Utility of RAPD Markers in Evaluating the Status of the Hawaiian Tree Fern Cibotium x heleniae

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers provide data consistent with the conclusion based on morphological characters that the recently named taxon Cibotium xheleniae is indeed of hybrid origin. This assertion is supported by (I) placement of C. xheleniae intermediate to the parent taxa, as determined by genetic similarity data; (2) location of C. xheleniae individuals on a clade intermediate to the parent species in the cladistic analysis; and (3) clustering of the C. xheleniae individuals between clusters of parental individuals in principal components analysis. Additivity of parental genetic markers in the putative hybrid ranged from 54 to 64%, providing additional though modest support for the hypothesized origin of C. x heleniae. Our results indicate that RAPD data can be of considerable value in assessing potential hybridity of individuals in naturally occurring populations

Association of Receiving Multiple, Concurrent Fracture-Associated Drugs With Hip Fracture Risk

Importance: Many prescription drugs increase fracture risk, which raises concern for patients receiving 2 or more such drugs concurrently. Logic suggests that risk will increase with each additional drug, but the risk of taking multiple fracture-associated drugs (FADs) is unknown. Objective: To estimate hip fracture risk associated with concurrent exposure to multiple FADs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used a 20% random sample of Medicare fee-for-service administrative data for age-eligible Medicare beneficiaries from 2004 to 2014. Sex-stratified Cox regression models estimated hip fracture risk associated with current receipt of 1, 2, or 3 or more of 21 FADs and, separately, risk associated with each FAD and 2-way FAD combination vs no FADs. Models included sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and use of non-FAD medications. Analyses began in November 2018 and were completed April 2019. Exposure: Receipt of prescription FADs. Main Outcomes and Measures: Hip fracture hospitalization. Results: A total of 11.3 million person-years were observed, reflecting 2,646,255 individuals (mean [SD] age, 77.2 [7.3] years, 1,615,613 [61.1%] women, 2,136,585 [80.7%] white, and 219 579 [8.3%] black). Overall, 2,827,284 person-years (25.1%) involved receipt of 1 FAD; 1,322,296 (11.7%), 2 FADs; and 954,506 (8.5%), 3 or more FADs. In fully adjusted, sex-stratified models, an increase in hip fracture risk among women was associated with the receipt of 1, 2, or 3 or more FADs (1 FAD: hazard ratio [HR], 2.04; 95% CI, 1.99-2.11; P\u3c.001; 2 FADs: HR, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.77-2.95; P\u3c.001; ≥3 FADs: HR, 4.50; 95% CI, 4.36-4.65; P\u3c.001). Relative risks for men were slightly higher (1 FAD: HR, 2.23; 95% CI, 2.11-2.36; P\u3c.001; 2 FADs: HR, 3.40; 95% CI, 3.20-3.61; P\u3c.001; ≥3 FADs: HR, 5.18; 95% CI, 4.87-5.52; P\u3c.001). Among women, 2 individual FADs were associated with HRs greater than 3.00; 80 pairs of FADs exceeded this threshold. Common, risky pairs among women included sedative hypnotics plus opioids (HR, 4.90; 95% CI, 3.98-6.02; P\u3c.001), serotonin reuptake inhibitors plus benzodiazepines (HR, 4.50; 95% CI, 3.76-5.38; P\u3c.001), and proton pump inhibitors plus opioids (HR, 4.00; 95% CI, 3.56-4.49; P\u3c.001). Receipt of 1, 2, or 3 or more non-FADs was associated with a small, significant reduction in fracture risk compared with receipt of no non-FADs among women (1 non-FAD: HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.96; P\u3c.001; 2 non-FADs: HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.81-0.87; P\u3c.001; ≥3 non-FADs: HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.72-0.77; P\u3c.001). Conclusions and Relevance: Among older adults, FADs are commonly used and commonly combined. In this cohort study, the addition of a second and third FAD was associated with a steep increase in fracture risk. Many risky pairs of FADs included potentially avoidable drugs (eg, sedatives and opioids). If confirmed, these findings suggest that fracture risk could be reduced through tighter adherence to long-established prescribing guidelines and recommendations

Advances in island plant biology since Sherwin Carlquist’s Island Biology

Sherwin Carlquist’s seminal publications—in particular his classic Island Biology, published in 1974—formulated hypotheses specific to island biology that remain valuable today. This special issue brings together some of the most interesting contributions presented at the First Island Biology Symposiumhosted in Honolulu on 7–11 July 2014.We compiled a total of 18 contributions that present data from multiple archipelagos across the world and from different disciplines within the plant sciences. In this introductory paper,we first provide a short overviewof Carlquist’s life andwork and then summarize themain findings of the collated papers. A first group of papers deals with issues to which Carlquist notably contributed: longdistance dispersal, adaptive radiation and plant reproductive biology. The findings of such studies demonstrate the extent to which the field has advanced thanks to (i) the increasing availability and richness of island data, covering many taxonomic groups and islands; (ii) new information from the geosciences, phylogenetics and palaeoecology, which allows us a more realistic understanding of the geological and biological development of islands and their biotas; and (iii) the new theoretical and methodological advances that allow us to assess patterns of abundance, diversity and distribution of island biota over large spatial scales. Most other papers in the issue cover a range of topics related to plant conservation on islands, such as causes and consequences ofmutualistic disruptions (due to pollinator or disperser losses, introduction of alien predators, etc.). Island biologists are increasingly considering reintroducing ecologically important species to suitable habitats within their historic range and to neighbouring islands with depauperate communities of vertebrate seed dispersers, and an instructive example is given here. Finally, contributions on ecological networks demonstrate the usefulness of this methodological tool to advancing conservationmanagement and better predicting the consequences of disturbances on species and interactions in the fragile insular ecosystems

A biosystematic study of the Muhlenbergia repens Complex (Poaceae)

Typescript (photocopy).A biosystematic treatment was made of the Muhlenbergia repens complex. Materials for morphological, anatomical, embryological, and cytological studies were collected from throughout the geographic region of this complex. Based on these studies six species are recognized: M. fastigiata, M. plumbea, M. repens, M. richardsonis, M. utilis, and M. villiflora. One new combination was made: M. villosa was submerged as a variety of M. villiflora. New biological descriptions are given for each of the recognized taxa. Floret vestiture was examined on each of the taxa by means of scanning electron microscopy. These investigations showed that, of the species traditionally referred to as "glabrous," three of the species examined were completely glabrous, with no vestiture of any kind, and two of the species had spikelets with minute or sparse pubescence on both lemma and palea. One species had florets with long villous macrohairs as previously described. This species and those with minute or sparse pubescence also have numerous papillae associated with the hairs. There is some evidence that the papillae represent non-functional or reduced macrohairs. A morphological examination was made on 117 populations of the complex. Phenetic and basic biostatistical techniques were used to delineate and define taxa. Principal components analysis, correlation and distance phenograms, and multivariate analysis were used to show spacial relationships among population clusters. Correlation coefficients, means, ranges, standard deviations, nested analysis of variance, and discriminant analysis were used to compare and define species. On the basis of these results, six species were defined. Detailed quantitative descriptions are given for leaf epidermal and internal anatomical characters. Characters of the abaxial epidermis and leaf transverse section were used to differentiate among the taxa. Differences between the varieties of M. villiflora were evident when leaves were viewed in transverse section. Leaf anatomical characters within the complex were typical of the Chloridoid-Eragrostoid type, this having been correlated with the C4 photosynthetic pathway, and specifically the NAD-me subtype. An indication was also found that rows of short cells on the epidermis of the leaf are only present if associated with sclerenchyma below the epidermal layer..

Development of a DNA Library for Native Hawaiian Plants

The native Hawaiian flora is under severe stress because of habitat loss and effects of invasive plants and animals introduced into the ecosystem. These factors are threatening to push many of the endemic species to extinction. In an effort to provide a broad genetic base from which research projects on native species may be initiated, DNA was isolated from endemic and indigenous species from Hawai'i, Kaua'i, Uina'i, Maui, Moloka'i, and O'ahu and included in a newly created Native Hawaiian Plants DNA Library. DNA accession numbers and collection information are presented for 206 species representing 75 families and 128 genera

Phylogeny and Biogeography of Pacific Rubus Subgenus ldaeobatus (Rosaceae) Species: Investigating the Origin of the Endemic Hawaiian Raspberry R. macraei

The endemic Hawaiian raspberries Rubus hawaiensis and R. macraei (both subgenus Idaeobatus) had been thought to be closely related species until recent molecular studies demonstrated otherwise. These studies suggest that they are the products of separate colonizations to the Hawaiian Islands. Affinities of R. hawaiensis to R. spectabilis of western North America were clearly confirmed. However, no clear relation to R. macraei has been published. This study was initiated to examine species of subg. Idaeobatus from the surrounding Pacific region as well as species from other subgenera to better evaluate biogeographic and phylogenetic affinities of R. macraei by means of chromosome analysis and molecular data using the chloroplast gene ndhF. Results show that R. macraei clusters in a clade with species of blackberries, subg. Rubus, and of these it is most closely linked to R. ursinus. Chromosomally, R. macraei is 2n = 6x = 42, a number that would be a new report for subg. Idaeobatus. However, polyploidy is common in subg. Rubus. Analyses indicate that R. macraei and R. hawaiensis are derived from separate colonizations from North America and that similarities between them are due to convergent evolution in the Hawaiian environment

Hawaiian Plant DNA Library II: Endemic, Indigenous, and Introduced Species

The Hawaiian Plant DNA Library of endemic and indigenous plant species preserves genetic material from all Hawaiian Islands. DNA accession numbers are reported here for 155 native species representing 92 genera and 48 families. Federal status of endangered species is indicated where applicable. Accessions for 71 species in 52 genera and 10 families of introduced species are also reported. Pest and invasive species are also indicated

Life Sciences Uniting in Assessing Student Writing

Student learning outcome (SLO) statements made by an educational program serve as targets for achievement and openly communicate the knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire from the program. Clearly stated SLOs are the necessary foundation of an evidence-based educational program through which faculty, staff, and student efforts are aligned. Establishment of these statements is, therefore, the primary step in building a robust, cooperative, and effective assessment system for improving student learning and development. Here we discuss an approach to the formulation, adoption, and application of a single SLO for undergraduate writing to be used across the five undergraduate majors (Biology, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Botany) in the School of Life Sciences formed in Fall 2019 through the merger of the Departments of Biology, Microbiology, and Botany

Genetic Diversity of the Endangered Endemic Hawaiian Genus Kokia (Malvaceae) 1

Abstract The genetic diversity of all three extant species of the Hawaiian endemic tree genus, Kokia, was examined using analyses of RAPD markers. All three species are federally endangered, two (K. cookei and K. drynarioides) critically so, and one (K. kauaiensis) is rare but with several populations. Samples extracted were PCR amplified with 10 primers to yield 115 genetic markers. Analyses indicate that genetic variation is present in all three species; a surprising result given that K. cookei survives only from self-fertilized propagules of the single surviving individual that was grafted on to the root stock of a related species, K. drynarioides. Principal coordinates and cluster analyses based on RAPD markers indicate that although K. kauaiensis has substantial genetic variation, samples are clearly separate from the other two species of the genus. In contrast, K. cookei and K. drynarioides collections are more similar, but still distinguishable when analyzed separately. The presence of substantial genetic variation lends optimism to the eventual recovery of K. kauaiensis through conservation efforts. Combinations of RAPD primers are suggested that reveal diagnostic alleles for each of the three extant species and can thus be used for species identification

POLYPOGON ELONGATUS H.B.K. (POACEAE) NEW IN TEXAS

Volume: 9Start Page: 187End Page: 18