Genetic structure and evolution of the Leishmania genus in Africa and Eurasia: what does MLSA tell us

Leishmaniasis is a complex parasitic disease from a taxonomic, clinical and epidemiological point of view. The role of genetic exchanges has been questioned for over twenty years and their recent experimental demonstration along with the identification of interspecific hybrids in natura has revived this debate. After arguing that genetic exchanges were exceptional and did not contribute to Leishmania evolution, it is currently proposed that interspecific exchanges could be a major driving force for rapid adaptation to new reservoirs and vectors, expansion into new parasitic cycles and adaptation to new life conditions. To assess the existence of gene flows between species during evolution we used MLSA-based (MultiLocus Sequence Analysis) approach to analyze 222 Leishmania strains from Africa and Eurasia to accurately represent the genetic diversity of this genus. We observed a remarkable congruence of the phylogenetic signal and identified seven genetic clusters that include mainly independent lineages which are accumulating divergences without any sign of recent interspecific recombination. From a taxonomic point of view, the strong genetic structuration of the different species does not question the current classification, except for species that cause visceral forms of leishmaniasis (L. donovani, L. infantum and L. archibaldi). Although these taxa cause specific clinical forms of the disease and are maintained through different parasitic cycles, they are not clearly distinct and form a continuum, in line with the concept of species complex already suggested for this group thirty years ago. These results should have practical consequences concerning the molecular identification of parasites and the subsequent therapeutic management of the disease

Combining taxon-by-trait and taxon-by-site matrices for analysing trait patterns of macroinvertebrate communities: a rejoinder to Monaghan & Soares (2014)

In a recent paper, Heino, Schmera & Erős (2013) provided an overview of trait 58 patterns of stream communities from a macroecological perspective. In this paper , 59 reference was made to Gayraud et al . (2003) , who showed that abundance - weighted 60 traits were less powe rful than presence - absence weighted traits in discriminating 61 communities under different degrees of human impacts , and to Statzner & Beche 62 (2010) , who therefore advocated the use of the second type of weighting for practical 63 biomonitoring due to logis tic constrains ( e.g. sorting of qualitative samples makes 64 3 assessment program me s more cost effective) . H eino et al . (2013) pointed out that 65 t hese findings contradict the results of taxon - based analyses which suggest that , if 66 taxa are weighted by their abund ance , then communities are better separated in 67 relation to environmental variation than when taxa are weighted only by their 68 presence . Based on an overview of the literature, Heino et al . (2013) concluded that 69 results of presence - and abundance - based analy ses should be evaluated carefully 70 when examining traits of organisms, because differences among studies can reflect 71 both methodological (i.e. handling of data) and real ecological differences (see p. 72 1549 in H eino et al ., 2013 ) . More recently, Monaghan & S oares (2014 ) stated that (1) 73 H eino et al . (2013) identified the weak explanatory power of abundance data as a 74 major limitation of macroinvertebrat e trait analysis and that (2) the log - transformation 75 of abundance data may cause anomalies in trait - based anal yses. W e disagree with 76 both conclusions , because (1) H eino et al . (2013) did not actually state this (see 77 above) and because (2), in our view, log - transformation of abundance data in trait - 78 based analyses can also be meaningful . To reveal the causes of thes e differ ing views , 79 we go through the examples provided by M onaghan & Soares (2014) and examine 80 how traits can be weighted by the presence, abundance and log - transformed 81 abundance of the taxa . To do this, firs t we define the terminology used here , comment 82 o n the approach of M onaghan & Soares (2014) and show how this procedure should 83 be performed

Habitat filtering determines spatial variation of macroinvertebrate community traits in northern headwater streams

Although our knowledge of the spatial distribution of stream organisms has been increasing rapidly in the last decades, there is still little consensus about trait-based variability of macroinvertebrate communities within and between catchments in near-pristine systems. Our aim was to examine the taxonomic and trait based stability vs. variability of stream macroinvertebrates in three high-latitude catchments in Finland. The collected taxa were assigned to unique trait combinations (UTCs) using biological traits. We found that only a single or a highly limited number of taxa formed a single UTC, suggesting a low degree of redundancy. Our analyses revealed significant differences in the environmental conditions of the streams among the three catchments. Linear models, rarefaction curves and beta-diversity measures showed that the catchments differed in both alpha and beta diversity. Taxon- and trait-based multivariate analyses also indicated that the three catchments were significantly different in terms of macroinvertebrate communities. All these findings suggest that habitat filtering, i.e., environmental differences among catchments, determines the variability of macroinvertebrate communities, thereby contributing to the significant biological differences among the catchments. The main implications of our study is that the sensitivity of trait-based analyses to natural environmental variation should be carefully incorporated in the assessment of environmental degradation, and that further studies are needed for a deeper understanding of trait-based community patterns across near-pristine streams

A trait-based approach reveals the feeding selectivity of a small endangered Mediterranean fish

Functional traits are growing in popularity in modern ecology, but feeding studies remain primarily rooted in a taxonomic-based perspective. However, consumers do not have any reason to select their prey using a taxonomic criterion, and prey assemblages are variable in space and time, which makes taxon-based studies assemblage-specific. To illustrate the benefits of the trait-based approach to assessing food choice, we studied the feeding ecology of the endangered freshwater fish Barbus meridionalis. We hypothesized that B. meridionalis is a selective predator which food choice depends on several prey morphological and behavioral traits, and thus, its top-down pressure may lead to changes in the functional composition of in-stream macroinvertebrate communities. Feeding selectivity was inferred by comparing taxonomic and functional composition (13 traits) between ingested and free-living potential prey using the Jacob's electivity index. Our results showed that the fish diet was influenced by 10 of the 13 traits tested. Barbus meridionalis preferred prey with a potential size of 5–10 mm, with a medium–high drift tendency, and that drift during daylight. Potential prey with no body flexibility, conical shape, concealment traits (presence of nets and/or cases, or patterned coloration), and high aggregation tendency had a low predation risk. Similarly, surface swimmers and interstitial taxa were low vulnerable to predation. Feeding selectivity altered the functional composition of the macroinvertebrate communities. Fish absence favored taxa with weak aggregation tendency, weak flexibility, and a relatively large size (10–20 mm of potential size). Besides, predatory invertebrates may increase in fish absence. In conclusion, our study shows that the incorporation of the trait-based approach in diet studies is a promising avenue to improve our mechanistic understanding of predator–prey interactions and to help predict the ecological outcomes of predator invasions and extinctions

Pleosporales

One hundred and five generic types of Pleosporales are described and illustrated. A brief introduction and detailed history with short notes on morphology, molecular phylogeny as well as a general conclusion of each genus are provided. For those genera where the type or a representative specimen is unavailable, a brief note is given. Altogether 174 genera of Pleosporales are treated. Phaeotrichaceae as well as Kriegeriella, Zeuctomorpha and Muroia are excluded from Pleosporales. Based on the multigene phylogenetic analysis, the suborder Massarineae is emended to accommodate five families, viz. Lentitheciaceae, Massarinaceae, Montagnulaceae, Morosphaeriaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae

El periodismo deportivo y las TICS: la titulación y la bajada de la noticia en el tratamiento de la información periodística

En mi Beca EVC-CIN 2016 se analizó el rol de la imagen en la construcción de la noticia deportiva. Durante el proceso de investigación, apareció un nuevo interrogante: ¿qué pasa con el título y la bajada de las noticias? Es decir, analizar el rol de la imagen quedaba escueto e incompleto si este no se hacía en conjunto con un componente de real preponderancia, la titulación. Es por esto que la propuesta de este trabajo fue aportar una dimensión de análisis que permita comprender de forma integral como intervienen en la construcción de la noticia estos componentes en este contexto de auge de las nuevas tecnologías.Facultad de Periodismo y Comunicación Socia

The generality of changes in the trait composition of fish and invertebrate communities after flow restoration in a large river (French Rhône)

1. A multiple-trait-based approach can provide predictions and interpretations of the responses of freshwater communities to river restoration that apply in different taxonomic contexts. We compared the observed and predicted effects of restoration on sets of traits in fish and invertebrate communities in four reaches of the Rhône River. Restoration included minimum flow increases in three bypassed main channels and the reconnection of eight floodplain channels. 2. Predictions (described in detail in three other articles in this Special Issue) were based on habitat models that related the density of modelled taxa to their physical habitats. We used trait information extracted from the literature to translate predicted taxonomic changes into predicted changes in traits. Observed changes in traits calculated for modelled taxa and for all taxa in the community were both compared to predictions. 3. In 10 of 12 cases, observed changes in traits correlated with predicted ones. With few exceptions, the agreement was higher for fish and invertebrates in the main channels than for invertebrates in floodplain channels. Predictions translated to the trait category level improved those at the taxonomic level in 5/6 and 4/6 cases for modelled taxa and all taxa, respectively. However, the improvement was statistically significant according to a null model for 1/6 and 3/6 cases for modelled taxa and all taxa, respectively. 4. The validation of trait predictions suggested that traits related to locomotion and attachment, as well as general biology and physiology, were particularly suited to predicting and understanding the effects of physical restoration. For example, after restoration, clingers and passive filter feeders dominated invertebrate communities in the main channels, whereas invertebrate communities in the floodplain underwent a selection of traits frequent in running water (clingers, flattened shape and gill respiration). Within fish communities, the periodic life-history strategy that characterises fish species in downstream reaches (long life span, large body, late sexual maturity) increased with restoration, whereas the opportunistic strategy decreased. 5. Our results suggest that a better understanding of how hydraulics shapes traits in riverine systems is critically needed for assessing the effects of restoration measures impacting flow. In addition, existing trait databases (especially for fish) should be expanded to better reflect the energetic trade-offs that organisms must make in various flow contexts

El periodismo deportivo y las TICS: el rol de la imagen en el tratamiento de la información periodística

Esta investigación está enmarcada en la Beca de Estímulos Científicos 2016 del Consejo Interuniversitario Nacional (CIN) y retoma las preguntas que plantea el proyecto “Comunicación, Periodismo y Deporte. Análisis de la construcción de la información deportiva en los principales diarios argentinos”, desarrollado por docentes investigadores de la FPyCS, respecto a qué es noticia deportiva hoy y cuál es tu tratamiento. Este trabajo, a su vez, se enmarca en la cátedra Taller de Análisis de la Información de la Tecnicatura Superior Universitaria en Periodismo Deportivo, en donde soy adscripta desde el año 2013 hasta la actualidad. En este marco, este trabajo tiene como finalidad describir y analizar la construcción de la noticia deportiva, tomando como objeto de estudio el rol de la imagen en el tratamiento de la información. Se seleccionó como material de análisis por un lado, el portal web del diario deportivo “Olé”, y por el otro la versión online del suplemento deportivo del diario La Nación “Cancha Llena” durante el desarrollo de los Juegos Olímpicos de Río de Janeiro 2016, desde la ceremonia inaugural y hasta el último evento deportivo.Facultad de Periodismo y Comunicación Socia

El periodismo deportivo y las TICS: la titulación y la bajada de la noticia en el tratamiento de la información periodística

En mi Beca EVC-CIN 2016 se analizó el rol de la imagen en la construcción de la noticia deportiva. Durante el proceso de investigación, apareció un nuevo interrogante: ¿qué pasa con el título y la bajada de las noticias? Es decir, analizar el rol de la imagen quedaba escueto e incompleto si este no se hacía en conjunto con un componente de real preponderancia, la titulación. Es por esto que la propuesta de este trabajo fue aportar una dimensión de análisis que permita comprender de forma integral como intervienen en la construcción de la noticia estos componentes en este contexto de auge de las nuevas tecnologías.Facultad de Periodismo y Comunicación Socia

El periodismo deportivo y las TICS: la titulación y la bajada de la noticia en el tratamiento de la información periodística

En mi Beca EVC-CIN 2016 se analizó el rol de la imagen en la construcción de la noticia deportiva. Durante el proceso de investigación, apareció un nuevo interrogante: ¿qué pasa con el título y la bajada de las noticias? Es decir, analizar el rol de la imagen quedaba escueto e incompleto si este no se hacía en conjunto con un componente de real preponderancia, la titulación. Es por esto que la propuesta de este trabajo fue aportar una dimensión de análisis que permita comprender de forma integral como intervienen en la construcción de la noticia estos componentes en este contexto de auge de las nuevas tecnologías.Facultad de Periodismo y Comunicación Socia