Eucalyptus virginea and E. relicta (Myrtaceae), two new rare forest trees from south-western Australia allied to E. lane-poolei, and a new phantom hybrid

Hopper, S.D. & Wardell-Johnson, G. Eucalyptus virginea and E. relicta (Myrtaceae), two new rareforest trees from south-western Australia allied to E. lane-poolei, and a new phantom hybrid. Nuytsia 15(2): 227-240 (2004). Eucalyptus virginea and E. relicta are described from Mt Lindesay National Park and from the Whicher Range south-east of Busselton respectively. Both species, together with E. lane-poolei, are in the earliest branching clade of E. ser. Curviptera, which contains many horticulturally attractive large-flowered mallees from semi-arid and desert regions such as E. macrocarpa and E. youngiana. The discovery and description of these two rare relictual forest trees so recently highlights the need for ongoing botanical survey of south-western Australia's forests. A phantom hybrid, Eucalyptus lane-poolei x relicta, is also described for the first time. It occurs close to populations of E. relicta in the Whicher Range but 150 km south of the nearest recorded E. lane-poolei

A Molecular Phylogenetic Study of Generic and Subgeneric Relationships in the Southwest Australian Endemics Conostylis and Blancoa (Haemodoraceae)

We sequenced the plastid gene matK and the nuclear ribosomal spacer ITS for 39 of the 47+ species of Conostylis as well as its monotypic sister genus Blancoa, which some authors have included within Conostylis. Conostylis received 99% bootstrap support as monophyletic, with 100% support that Blancoa is its sister. Within Conostylis, the study provides strong support for two large sister clades, which we refer to as clades A (100%) and B (99%). Clade A consists of C. subgen. Conostylis plus the recently discovered C. glabra of C. subgen. Pendula sect. Divaricata (100%), and C. subgen. Pendula sect. Appendicula (100%). Clade B consists of species mostly placed within the remainder of C. subgen. Pendula but also contains members of the other small subgenera. Subgenus Pendula can be recircumscribed as monophyletic by excluding sect. Appendicula, Conostylis phathyrantha, and C. glabra and including subgen. Androstemma and subgen. Greenia. The status of the other two minor subgenera—C. subgen. Brachycaulon and C. subgen. Bicolorata—requires further investigation. Conostylis sect. Divaricata is polyphyletic. Ancient vicariance events are postulated for Conostylis involving separation of major clades in the northern and southern kwongan regions of southwestern Australia. The phylogenetic pattern in Conostylis is consistent across several lineages with the prolonged persistence of relictual taxa combined with explosive more recent speciation, the latter pronounced in the northern kwongan. There is evidence of significant divergence in major speciation mechanisms and chromosome number change among the three most species-rich subgenera/sections (dysploidy in Pendula and Appendicula vs. diploid speciation in Conostylis). Further investigation is needed to evaluate these ideas and elucidate the patterns of speciation in this most diverse genus of Haemodoraceae

Biogeography of Caladenia (Orchidaceae), with special reference to the South-west Australian Floristic Region

Caladenia contains 376 species and subspecies, of which almost all are endemic to temperate and southern semiarid Australia. Eleven species occur in New Zealand, 10 of which are endemic, and one species is widely distributed in eastern Australia and the western Pacific. Only three species occur in both south-western and south-eastern Australia. At subgeneric level, Drakonorchis is endemic to the South-west Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR), Stegostyla to eastern Australia and New Zealand, whereas three subgenera, Calonema, Phlebochilus and Elevatae occur on both sides of the Nullarbor Plain. Subgenus Caladenia is primarily eastern Australian but also extends to the western Pacific. The largest subgenera (Calonema and Phlebochilus) have radiated extensively, with Calonema exhibiting a greater concentration of species in more mesic parts of the SWAFR than Phlebochilus. Within the SWAFR, the major biogeographic division within Caladenia follows the 600-mm isohyet. Within rainfall zones, biogeographic districts for Caladenia correlate with a combination of underlying geology and surface soils. Areas of high endemism contain diverse edaphic environments. Climatic and edaphic requirements are likely to be key drivers of rarity in Caladenia, although these parameters may be acting in concert with mycorrhizal and pollinator specificity

Primary pollinator exclusion has divergent consequences for pollen dispersal and mating in different populations of a bird-pollinated tree

Pollination by nectarivorous birds is predicted to result in different patterns of pollen dispersal and plant mating compared to pollination by insects. We tested the prediction that paternal genetic diversity, outcrossing rate and realized pollen dispersal will be reduced when the primary pollinator group is excluded from bird-pollinated plants. Pollinator exclusion experiments in conjunction with paternity analysis of progeny were applied to Eucalyptus caesia Benth. (Myrtaceae), a predominantly honeyeater-pollinated tree that is visited by native insects and the introduced Apis mellifera (Apidae). Microsatellite genotyping at 14 loci of all adult E. caesia at two populations (n = 580 and 315), followed by paternity analysis of 705 progeny, revealed contrasting results between populations. Honeyeater exclusion did not significantly impact pollen dispersal or plant mating at Mount Caroline. In contrast, at the Chiddarcooping site, the exclusion of honeyeaters led to lower outcrossing rates, a threefold reduction in the average number of sires per fruit, a decrease in intermediate-distance mating and an increase in near-neighbour mating. The results from Chiddarcooping suggest that bird pollination may increase paternal genetic diversity, potentially leading to higher fitness of progeny and favouring the evolution of this strategy. However, further experimentation involving additional trees and study sites is required to test this hypothesis. Alternatively, insects may be effective pollinators in some populations of bird-adapted plants, but ineffective in others.Jack family trust; Australian Research Council, Grant/Award Number: DP140103357; University of Western Australia; Great Southern Development Commission; Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment—Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation; Wiley Fundamental Ecology Award, Ecological Society of Australia Student Research Awar

Paternity analysis reveals wide pollen dispersal and high multiple paternity in a small 1 isolated population of Eucalyptus caesia (Myrtaceae)

Optimal foraging behaviour by nectavores is expected to result in a leptokurtic pollen dispersal distribution and predominantly near-neighbour mating. However, complex social interactions among nectarivorous birds may result in different mating patterns to those typically observed in insect-pollinated plants. Mating system, realised pollen dispersal and spatial genetic structure were examined in the bird-pollinated Eucalyptus caesia, a species characterised by small, geographically disjunct populations. Nine microsatellite markers were used to genotype an entire adult stand and 181 seeds from 28 capsules collected from 6 trees. Mating system analysis using MLTR revealed moderate to high outcrossing (tm =0.479–0.806) and low estimates of correlated paternity (rp=0.136± s.e. 0.048). Paternity analysis revealed high outcrossing rates (mean = 0.72) and high multiple paternity, with 64 different sires identified for 181 seeds. There was a significant negative relationship between the frequency of outcross mating and distance between mating pairs. Realised mating events were more frequent than expected with random mating for plants o40 m apart. The overall distribution of pollen dispersal distances was platykurtic. Despite extensive pollen dispersal within the stand, three genetic clusters were detected by STRUCTURE analysis. These genetic clusters were strongly differentiated yet geographically interspersed, hypothesised to be a consequence of rare recruitment events coupled with extreme longevity. We suggest that extensive polyandry and pollen dispersal is a consequence of pollination by highly mobile honeyeaters and may buffer E. caesia against the loss of genetic diversity predicted for small and genetically isolated populations.The project was funded by an Australian Research Council Grant to SDH, SLK and RDP (DP140103357) for work on the evolution and conservation consequences of promiscuity in plants pollinated by vertebrates. SDH was also supported by a Discovery Outstanding Researcher Award attached to this grant, and by grants from the Great Southern Development Commission and the Jack Family Trust

Cholecystectomy and the risk of colorectal cancer by tumor mismatch repair deficiency status

Gallbladder diseases and cholecystectomy may play a role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Our aim was to investigate the association between cholecystectomy and CRC risk overall and by sex, family history, anatomical location, and tumor mismatch repair (MMR) status

The trochlear isometric point is different in patients with recurrent patellar instability compared to controls: a radiographical study

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the theoretical isometric point based of the curve of the femoral groove and relating it to the origin of the MPFL femoral tunnel on lateral radiograph by comparing a patellar instability cohort with a control cohort. Methods: From a Patellar Instability database the radiographs of 40 consecutive patients were analysed to define Schöttle’s point, and the arc of the circle of the trochlear groove. A comparison population of 20 radiographs from comparable patients with tibiofemoral joint disorders was used as a control. The distance from Schöttle’s point to the most anterior part of the groove (extension) was also compared to the distance to the distal end of the roof of the notch (flexion). Results: The trochlea was circular in the controls but not the Patellofemoral Instability cohort where trochlear dysplasia is usually present. The difference between the extension and flexion length was a mean of − 2.0 ± 0.5 mm in the controls and + 6.0 ± 0.5 mm in the patellofemoral cohort. In neither cohort did the centre of the circle correspond to Schöttle’s point. The extension distance correlated with the boss height. Conclusions: The dysplastic trochlea is not circular and the centre of the best matched circle was different to the control trochleae which were circular. The circle centres did not correlate with Schöttle’s point for either cohort, and was more proximal in the Patellofemoral Instability cohort. Clinical relevance: For the MPFL to have equal tension throughout flexion within the groove, the length should not change. In normal knees the MPFL does not behave isometrically. The change in length, as measured from Schöttle’s point to the trochlea, was greater for patellofemoral instability patients explaining why an isolated MPFL reconstruction in the presence of severe trochlear dysplasia risks poor outcomes

Rapid characterisation of vegetation structure to predict refugia and climate change impacts across a global biodiversity hotspot

Identification of refugia is an increasingly important adaptation strategy in conservation planning under rapid anthropogenic climate change. Granite outcrops (GOs) provide extraordinary diversity, including a wide range of taxa, vegetation types and habitats in the Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR). However, poor characterization of GOs limits the capacity of conservation planning for refugia under climate change. A novel means for the rapid identification of potential refugia is presented, based on the assessment of local-scale environment and vegetation structure in a wider region. This approach was tested on GOs across the SWAFR. Airborne discrete return Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) data and Red Green and Blue (RGB) imagery were acquired. Vertical vegetation profiles were used to derive 54 structural classes. Structural vegetation types were described in three areas for supervised classification of a further 13 GOs across the region.Habitat descriptions based on 494 vegetation plots on and around these GOs were used to quantify relationships between environmental variables, ground cover and canopy height. The vegetation surrounding GOs is strongly related to structural vegetation types (Kappa = 0.8) and to its spatial context. Water gaining sites around GOs are characterized by taller and denser vegetation in all areas. The strong relationship between rainfall, soil-depth, and vegetation structure (R2 of 0.8–0.9) allowed comparisons of vegetation structure between current and future climate. Significant shifts in vegetation structural types were predicted and mapped for future climates. Water gaining areas below granite outcrops were identified as important putative refugia. A reduction in rainfall may be offset by the occurrence of deeper soil elsewhere on the outcrop. However, climate change interactions with fire and water table declines may render our conclusions conservative. The LiDAR-based mapping approach presented enables the integration of site-based biotic assessment with structural vegetation types for the rapid delineation and prioritization of key refugia

Key Concepts for Estimating the Burden of Surgical Conditions and the Unmet Need for Surgical Care

Background: Surgical care is emerging as a crucial issue in global public health. Methodology is needed to assess the impact of surgical care from a public health perspective. Methods: A consensus opinion of a group of surgeons, anesthesiologists, and public health experts was established regarding the methodology for estimating the burden of surgical conditions and the unmet need for surgical care. Results: For purposes of analysis, we define surgical conditions as any disease state requiring the expertise of a surgically trained provider. Abnormalities resulting from a surgical condition or its treatment are termed surgical sequelae. Surgical care is defined as any measure that reduces the rates of physical disability or premature death associated with a surgical condition. To measure the burden of surgical conditions and unmet need for surgical care we propose using cumulative disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) curves generated from age-specific population-based data. This conceptual framework is based on the premise that surgically associated disability and death is determined by the incidence of surgical conditions and the quantity and quality of surgical care. The burden of surgical conditions is defined as the total disability and premature deaths that would occur in a population should there be no surgical care; the unmet need for surgical care is defined as the potentially treatable disability and premature deaths due to surgical conditions. Burden of surgical conditions should be expressed as DALYs and unmet need as potential DALYs avertable. Conclusions: Methodology is described for estimating the burden of surgical conditions and unmet need for surgical care. Using this approach it will be feasible to estimate the global burden of surgical conditions and help clarify where surgery fits among other global health priorities. These methods need to be validated using population-based data

Germline mutations in PMS2 and MLH1 in individuals with solitary loss of PMS2 expression in colorectal carcinomas from the Colon Cancer Family Registry Cohort

Immunohistochemistry for DNA mismatch repair proteins is used to screen for Lynch syndrome in individuals with colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Although solitary loss of PMS2 expression is indicative of carrying a germline mutation in PMS2, previous studies reported MLH1 mutation in some cases. We determined the prevalence of MLH1 germline mutations in a large cohort of individuals with a CRC demonstrating solitary loss of PMS2 expression