Disentangling the phylogenetic and ecological components of spider phenotypic variation

An understanding of how the degree of phylogenetic relatedness influences the ecological similarity among species is crucial to inferring the mechanisms governing the assembly of communities. We evaluated the relative importance of spider phylogenetic relationships and ecological niche (plant morphological variables) to the variation in spider body size and shape by comparing spiders at different scales: (i) between bromeliads and dicot plants (i.e., habitat scale) and (ii) among bromeliads with distinct architectural features (i.e., microhabitat scale). We partitioned the interspecific variation in body size and shape into phylogenetic (that express trait values as expected by phylogenetic relationships among species) and ecological components (that express trait values independent of phylogenetic relationships). At the habitat scale, bromeliad spiders were larger and flatter than spiders associated with the surrounding dicots. At this scale, plant morphology sorted out close related spiders. Our results showed that spider flatness is phylogenetically clustered at the habitat scale, whereas it is phylogenetically overdispersed at the microhabitat scale, although phylogenic signal is present in both scales. Taken together, these results suggest that whereas at the habitat scale selective colonization affect spider body size and shape, at fine scales both selective colonization and adaptive evolution determine spider body shape. By partitioning the phylogenetic and ecological components of phenotypic variation, we were able to disentangle the evolutionary history of distinct spider traits and show that plant architecture plays a role in the evolution of spider body size and shape. We also discussed the relevance in considering multiple scales when studying phylogenetic community structure.An understanding of how the degree of phylogenetic relatedness influences the ecological similarity among species is crucial to inferring the mechanisms governing the assembly of communities. We evaluated the relative importance of spider phylogenetic rel9519FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOsem informaçãosem informaçãoWe would like to thank M. Belisário, T.N. Bernabé, T.S. Coser, R. Marques, F. Moreira, D. Mota and E.S. Soeiro for their invaluable assistance in the field work. We thank N. Kraft, D.B. Provete, D.N. Reznick and anonymous reviewers for constructive comme

Ácaros e domácias foliares: sem evidências de mutualismo em plantas de Coffea arabica

We conducted experiments by blocking off pit-like domatia from old and new leaves of Coffea arabica L., using tiny resin drops, to investigate the role of domatia on i) mite abundance at the community level and on ii) leaf damages. More than 77% of the mites collected were predators, whereas 19 and 3.3% were omnivores and phytophages, respectively. Domatia blockage treatment had no influence either on mite abundances or leaf damages. However, predatory and omnivorous mites were more abundant on new than on the old leaves; phytophagous mites occurred at very low density and occupied only plants having open domatia. The absence of mutualism between mites and C. arabica probably occurred because the entrances of domatia were too small and did not enable the entry of fitoseid predators in these structures.Domácias são pequenas estruturas presentes na junção entre as nervuras principal e secundárias das folhas de muitas espécies de plantas, que podem mediar interações mutualísticas entre ácaros e plantas. Em experimento, nós bloqueamos as domácias em formato de covas de folhas novas e velhas de Coffea arabica L. com gotas de resina, a fim de investigar o seu papel i) na abundância de ácaros na comunidade e ii) nos danos foliares. Mais de 77% dos ácaros coletados são predadores, enquanto 19 e 3,3% são onívoros e fitófagos, respectivamente. Não houve influência do bloqueio das domácias tanto na abundância quanto nos danos foliares. Entretanto, os ácaros predadores e micófagos foram mais abundantes nas folhas novas do que nas velhas; os ácaros fitófagos ocorreram em pequena densidade e ocuparam somente as plantas com domácias abertas. A ausência de mutualismo entre os ácaros e plantas de C. arabica pode ter ocorrido porque as entradas das domácias analisadas eram muito pequenas, não permitindo a entrada dos predadores fitoseídeos nessas estruturas.2734Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Diverse Large HIV-1 Non-subtype B Clusters Are Spreading Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Spain

In Western Europe, the HIV-1 epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) is dominated by subtype B. However, recently, other genetic forms have been reported to circulate in this population, as evidenced by their grouping in clusters predominantly comprising European individuals. Here we describe four large HIV-1 non-subtype B clusters spreading among MSM in Spain. Samples were collected in 9 regions. A pol fragment was amplified from plasma RNA or blood-extracted DNA. Phylogenetic analyses were performed via maximum likelihood, including database sequences of the same genetic forms as the identified clusters. Times and locations of the most recent common ancestors (MRCA) of clusters were estimated with a Bayesian method. Five large non-subtype B clusters associated with MSM were identified. The largest one, of F1 subtype, was reported previously. The other four were of CRF02_AG (CRF02_1; n = 115) and subtypes A1 (A1_1; n = 66), F1 (F1_3; n = 36), and C (C_7; n = 17). Most individuals belonging to them had been diagnosed of HIV-1 infection in the last 10 years. Each cluster comprised viruses from 3 to 8 Spanish regions and also comprised or was related to viruses from other countries: CRF02_1 comprised a Japanese subcluster and viruses from 8 other countries from Western Europe, Asia, and South America; A1_1 comprised viruses from Portugal, United Kingom, and United States, and was related to the A1 strain circulating in Greece, Albania and Cyprus; F1_3 was related to viruses from Romania; and C_7 comprised viruses from Portugal and was related to a virus from Mozambique. A subcluster within CRF02_1 was associated with heterosexual transmission. Near full-length genomes of each cluster were of uniform genetic form. Times of MRCAs of CRF02_1, A1_1, F1_3, and C_7 were estimated around 1986, 1989, 2013, and 1983, respectively. MRCA locations for CRF02_1 and A1_1 were uncertain (however initial expansions in Spain in Madrid and Vigo, respectively, were estimated) and were most probable in Bilbao, Spain, for F1_3 and Portugal for C_7. These results show that the HIV-1 epidemic among MSM in Spain is becoming increasingly diverse through the expansion of diverse non-subtype B clusters, comprising or related to viruses circulating in other countries

La renovación de la palabra en el bicentenario de la Argentina : los colores de la mirada lingüística

El libro reúne trabajos en los que se exponen resultados de investigaciones presentadas por investigadores de Argentina, Chile, Brasil, España, Italia y Alemania en el XII Congreso de la Sociedad Argentina de Lingüística (SAL), Bicentenario: la renovación de la palabra, realizado en Mendoza, Argentina, entre el 6 y el 9 de abril de 2010. Las temáticas abordadas en los 167 capítulos muestran las grandes líneas de investigación que se desarrollan fundamentalmente en nuestro país, pero también en los otros países mencionados arriba, y señalan además las áreas que recién se inician, con poca tradición en nuestro país y que deberían fomentarse. Los trabajos aquí publicados se enmarcan dentro de las siguientes disciplinas y/o campos de investigación: Fonología, Sintaxis, Semántica y Pragmática, Lingüística Cognitiva, Análisis del Discurso, Psicolingüística, Adquisición de la Lengua, Sociolingüística y Dialectología, Didáctica de la lengua, Lingüística Aplicada, Lingüística Computacional, Historia de la Lengua y la Lingüística, Lenguas Aborígenes, Filosofía del Lenguaje, Lexicología y Terminología

Estudo experimental da associação de Runcinioides argenteus (Araneae, Thomisidae) em Trichogoniopsis adenantha (DC) (Asteraceae)

Orientador : João Vasconcellos NetoDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: Neste estudo, alguns aspectos da história natural das interações tritróficas do sistema: Trichogoniopsis adenantha (DC) (Asteraceae) - herbívoros e polinizadores predador senta-e-espera, Runcinioides argenteus (Araneae, Thomisidae) foram investigados na Serra do Japi, Sudeste do Brasil. Objetivando compreender melhor esse sistema trófico, foram estudados a fenologia da planta, investimento na produção de aquênio e períodos sazonais de maior número de aquênios viáveis (intactos e fecundados); fenologia de uma população do predador R argenteus, e tipos de presa que estão capturando; e sítios de forrageamento utilizados por R argenteus, em relação à disponibilidade de presas. Uma vez que essa aranha pode predar tanto polinizadores quanto predadores de aquênios e herbívoros de outros tecidos florais, podem interferir na assembléia desses herbívoros e afetar o sucesso reprodutivo da planta. O objetivo principal do presente trabalho foi verificar experimentalmente com plantas pareadas (com vs. sem aranhas) se plantas com aranhas têm menor taxa de co-ocorrência intra e interespecífica entre os insetos endófagos de capítulos, e maior número de aquênios intactos e não fecundados. A planta T. adenantha produziu mais ramos reprodutivos e maior número de aquênios por capítulo no período chuvoso (setembro-março). A maior proporção de aquênios danificados ocorreu em outubro e em dezembro, e de aquênios fecundados e intactos ocorreu em abril. A população da aranha R argenteus começou a crescer no início do verão (dezembro), atingindo um pico em março, e decresceu no outono, atingindo densidades mais baixas no inverno e na primavera quando os indivíduos chegaram à idade adulta. O maior recrutamento ocorreu a partir de novembro e dezembro. Análises de séries temporais (com até 3 meses de atraso) demonstraram sincronismo entre o início das chuvas, o período de floração de T. adenantha, um aumento da abundância de artrópodes (presas em potencial da aranha) e um aumento da densidade de R argenteus. Entretanto, cada classe de organismo demorou de um a 3 meses para responder em abundância às condições diretamente relacionadas. Dos 595 indivíduos de R. argenteus observados, 76 (12,8%) estavam predando artrópodes pertencentes a várias guildas, como a dos herbívoros, polinizadores e predadores. Muitas dessas presas eram espécies ápteras, ou aquelas que permanecem nos ramos por mais tempo. R argenteus ocupou substratos com maior ftequência de presas, indicando que, como outros tomisídeos já estudados, pode responder à qualidade dos sítios de forrageamento, conforme a Teoria do Forrageamento Ótimo. Em geral, no estudo experimental plantas com a ausência de R. argenteus tiveram maior número de indivíduos de Trupanea sp. (Diptera, Tephritidae) por capítulo, mas um outro herbívoro comum, Melanagromyza sp. (Diptera, Agromyzidae) não foi afetado. Plantas sem predadores apresentaram maior proporção de capítulos infestados e maior número de aquênios danificados. Entretanto, as aranhas exerceram efeito apenas contra uma espécie de predador de aquênio, o endófago Trupanea sp., não afetando as taxas de danos nos aquênios provocados por Melanagromyza sp. e por larvas de Geometridae sp. (Lepidoptera). As aranhas não afetaram a taxa de aquênios fecundados, indicando sua presença trouxe apenas beneficios para a plantaAbstract: In this study, some aspects of natural history of the tritrophic interactions of the system: Trichogoniopsis adenantha (DC) (Asteraceae) - herbivores and pollinators - sit and-wait predator, Runcinioides argenteus (Araneae, Thomisidae) were investigated in the Serra do Japi, southeast Brazil. To better understand this trophic system, the study included the plant phenology; investment in achene production and seasons of higher number of viable achenes (intact and fertile); population phenology of the predator R argenteus, and types of prey captured; and foraging sites used by this spider in relation to prey availability. Since the spider can prey on pollinators as well as predators of achenes and herbivorous of other floral tissues, it can interfere in the herbivore assemblage and affect the plant reproductive success. The principal objective ofthis study was to verify experimentaly with paired plants (with and wthout spider) whether plants with spiders present have a lower ratio of intra and interspecific co-occurrence among endofagous insects in flowerheads, and a higher number ofintact and non-fecundated achenes. The plant T. adenantha produced more reproductive branches and higher number of achenes per flowerhead in the rainy season (September-March). During April it was observed the higher rate of fertilized and intact achenes while the higher number of achenes injured was observed in October and December. The R argenteus population started to grow in the beginning of summer (December), reaching a peak in March, and decreased in autumn, with lowest density in winter and spring, when the individuaIs became adults. The highest recruitment occurred in November and December. Time-Iag analysis (with until 3 months delay) showed synchrony between beginning of the rains, the flowering period of T. adenantha, increase of abundance of arthropods (potential prey of the spider) and increase of R. argenteus density, with each class of organism somewhat delayed one to three months in respost to abundance to the direct1y related conditions. Of the 595 individuaIs of R argenteus observed, 76 (12,8%) were preying on arthropods belonging to several guilds, as herbivores, pollinators and predators. Most of these prey were apterous species, or those that remain in the branch for longer periods. R argenteus occupied substrats with higher prey ftequency, indicating that, like other thomisid spiders already studied, it can respond to the quality of foraging sites, according to Oprimal Foraging Theory. In general, in the experimental study the plants without R argenteus had a higher number of Trupanea sp. (Diptera, Tephritidae) per flowerhead, while an other common herbivore, Melanagromyza sp. (Diptera, Agromyzidae) was not affected. Plants without predators had higher proportion of infested flowerheads, and a higher number of attacked achenes. Nevertheless, the spiders had an effect against on1y one species of achene predator, the endophagous Trupanea sp., not changing the rates of achene damage made by Melanagromyza sp. or by caterpillars of Geometridae sp. (Lepidoptera). The spiders had not effect in the rate of fertilized achenes, indicating that their presence only benefited the plantMestradoMestre em Ecologi

Associations between jumping spiders (Salticidae) and Bromeliaceae

Orientador: João Vasconcellos NetoTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: O entendimento das interações entre artrópodes e plantas tem crescido consideravelmente nos últimos poucos anos. Embora as aranhas estejam entre os grupos de artrópodes mais abundantes e constituam as principais guildas de predadores sobre a vegetação, poucos estudos envolvendo aranhas e plantas foram desenvolvidos. Aqui, reportamos um conjunto de informações mostrando que algumas espécies de salticídeos são estritamente associadas com Bromeliaceae em várias fitofisionomias sul-americanas, incluindo cerrados, florestas semidecíduas e sazonais, vegetação de dunas costeiras, restingas, afloramentos rochosos, florestas de altitude, chacos e florestas ombrófilas densas, em várias localidades do Brasil, Paraguai, Bolívia e Argentina. Enquanto algumas espécies de aranhas foram especialistas, ocorrendo quase exclusivamente em uma única espécie de planta hospedeira (e.g., Psecas chapoda sobre Bromelia balansae), outras foram generalistas e habitaram até 7-8 espécies de bromélias. Geralmente, as aranhas habitaram e selecionaram as bromélias maiores e/ou aquelas com arquitetura natural (e.g., simulação de inflorescência ou inclusão de folhas secas no centro da roseta). Portanto, as aranhas podem avaliar, em detalhes finos, o estado físico dos seus microhabitats. Bromélias podem muitas vezes fornecer microhabitats apropriados específicos para salticídeos. Suas folhas formam uma arquitetura tridimensional complexa (roseta), que pode ser usada por adultos e imaturos como abrigo contra predadores ou condições climáticas severas, como sítios de forrageamento, acasalamento e de oviposição, e como berçários para as recém emergidas das ootecas. Em troca, as aranhas contribuíram para a nutrição das bromélias. Usando métodos isotópicos (15N), nós verificamos que P. chapoda contribuiu com até 40% do N total de B. balansae no campo. Entretanto, os efeitos benéficos das aranhas foram enfraquecidos onde estas ocorreram em baixa abundância, e a condicionalidade foi gerada pela variação especial na densidade de aranhasAbstract: The understanding of the interactions between arthropods and plants has grown considerably in the last few years. Although the spiders are among the most abundant arthropod group and compose the main predator guild on vegetation, there exist very few studies involving spiders and plants. Here, we report information showing that some salticid species are strictly associated with the Bromeliaceae in several South American phytophysiognomies, including cerrados (savanna-like vegetation), semideciduous and seasonal forests, coastal sand dune vegetation, restingas, inselbergs, highland forests, chacos and rain forests in several localities of Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina. While some species are specialists, occurring almost exclusively on a single host plant species (e.g., Psecas chapoda on Bromelia balansae), others are generalists and inhabit up to 7-8 bromeliad species. Generally, the spiders inhabited the larger bromeliads and/or those with natural architecture (e.g., simulation of inflorescence or inclusion of dry leaves in the center of the rosette). Therefore, the spiders seem to evaluate, in fine detail, the physical state of their microhabitats. Bromeliads may often provide specifically suitable microhabitats for jumping spiders. Their leaves form a complex tri-dimensional architecture (rosette), which can be used by adults and immature as shelter against predators or harsh climatic conditions, as foraging, mating and laying egg sites, and as nursery for spiderlings. In exchange, the spiders contributed to bromeliad nutrition. By using stable isotope methods (15N), we found that P. chapoda contributed with up to 40% of the total nitrogen of B. balansae in the field. However, the beneficial effects of the spiders were weakened where they occurred in low abundance, and conditionality was generated by spatial variation in spider densityDoutoradoEcologiaDoutor em Ecologi

Leaf damage induces ant recruitment in the Amazonian ant-plant Hirtella myrmecophila

Allomerus octoarticulatus is a plant-ant that colonizes domatia of the understorey tree Hirtella myrmecophila in the Central Amazon and forages for invertebrates, including leaf herbivores, on the host plant. We conducted manipulative experiments to study the ant's recruitment response to damaged leaves and leaf extracts of the host and to extracts of Protium hebetatum, a non-myrmecophytic sympatric tree species. Artificial damage to leaves of H. myrmecophila caused an increase in the number of recruits to the leaf. Ant response was stronger in young than in mature leaves. Recruitment was restricted to damaged leaves. No increment in recruitment rates was observed in undamaged, adjacent leaves. Different levels of leaf damage did not elicit differences in recruitment rates. Aqueous extract of leaves, placed on undamaged leaves of the host plant, also led to increased recruitment compared with water (control), and more ants were recruited to extracts from young than from mature and old leaves. Extracts of both H. myrmecophila and Protium hebetatum induced recruitment. We discuss the evolutionary importance of plant leaf components for maintenance of the ant-plant mutualism

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND MICROHABITAT PREFERENCE OF PSECAS CHAPODA (PECKHAM & PECKHAM) (ARANEAE, SALTICIDAE)

Volume: 33Start Page: 124End Page: 13