Nutritional state variations in a tropical seabird throughout its breeding season

Individual body condition is frequently used to explain differences in foraging and breeding ecology in seabirds. However, little is known about the covariations of body mass with the nutritional state of animals as measured through plasma metabolites and how these different measures vary between and within individuals during breeding. Here, we assessed intra-individual variations of plasma metabolites (triglycerides, cholesterol, protein, and ß-hydroxybutyrate concentrations) and in body mass of Blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii) throughout their breeding season 2011–2012 in Isla El Rancho, Mexico. We found breeding-stage and sex-specific variations in individuals’ plasma metabolite concentrations, but these did not mirror variations in body mass. Before egg-laying, females had higher triglycerides, cholesterol, and protein concentrations than males. In contrast, males used their nutritional reserves (higher ß-hydroxybutyrate concentrations) more than females during the breeding season (except for early chick-rearing). At the individual level, males gained weight during the breeding season, whereas females lost weight. We also found that between-individual differences in plasma metabolite concentrations and changes in body mass were not consistent throughout the breeding season, while individual body mass was significantly repeatable. This study contributes to a better understanding of seabird breeding ecology and physiology by showing that sex-specific breeding roles might highly influence the nutritional state. Similar patterns might occur in other seabird species, helping to explain why we can find stage- and sex-specific foraging behaviors even in monomorphic species. Seabirds, sex, reproduction, triglycerides, cholesterol, ß-hydroxybutyratepublishedVersio

Foraging ecology of a marine top predator in the Eastern Tropical Pacific over 3 years with different ENSO phases

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a recurrent climatic pattern with important ecological consequences for seabirds due to its impacts on the abundance and distribution of food resources. We investigated the effects of ENSO phases on the foraging ecology of a marine top predator at Clarion Island in the Eastern Tropical Pacific using GPS and time-depth recorder data and regurgitates from incubating masked boobies (Sula dactylatra) during 3 consecutive years. Foraging locations were recorded in 2016 (El Niño, one female, three males), 2017 (neutral; six females, nine males), and 2018 (La Niña; eight females, ten males). Local sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL) within the birds’ foraging range were compared among the 3 years. Regurgitates were collected opportunistically from 25 and 31 incubating adults in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Average local CHL and SST were similar among years (mean SST 25 °C; mean CHL 0.10 and of 0.09 mg m−3 in January and March, respectively). Masked boobies travelled a maximum of 66 ± 34 km from the colony. The maximum trip duration was 7.7 ± 3.4 h and total distance travelled during a foraging trip was 164 ± 73 km, with no sex- or year-related differences. Masked boobies mainly caught flying fish, but their diet also included one squid and six other fish families. In contrast to previously reported changes in foraging ecology of seabirds, masked boobies at Clarion Island seemed to be unaffected during El Niño, because the local oceanography was relatively unperturbed by ENSO oscillations

ECOLOGÍA REPRODUCTIVA DEL BOBO CAFÉ (SULA LEUCOGASTER) EN TRES ISLAS DEL PACÍFICO TROPICAL MEXICANO

Resumen ∙ El Bobo Café (Sula leucogaster) es un ave marina que anida en islas de mares tropicales y subtropicales. En el Pacífico mexicano ha sido objeto de varios estudios, pero, aún se conoce muy poco de la dinámica poblacional de sus colonias y la influencia de variables oceánicas sobre ellas. Estudiamos la ecología reproductiva del Bobo Café en tres islas del Pacífico mexicano: Pajarera y Cocinas, en Bahía Chamela, Jalisco y Peña Blanca, en Colima. Realizamos visitas mensuales a cada isla de enero de 2008 a diciembre de 2009. En 2008 hubo más nidos que en 2009, el número máximo estimado de parejas reproductoras en cada año (2008 y 2009 respectivamente) fue de 724 y 758 en Cocinas, 895 y 1,071 en Pajarera y 15,215 y 15,801 en Peña Blanca. Observamos nidos activos durante todo el año, pero la mayor densidad en ambos años ocurrió de abril a julio, coincidiendo con valores más altos de la temperatura superficial del mar y más bajos de concentración de clorofila a. El periodo reproductivo estuvo asociado con la presencia de masas de agua cálida, lo que es opuesto al patrón observado en colonias del Golfo de California, pero coincide con la presencia de peces migratorios. Así, los ajustes en la fenología reproductiva parecen asociados con condiciones locales favorables para la crianza de pollos (disponibilidad local de ciertas presas) durante el periodo cálido. Los parámetros reproductivos considerados indican que Peña Blanca, la colonia más grande, tiene las mejores condiciones para la reproducción (tamaño de puesta mayor, huevos más grandes y mejor éxito de eclosión). Las diferencias entre años y colonias parecen relacionadas con la variabilidad oceánica, la cual afecta a escala local la disponibilidad de presas. Con base en el número de individuos, que la hacen una de las colonias más grandes de la costa Pacífico mexicana, Peña Blanca califica para ser designada como un Área Importante para la Conservación de las Aves (AICA). Abstract ∙ Breeding ecology of the Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) in three islands of the Mexican tropical Pacific Ocean The Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) is a seabird that breeds in islands of tropical and subtropical seas. In the Mexican Pacific, it has been the subject of several studies, but little was known on the dynamics of its colonies and the influence of oceanic variables on them. We studied the breeding ecology of the Brown Booby at three southern Mexico islands: Pajarera and Cocinas in Bahía Chamela, Jalisco, and Peña Blanca in Colima. We visited each island monthly from January 2008 to December 2009. There were more nests in 2008 than in 2009, estimated maximum annual colony size (2008 and 2009, respectively) was 724 and 758 breeding pairs at Cocinas, 895 and 1,071 at Pajarera, and 15,215 and 15,801 at Peña Blanca. We observed active nesting year‐round, but the highest densities in both years were from April to July, when sea surface temperature was higher and levels of chlorophyll a, lower. The breeding period was associated with the presence of warm water masses, which is the opposite to the pattern previously recorded in Gulf of California colonies, but coincided with the presence of migratory fish. This difference in breeding phenology seems an adaptation to match local conditions (prey availability) during chick rearing. Breeding parameters (higher clutch size, egg volume, hatching success) point out that Peña Blanca, the largest colony, was superior to the other colonies in terms of breeding. Differences among years and colonies seem related to oceanic variability, which affects the local availability of prey. Based on the size of the colony, which makes it one of the largest colonies along the Mexican Pacific coast, the Peña Blanca colony qualifies to be nominated as Important Bird Area (IBA).

Secondary phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) swelling response is a good indicator of T-cell-mediated immunity in free-living birds

El phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) se prueba para medir la inmunidad adquirida y es uno de los métodos más utilizados; actualmente, está siendo debatido a raíz de los nuevos conocimientos sobre la compleja fisiología del proceso. Como respuesta secundaria reiterada a los mayores desafíos vinculados a los aumentos de los niveles de linfocitos T circulantes sería indicativo de una respuesta inmune mediada por células, se realizó por primera vez un experimento bajo condiciones naturales con repetidas PHA desafíos en libre-viviendo los pájaros adultos y polluelos para arrojar luz sobre este tema. Hemos encontrado significativamente más fuerte respuesta a PHA inyección secundaria independiente del sexo o la edad, mientras que el control de la condición corporal, la segunda respuesta es en promedio 90% más grande que el primero. Igualmente, los recuentos de linfocitos fueron significativamente superiores en el segundo reto de PHA, mientras que no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre las aves no tratadas. Las correlaciones positivas significativas entre la PHA respuesta y ambos recuentos de linfocitos y los niveles de proteínas plasmáticas (principalmente albúmina, globulina (precursor) fueron recuperados, mientras que no hubo diferencias significativas en los niveles de proteínas plasmáticas recuperados entre los retos. Nuestros resultados son consistentes con las aves cautivas, apoyando la validez del PHA de la hinchazón de la piel como prueba precisa de haber adquirido células T como la inmunidad en aves.The validity of using the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) test to measure acquired immunity, one of the most widely used methods, is currently being debated due to new knowledge on the complex physiology of the process. As a greater secondary response to repeated challenges linked to increases of circulating lymphocyte levels would be indicative of a T-cell-mediated immune response, we performed for the first time an experiment under natural conditions with repeated PHA challenges in free-living adult birds and chicks to shed light on this topic. We found significantly stronger secondary response to PHA injection independent of sex or age, while controlling for body condition, the second response being on average 90% larger than the first. Likewise, lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the second PHA challenge, whereas no significant differences were found among untreated birds. Significant positive correlations between the PHA response and both lymphocyte counts and plasma protein levels (mainly albumin, globulin (precursor) were recovered, whereas no significant differences were recovered in plasma protein levels between challenges. Our results are consistent with those from captive birds, supporting the validity of the PHA skin-swelling test as an accurate gauge of acquired T-cell-mediated immunity in birds.Trabajo patrocinado por: Fondo Mejicano para Conservación de la Naturaleza. Proyecto PIE 2012 A-P-C-IGSI-12-12 Gobierno de Extremadura. CONACYT (I010/176/2012) y becas PO10014 y RE12002 Gobierno de Extremadura. Dirección General de Vida Silvestre. SGPA/ DGVS/08559/11peerReviewe

Shared Oncogenic Pathways Implicated in Both Virus-Positive and UV-Induced Merkel Cell Carcinomas

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly malignant neuroendocrine tumor of the skin whose molecular pathogenesis is not completely understood, despite the role that Merkel cell polyomavirus can play in 55e90% of cases. To study potential mechanisms driving this disease in clinically characterized cases, we searched for somatic mutations using whole-exome sequencing, and extrapolated our findings to study functional biomarkers reporting on the activity of the mutated pathways. Confirming previous results, Merkel cell polyomavirus-negative tumors had higher mutational loads with UV signatures and more frequent mutations in TP53 and RB compared with their Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive counterparts. Despite important genetic differences, the two Merkel cell carcinoma etiologies both exhibited nuclear accumulation of oncogenic transcription factors such as NFAT or nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), P-CREB, and P-STAT3, indicating commonly deregulated pathogenic mechanisms with the potential to serve as targets for therapy. A multivariable analysis identified phosphorylated CRE-binding protein as an independent survival factor with respect to clinical variables and Merkel cell polyomavirus status in our cohort of Merkel cell carcinoma patients.This work was supported by grants from Instituto de Salud-Carlos III (ISCIII); cofinanced by the European Union; (FEDER) (PI12/00357), and a Ramón and Cajal research program (MINECO; RYC-2013-14097) to JPV, Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer and ISCIII grants (RD06/0020/0107, RD012/0036/0060) to MAP, and Coordinated Project of Excellence inter-Institutos de investigación acreditados institutes (ISCIII; PIE15/00081) to MAP. The Ramón and Cajal research program also supports IV. SD was supported by the Torres Quevedo subprogram (MICINN; PTQ-12-05391)

Diurnal timing of nonmigratory movement by birds: the importance of foraging spatial scales

Timing of activity can reveal an organism's efforts to optimize foraging either by minimizing energy loss through passive movement or by maximizing energetic gain through foraging. Here, we assess whether signals of either of these strategies are detectable in the timing of activity of daily, local movements by birds. We compare the similarities of timing of movement activity among species using six temporal variables: start of activity relative to sunrise, end of activity relative to sunset, relative speed at midday, number of movement bouts, bout duration and proportion of active daytime hours. We test for the influence of flight mode and foraging habitat on the timing of movement activity across avian guilds. We used 64 570 days of GPS movement data collected between 2002 and 2019 for local (non‐migratory) movements of 991 birds from 49 species, representing 14 orders. Dissimilarity among daily activity patterns was best explained by flight mode. Terrestrial soaring birds began activity later and stopped activity earlier than pelagic soaring or flapping birds. Broad‐scale foraging habitat explained less of the clustering patterns because of divergent timing of active periods of pelagic surface and diving foragers. Among pelagic birds, surface foragers were active throughout all 24 hrs of the day while diving foragers matched their active hours more closely to daylight hours. Pelagic surface foragers also had the greatest daily foraging distances, which was consistent with their daytime activity patterns. This study demonstrates that flight mode and foraging habitat influence temporal patterns of daily movement activity of birds.We thank the Nature Conservancy, the Bailey Wildlife Foundation, the Bluestone Foundation, the Ocean View Foundation, Biodiversity Research Institute, the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Davis Conservation Foundation and The U.S. Department of Energy (DE‐EE0005362), and the Darwin Initiative (19-026), EDP S.A. ‘Fundação para a Biodiversidade’ and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (DL57/2019/CP 1440/CT 0021), Enterprise St Helena (ESH), Friends of National Zoo Conservation Research Grant Program and Conservation Nation, ConocoPhillips Global Signature Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Cellular Tracking Technologies and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for providing funding and in-kind support for the GPS data used in our analyses

4to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

Este volumen acoge la memoria académica de la Cuarta edición del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2017, desarrollado entre el 29 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2017 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) en su sede de Guayaquil. El Congreso ofreció un espacio para la presentación, difusión e intercambio de importantes investigaciones nacionales e internacionales ante la comunidad universitaria que se dio cita en el encuentro. El uso de herramientas tecnológicas para la gestión de los trabajos de investigación como la plataforma Open Conference Systems y la web de presentación del Congreso http://citis.blog.ups.edu.ec/, hicieron de CITIS 2017 un verdadero referente entre los congresos que se desarrollaron en el país. La preocupación de nuestra Universidad, de presentar espacios que ayuden a generar nuevos y mejores cambios en la dimensión humana y social de nuestro entorno, hace que se persiga en cada edición del evento la presentación de trabajos con calidad creciente en cuanto a su producción científica. Quienes estuvimos al frente de la organización, dejamos plasmado en estas memorias académicas el intenso y prolífico trabajo de los días de realización del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad al alcance de todos y todas