-adapted to human landscapes, but found only weak evidence supporting this. The loss of evolutionarily distinct amphibians with land conversion suggests that preserving remnant forests will be vital if we aim to preserve the amphibian tree of life in the face of mounting anthropogenic pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Greenberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - W J Palen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - K C Chan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - W Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A Ø Mooers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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355
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Panlasigui S, Davis AJ, Mangiante MJ, Darling JA. Assessing threats of non-native species to native freshwater biodiversity: Conservation priorities for the United States. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2018; 224:199-208. [PMID: 30245526 PMCID: PMC6145479 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Non-native species pose one of the greatest threats to native biodiversity, and can have severe negative impacts in freshwater ecosystems. Identifying regions of spatial overlap between high freshwater biodiversity and high invasion pressure may thus better inform the prioritization of freshwater conservation efforts. We employ geospatial analysis of species distribution data to investigate the potential threat of non-native species to aquatic animal taxa across the continental United States. We mapped non-native aquatic plant and animal species richness and cumulative invasion pressure to estimate overall negative impact associated with species introductions. These distributions were compared to distributions of native aquatic animal taxa derived from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) database. To identify hotspots of native biodiversity we mapped total species richness, number of threatened and endangered species, and a community index of species rarity calculated at the watershed scale. An overall priority index allowed identification of watersheds experiencing high pressure from non-native species and also exhibiting high native biodiversity conservation value. While priority regions are roughly consistent with previously reported prioritization maps for the US, we also recognize novel priority areas characterized by moderate-to-high native diversity but extremely high invasion pressure. We further compared priority areas with existing conservation protections as well as projected future threats associated with land use change. Our findings suggest that many regions of elevated freshwater biodiversity value are compromised by high invasion pressure, and are poorly safeguarded by existing conservation mechanisms and are likely to experience significant additional stresses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Panlasigui
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Engineering participant, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Amy J.S. Davis
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Engineering participant, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Michael J. Mangiante
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Engineering participant, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - John A. Darling
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Research Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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356
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Carbon Storage and Land-Use Strategies in Agricultural Landscapes across Three Continents. Curr Biol 2018; 28:2500-2505.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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357
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Goertzen D, Suhling F. Urbanization versus other land use: Diverging effects on dragonfly communities in Germany. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Goertzen
- Institute of Geoecology; Technische Universität Braunschweig; Braunschweig Germany
| | - Frank Suhling
- Institute of Geoecology; Technische Universität Braunschweig; Braunschweig Germany
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358
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Burton AC, Fisher JT, Adriaens P, Treweek J, Paetkau D, Wikstrom M, Callender A, Vardanyan R, Stepanyan A. Density and distribution of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) population within the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot. J Mammal 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyy081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A Cole Burton
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason T Fisher
- InnoTech Alberta, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W, Canada
| | - Peter Adriaens
- Treweek Environmental Consultants, Chancery Cottage, Kentisbeare, Cullompton, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Treweek
- Treweek Environmental Consultants, Chancery Cottage, Kentisbeare, Cullompton, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - David Paetkau
- Wildlife Genetics International, Nelson, British Columbia V1L, Canada
| | - Marten Wikstrom
- Treweek Environmental Consultants, Chancery Cottage, Kentisbeare, Cullompton, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Callender
- Treweek Environmental Consultants, Chancery Cottage, Kentisbeare, Cullompton, Devon, United Kingdom
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359
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Berdeni D, Cotton TEA, Daniell TJ, Bidartondo MI, Cameron DD, Evans KL. The Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonisation on Nutrient Status, Growth, Productivity, and Canker Resistance of Apple ( Malus pumila). Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1461. [PMID: 30018611 PMCID: PMC6037770 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We assess whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improve growth, nutritional status, phenology, flower and fruit production, and disease resistance in woody perennial crops using apple (Malus pumila) as a study system. In a fully factorial experiment, young trees were grown for 3 years with or without AMF (Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis), and with industrial standard fertiliser applications or restricted fertiliser (10% of standard). We use two commercial scions (Dabinett and Michelin) and rootstocks (MM111 and MM106). Industrial standard fertiliser applications reduced AMF colonisation and root biomass, potentially increasing drought sensitivity. Mycorrhizal status was influenced by above ground genotypes (scion type) but not rootstocks, indicating strong interactions between above and below ground plant tissue. The AMF inoculation significantly increased resistance to Neonectria ditissima, a globally economically significant fungal pathogen of apple orchards, but did not consistently alter leaf nutrients, growth, phenology or fruit and flower production. This study significantly advances understanding of AMF benefits to woody perennial crops, especially increased disease resistance which we show is not due to improved tree nutrition or drought alleviation. Breeding programmes and standard management practises can limit the potential for these benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Despina Berdeni
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - T. E. A. Cotton
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Tim J. Daniell
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Ecological Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Martin I. Bidartondo
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan D. Cameron
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Karl L. Evans
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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360
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Kreidenweis U, Humpenöder F, Kehoe L, Kuemmerle T, Bodirsky BL, Lotze-Campen H, Popp A. Pasture intensification is insufficient to relieve pressure on conservation priority areas in open agricultural markets. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:3199-3213. [PMID: 29665157 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural expansion is a leading driver of biodiversity loss across the world, but little is known on how future land-use change may encroach on remaining natural vegetation. This uncertainty is, in part, due to unknown levels of future agricultural intensification and international trade. Using an economic land-use model, we assessed potential future losses of natural vegetation with a focus on how these may threaten biodiversity hotspots and intact forest landscapes. We analysed agricultural expansion under proactive and reactive biodiversity protection scenarios, and for different rates of pasture intensification. We found growing food demand to lead to a significant expansion of cropland at the expense of pastures and natural vegetation. In our reference scenario, global cropland area increased by more than 400 Mha between 2015 and 2050, mostly in Africa and Latin America. Grazing intensification was a main determinant of future land-use change. In Africa, higher rates of pasture intensification resulted in smaller losses of natural vegetation, and reduced pressure on biodiversity hotspots and intact forest landscapes. Investments into raising pasture productivity in conjunction with proactive land-use planning appear essential in Africa to reduce further losses of areas with high conservation value. In Latin America, in contrast, higher pasture productivity resulted in increased livestock exports, highlighting that unchecked trade can reduce the land savings of pasture intensification. Reactive protection of sensitive areas significantly reduced the conversion of natural ecosystems in Latin America. We conclude that protection strategies need to adapt to region-specific trade positions. In regions with a high involvement in international trade, area-based conservation measures should be preferred over strategies aimed at increasing pasture productivity, which by themselves might not be sufficient to protect biodiversity effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Kreidenweis
- Research Domain Sustainable Solutions, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
- Department Technology Assessment and Substance Cycles, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Potsdam, Germany
- School VI - Planning Building Environment, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Humpenöder
- Research Domain Sustainable Solutions, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Laura Kehoe
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Kuemmerle
- Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Integrative Research Institute for Transformations in Human-Environment Systems, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Leon Bodirsky
- Research Domain Sustainable Solutions, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Hermann Lotze-Campen
- Integrative Research Institute for Transformations in Human-Environment Systems, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Research Domain Climate Impacts and Vulnerabilities, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Popp
- Research Domain Sustainable Solutions, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
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361
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José-Silva L, dos Santos RC, de Lima BM, Lima M, de Oliveira-Júnior JF, Teodoro PE, Eisenlohr PV, da Silva Junior CA. Improving the validation of ecological niche models with remote sensing analysis. Ecol Modell 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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362
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Estrada A, Garber PA, Mittermeier RA, Wich S, Gouveia S, Dobrovolski R, Nekaris K, Nijman V, Rylands AB, Maisels F, Williamson EA, Bicca-Marques J, Fuentes A, Jerusalinsky L, Johnson S, Rodrigues de Melo F, Oliveira L, Schwitzer C, Roos C, Cheyne SM, Martins Kierulff MC, Raharivololona B, Talebi M, Ratsimbazafy J, Supriatna J, Boonratana R, Wedana M, Setiawan A. Primates in peril: the significance of Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for global primate conservation. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4869. [PMID: 29922508 PMCID: PMC6005167 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Primates occur in 90 countries, but four-Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)-harbor 65% of the world's primate species (439) and 60% of these primates are Threatened, Endangered, or Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017-3). Considering their importance for global primate conservation, we examine the anthropogenic pressures each country is facing that place their primate populations at risk. Habitat loss and fragmentation are main threats to primates in Brazil, Madagascar, and Indonesia. However, in DRC hunting for the commercial bushmeat trade is the primary threat. Encroachment on primate habitats driven by local and global market demands for food and non-food commodities hunting, illegal trade, the proliferation of invasive species, and human and domestic-animal borne infectious diseases cause habitat loss, population declines, and extirpation. Modeling agricultural expansion in the 21st century for the four countries under a worst-case-scenario, showed a primate range contraction of 78% for Brazil, 72% for Indonesia, 62% for Madagascar, and 32% for DRC. These pressures unfold in the context of expanding human populations with low levels of development. Weak governance across these four countries may limit effective primate conservation planning. We examine landscape and local approaches to effective primate conservation policies and assess the distribution of protected areas and primates in each country. Primates in Brazil and Madagascar have 38% of their range inside protected areas, 17% in Indonesia and 14% in DRC, suggesting that the great majority of primate populations remain vulnerable. We list the key challenges faced by the four countries to avert primate extinctions now and in the future. In the short term, effective law enforcement to stop illegal hunting and illegal forest destruction is absolutely key. Long-term success can only be achieved by focusing local and global public awareness, and actively engaging with international organizations, multinational businesses and consumer nations to reduce unsustainable demands on the environment. Finally, the four primate range countries need to ensure that integrated, sustainable land-use planning for economic development includes the maintenance of biodiversity and intact, functional natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Estrada
- Institute of Biology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Paul A. Garber
- Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Serge Wich
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology and Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Liverpool John Moores University and University of Amsterdam, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sidney Gouveia
- Department of Ecology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil
| | | | - K.A.I. Nekaris
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Vincent Nijman
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Fiona Maisels
- Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, NY, USA
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK
| | | | | | - Agustin Fuentes
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Leandro Jerusalinsky
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Ministério do Meio Ambiente, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Steig Johnson
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Fabiano Rodrigues de Melo
- Universidade Federal de Goiás and Dept. Eng. Florestal, Campus UFV, UFV, Viçosa, Brazil, Jataí Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Oliveira
- Departamento de Ciências, Faculdade de Formação de Professores, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (DCIEN/FFP/UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Christian Roos
- Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Susan M. Cheyne
- Borneo Nature Foundation, Palangka Raya, Indonesia
- Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria Cecilia Martins Kierulff
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Instituto Pri-Matas and Centro Universitário Norte do Espírito Santo, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Brigitte Raharivololona
- Mention Anthropobiologie et Développement Durable, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Mauricio Talebi
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jonah Ratsimbazafy
- Groupe d’étude et de recherche sur les primates (Gerp), Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Jatna Supriatna
- Graduate Program in Conservation Biology, Department of Biology FMIPA, University of Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia
| | - Ramesh Boonratana
- Mahidol University International College, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Made Wedana
- The Aspinall Foundation–Indonesia Program, Bandung West Java, Indonesia
| | - Arif Setiawan
- SwaraOwa, Coffee and Primate Conservation Project, Java, Central Java, Indonesia
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363
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Duffy DJ, Schnitzler C, Karpinski L, Thomas R, Whilde J, Eastman C, Yang C, Krstic A, Rollinson D, Zirkelbach B, Yetsko K, Burkhalter B, Martindale MQ. Sea turtle fibropapilloma tumors share genomic drivers and therapeutic vulnerabilities with human cancers. Commun Biol 2018; 1:63. [PMID: 30271945 PMCID: PMC6123702 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0059-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife populations are under intense anthropogenic pressures, with the geographic range of many species shrinking, dramatic reductions in population numbers and undisturbed habitats, and biodiversity loss. It is postulated that we are in the midst of a sixth (Anthropocene) mass extinction event, the first to be induced by human activity. Further, threatening vulnerable species is the increased rate of emerging diseases, another consequence of anthropogenic activities. Innovative approaches are required to help maintain healthy populations until the chronic underlying causes of these issues can be addressed. Fibropapillomatosis in sea turtles is one such wildlife disease. Here, we applied precision-medicine-based approaches to profile fibropapillomatosis tumors to better understand their biology, identify novel therapeutics, and gain insights into viral and environmental triggers for fibropapillomatosis. We show that fibropapillomatosis tumors share genetic vulnerabilities with human cancer types, revealing that they are amenable to treatment with human anti-cancer therapeutics. David Duffy et al. use a precision-medicine-based approach to study fibropapillomatosis tumors in sea turtles to identify environmental triggers and potential therapeutics. They show that these tumors share genetic similarities with human cancer types, and may be treatable using human anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Duffy
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA. .,Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK. .,Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Christine Schnitzler
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Lorraine Karpinski
- The Turtle Hospital, 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL, 33050, USA.,Pinecrest Veterinary Hospital, 12125 South Dixie Highway, Pinecrest, FL, 33156, USA
| | - Rachel Thomas
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Jenny Whilde
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Catherine Eastman
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Calvin Yang
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Aleksandar Krstic
- Systems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
| | - Devon Rollinson
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Bette Zirkelbach
- The Turtle Hospital, 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL, 33050, USA
| | - Kelsey Yetsko
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Brooke Burkhalter
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Mark Q Martindale
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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364
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Shamoon H, Cain S, Shanas U, Bar-Massada A, Malihi Y, Shapira I. Spatio-temporal activity patterns of mammals in an agro-ecological mosaic with seasonal recreation activities. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-018-1196-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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365
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Liu J, Milne RI, Möller M, Zhu GF, Ye LJ, Luo YH, Yang JB, Wambulwa MC, Wang CN, Li DZ, Gao LM. Integrating a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library with a global map of yews (Taxus L.) for forensic identification. Mol Ecol Resour 2018; 18:1115-1131. [PMID: 29786943 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Rapid and accurate identification of endangered species is a critical component of biosurveillance and conservation management, and potentially policing illegal trades. However, this is often not possible using traditional taxonomy, especially where only small or preprocessed parts of plants are available. Reliable identification can be achieved via a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library, accompanied by precise distribution data. However, these require extensive sampling at spatial and taxonomic scales, which has rarely been achieved for cosmopolitan taxa. Here, we construct a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library and generate distribution maps using species distribution modelling (SDM), for all 15 Taxus species worldwide. We find that trnL-trnF is the ideal barcode for Taxus: It can distinguish all Taxus species and in combination with ITS identify hybrids. Among five analysis methods tested, NJ was the most effective. Among 4,151 individuals screened for trnL-trnF, 73 haplotypes were detected, all species-specific and some population private. Taxonomical, geographical and genetic dimensions of sampling strategy were all found to affect the comprehensiveness of the resulting DNA barcode library. Maps from SDM showed that most species had allopatric distributions, except T. mairei in the Sino-Himalayan region. Using the barcode library and distribution map data, two unknown forensic samples were identified to species (and in one case, population) level and another was determined as a putative interspecific hybrid. This integrated species identification system for Taxus can be used for biosurveillance, conservation management and to monitor and prosecute illegal trade. Similar identification systems are recommended for other IUCN- and CITES-listed taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Richard I Milne
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Guang-Fu Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lin-Jiang Ye
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ya-Huang Luo
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Jun-Bo Yang
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Moses C Wambulwa
- Biochemistry Department, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya
| | - Chun-Neng Wang
- Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, China
| | - De-Zhu Li
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lian-Ming Gao
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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366
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Mazor T, Doropoulos C, Schwarzmueller F, Gladish DW, Kumaran N, Merkel K, Di Marco M, Gagic V. Global mismatch of policy and research on drivers of biodiversity loss. Nat Ecol Evol 2018; 2:1071-1074. [PMID: 29784980 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0563-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for urgent actions to reduce global biodiversity loss. Here, we synthesize >44,000 articles published in the past decade to assess the research focus on global drivers of loss. Relative research efforts on different drivers are not well aligned with their assessed impact, and multiple driver interactions are hardly considered. Research on drivers of biodiversity loss needs urgent realignment to match predicted severity and inform policy goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Mazor
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Christopher Doropoulos
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Florian Schwarzmueller
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daniel W Gladish
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nagalingam Kumaran
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katharina Merkel
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia.,Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia
| | - Moreno Di Marco
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - Vesna Gagic
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
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367
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Comparative terrestrial feed and land use of an aquaculture-dominant world. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:5295-5300. [PMID: 29712823 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1801692115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reducing food production pressures on the environment while feeding an ever-growing human population is one of the grand challenges facing humanity. The magnitude of environmental impacts from food production, largely around land use, has motivated evaluation of the environmental and health benefits of shifting diets, typically away from meat toward other sources, including seafood. However, total global catch of wild seafood has remained relatively unchanged for the last two decades, suggesting increased demand for seafood will mostly have to rely on aquaculture (i.e., aquatic farming). Increasingly, cultivated aquatic species depend on feed inputs from agricultural sources, raising concerns around further straining crops and land use for feed. However, the relative impact and potential of aquaculture remains unclear. Here we simulate how different forms of aquaculture contribute and compare with feed and land use of terrestrial meat production and how spatial patterns might change by midcentury if diets move toward more cultured seafood and less meat. Using country-level aquatic and terrestrial data, we show that aquaculture requires less feed crops and land, even if over one-third of protein production comes from aquaculture by 2050. However, feed and land-sparing benefits are spatially heterogeneous, driven by differing patterns of production, trade, and feed composition. Ultimately, our study highlights the future potential and uncertainties of considering aquaculture in the portfolio of sustainability solutions around one of the largest anthropogenic impacts on the planet.
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368
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Barratt CLR, De Jonge CJ, Sharpe RM. 'Man Up': the importance and strategy for placing male reproductive health centre stage in the political and research agenda. Hum Reprod 2018; 33:541-545. [PMID: 29425298 PMCID: PMC5989613 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 1 in 20 young men today have sperm counts low enough to impair fertility, whereas this may not have been the case historically. The cause(s) of such a decline in male reproductive health is unknown, despite it being a global health issue. Concomitantly, little progress has been made in answering fundamental questions in andrology or in developing new diagnostic tools or alternative management strategies to ICSI in infertile men. We advocate formulation of a detailed roadmap for male reproductive health to facilitate development of a research agenda that highlights the present unmet needs and key unanswered questions, and seeks to deliver effective funding and investment to address them. This vision we term 'a Male Reproductive Health Ecosystem'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L R Barratt
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Medical School, Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
| | | | - Richard M Sharpe
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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369
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Ecoregional and Archetypical Considerations for National Responses to Food Security under Climate Change. ENVIRONMENTS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/environments5030032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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370
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Galic N, Sullivan LL, Grimm V, Forbes VE. When things don't add up: quantifying impacts of multiple stressors from individual metabolism to ecosystem processing. Ecol Lett 2018; 21:568-577. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nika Galic
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; University of Minnesota; St. Paul Minnesota USA
| | - Lauren L. Sullivan
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; University of Minnesota; St. Paul Minnesota USA
| | - Volker Grimm
- Department of Ecological Modelling; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ; Permoserstr. 15 04318 Leipzig Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig; Deutscher Platz 5e 04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Valery E. Forbes
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; University of Minnesota; St. Paul Minnesota USA
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371
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Harris DJ, Taylor SD, White EP. Forecasting biodiversity in breeding birds using best practices. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4278. [PMID: 29441230 PMCID: PMC5808145 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity forecasts are important for conservation, management, and evaluating how well current models characterize natural systems. While the number of forecasts for biodiversity is increasing, there is little information available on how well these forecasts work. Most biodiversity forecasts are not evaluated to determine how well they predict future diversity, fail to account for uncertainty, and do not use time-series data that captures the actual dynamics being studied. We addressed these limitations by using best practices to explore our ability to forecast the species richness of breeding birds in North America. We used hindcasting to evaluate six different modeling approaches for predicting richness. Hindcasts for each method were evaluated annually for a decade at 1,237 sites distributed throughout the continental United States. All models explained more than 50% of the variance in richness, but none of them consistently outperformed a baseline model that predicted constant richness at each site. The best practices implemented in this study directly influenced the forecasts and evaluations. Stacked species distribution models and "naive" forecasts produced poor estimates of uncertainty and accounting for this resulted in these models dropping in the relative performance compared to other models. Accounting for observer effects improved model performance overall, but also changed the rank ordering of models because it did not improve the accuracy of the "naive" model. Considering the forecast horizon revealed that the prediction accuracy decreased across all models as the time horizon of the forecast increased. To facilitate the rapid improvement of biodiversity forecasts, we emphasize the value of specific best practices in making forecasts and evaluating forecasting methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Harris
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Shawn D. Taylor
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Ethan P. White
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
- Informatics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
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372
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Mekonnen A, Fashing PJ, Bekele A, Hernandez-Aguilar RA, Rueness EK, Stenseth NC. Dietary flexibility of Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in southern Ethiopia: effects of habitat degradation and life in fragments. BMC Ecol 2018; 18:4. [PMID: 29409472 PMCID: PMC5801891 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-018-0161-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the effects of habitat modification on the feeding strategies of threatened species is essential to designing effective conservation management plans. Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) are endemic to the rapidly shrinking montane forests of the southern Ethiopian Highlands. Most populations inhabit continuous bamboo forest subsisting largely on the young leaves and shoots of a single species of bamboo. Because of habitat disturbance in recent decades, however, there are now also several dozen small populations inhabiting isolated forest fragments where bamboo has been degraded. During 12-months, we assessed Bale monkey responses to habitat degradation by comparing habitat composition, phenological patterns, and feeding ecology in a largely undisturbed continuous forest (Continuous groups A and B) and in two fragments (Patchy and Hilltop groups). RESULTS We found that habitat quality and food availability were much lower in fragments than in continuous forest. In response to the relative scarcity of bamboo in fragments, Bale monkeys spent significantly less time feeding on the young leaves and shoots of bamboo and significantly more time feeding on non-bamboo young leaves, fruits, seeds, stems, petioles, and insects in fragments than in continuous forest. Groups in fragments also broadened their diets to incorporate many more plant species (Patchy: ≥ 47 and Hilltop: ≥ 35 species)-including several forbs, graminoids and cultivated crops-than groups in continuous forest (Continuous A: 12 and Continuous B: 8 species). Nevertheless, bamboo was still the top food species for Patchy group (30% of diet) as well as for both continuous forest groups (mean = 81%). However, in Hilltop group, for which bamboo was especially scarce, Bothriochloa radicans (Poaceae), a grass, was the top dietary species (15% of diet) and bamboo ranked 10th (2%). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that Bale monkeys are more dietarily flexible than previously thought and able to cope with some degradation of their primary bamboo forest habitat. However, crop raiding and other terrestrial foraging habits more common among fragment groups may place them at greater risk of hunting by humans. Thus, longitudinal monitoring is necessary to evaluate the long-term viability of Bale monkey populations in fragmented habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Addisu Mekonnen
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Peter J. Fashing
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Anthropology and Environmental Studies Program, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834 USA
| | - Afework Bekele
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - R. Adriana Hernandez-Aguilar
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Eli K. Rueness
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Nils Chr. Stenseth
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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373
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Jones BL, Cullen-Unsworth LC, Unsworth RKF. Tracking Nitrogen Source Using δ 15N Reveals Human and Agricultural Drivers of Seagrass Degradation across the British Isles. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:133. [PMID: 29467789 PMCID: PMC5808166 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Excess nutrients shift the ecological balance of coastal ecosystems, and this eutrophication is an increasing problem across the globe. Nutrient levels may be routinely measured, but monitoring rarely attempts to determine the source of these nutrients, even though bio-indicators are available. Nitrogen stable isotope analysis in biota is one such bio-indicator, but across the British Isles, this is rarely used. In this study, we provide the first quantitative evidence of the anthropogenic drivers of reduced water quality surrounding seagrass meadows throughout the British Isles using the stable nitrogen isotope δ15N. The values of δ15N ranged from 3.15 to 20.16‰ (Mean ± SD = 8.69 ± 3.50‰), and were high within the Thames Basin suggesting a significant influx of urban sewage and livestock effluent into the system. Our study provides a rapid 'snapshot' indicating that many seagrass meadows in the British Isles are under anthropogenic stress given the widespread inefficiencies of current sewage treatment and farming practices. Ten of the 11 seagrass meadows sampled are within European marine protected sites. The 10 sites all contained seagrass contaminated by nutrients of a human and livestock waste origin leading us to question whether generic blanket protection is working for seagrasses in the United Kingdom. Infrastructure changes will be required if we are to develop strategic wastewater management plans that are effective in the long-term at protecting our designated Special Areas of Conservation. Currently, sewage pollution is a concealed issue; little information exists and is not readily accessible to members of the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L. Jones
- Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Project Seagrass, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth
- Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Project Seagrass, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Richard K. F. Unsworth
- Project Seagrass, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group, College of Science, Wallace Building, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
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374
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Vergara-Tabares DL, Lammertink M, Verga EG, Schaaf AA, Nori J. Gone with the forest: Assessing global woodpecker conservation from land use patterns. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David L. Vergara-Tabares
- Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (UNC-CONICET); Centro de Zoología Aplicada (FCEFyN-UNC); Córdoba Argentina
| | - Martjan Lammertink
- CICyTTP-CONICET; Entre Ríos Argentina
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Cornell University; Ithaca NY USA
| | - Ernesto G. Verga
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (UNC-CONICET); Córdoba Argentina
| | - Alejandro A. Schaaf
- Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (UNJ-CONICET); San Salvador de Jujuy Argentina
| | - Javier Nori
- Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (UNC-CONICET); Centro de Zoología Aplicada (FCEFyN-UNC); Córdoba Argentina
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375
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Sahu SK, Zheng P, Yao N. Niclosamide Blocks Rice Leaf Blight by Inhibiting Biofilm Formation of Xanthomonas oryzae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:408. [PMID: 29651297 PMCID: PMC5884940 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa) is the leading source of nutrition for more than half of the world's population, and by far it is the most important commercial food crop. But, its growth and production are significantly hampered by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) which causes leaf blight disease. Earlier studies have reported the antibacterial ability of FDA-approved niclosamide drug against Xoo. However, the underlying mechanism by which niclosamide blocks the growth of Xoo remained elusive. In the present study, by employing the microbiological, microscopical, molecular, bioinformatics and analytical tools we found that niclosamide can directly inhibit the growth of the Xoo by hampering the biofilm formation and the production of xanthomonadin and exopolysaccharide substances (EPS) required for relentless growth and virulence of Xoo. Interestingly, niclosamide was found to specifically suppress the growth of Xoo without affecting other bacteria like Escherichia coli. Our electron microscopic observations disclosed that niclosamide disrupts the membrane permeability of Xoo and causes the release of intracellular components. Similarly, the molecular docking analysis disclosed the molecular interaction of niclosamide with the biofilm, virulence and quorum sensing related proteins, which was further substantiated by relative gene expression analysis where niclosamide was found to significantly downregulate the expression of these key regulatory genes. In addition, considerable changes in chemical structures were detected by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in response to niclosamide treatment. Overall, our findings advocate the utilization of niclosamide as a safe and potent alternative antibacterial compound to control bacterial blight disease in rice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nan Yao
- *Correspondence: Sunil Kumar Sahu, Nan Yao,
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376
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Kiley-Worthington M. The Mental Homologies of Mammals. Towards an Understanding of Another Mammals World View. Animals (Basel) 2017; 7:E87. [PMID: 29168729 PMCID: PMC5742781 DOI: 10.3390/ani7120087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammals' mental homologies include that they look after their young, suckle and protect them; they acquire information about the world by learning. They have five types of sensory receptors and a brain to analyze the information and they feel: that is they are sentient. Mental homologies have been largely ignored by behavioural scientists since Darwin because of certain historical beliefs. This however has not been the case for people who have had to do with non-human mammals who have long recognized their mental similarities to humans. As a result, behavioural science has sponsored some inappropriate research (examples are given). The study of another mammal species epistemology, (knowledge and world view) requires a recognition of these mental homologies. The result of a 25 year multi-disciplinary study indicates that there are nine mammalian mental homologies which define mammals. These are discussed and reviewed and further mental aptitudes which logically follow from these are pointed out. A Conditional Anthropomorphic approach is proposed. By recognizing the body/mind, whole "being" homologies of mammals, we can advance in understanding other mammal species' and individual's epistemology (world view), and consequently better their welfare and enrich our own lives.
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377
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378
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Jablonski D. Approaches to Macroevolution: 2. Sorting of Variation, Some Overarching Issues, and General Conclusions. Evol Biol 2017; 44:451-475. [PMID: 29142334 PMCID: PMC5661022 DOI: 10.1007/s11692-017-9434-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Approaches to macroevolution require integration of its two fundamental components, within a hierarchical framework. Following a companion paper on the origin of variation, I here discuss sorting within an evolutionary hierarchy. Species sorting-sometimes termed species selection in the broad sense, meaning differential origination and extinction owing to intrinsic biological properties-can be split into strict-sense species selection, in which rate differentials are governed by emergent, species-level traits such as geographic range size, and effect macroevolution, in which rates are governed by organism-level traits such as body size; both processes can create hitchhiking effects, indirectly causing the proliferation or decline of other traits. Several methods can operationalize the concept of emergence, so that rigorous separation of these processes is increasingly feasible. A macroevolutionary tradeoff, underlain by the intrinsic traits that influence evolutionary dynamics, causes speciation and extinction rates to covary in many clades, resulting in evolutionary volatility of some clades and more subdued behavior of others; the few clades that break the tradeoff can achieve especially prolific diversification. In addition to intrinsic biological traits at multiple levels, extrinsic events can drive the waxing and waning of clades, and the interaction of traits and events are difficult but important to disentangle. Evolutionary trends can arise in many ways, and at any hierarchical level; descriptive models can be fitted to clade trajectories in phenotypic or functional spaces, but they may not be diagnostic regarding processes, and close attention must be paid to both leading and trailing edges of apparent trends. Biotic interactions can have negative or positive effects on taxonomic diversity within a clade, but cannot be readily extrapolated from the nature of such interactions at the organismic level. The relationships among macroevolutionary currencies through time (taxonomic richness, morphologic disparity, functional variety) are crucial for understanding the nature of evolutionary diversification. A novel approach to diversity-disparity analysis shows that taxonomic diversifications can lag behind, occur in concert with, or precede, increases in disparity. Some overarching issues relating to both the origin and sorting of clades and phenotypes include the macroevolutionary role of mass extinctions, the potential differences between plant and animal macroevolution, whether macroevolutionary processes have changed through geologic time, and the growing human impact on present-day macroevolution. Many challenges remain, but progress is being made on two of the key ones: (a) the integration of variation-generating mechanisms and the multilevel sorting processes that act on that variation, and (b) the integration of paleontological and neontological approaches to historical biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Jablonski
- Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, 5734 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
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379
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The causes and ecological correlates of head scale asymmetry and fragmentation in a tropical snake. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11363. [PMID: 28900296 PMCID: PMC5595785 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11768-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The challenge of identifying the proximate causes and ecological consequences of phenotypic variation can be facilitated by studying traits that are usually but not always bilaterally symmetrical; deviations from symmetry likely reflect disrupted embryogenesis. Based on a 19-year mark-recapture study of >1300 slatey-grey snakes (Stegonotus cucullatus) in tropical Australia, and incubation of >700 eggs, we document developmental and ecological correlates of two morphological traits: asymmetry and fragmentation of head scales. Asymmetry was directional (more scales on the left side) and was higher in individuals with lower heterozygosity, but was not heritable. In contrast, fragmentation was heritable and was higher in females than males. Both scale asymmetry and fragmentation were increased by rapid embryogenesis but were not affected by hydric conditions during incubation. Snakes with asymmetry and fragmentation exhibited slightly lower survival and increased (sex-specific) movements, and females with more scale fragmentation produced smaller eggs. Counterintuitively, snakes with more asymmetry had higher growth rates (possibly reflecting trade-offs with other traits), and snakes with more fragmentation had fewer parasites (possibly due to lower feeding rates). Our data paint an unusually detailed picture of the complex genetic and environmental factors that, by disrupting early embryonic development, generate variations in morphology that have detectable correlations with ecological performance.
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