Climate drives the geography of marine consumption by changing predator communities

Este artículo contiene 7 páginas, 3 figuras, 1 tabla.The global distribution of primary production and consumption by humans (fisheries) is well-documented, but we have no map linking the central ecological process of consumption within food webs to temperature and other ecological drivers. Using standardized assays that span 105° of latitude on four continents, we show that rates of bait consumption by generalist predators in shallow marine ecosystems are tightly linked to both temperature and the composition of consumer assemblages. Unexpectedly, rates of consumption peaked at midlatitudes (25 to 35°) in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres across both seagrass and unvegetated sediment habitats. This pattern contrasts with terrestrial systems, where biotic interactions reportedly weaken away from the equator, but it parallels an emerging pattern of a subtropical peak in marine biodiversity. The higher consumption at midlatitudes was closely related to the type of consumers present, which explained rates of consumption better than consumer density, biomass, species diversity, or habitat. Indeed, the apparent effect of temperature on consumption was mostly driven by temperature-associated turnover in consumer community composition. Our findings reinforce the key influence of climate warming on altered species composition and highlight its implications for the functioning of Earth’s ecosystems.We acknowledge funding from the Smithsonian Institution and the Tula Foundation.Peer reviewe

The Metabolic Syndrome in Hispanics – The Role of Inflammation

We report clinical and molecular mechanisms relating the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory process in the development of the components of the metabolic syndrome, emphasizing the cardiovascular problems developed in these groups of patients, especially the Hispanic population. Namely, the incidence, component characteristics and complications of the metabolic syndrome in island Puerto Ricans are described and evidence is presented supporting the fact that the metabolic syndrome may be milder in Puerto Rico than in the mainland United States because it is characterized by less aggressive coronary artery disease and a relatively normal lipid profile. Moreover, data supports the fact that increased serum cholesterol levels produce less myocardial infarctions in Puerto Rico than in mainland Hispanics and Caucasians. In addition, the incidence of ventricular tachycardia, a complication caused by remodeling and ischemia of the heart, may be lower in Puerto Rico than in the United States, although the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is higher in the island.</p

HDL as a Biomarker of Rejection in Heart Transplant

Background: One hundred once patients underwent heart transplants due to multiple causes. These patients included 36 females and 65 males whose mean age was 51 years.&nbsp;Objective: To study metabolic and lipid changes after heart transplantation with emphasis on HDL in rejected and non rejected hearts.Methods: The metabolic changes pre and post transplant were analyzed.Results:&nbsp;1. Body mass index (BMI): 25 ± 4 - 28 ± 5 kg/ m2 (P&lt;0.05)2. Systolic blood pressure (sBP): 107 ± 17 - 131 ± 20mmHg (P&lt;0.05)3. Diastolic blood pressure (dBP): 70 ± 13 - 81 ± 10 mmHg(P&lt;0.05)4. Fasting blood sugar (FBS): 107 ± 37- 117 ± 55 mg%(0.164) (non significant)5. Cholesterol: 170 ± 55 - 189 ± 32 mg/dl(P&lt;0.05)6. High density lipoprotein (HDL): 38 ± 16 - 52 ± 17 mg/dl (P&lt;0.05)7. Low density lipoprotein (LDL): 99 ± 20- 83 ± 15 mg/dl (0.34).8. Triglycerides: 163 ± 10 -188 ± 12 mg/dl (0.144).Conclusions: The heart transplant patients developed metabolic syndrome (MetS). The elevated HDL levels observed after transplantation are indicative of role of immunologic reaction to chronic rejection processes. The patients who died of rejection (19) exhibited greater elevations in HDL that those who did not (47 ± 22 – 71 ± 40 mg/dl, P&lt;0.05). Seven autopsies were performed and revealed severe atherosclerotic changes in the aorta and coronary arteries that were likely related to dysfunctional HDL. The transplanted hearts were 21 years old. The high levels and persistent elevation of HDL observed in the rejected group can be used as a biomarker of rejection and this will help to change the anti-rejection protocol to try to avoid the rejection of the implanted heart. LDL was found to be a factor in the progressive atherosclerotic process because the level was reduced post transplant.</p

Climate drives the geography of marine consumption by changing predator communities

The global distribution of primary production and consumption by humans (fisheries) is well-documented, but we have no map linking the central ecological process of consumption within food webs to temperature and other ecological drivers. Using standardized assays that span 105° of latitude on four continents, we show that rates of bait consumption by generalist predators in shallow marine ecosystems are tightly linked to both temperature and the composition of consumer assemblages. Unexpectedly, rates of consumption peaked at midlatitudes (25 to 35°) in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres across both seagrass and unvegetated sediment habitats. This pattern contrasts with terrestrial systems, where biotic interactions reportedly weaken away from the equator, but it parallels an emerging pattern of a subtropical peak in marine biodiversity. The higher consumption at midlatitudes was closely related to the type of consumers present, which explained rates of consumption better than consumer density, biomass, species diversity, or habitat. Indeed, the apparent effect of temperature on consumption was mostly driven by temperature-associated turnover in consumer community composition. Our findings reinforce the key influence of climate warming on altered species composition and highlight its implications for the functioning of Earth's ecosystems