Adaptive Radiation in Mediterranean Cistus (Cistaceae)

lineage consists of 12 species primarily distributed in Mediterranean habitats and is herein subject to analysis. lineages), which display asymmetric characteristics: number of species (2 vs. 10), leaf morphologies (linear vs. linear to ovate), floral characteristics (small, three-sepalled vs. small to large, three- or five-sepalled flowers) and ecological attributes (low-land vs. low-land to mountain environments). A positive phenotype-environment correlation has been detected by historical reconstructions of morphological traits (leaf shape, leaf labdanum content and leaf pubescence). Ecological evidence indicates that modifications of leaf shape and size, coupled with differences in labdanum secretion and pubescence density, appear to be related to success of new species in different Mediterranean habitats.

Extant diversity of bryophytes emerged from successive post-Mesozoic diversification bursts

Unraveling the macroevolutionary history of bryophytes, which arose soon after the origin of land plants but exhibit substantially lower species richness than the more recently derived angiosperms, has been challenged by the scarce fossil record. Here we demonstrate that overall estimates of net species diversification are approximately half those reported in ferns and similar to 30% those described for angiosperms. Nevertheless, statistical rate analyses on time-calibrated large-scale phylogenies reveal that mosses and liverworts underwent bursts of diversification since the mid-Mesozoic. The diversification rates further increase in specific lineages towards the Cenozoic to reach, in the most recently derived lineages, values that are comparable to those reported in angiosperms. This suggests that low diversification rates do not fully account for current patterns of bryophyte species richness, and we hypothesize that, as in gymnosperms, the low extant bryophyte species richness also results from massive extinctions.Assembling the Tree of Life programme at NSF; NSF [EF-0531730-002, EF-0531680, EF-0531750]; Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division; BeiPD-cofund Marie Curie fellowshipinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Global Priorities for Conserving the Evolutionary History of Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras

In an era of accelerated biodiversity loss and limited conservation resources, systematic prioritization of species and places is essential. In terrestrial vertebrates, evolutionary distinctness has been used to identify species and locations that embody the greatest share of evolutionary history. We estimate evolutionary distinctness for a large marine vertebrate radiation on a dated taxon-complete tree for all 1,192 chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, rays and chimaeras) by augmenting a new 610-species molecular phylogeny using taxonomic constraints. Chondrichthyans are by far the most evolutionarily distinct of all major radiations of jawed vertebrates—the average species embodies 26 million years of unique evolutionary history. With this metric, we identify 21 countries with the highest richness, endemism and evolutionary distinctness of threatened species as targets for conservation prioritization. On average, threatened chondrichthyans are more evolutionarily distinct—further motivating improved conservation, fisheries management and trade regulation to avoid significant pruning of the chondrichthyan tree of life

A Functional Phylogenomic View of the Seed Plants

A novel result of the current research is the development and implementation of a unique functional phylogenomic approach that explores the genomic origins of seed plant diversification. We first use 22,833 sets of orthologs from the nuclear genomes of 101 genera across land plants to reconstruct their phylogenetic relationships. One of the more salient results is the resolution of some enigmatic relationships in seed plant phylogeny, such as the placement of Gnetales as sister to the rest of the gymnosperms. In using this novel phylogenomic approach, we were also able to identify overrepresented functional gene ontology categories in genes that provide positive branch support for major nodes prompting new hypotheses for genes associated with the diversification of angiosperms. For example, RNA interference (RNAi) has played a significant role in the divergence of monocots from other angiosperms, which has experimental support in Arabidopsis and rice. This analysis also implied that the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase IV and V (NRPD2) played a prominent role in the divergence of gymnosperms. This hypothesis is supported by the lack of 24nt siRNA in conifers, the maternal control of small RNA in the seeds of flowering plants, and the emergence of double fertilization in angiosperms. Our approach takes advantage of genomic data to define orthologs, reconstruct relationships, and narrow down candidate genes involved in plant evolution within a phylogenomic view of species' diversification

El consumo de alcohol en personal administrativo y de servicios de una universidad del Ecuador O consumo de álcool em pessoal administrativo e de serviço de uma universidade do Equador Alcohol consumption in administrative and service personnel in an Ecuadorian university

Se trata de un estudio descriptivo. El objetivo de la investigación fue describir el consumo de alcohol entre los trabajadores en el sector administrativo y de servicios en una universidad en Ecuador y determinar las diferencias en el consumo entre los dos grupos de trabajadores. Participaron 102 trabajadores respondiendo al Cuestionario de Identificación de los Trastornos debidos al Consumo de Alcohol (AUDIT). Los resultados mostraron que el personal de servicios consume más alcohol que el administrativo con un promedio de puntuación total de 7,26 frente a 1,84; presencia de consumo sensato 79,41%; consumo perjudicial 19,61%; y, dependencia plena 0,98%. En el nivel 1 de riesgo de consumo están 76,47%; en el nivel 2, 18,63%; en el nivel 3, 3,92%; y, en nivel 4, 0,98%. Se concluyó que frente a la identificación del riesgo de consumo encontrado, es necesaria la implantación de un programa de prevención de uso de drogas en la institución estudiada.<br>Trata-se de pesquisa descritiva. O objetivo da pesquisa foi descrever o consumo de álcool entre trabalhadores do setor administrativo e de serviços de uma universidade do Equador e verificar diferenças de consumo, entre os dois grupos de trabalhadores. Dos participantes, 102 responderam ao Questionário de Identificação de Transtornos devidos ao Consumo de Álcool (AUDIT). Os resultados mostraram que o pessoal de serviço consume mais álcool que o administrativo, com média de pontuação total de 7,26 e 1,84, respectivamente; presença de consumo sensato entre os funcionários foi de 79,41%, consumo prejudicial de 19,61% e dependência plena 0,98%. No nível 1 de risco de consumo estão 76,47% dos trabalhadores, no nível 2 estão cerca de 18,63%, no nível 3 cerca de 3,92% e no nível 4, 0,98% das pessoas. Conclui-se que, frente à identificação de riscos de consumo encontrados, é necessário a implantação de um programa de prevenção ao uso de drogas na instituição estudada.<br>The aim of this descriptive study was to characterize the consumption of alcohol among workers in the administrative and service sectors at an Ecuadorian university and to determine differences in consumption between the two groups of workers. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was applied to 102 participants. The results showed that the service personnel consumed more alcohol than the administrative personnel with a mean total score of 7.26 against 1.84. The total prevalence of non-prejudicial consumption was 79.41%, prejudicial consumption 19.61% and dependency 0.98%. The total scores of 76.47% of the participants were within risk zone one; 18.63% risk zone two; 3.92% risk zone three; 0.98% risk zone four. In conclusion, due to the identification of hazardous consumption, it is necessary to implement a program of alcohol use prevention in the institution studied