Refining the role of phenology in regulating gross ecosystem productivity across European peatlands

Abstract The role of plant phenology as regulator for gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) in peatlands is empirically not well constrained. This is because proxies to track vegetation development with daily coverage at the ecosystem scale have only recently become available and the lack of such data has hampered the disentangling of biotic and abiotic effects. This study aimed at unraveling the mechanisms that regulate the seasonal variation in GEP across a network of eight European peatlands. Therefore, we described phenology with canopy greenness derived from digital repeat photography and disentangled the effects of radiation, temperature and phenology on GEP with commonality analysis and structural equation modeling. The resulting relational network could not only delineate direct effects but also accounted for possible effect combinations such as interdependencies (mediation) and interactions (moderation). We found that peatland GEP was controlled by the same mechanisms across all sites: phenology constituted a key predictor for the seasonal variation in GEP and further acted as distinct mediator for temperature and radiation effects on GEP. In particular, the effect of air temperature on GEP was fully mediated through phenology, implying that direct temperature effects representing the thermoregulation of photosynthesis were negligible. The tight coupling between temperature, phenology and GEP applied especially to high latitude and high altitude peatlands and during phenological transition phases. Our study highlights the importance of phenological effects when evaluating the future response of peatland GEP to climate change. Climate change will affect peatland GEP especially through changing temperature patterns during plant-phenologically sensitive phases in high latitude and high altitude regions.Peer reviewe

Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae: Resolving relationships, tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adaptive radiation, the evolution of ecological and phenotypic diversity from a common ancestor, is a central concept in evolutionary biology and characterizes the evolutionary histories of many groups of organisms. One such group is the Mustelidae, the most species-rich family within the mammalian order Carnivora, encompassing 59 species classified into 22 genera. Extant mustelids display extensive ecomorphological diversity, with different lineages having evolved into an array of adaptive zones, from fossorial badgers to semi-aquatic otters. Mustelids are also widely distributed, with multiple genera found on different continents. As with other groups that have undergone adaptive radiation, resolving the phylogenetic history of mustelids presents a number of challenges because ecomorphological convergence may potentially confound morphologically based phylogenetic inferences, and because adaptive radiations often include one or more periods of rapid cladogenesis that require a large amount of data to resolve.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We constructed a nearly complete generic-level phylogeny of the Mustelidae using a data matrix comprising 22 gene segments (~12,000 base pairs) analyzed with maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. We show that mustelids are consistently resolved with high nodal support into four major clades and three monotypic lineages. Using Bayesian dating techniques, we provide evidence that mustelids underwent two bursts of diversification that coincide with major paleoenvironmental and biotic changes that occurred during the Neogene and correspond with similar bursts of cladogenesis in other vertebrate groups. Biogeographical analyses indicate that most of the extant diversity of mustelids originated in Eurasia and mustelids have colonized Africa, North America and South America on multiple occasions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Combined with information from the fossil record, our phylogenetic and dating analyses suggest that mustelid diversification may have been spurred by a combination of faunal turnover events and diversification at lower trophic levels, ultimately caused by climatically driven environmental changes. Our biogeographic analyses show Eurasia as the center of origin of mustelid diversity and that mustelids in Africa, North America and South America have been assembled over time largely via dispersal, which has important implications for understanding the ecology of mustelid communities.</p

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Comparative phylogeography of oceanic archipelagos: Hotspots for inferences of evolutionary process

Remote island archipelagos offer superb opportunities to study the evolution of community assembly because of their relatively young and simple communities where speciation contributes to the origin and evolution of community structure. There is great potential for common phylogeographic patterns among remote archipelagos that originate through hotspot volcanism, particularly when the islands formed are spatially isolated and linearly arranged. The progression rule is characterized by a phylogeographic concordance between island age and lineage age in a species radiation. Progression is most likely to arise when a species radiation begins on an older island before the emergence of younger islands of a hotspot archipelago. In the simplest form of progression, colonization of younger islands as they emerge and offer appropriate habitat, is coincident with cladogenesis. In this paper, we review recent discoveries of the progression rule on seven hotspot archipelagos. We then discuss advantages that progression offers to the study of community assembly, and insights that community dynamics may offer toward understanding the evolution of progression. We describe results from two compelling cases of progression where the mosaic genome may offer insights into contrasting demographic histories that shed light on mechanisms of speciation and progression on remote archipelagos

Les fouilles récentes du Pech de L\u27Azé IV (Dordogne)

The Mousterian site of Pech de l\u27Azé IV is located in Carsac (Dordogne) in the Perigord region of southwest of France, very near the town of Sarlat. The site was excavated during the 1970s by F. Bordes but it was never well published. In 2000 we published a study of the lithics from Bordes\u27 excavations. From 2000 to 2003 we conducted new work at the site to re-study the stratigraphy in order, to better understand the site\u27s formation processes, and to obtain dates from the sequence. We present here some initial results on the geology, a description of the stone tool industries, and some initial ESR dates (the dating program is still in progress).A detailed micro- and macroscopic study of the eight main stratigraphic levels shows that the sandy deposits come from a vast cave system that likely includes all the sites of Pech de l\u27Azé (I, II, and IV). The lowest level, which is characterized by dark, organic sediments,is particularly interesting. It includes within it multiple combustion zones that show evidence of having been subsequently trampled and perhaps emptied. Though the deposits come from a temperate climate, the sediments of anthropogenic origin are nevertheless well conserved. Macroscopically, there are traces of solifluction in the sequence, but the micromorphological analysis shows practically no evidence of a cold climate. As for the lithic industries, the new collection is in general comparable to that of Bordes. Nevertheless, there are some new elements including the presence of Quina technology in the upper part of the sequence

Les fouilles récentes du Pech de l’Azé IV (Dordogne)

The Mousterian site of Pech de l’Azé IV is located in Carsac (Dordogne) in the Perigord region of southwest of France, very near the town of Sarlat. The site was excavated during the 1970s by F. Bordes but it was never well published. In 2000 we published a study of the lithics from Bordes’ excavations. From 2000 to 2003 we conducted new work at the site to re-study the stratigraphy in order, to better understand the site’s formation processes, and to obtain dates from the sequence. We present here some initial results on the geology, a description of the stone tool industries, and some initial ESR dates (the dating program is still in progress). A detailed micro-and macroscopic study of the eight main stratigraphic levels shows that the sandy deposits come from a vast cave system that likely includes all the sites of Pech de l’Azé (I, II, and IV). The lowest level, which is characterized by dark, organic sediments, is particularly interesting. It includes within it multiple combustion zones that show evidence of having been subsequently trampled and perhaps emptied. Though the deposits come from a temperate climate, the sediments of anthropogenic origin are nevertheless well conserved. Macroscopically, there are traces of solifluction in the sequence, but the micromorphological analysis shows practically no evidence of a cold climate. As for the lithic industries, the new collection is in general comparable to that of Bordes. Nevertheless, there are some new elements including the presence of Quina technology in the upper part of the sequence.Le gisement moustérien du Pech de l’Azé IV se situe à Carsac (Dordogne) en Périgord, près de Sarlat, dans le sud-ouest de la France. Fouillé par F. Bordes durant les années 1970, il n’a jamais été véritablement publié si l’on excepte l’étude que nous avons consacrée en 2000 au matériel issu de ses fouilles. Les travaux de terrain effectués dans ce gisement entre 2000 et 2003 avaient pour but de faire une nouvelle lecture stratigraphique, de préciser les processus de formation du site et de dater la séquence. Nous présentons ici les premiers résultats concernant la géologie, ainsi qu’une description rapide des industries et les premières dates ESR, le programme engagé étant toujours en cours. L’étude microscopique et macroscopique détaillée des huit principales couches stratigraphiques révèle que les dépôts sableux proviennent d’un même et vaste système de grottes englobant probablement l’ensemble des sites moustériens du Pech de l’Azé (I, II et IV). Le niveau inférieur, dépôt sombre et organique, est particulièrement intéressant. Il renferme de multiples surfaces de combustion souvent piétinées et peut-être des vidanges de foyers. Bien que déposés sous un climat tempéré, les sédiments d’origine anthropique sont bien conservés. Si, dans la séquence, l’observation macroscopique a permis d’identifier des phénomènes de solifluxion, l’analyse microscopique n’a montré pratiquement aucun indice d’un climat froid. En ce qui concerne les industries, les nouvelles séries sont globalement comparables aux anciennes. Toutefois, quelques nouveaux éléments sont apparus, notamment la présence d’une technologie Quina dans la partie supérieure de la séquence.Turq Alain, Dibble Harold Lewis, Goldberg Paul, McPherron Shannon P., Sandgathe Dennis M., Jones Heather L., Maddison Kerry, Maureille Bruno, Mentzer Suzanne, Rink Jack W., Steenhuyse Alexandre. Les fouilles récentes du Pech de l’Azé IV (Dordogne). In: Gallia préhistoire, tome 53, 2011. pp. 1-58