Climatic conditions affect shoot flammability by influencing flammability-related functional traits in nonfire-prone habitats

Plant flammability is an important driver of wildfires, and flammability itself is determined by several plant functional traits. While many plant traits are influenced by climatic conditions, the interaction between climatic conditions and plant flammability has rarely been investigated. Here, we explored the relationships among climatic conditions, shoot-level flammability components, and flammability-related functional traits for 186 plant species from fire-prone and nonfire-prone habitats. For species originating from nonfire-prone habitats, those from warmer areas tended to have lower shoot moisture content and larger leaves, and had higher shoot flammability with higher ignitibility, combustibility, and sustainability. Plants in wetter areas tended to have lower shoot flammability with lower combustibility and sustainability due to higher shoot moisture contents. In fire-prone habitats, shoot flammability was not significantly related to any climatic factor. Our study suggests that for species originating in nonfire-prone habitats, climatic conditions have influenced plant flammability by shifting flammability-related functional traits, including leaf size and shoot moisture content. Climate does not predict shoot flammability in species from fire-prone habitats; here, fire regimes may have an important role in shaping plant flammability. Understanding these nuances in the determinants of plant flammability is important in an increasingly fire-prone world.

Shoot-level flammability across the Dracophyllum (Ericaceae) phylogeny: evidence for flammability being an emergent property in a land with little fire

Plant flammability varies across species, but the evolutionary basis for this variation is not well understood. Phylogenetic analysis of interspecific variation in flammability can provide insights into the evolution of plant flammability. We measured four components of flammability (ignitability, sustainability, combustibility and consumability) to assess the shoot-level flammability of 21 species of Dracophyllum (Ericaceae). Using a macroevolutionary approach, we explored phylogenetic patterns of variation in shoot-level flammability. Shoot-level flammability varied widely in Dracophyllum. Species in the subgenus Oreothamnus had higher flammability and smaller leaves than those in the subgenus Dracophyllum. Shoot flammability (ignitability, combustibility and consumability) and leaf length showed phylogenetic conservatism across genus Dracophyllum, but exhibited lability among some closely related species, such as D. menziesii and D. fiordense. Shoot flammability of Dracophyllum species was negatively correlated with leaf length and shoot moisture content, but had no relationship with the geographic distribution of Dracophyllum species. Shoot-level flammability varied widely in the genus Dracophyllum, but showed phylogenetic conservatism. The higher flammability of the subgenus Oreothamnus may be an incidental or emergent property as a result of the evolution of flammability-related traits, such as smaller leaves, which were selected for other functions and incidentally changed flammability.

De Novo Transcriptome Assembly and Annotation of Liver and Brain Tissues of Common Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand: Transcriptome Diversity after Decades of Population Control

The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), introduced from Australia in the mid-nineteenth century, is an invasive species in New Zealand where it is widespread and forms the largest self-sustained reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) among wild populations. Conservation and agricultural authorities regularly apply a series of population control measures to suppress brushtail possum populations. The evolutionary consequence of more than half a century of intensive population control operations on the species’ genomic diversity and population structure is hindered by a paucity of available genomic resources. This study is the first to characterise the functional content and diversity of brushtail possum liver and brain cerebral cortex transcriptomes. Raw sequences from hepatic cells and cerebral cortex were assembled into 58,001 and 64,735 transcripts respectively. Functional annotation and polymorphism assignment of the assembled transcripts demonstrated a considerable level of variation in the core metabolic pathways that represent potential targets for selection pressure exerted by chemical toxicants. This study suggests that the brushtail possum population in New Zealand harbours considerable variation in metabolic pathways that could potentially promote the development of tolerance against chemical toxicants.

Shoot flammability of vascular plants is phylogenetically conserved and related to habitat fire-proneness and growth form

Terrestrial plants and fire have interacted for at least 420 million years¹. Whether recurrent fire drives plants to evolve higher flammability and what the evolutionary pattern of plant flammability is remain unclear^2-7. Here, we show that phylogeny, the susceptibility of a habitat to have recurrent fires (that is, fire-proneness) and growth form are important predictors of the shoot flammability of 194 indigenous and introduced vascular plant species (Tracheophyta) from New Zealand. The phylogenetic signal of the flammability components and the variation in flammability among phylogenetic groups (families and higher taxonomic level clades) demonstrate that shoot flammability is phylogenetically conserved. Some closely related species, such as in Dracophyllum (Ericaceae), vary in flammability, indicating that flammability exhibits evolutionary flexibility. Species in fire-prone ecosystems tend to be more flammable than species from non-fire-prone ecosystems, suggesting that fire may have an important role in the evolution of plant flammability. Growth form also influenced flammability-forbs were less flammable than grasses, trees and shrubs; by contrast, grasses had higher biomass consumption by fire than other groups. The results show that shoot flammability of plants is largely correlated with phylogenetic relatedness, and high flammability may result in parallel evolution driven by environmental factors, such as fire regime.

The Un-Common Leopard: presence, distribution and abundance in Gallies and Murree Forest Division, Northern Pakistan

The leopard Panthera pardus is thought to be sparsely distributed across Pakistan and there is limited understanding of the demographic structure and distribution of the species in this country. We conducted a study, from April to July 2017, and, from March to June 2018, in the northern Pakistan region to establish the presence and distribution of leopards, mindful at the outset of their abundance in that region. The presence of leopards was confirmed in the Swat, Dir and Margalla Hills region. The leopard population in Gallies and Murree Forest Division was preliminarily assessed via camera-trapping. As a result, a total of 63 potential areas of leopard population were identified initially. The leopard was photo captured at 27 locations (hotspots) with 34 capture events yielding 195 images over the course of 3,022 active trap-nights. Camera trap images were examined to identify leopard individuals using their rosette patterns on both the left and right flanks and the dorsal side of the tail. Ultimately, 15 leopard individuals were identified during the first survey period of the study and four individuals were recaptured in the second survey period, together with three new individuals. The detection probability of individual leopards from MARK varied from 0.10 and 0.20 with a population size (preliminarily estimated to be 16–25 (SE = 3.18) in 2107 and 7–13 (SE = 1.87) in 2018. This gave a density of 4.5 to 9.5 leopards/100 km2, respectively. A home range of various individual leopards was found to extend from the Gallies Reserved Forest to the extended corridors of Guzara Forest. In general, this study suggests that the Guzara Forest is crucially important for the conservation of leopards in the region as this area allows them extended movement while searching for food and mates.

Assessing subspecies status of leopards (Panthera pardus) of northern Pakistan using mitochondrial DNA

Despite being classified as critically endangered, little work has been done on leopard protection in Pakistan. Once widely present throughout this region, leopards are now sparsely distributed, and possibly extinct from much of their previously recorded habitat. While leopards show morphological and genetic variation across their species range worldwide, resulting in the classification of nine different subspecies, the leopard genetic structure across Pakistan is unknown, with previous studies including only a very limited sampling. To clarify the genetic status of leopards in Pakistan we investigated the sequence variation in the subunit 5 of the mitochondrial gene NADH from 43 tissue samples and compared it with 238 sequences available from online databases. Phylogenetic analysis clearly separates the Pakistani leopards from the African and Arabian clades, confirming that leopards from Pakistan are members of the Asian clade. Furthermore, we identified two separate subspecies haplotypes within our dataset: P. p. fusca (N = 23) and P. p. saxicolor (N = 12).

Green firebreaks as a management tool for wildfires: Lessons from China

Wildfire is a widespread natural hazard that is expected to increase in areal extent, severity and frequency with ongoing changes in climate and land-use. One tool that has been used in an effort to reduce the damage caused by wildfires is green firebreaks: strips of low-flammability vegetation grown at strategic locations in the landscape. Green firebreaks are increasingly being recommended for wildfire management and have been implemented in many countries. The approach is particularly widely used in China, where more than 364,000 km of green firebreaks have been planted and a further 167,000 km are planned for construction before 2025. China is not only a world leader in the implementation of green firebreaks but has also led the way in testing the effectiveness of green firebreaks and in providing guidelines for green firebreak construction. However, most of this research has been reported in the non-English literature, and so is inaccessible to many readers. Here we review the extensive research on the construction and effectiveness of green firebreaks in China and examine how the lessons learned from this research could contribute to the effective implementation of green firebreaks globally. Chinese studies suggest that the ideal species for green firebreaks should meet trait requirements from three perspectives: ecological, silvicultural and economic. Green firebreaks with a multi-layered structure and a closed canopy have the potential to be an effective, long-term, biodiversity-friendly and low-cost tool for fire suppression, although they complement rather than replace other more traditional fire suppression approaches.

PENGUINS, PETRELS, AND PARSIMONY: DOES CLADISTIC ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR REFLECT SEABIRD PHYLOGENY?

Whether or not behavior accurately reflects evolutionary relationships (phylogeny) has been hotly debated by ethologists and comparative psychologists. Previous studies attempting to resolve this question have generally lacked a quantitative, phylogenetic approach. In this study we used behavior and life-history (BLH) information (72 characters) to generate phylogenetic trees for 18 seabird species (albatrosses, petrels, and penguins). We compared these trees with trees obtained from isozyme electrophoretic analysis of blood proteins (15 loci and 98 electromorphs) and partial mitochondrial 12S ribosomal DNA sequences (381 base pairs). Cladistic analysis of the BLH data set generated three MP trees (tree length = 243, CI = 0.52, RI = 0.57) with significant cladistic structure. The BLH characters were classified into four types (foraging, agonistic, reproductive, and life history) and levels of homoplasy for each type were measured. No significant differences were found among these categories. The BLH trees were shown to be significantly more congruent with the electrophoretic and 12S sequence trees than expected by chance. This indicates that seabird BLH data contains phylogenetic signal. Areas of incongruence between BLH trees and a phylogeny generated by combining the data sets were predicted to result from ecological constraints that did not covary with phylogeny. These predictions were supported by the results of a concentrated changes test. This study found that this BLH data set was no more homoplasious than molecular data and that BLH trees were significantly congruent with molecular trees.

Mitogenomics data reveal effective population size, historical bottlenecks, and the effects of hunting on New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri)

The New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) passed through a population bottleneck due to commercial sealing during the eighteenth to nineteenth centuries. To facilitate future management options, we reconstructed the demographic history of New Zealand fur seals in a Bayesian framework using maternally inherited, mitochondrial DNA sequences. Mitogenomic data suggested two separate clades (most recent common ancestor 5000 years ago) of New Zealand fur seals that survived large-scale human harvest. Mitochondrial haplotype diversity was high, with 45 singletons identified from 46 individuals although mean nucleotide diversity was low (0.012 ± 0.0061). Variation was not constrained geographically. Analyses of mitogenomes support the hypothesis for a population bottleneck approximately 35 generations ago, which coincides with the peak of commercial sealing. Mitogenomic data are consistent with a pre-human effective population size of approximately 30,000 that first declined to around 10,000 (due to the impact of Polynesian colonization, particularly in the first 100 years of their arrival into New Zealand), and then to 100-200 breeding individuals during peak of commercial sealing.

Sonographers and Registration to Practice

The matter of whether there should be separate registration for those practising in the field of medical ultrasound has long been debated. The United Kingdom Association of Sonographers (UKAS) has been a protagonist for such registration since it was formed approximately a decade ago. On the other hand, the College of Radiographers (CoR) has held to the view that this was not necessary as ultrasound came within the scope of practice of radiography and the majority of non-medical ultrasound practitioners are radiographers. The advent of the Health Professions Council, the increased focus on regulation of health care practitioners and significant developments in ultrasound applications has led to this matter being debated further. In particular, it has led to joint working by CoR and UKAS to scope an application for 'Sonographer' to become a protected title and, hence, sonography a registered profession. The history and background to this current work is outlined, together with a brief review of the work taking place and the steps that must be taken if the application is to be submitted.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the stoat (Mustela erminea) and New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) and their significance for mammalian phylogeny

The complete mitochondrial genome of three mustelid species, stoats (Mustela erminea), weasels (Mustela nivalis) and ferrets (Mustela furo), and the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) were sequenced using direct mitochondrial DNA extraction and overlapping long PCRs. The usual 37 mammalian mitochondrial genes (13 protein coding genes, 22 t-RNA and 2 r-RNA) were identified in all four mitogenomes. The divergence of stoats from other members of the sub-family Mustelinae was dated 4.5 million years ago. The mitogenomic data were consistent with a bear-like origin of seals.

The effects of island forest restoration on open habitat specialists: the endangered weevilHadramphus spinipennisBroun and its host-plantAciphylla dieffenbachiiKirk

Human alteration of islands has made restoration a key part of conservation management. As islands are restored to their original state, species interactions change and some populations may be impacted. In this study we examine the coxella weevil, (Hadramphus spinipennis Broun) and its host-plant Dieffenbach’s speargrass (Aciphylla dieffenbachii Kirk), which are both open habitat specialists with populations on Mangere and Rangatira Islands, Chathams, New Zealand. Both of these islands were heavily impacted by the introduction of livestock; the majority of the forest was removed and the weevil populations declined due to the palatability of their host-plant to livestock. An intensive reforestation program was established on both islands over 50 years ago but the potential impacts of this restoration project on the already endangered H. spinipennis are poorly understood. We combined genetic and population data from 1995 and 2010–2011 to determine the health and status of these species on both islands. There was some genetic variation between the weevil populations on each island but little variation within the species as a whole. The interactions between the weevil and its host-plant populations appear to remain intact on Mangere, despite forest regeneration. A decline in weevils and host-plant on Rangatira does not appear to be caused by canopy regrowth. We recommend that (1) these populations be monitored for ongoing effects of long-term reforestation, (2) the cause of the decline on Rangatira be investigated, and (3) the two populations of weevils be conserved as separate evolutionarily significant units.

Phylogenetic congruence of lichenised fungi and algae is affected by spatial scale and taxonomic diversity

The role of species' interactions in structuring biological communities remains unclear. Mutualistic symbioses, involving close positive interactions between two distinct organismal lineages, provide an excellent means to explore the roles of both evolutionary and ecological processes in determining how positive interactions affect community structure. In this study, we investigate patterns of co-diversification between fungi and algae for a range of New Zealand lichens at the community, genus, and species levels and explore explanations for possible patterns related to spatial scale and pattern, taxonomic diversity of the lichens considered, and the level sampling replication. We assembled six independent datasets to compare patterns in phylogenetic congruence with varied spatial extent of sampling, taxonomic diversity and level of specimen replication. For each dataset, we used the DNA sequences from the ITS regions of both the fungal and algal genomes from lichen specimens to produce genetic distance matrices. Phylogenetic congruence between fungi and algae was quantified using distance-based redundancy analysis and we used geographic distance matrices in Moran's eigenvector mapping and variance partitioning to evaluate the effects of spatial variation on the quantification of phylogenetic congruence. Phylogenetic congruence was highly significant for all datasets and a large proportion of variance in both algal and fungal genetic distances was explained by partner genetic variation. Spatial variables, primarily at large and intermediate scales, were also important for explaining genetic diversity patterns in all datasets. Interestingly, spatial structuring was stronger for fungal than algal genetic variation. As the spatial extent of the samples increased, so too did the proportion of explained variation that was shared between the spatial variables and the partners' genetic variation. Different lichen taxa showed some variation in their phylogenetic congruence and spatial genetic patterns and where greater sample replication was used, the amount of variation explained by partner genetic variation increased. Our results suggest that the phylogenetic congruence pattern, at least at small spatial scales, is likely due to reciprocal co-adaptation or co-dispersal. However, the detection of these patterns varies among different lichen taxa, across spatial scales and with different levels of sample replication. This work provides insight into the complexities faced in determining how evolutionary and ecological processes may interact to generate diversity in symbiotic association patterns at the population and community levels. Further, it highlights the critical importance of considering sample replication, taxonomic diversity and spatial scale in designing studies of co-diversification.

Behavioural evolution in penguins does not reflect phylogeny

Over the past two decades, behavioural biologists and ecologists have made effective use of the comparative method, but have often stopped short of adopting an explicitly phylogenetic approach. We examined 68 behaviour and life history (BLH) traits of 15 penguin species to: (i) infer penguin phylogeny, (ii) assess homology of behavioural characters, and (iii) evaluate hypotheses about character evolution and ancestral states. Parsimony analysis of the BLH dataset found either two shortest trees (characters coded as unordered) or a single shortest tree (characters coded as a combination of unordered and Dollo). The BLH data had significant structure. Kishino-Hasegawa tests indicated that BLH trees were significantly different from most previous estimates of penguin phylogeny. The BLH phylogeny generated from Dollo characters appeared to be less accurate than the tree derived from the completely unordered dataset. Dividing BLH data into display and non-display traits resulted in no significant differences in level of homoplasy and no difference in the accuracy of phylogeny. Tests for homology of BLH traits were performed by mapping the characters onto a molecular tree. Assuming that independent gains are less likely than losses of character states, 65 of the 68 characters were likely to be homologous across taxa, and at least several characters appeared to have been stable since the origin of modern penguins around 30 Myr. Finally, the likely BLH traits of the most recent common ancestor of extant penguins were reconstructed from character states along the internal branch leading to the penguins. This analysis suggested that the "proto-penguin" probably had a similar life history to current temperate penguins but few ritualized behaviours. A southern, cool-temperate origin of penguins is suggested.

Global warming triggers the loss of a key Arctic refugium

We document the rapid transformation of one of the Earth's last remaining Arctic refugia, a change that is being driven by global warming. In stark contrast to the amplified warming observed throughout much of the Arctic, the Hudson Bay Lowlands (HBL) of subarctic Canada has maintained cool temperatures, largely due to the counteracting effects of persistent sea ice. However, since the mid-1990s, climate of the HBL has passed a tipping point, the pace and magnitude of which is exceptional even by Arctic standards, exceeding the range of regional long-term variability. Using high-resolution, palaeolimnological records of algal remains in dated lake sediment cores, we report that, within this short period of intense warming, striking biological changes have occurred in the region's freshwater ecosystems. The delayed and intense warming in this remote region provides a natural observatory for testing ecosystem resilience under a rapidly changing climate, in the absence of direct anthropogenic influences. The environmental repercussions of this climate change are of global significance, influencing the huge store of carbon in the region's extensive peatlands, the world's southern-most polar bear population that depends upon Hudson Bay sea ice and permafrost for survival, and native communities who rely on this landscape for sustenance.

Unidirectional introgression within the genus Dolomedes (Araneae:Pisauridae) in southern New Zealand

We investigated the genetic structure of mitochondrial DNA (COI) and nuclear DNA (actin 5C) for variation within and among populations of two nurseryweb spider species: Dolomedes aquaticus Goyen, 1888 and D. minor Koch, 1876. Specimens were collected from intermediately disturbed braided rivers located in southern South Island, New Zealand. The genetic variation was compared against morphological characteristics to identify traits, both genetically and phenotypically, that indicate past occurrences of introgression. Haplotypes clearly assignable to D. aquaticus were also present in specimens of D. minor, supporting previous research suggesting introgression of mtDNA from D. aquaticus to D. minor. No evidence was found to indicate introgression from D. minor to D. aquaticus, suggesting that the introgression is asymmetrical and that the isolation mechanisms that may be in place to prevent such an occurrence are more successful within one species. In addition, the distribution patterns of identical haplotypes were found to provide an indication for when and where introgression took place.

Mercury empirical relationships in sediments from three Ontario lakes

Total mercury (THg), methyl mercury (MeHg), total organic carbon (TOC), sediment bulk density (SBD), redox potential (Eh) and percent fines measurements were made on sediment cores collected along transects from littoral to profundal depths in Harp, Dickie, and Blue Chalk lake located on the Canadian Shield near Dorset, Ontario, Canada to determine whether empirical relationships exist among these sediment properties. MeHg was positively correlated with THg in all sediments with a MeHg:THg ratio (0.004+/-0.004) comparable to other uncontaminated profundal lakes. MeHg, MeHg:THg and TOC decreased with sediment depth within the core for all lakes, whereas THg only showed a decrease in Harp Lake. MeHg:THg ratio in surficial sediments was positively correlated with Eh and negatively correlated with TOC [MeHg:THg=-0.009 TOC (%)+0.001 Eh (mV)-1.902, p=0.026]; whereas THg was positively correlated with TOC [log THg (ppb)=0.026 TOC (%)+1.400, p<0.0001].

Noninvasive recovery and detection of possum Trichosurus vulpecula DNA from bitten bait interference devices (WaxTags)

The brushtail possum is a major agricultural and ecological pest in New Zealand. A novel noninvasive DNA sampling tool for detecting its presence (WaxTags, or WT) was tested. DNA was recovered from saliva left on WT, and two lengths (407 bp and 648 bp) of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcoding region were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were considered (+) when a DNA band was clearly visible by electrophoresis. Different factors that might affect PCR (+) were investigated with captive possums: (i) both extraction protocols of the QIAGEN DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit, (ii) effect of an overnight or longer delay of up to 3 weeks before DNA extraction on both COI amplicons, and (iii) effect of the individual, order and magnitude of the bite. Extraction protocols were not significantly different. The effect of the overnight delay was not significant, and amplification of the short amplicon was significantly higher (100%) than for the long fragment (48%). After a two or 3-week delay, the short amplicon had 94% and 56% PCR (+), success rates, respectively. Individual, order and magnitude of a bite had no significant effect. The delay trial was repeated with WT from the wild, for which PCR (+) rate of the short amplicon was 63%, regardless of freshness. Four microsatellites were amplified from captive WT samples. We conclude that DNA from saliva traces can be recovered from WT, a potential new tool for noninvasive monitoring of possums and other wildlife.

Evolution of New Zealand's terrestrial fauna: a review of molecular evidence

New Zealand biogeography has been dominated by the knowledge that its geophysical history is continental in nature. The continental crust (Zealandia) from which New Zealand is formed broke from Gondwanaland ca 80 Ma, and there has existed a pervading view that the native biota is primarily a product of this long isolation. However, molecular studies of terrestrial animals and plants in New Zealand indicate that many taxa arrived since isolation of the land, and that diversification in most groups is relatively recent. This is consistent with evidence for species turnover from the fossil record, taxonomic affinity, tectonic evidence and observations of biological composition and interactions. Extinction, colonization and speciation have yielded a biota in New Zealand which is, in most respects, more like that of an oceanic archipelago than a continent.

Species status and conservation issues of New Zealand's endemic Latrodectus spider species (Araneae : Theridiidae)

New Zealand has two endemic widow spiders, Latrodectus katipo Powell, 1871 and L. atritus Urquhart, 1890. Both species face many conservation threats and are actively managed. The species status of the Latrodectus spiders of New Zealand was assessed using molecular (COI, ITS1, ITS2) and morphological methods and with cross-breeding experiments. Latrodectus katipo and L. atritus were not found to be reciprocally monophyletic for any of the gene regions or morphological traits. Other than colour, which is variable, there were no morphological characters that separated the two species, which cross-bred in the laboratory and produced fertile eggsacs. Colour variation is clinal over latitude and correlates significantly with mean annual temperature. We conclude that L. atritus is a junior synonym of L. katipo. An example of introgression from the Australian species L. hasseltii Thorell, 1870 was also detected and its conservation implications are discussed.

The great escape: do parasites break Dollo's law?

A long-held assumption in evolutionary studies is that a character that changes from a complex to a simple state is unlikely to return to the same complex state. The extreme version of this assumption has been codified as Dollo's law. Unfortunately, this paradigm has supported the idea that simple and complex traits are qualitatively different, when it is more sensible to suggest that there is a quantitative difference. Dollo's law has been the predominant paradigm in parasitology, where a move from a free-living state to parasitism has been considered a unidirectional pathway or 'one-way trip' because organisms lose the structures required to return to the free-living state. Several recent studies have suggested that complex structures can be regained from simple traits, and we suggest that this is also possible for parasites.

Cophylogenetic relationships between penguins and their chewing lice

It is generally thought that the evolution of obligate parasites should be linked intimately to the evolution of their hosts and that speciation by the hosts should cause speciation of their parasites. The penguins and their chewing lice present a rare opportunity to examine codivergence between a complete host order and its parasitic lice. We estimated a phylogeny for all 15 species of lice parasitising all 17 species of penguins from the third domain of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal rRNA gene, a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene and 55 morphological characters. We found no evidence of extensive cospeciation between penguins and their chewing lice using TreeMap 2.02beta. Despite the paucity of cospeciation, there is support for significant congruence between the louse and penguin phylogenies due to possible failure to speciate events (parasites not speciating in response to their hosts speciating).

The new immunosuppression: intervention at the dendritic cell-T-cell interface

Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in initiating and directing T-cells towards immunity or tolerance. An important aim of emerging immunosuppressive strategies is to ensure that antigen is perceived in a 'tolerogenic context'. This would have obvious benefit in minimising the need for long-term drug maintenance in organ transplantation, hypersensitivity and autoimmune diseases. Here we review the biology of the interplay between the DC and T-cell, with a specific focus on therapeutic drugs targeting molecules that effect their interaction and function.

Multi-host parasite species in cophylogenetic studies

Cophylogenetic studies examine the relationship between host and parasite evolution. One aspect of cophylogenetic studies that has had little modern discussion is parasites with multiple definitive hosts. Parasite species with multiple host species are anomalous as, under a codivergence paradigm, speciation by the hosts should cause speciation of their parasites. We discuss situations such as cryptic parasite species, recent host switching or failure to speciate that may generate multi-host parasites. We suggest methods to identify which of the mechanisms have led to multi-host parasitism. Applying the suggested methods may allow multi-host parasites to be integrated more fully into cophylogenetic studies.

A penguin-chewing louse (Insecta : Phthiraptera) phylogeny derived from morphology

Penguins are parasitised by 15 species of lice in the genera Austrogoniodes and Nesiotinus and present an opportunity to analyse phylogenetic relationships of two complete genera of chewing lice parasitising a monophyletic group of hosts. Taxonomy of penguin lice has been revised several times, including the erection of the genus Cesareus to contain some of the penguin-chewing louse species. Additionally, other groups of species within Austrogoniodes have been proposed. We constructed a phylogeny for all the chewing lice parasitising penguins from 46 parsimony-informative morphological characters and found support for two groups within Austrogoniodes, but little support for the Cesareus genus. Austrogoniodes metoecus, the only Austrogoniodes species parasitising a bird other than a penguin, was basal in the phylogeny, which suggests that if A. metoecus did originate from a louse species parasitising penguins, the host-switching event was unlikely to have been recent. A�superficial comparison of louse and penguin phylogenies identified some potential instances of co-speciation. However, a full analysis of co-phylogenetic relationships between penguins and their lice awaits the publication of a better-resolved penguin phylogeny.

Combined molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses of the New Zealand wolf spider genus Anoteropsis (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Datasets from the mitochondrial gene regions NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (ND1) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of the 20 species in the New Zealand wolf spider (Lycosidae) genus Anoteropsis were generated. Sequence data were phylogenetically analysed using parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses. The phylogenies generated from the ND1 and COI sequence data and a previously generated morphological dataset were significantly congruent (p<0.001). Sequence data were combined with morphological data and phylogenetically analysed using parsimony. The ND1 region sequenced included part of tRNA(Leu(CUN)), which appears to have an unstable amino-acyl arm and no TpsiC arm in lycosids. Analyses supported the existence of five species groups within Anoteropsis and the monophyly of species represented by multiple samples. A radiation of Anoteropsis species within the last five million years is inferred from the ND1 and COI likelihood phylograms, habitat and geological data, which also indicates that Anoteropsis arrived in New Zealand some time after it separated from Gondwana.

Analytical approaches to measuring cospeciation of host and parasites: through a glass, darkly

Studies of cophylogenetic associations between hosts and parasites have become increasingly common. Historically, congruence between host and parasite phylogenies has been seen as evidence for cospeciation. Analyses of such coevolutionary relationships, however, are made extremely difficult by the complex interplay of cospeciation, host switching, sorting (extinction), duplication (intrahost speciation) and inertia (lack of parasite speciation) events, all of which may produce incongruence between host and parasite phylogenies. Here we review several methods of analysing cospeciation. We illustrate these methods with an example from a Procellariiformes (seabird) and chewing louse (Halipeurus) association.

Seabird and louse coevolution: complex histories revealed by 12S rRNA sequences and reconciliation analyses

We investigated the coevolutionary history of seabirds (orders Procellariiformes and Sphenisciformes) and their lice (order Phthiraptera). Independent trees were produced for the seabirds (tree derived from 12S ribosomal RNA, isoenzyme, and behavioral data) and their lice (trees derived from 12S rRNA data). Brook's parsimony analysis (BPA) supported a general history of cospeciation (consistency index = 0.84, retention index = 0.81). We inferred that the homoplasy in the BPA was caused by one intrahost speciation, one potential host-switching, and eight or nine sorting events. Using reconciliation analysis, we quantified the cost of fitting the louse tree onto the seabird tree. The reconciled trees postulated one host-switching, nine cospeciation, three or four intrahost speciation, and 11 to 14 sorting events. The number of cospeciation events was significantly more than would be expected from chance alone (P < 0.01). The sequence data were used to test for rate heterogeneity for both seabirds and lice. Neither data set displayed significant rate heterogeneity. An examination of the codivergent nodes revealed that seabirds and lice have cospeciated synchronously and that lice have evolved at approximately 5.5 times the rate of seabirds. The degree of sequence divergence supported some of the postulated intrahost speciation events (e.g., Halipeurus predated the evolution of their present hosts). The sequence data also supported some of the postulated host-switching events. These results demonstrate the value of sequence data and reconciliation analyses in unraveling complex histories between hosts and their parasites.

Model for cw laser collisionally induced fluorescence in low-temperature discharges

A perturbed steady-state rate-equation model has been developed for the cw laser collisionally induced fluorescence (LCIF) produced by excitation on one of the 1s-2p noble gas transitions. This work is one part of a wider complementary modeling program which includes cw optogalvanic spectroscopy, optical emission spectroscopy, and optical absorption spectroscopy, with the overall aim of testing all of these models with the same stringently assembled atomic and discharge data set. Our aim here is to demonstrate the principal features of our cw LCIF model by using it to describe our experimental observations produced by pumping transitions originating on the 1s(5) metastable and 1s(4) resonance states of neon atoms in the positive column of a normal glow discharge at 2.0 Torr and a discharge current of 5 mA. The model shows that these cw LCIF spectra are dominated by 1s-2p excitation and electron collisional coupling among the 2p states. We show that the model allows us to quantify explicitly the various individual contributions to each line in the cw LCIF spectra. The theory and analyses presented here apply equally well to other noble gases and we believe can be modified appropriately for trace noble gases in atomic-molecular mixtures.

Intrauterine polyps--a cause of unscheduled bleeding in women using the levonorgestrel intrauterine system: case report

The levonorgestrel intrauterine releasing system is a contraceptive that has been shown to reduce menstrual blood loss dramatically. Breakthrough bleeding, however, is a relatively common occurrence as with all methods of progestogen-only contraception and this limits its acceptability for women. Amenorrhoea can be achieved in the majority of women within 12 months of insertion. Any new pattern of bleeding after amenorrhoea or a persistence of heavy bleeding may be due to co-existing intrauterine pathology such as endometrial polyps. The use of out-patient techniques such as hysteroscopy and saline infusion sonography are indicated in these instances to exclude other intrauterine pathology.

Phylogeny of "Oxycanus" lineages of hepialid moths from New Zealand inferred from sequence variation in the mtDNA COI and II gene regions

The phylogeny of the New Zealand hepialid moths was estimated from a 527-bp nucleotide sequence from the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I and II gene regions. New haplotypes were identified for Wiseana cervinata, W. copularis, and W. signata. Phylogenetic reconstructions using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods indicated that the four hepialid lineages Aenetus, Aoraia, "Oxycanus" Cladoxycanus, and "Oxycanus" s. str. hypothesized by Dugdale (1994) based on a morphological taxonomic revision were monophyletic within New Zealand. Addition of exemplars from the Australian genera Fraus, Jeana, Oxycanus, and Trictena to the data set tentatively support the monophyly of the New Zealand "Oxycanus" lineages. Estimated times of divergence for the genus Wiseana taxa fitted well with known geological events and suggest that the genus may have diverged 1-1.5 mya.

The long and short of it: branch lengths and the problem of placing the New Zealand short-tailed bat, Mystacina

The taxonomic position of the endemic New Zealand bat genus Mystacina has vexed systematists ever since its erection in 1843. Over the years the genus has been linked with many microchiropteran families and superfamilies. Most recent classifications place it in the Vespertilionoidea, although some immunological evidence links it with the Noctilionoidea (=Phyllostomoidea). We have sequenced 402 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for M. tuberculata (Gray in Dieffenbach, 1843), and using both our own and published DNA sequences for taxa in both superfamilies, we applied different tree reconstruction methods to find the appropriate phylogeny and different methods of estimating confidence in the parts of the tree. All methods strongly support the classification of Mystacina in the Noctilionoidea. Spectral analysis suggests that parsimony analysis may be misleading for Mystacina's precise placement within the Noctilionoidea because of its long terminal branch. Analyses not susceptible to long-branch attraction suggest that the Mystacinidae is a sister family to the Phyllostomidae. Dating the divergence times between the different taxa suggests that the extant chiropteran families radiated around and shortly after the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. We discuss the biogeographical implications of classifying Mystacina within the Noctilionoidea and contrast our result with those classifications placing Mystacina in the Vespertilionoidea, concluding that evidence for the latter is weak.

Have chondracanthid copepods co-speciated with their teleost hosts?

Chondracanthid copepods parasites many teleost species and have a mobile larval stage. It has been suggested that copepod parasites, with free-living infective stages that infect hosts by attaching to their external surfaces, will have co-evolved with their hosts. We examined copepods from the genus Chondracanthus and their teleost hosts for evidence of a close co-evolutionary association by comparing host and parasite phylogenies using TreeMap analysis. In general, significant co-speciation was observed and instances of host switching were rare. The prevalence of intra-host speciation events was high relative to other such studies and may relate to the large geographical distances over which hosts are spread.

Genetic relationships in Lens species and parentage determination of their interspecific hybrids using RAPD markers

Broadening of the genetic base and systematic exploitation of heterosis in cultivated lentils requires reliable information on genetic diversity in the germplasm. The ability of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to distinguish among different taxa of Lens was evaluated for several geographically dispersed accessions/cultivars of four diploid Lens species. This study was carried out to assess whether RAPD data can provide additional evidence about the origin of the cultivated lentil and to measure genetic variability in lentil germplasm. Three cultivars of Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris, including one microsperma, and two macrosperma types, and four wild species (L. culinaris ssp. orientalis, L. odemensis and L. nigricans) were evaluated for genetic variability using a set of 1 11-mer and 14 random 10-mer primers. One hundred and fifty-eight reproducible and scorable DNA bands were observed from these primers. Genetic distances between each of the accessions were calculated from simple matching coefficients. Split decomposition analysis of the RAPD data allowed construction of an unrooted tree. This study revealed that (1) the level of intraspecific genetic variation in cultivated lentils is narrower than that in some wild species. (2) L. culinaris ssp. orientalis is the most likely candidate as a progenitor of the cultivated species, (3) L. nigricans accession W6 3222 (unknown) and L. c. ssp. orientalis W6 3244 (Turkey) can be reclassified as species of L. odemensis and (4) transmission of genetic material in Lens interspecific hybrids is genotypically specific, as identified by the RAPD markers in our study.