The role of frugivorous birds and bats in the colonization of cloud forest plant species in burned areas in western Mexico

La función de las aves y los murciélagos frugívoros en la colonización de las especies vegetales del bosque nuboso en zonas afectadas por incendios en el occidente de México.— La extensión de los bosques nubosos de montaña (o bosques mesófilos) del oeste de México se ve limitada por diversos factores. En el presente estudio se pretende evaluar la contribución de las aves y los murciélagos a la dispersión y colonización de las plantas del bosque nuboso en pinares contiguos afectados por incendios de superficie. Se muestreó la lluvia de semillas y el establecimiento de plántulas durante un año en dos sitios afectados por incendios de superficie, que diferían en el tamaño del fragmento de bosque nuboso más cercano. Se encontró un total de 17 especies vegetales, la mayoría de las cuales eran árboles, arbustos y lianas propios de estados avanzados de sucesión. La distancia respecto a la fuente de semillas influyó solamente en la lluvia de semillas de un taxón (Solanum sp.), pero no tuvo efectos en la distribución de las plántulas de esta especie ni de otras. En cambio, se encontraron importantes diferencias entre los sitios, con más semillas dispersadas y una mayor densidad de plántulas en el que estaba situado junto al fragmento más extenso de bosque nuboso. La función de los vectores de dispersión a larga distancia y la existencia de bancos de semillas previos al incendio podrían explicar la escasa importancia de la distancia desde la fuente de semillas para la lluvia de semillas y la distribución de las plántulas. En todo caso, la dispersión mediante las aves y los murciélagos antes o después del incendio facilita la regeneración y la conservación del bosque nuboso en zonas perturbadas que anteriormente hubieran estado ocupadas por otros hábitats.The role of frugivorous birds and bats in the colonization of cloud forest plant species in burned areas in western Mexico.— The extension of montane cloud forests in western Mexico is threatened by several disturbances that limit their extension. In this study we aim to assess the contribution of birds and bats in the dispersal and colonization of cloud–forest plants in contiguous surface–burned pine forests. We sampled seed rain and sapling establishment over one year in two surface–burned sites, which differed in the size of their closest cloud forest patch. A total of 17 plant species were found, most of which were late–successional trees, shrubs and climbers. Distance influenced the seed rain of only one dispersed taxon (Solanum sp.) and had no effect on the sapling distribution of this or other plants. In turn, marked differences were found between sites, with more seeds dispersed and higher sapling density in the site that was next to the larger cloud forest patch. The role of long–distance dispersers and the existence of seed banks before fire could explain the little importance of distance from seed source on seed dispersal and sapling distribution. Nevertheless, dispersal by birds and bats before or after fire facilitates the regeneration and conservation of cloud forests in disturbed areas formerly occupied by other habitats

Treadmill intervention attenuates the cafeteria diet-induced impairment of stress-coping strategies in young adult female rats

The current prevalence of diet-induced overweight and obesity in adolescents and adults is continuously growing. Although the detrimental biochemical and metabolic consequences of obesity are widely studied, its impact on stress-coping behavior and its interaction with specific exercise doses (in terms of intensity, duration and frequency) need further investigation. To this aim, we fed adolescent rats either an obesogenic diet (cafeteria diet, CAF) or standard chow (ST). Each group was subdivided into four subgroups according to the type of treadmill intervention as follows: a sedentary group receiving no manipulation; a control group exposed to a stationary treadmill; a low-intensity treadmill group trained at 12 m/min; and a higher intensity treadmill group trained at 17 m/min. Both the diet and treadmill interventions started at weaning and lasted for 8 weeks. Subjects were tested for anxiety-like behavior in the open field test and for coping strategies in the two-way active avoidance paradigm at week 7 and were sacrificed at week 8 for biometric and metabolic characterization. CAF feeding increased the weight gain, relative retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (RWAT %), and plasma levels of glucose, insulin, triglycerides and leptin and decreased the insulin sensitivity. Treadmill intervention partially reversed the RWAT% and triglyceride alterations; at higher intensity, it decreased the leptin levels of CAF-fed animals. CAF feeding decreased the motor activity and impaired the performance in a two-way active avoidance assessment. Treadmill intervention reduced defecation in the shuttle box, suggesting diminished anxiety. CAF feeding combined with treadmill training at 17 m/min increased the time spent in the center of the open field and more importantly, partially reversed the two-way active avoidance deficit. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that at doses that decreased anxiety-like behavior, treadmill exercise partially improved the coping strategy in terms of active avoidance behavior in the CAF-fed animals. This effect was not observed at lower doses of treadmill training

Time-window of occurrence and vegetation cover preferences of Dartford and Sardinian Warblers after fire

Abstract Wildfires are the most extensive and severe disturbance affecting the shrublands where Sardinian and Dartford Warblers (Sylvia melanocephala and S. undata) abound. Estimating the long-term use of burned habitats by these species (i.e. their time-window of occurrence) is fundamental to understanding their regional distribution and to plan possible conservation measures for the nearthreatened Dartford Warbler. In this study, we describe the post-fire time-window of occurrence and cover preferences of the two warblers using an abundance dataset, gathered by point counts over 22 consecutive years, and a density dataset, resulting from territory mapping of four different plots for up to 8 years. Both datasets span before and after fire. The two species colonized burned areas as soon as the second year after fire. The Dartford Warbler showed its highest abundance between 4 and 9 years after fire an

Behavioral and metabolic effects of a calorie-restricted cafeteria diet and oleuropein supplementation in obese male rats

Diet-induced obesity models are widely used to investigate dietary interventions for treating obesity. This study was aimed to test whether a dietary intervention based on a calorie-restricted cafeteria diet (CAF-R) and a polyphenolic compound (Oleuropein, OLE) supplementation modified sucrose intake, preference, and taste reactivity in cafeteria diet (CAF)-induced obese rats. CAF diet consists of high-energy, highly palatable human foods. Male rats fed standard chow (STD) or CAF diet were compared with obese rats fed CAF-R diet, alone or supplemented with an olive tree leaves extract (25 mg/kg*day) containing a 20.1% of OLE (CAF-RO). Biometric, food consumption, and serum parameters were measured. CAF diet increased body weight, food and energy consumption and obesity-associated metabolic parameters. CAF-R and CAF-RO diets significantly attenuated body weight gain and BMI, diminished food and energy intake and improved biochemical parameters such as triacylglycerides and insulin resistance which did not differ between CAF-RO and STD groups. The three cafeteria groups diminished sucrose intake and preference compared to STD group. CAF-RO also diminished the hedonic responses for the high sucrose concentrations compared with the other groups. These results indicate that CAF-R diet may be an efficient strategy to restore obesity-associated alterations, whilst OLE supplementation seems to have an additional beneficial effect on sweet taste function

The effect of the Messinian salinity crisis on the early diversification of the Tettigettalna cicadas

The current distribution patterns of many Mediterranean species are often a consequence of large and impactful past geoclimatic events, such as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) and the Quaternary glacial cycles. Cicadas are flying insects with poor dispersal ability, which have experienced intense local differentiation in the Mediterranean, where the genus Tettigettalna has surfaced as a biogeographic model. The genus includes 10 species with species-specific calling songs but identical morphology. All Tettigettalna species are restricted to Southern Iberia, with the exception of T. estrellae (northwest Iberia), the widespread T. argentata (mainly Iberia, France and Italy), and T. afroamissa (Morocco). With an expanded genetic dataset involving nuclear (EF1α) and mitochondrial (5′ and 3′ COI and ATP) loci, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the genus and estimated divergence dates for Tettigettalna species under a Bayesian framework. Phylogeny with the new mitochondrial dataset was in agreement with previous studies, whereas the nuclear EF1α supported T. josei and T. afroamissa as monophyletic clades but lacked resolution to resolve the remaining taxa. Some sister taxa share mitochondrial haplotypes, hinting for incomplete lineage sorting. Estimates of divergence time settled T. josei as the earliest diverging lineage, likely as a pre- or early-MSC event. As for the origin of T. afroamissa in Morocco, though time estimates could not entirely rule out post-MSC dispersal, the most likely scenario points to isolation of African Tettigettalna after the reopening of the strait of Gibraltar. The Pleistocene glaciations that followed likely impacted on the diversification of the remaining species of the genus in southern Iberia refugia.info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersio

Cicada-MET: an efficient ecological monitoring protocol of cicada populations

Cicadas are a fascinating group of insects that play an essential role in terrestrial ecosystems. Their long-lasting association with plant roots encourages their use as indicators of vegetation and soil integrity. Cicada-MET is a novel, standardized method for monitoring cicada populations by counting cicada exuviae (i.e., the skin of emerged nymphs), providing an effective and efficient means to study their distribution, abundance, and ecology. The method involves annual exuviae counts along transects and fixed plots sampled throughout the emergence season. We validated Cicada-MET using a database of 466 counts from 64 transects over 10 years and the sampling of 60 plots for one season. Methodological aspects tested included sampling speed, exuviae detectability in successive counts, exuviae loss due to weather, and cicada species detection performance using exuviae counts compared to auditory methods. Transects captured approximately 10% of the total number of emerged nymphs across one season, demonstrating the protocol’s reliability in estimating emerging cicada population numbers. However, caution is needed when inferring densities for larger areas, separated from paths where transects are located. The standardized nature of Cicada-MET reduces spatial and temporal biases, allowing for interspecific comparisons and monitoring interannual variations in abundances and emergence timing. This method is well-suited for studying the impact of natural and anthropogenic disturbances. The high-resolution data obtained can be easily combined with environmental variables, enhancing the value of cicada data as bioindicators. In summary, Cicada-MET offers a versatile and efficient tool for monitoring cicada populations, with applications in ecological indication, conservation, and management. The adaptability of Cicada-MET to various research questions, spatial scales, and long-term approaches, along with its quantitative accuracy and ease of use, make it a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners working with cicadas and their associated ecosystems

On the mechanism of phenolic formylation mediated by TiCl4 complexes: existence of diradical intermediates induced by valence tautomerism

The conventional electrophilic intramolecular aromatic substitution pathway proposed by Cresp et al. [J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1 1973, 340 345] is confirmed by the observed products of phenolic formylation mediated by TiCl4. However, when the nucleophilic path is quenched by appropriate ligand modification, the initial equilibria between the possible neutral complexes of TiCl4 with 3,5-dimethoxy-phenol and/or diethyl ether lead to different stable diradical intermediates induced by valence tautomerism that provide valuable activated reagents. Some of these species have been detected by EPR, characterized theoretically and captured by TEMPO, thus providing a consistent mechanism for the reaction with one or more equivalents of TEMPO per phenol

Recent Trends and Considerations for High Speed Data in Chips and System Interconnects

This paper discusses key issues related to the design of large processing volume chip architectures and high speed system interconnects. Design methodologies and techniques are discussed, where recent trends and considerations are highlighted

Effect of Fish Oil Parenteral Emulsion Supplementation on Inflammatory Parameters after Esophagectomy

(Background) Esophagectomy (EPG) presents high morbidity and mortality. Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3FA) are a pharmaconutrient with benefits for postoperative morbidity. Studies of omega-3FA administered parenterally after esophagectomy are scarce. This study proposes to investigate the effect of combining fish oil lipid emulsions (LE) administered parenterally with enteral nutrition support. (Methods) Randomization was 1:1:1 in three groups: Group A received a LE mixture of 0.4 g/kg/day of fish oil and 0.4 g/kg/day of LCT/MCT 50:50, Group B received 0.8 g/kg/day of fish oil LE, and Group C received 0.8 g/kg/day of LCT/MCT 50:50. Variables were measured at recruitment time and day +1, +3, and +5. Inflammatory variables studied were Interlukin-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumoral necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-10, IL-8 and CD25s. Safety, nutritional parameters and complications were analyzed. (Results) Administration of omega-3LE in the immediate postoperative period did not modulate the earlier inflammatory response. Statistically significant differences were found in IL-6 and CRP overall temporal evolution but were not found when studying the type of LE administered or in patients needing critical care. Administration of omega-3 resulted in safe and improved hypertriglyceridemia, depending on the dose. (Conclusions) omega-3FA has no impact on the early inflammatory postoperative response assessed for a short period but was safe. More studies for longer periods are needed