Mitochondrial phylogeography and demographic history of the Vicuña: implications for conservation

The vicuña (Vicugna vicugna; Miller, 1924) is a conservation success story, having recovered from near extinction in the 1960s to current population levels estimated at 275 000. However, lack of information about its demographic history and genetic diversity has limited both our understanding of its recovery and the development of science-based conservation measures. To examine the evolution and recent demographic history of the vicuña across its current range and to assess its genetic variation and population structure, we sequenced mitochondrial DNA from the control region (CR) for 261 individuals from 29 populations across Peru, Chile and Argentina. Our results suggest that populations currently designated as Vicugna vicugna vicugna and Vicugna vicugna mensalis comprise separate mitochondrial lineages. The current population distribution appears to be the result of a recent demographic expansion associated with the last major glacial event of the Pleistocene in the northern (18 to 22°S) dry Andes 14–12 000 years ago and the establishment of an extremely arid belt known as the 'Dry Diagonal' to 29°S. Within the Dry Diagonal, small populations of V. v. vicugna appear to have survived showing the genetic signature of demographic isolation, whereas to the north V. v. mensalis populations underwent a rapid demographic expansion before recent anthropogenic impacts

The landscape of a Swedish boat-grave cemetery

This is the published PDF version of an article published in Landscapes© 2010. The definitive version is available at http://www.maneyonline.com/toc/lan/11/1The paper integrates topographical and experiential approaches to the mortuary landscape of a Viking period inhumation-grave excavated in 2005 within the cemetery at Skamby, Kuddy parish, Östergötland province, Sweden. We argue that the landscape context was integral to the performance of the funerary ceremonies and the subsequent monumental presence of the dead in the landscape. We offer a way to move beyond monocausal explanations for burial location based on single-scale analyses. Instead, we suggest that boat-inhumation at Skamby was a commemorative strategy that operated on multiple scales and drew its significance from multiple landscape attributes.British Academ

Comparing genetic diversity and demographic history in co-distributed wild South American camelids

Vicuñas and guanacos are two species of wild South American camelids that are key ruminants in the ecosystems where they occur. Although closely related, these species feature differing ecologies and life history characters, which are expected to influence both their genetic diversity and population differentiation at different spatial scales. Here, using mitochondrial and microsatellite genetic markers, we show that vicuña display lower genetic diversity within populations than guanaco but exhibit more structure across their Peruvian range, which may reflect a combination of natural genetic differentiation linked to geographic isolation and recent anthropogenic population declines. Coalescent based demographic analyses indicate that both species have passed through a strong bottleneck, reducing their effective population sizes from over 20,000 to less than 1,000 individuals. For vicuña this bottleneck is inferred to have taken place ~3,300 years ago, but to have occurred more recently for guanaco at ~2,000 years ago. These inferred dates are considerably later than the onset of domestication (when the alpaca was domesticated from the vicuña while the llama was domesticated from the guanaco), coinciding instead with a major human population expansion following the mid-Holocene cold period. As importantly, they imply earlier declines than the well-documented Spanish conquest, where major mass mortality events were recorded for Andean human and camelid populations. We argue that underlying species’ differences and recent demographic perturbations have influenced genetic diversity in modern vicuña and guanaco populations, and these processes should be carefully evaluated in the development and implementation of management strategies for these important genetic resources

iDAH Research Software Engineering (RSE) Steering Group working paper

This is the final version. Available from the iDAH Research Software Engineering (RSE) Steering Group via the DOI in this record. Our purpose was to convene a broad and representative group from the UK Research Software Engineering (RSE) community to discuss opportunities for and barriers to the development of Arts & Humanities (AH) RSE capability, with a specific focus on contributing to the AHRC Infrastructure for Digital Innovation and Curation in Arts and Humanities (iDAH) project and a wider remit to consider longer term strategic priorities and opportunities for alignment with UKRI and EU initiatives. The discussion was intended to be foundational, inclusive, and broad-ranging, involving a wide stakeholder group encouraged to engage in ‘blue-sky’ thinking over short, medium, and long-term time horizons. The analysis contained in this working paper should be read in that context, as a reflection of early stage discussions intended to provide a platform for future more focused activity. Additional discussion and analysis is needed to produce substantive actionable conclusions

Sexuality in palliative care : discussing patient sexuality and intimacy in palliative care

Experiencing a life-limiting illness has the potential to radically transform every aspect of a person’s life, including how they feel about themselves, their body, and their sense of self within intimate and sexual relationships. For many people with a life-limiting illness, intimate and sexual moments are a vital aspect of their life, providing a sense of connectedness and assisting the person to explore and find meaning to living, dying, and death (Kadwell, 2016). Entering the palliative phase of any disease frequently results in a reappraisal of life priorities and relationships. This can impact the manner in which a person connects at the deepest level with a significant other, at a time when chronic and debilitating illness may precipitate a longing for intimate touch and communication. Sexual expression through all of life, but particularly during end of life phases, provides a vital form of communication, reassurance, tenderness, and validation of self when grappling with the vulnerability of changing health and wellness (Lemieux et al., 2004; Shell, 2008). Yet evidence indicates that few health professionals view patients in their care as sexual beings and if they do, they struggle to know what— and how—to raise the topic of sexuality and intimacy within their clinical roles (Hordern and Street, 2007a, 2007b; Gianotten and Hordern, 2011; Ussher et al, 2013a). This chapter will: Define patient sexuality and intimacy in the context of palliative care; Explore the impact of treatment for cancer and chronic illnesses; Provide an introduction to opening communication and providing practical strategies to support the patient through intimate and sexual changes