Network reorganization and breakdown of an ant-plant protection mutualism with elevation.

Both the abiotic environment and the composition of animal and plant communities change with elevation. For mutualistic species, these changes are expected to result in altered partner availability, and shifts in context-dependent benefits for partners. To test these predictions, we assessed the network structure of terrestrial ant-plant mutualists and how the benefits to plants of ant inhabitation changed with elevation in tropical forest in Papua New Guinea. At higher elevations, ant-plants were rarer, species richness of both ants and plants decreased, and the average ant or plant species interacted with fewer partners. However, networks became increasingly connected and less specialized, more than could be accounted for by reductions in ant-plant abundance. On the most common ant-plant, ants recruited less and spent less time attacking a surrogate herbivore at higher elevations, and herbivory damage increased. These changes were driven by turnover of ant species rather than by within-species shifts in protective behaviour. We speculate that reduced partner availability at higher elevations results in less specialized networks, while lower temperatures mean that even for ant-inhabited plants, benefits are reduced. Under increased abiotic stress, mutualistic networks can break down, owing to a combination of lower population sizes, and a reduction in context-dependent mutualistic benefits

Yawan_Tree_Phylogeny

A Newick file of the Host Tree Phylogeny used for analysis of host community phylogenetic diversity and Distance Based Specialisation Index (DSI

Quantitative Plant-Herbivore interaction matrices

Nine txt files with quantitative interaction matrices. Files ABCD-Primary forest plots, HJK-Mature secondary forest plots and FG- Young secondary forest plot

Near-fatal mucormycosis post-double lung transplant presenting as uncontrolled upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Invasive fungal infections in immunosuppressed transplant patients are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case of splenic mucormycosis post-double lung transplant, presenting as uncontrolled near-fatal upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, to remind clinicians of the need to consider pre-transplant invasive fungal infection risk factors if an unexpected fungal infection arises in the post-transplant period. This case also highlights the valuable contribution of molecular technology for fungal identification but also the need for clinical correlation. Keywords: Gastrointestinal mucormycosis, Splenic mucormycosis, Lung transplantation, Haemorrhag

Appendix 1 Figures from Network reorganization and breakdown of an ant–plant protection mutualism with elevation

Supporting figures S1-S

Plant Community Data and accompanying environmental data used in Ordination analysis

Plant Community Data from nine 0.2ha plots. Plots ABCD-Primary forest, HJK- Mature Secondary Forest and FG- Young Secondary Forest. Data are from plants above 5cm dbh. Values represent individuals

Data from: High specialization and limited structural change in plant‐herbivore networks along a successional chronosequence in tropical montane forest

Secondary succession is well‐understood, to the point of being predictable for plant communities, but the successional changes in plant‐herbivore interactions remains poorly explored. This is particularly true for tropical forests, despite the increasing importance of early successional stages in tropical landscapes. Deriving expectations from successional theory, we examine properties of plant‐herbivore interaction networks while accounting for host phylogenetic structure along a succession chronosequence in montane rainforest in Papua New Guinea. We present one of the most comprehensive successional investigations of interaction networks, equating to >40 person years of field sampling, and one of the few focused on montane tropical forests. We use a series of nine 0.2ha forest plots across young secondary, mature secondary and primary montane forest, sampled almost completely for woody plants and larval leaf chewers (Lepidoptera), using forest felling. These networks comprised of 12,357 plant‐herbivore interactions and were analysed using quantitative network metrics, a phylogenetically controlled host‐use index and a qualitative network beta diversity measure. Network structural changes were low and specialisation metrics surprisingly similar throughout succession, despite high network beta diversity. Herbivore abundance was greatest in the earliest stages, and hosts here had more species‐rich herbivore assemblages, presumably reflecting higher palatability due to lower defensive investment. All herbivore communities were highly specialised, using a phylogenetically narrow set of hosts, while host phylogenetic diversity itself decreased throughout the chronosequence. Relatively high phylogenetic diversity, and thus high diversity of plant defenses, in early succession forest may result in herbivores feeding on fewer hosts than expected. Successional theory, derived primarily from temperate systems, is limited in predicting tropical host‐herbivore interactions. All succession stages harbour diverse and unique interaction networks, which together with largely similar network structures and consistent host use patterns, suggests general rules of assembly may apply to these systems

A randomised feasibility trial of stereotactic prostate radiotherapy with or without elective nodal irradiation in high-risk localised prostate cancer (SPORT Trial)

PURPOSE: To establish the feasibility of a randomised clinical trial comparing stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) to the prostate-only (P-SABR) or to prostate plus pelvic lymph nodes (PPN-SABR) in patients with unfavourable intermediate- or high-risk localised prostate cancer and explore potential toxicity biomarkers.MATERIALS &amp; METHODS: Thirty adult men with at least one of the following features; clinical MRI stage T3a N0 M0, Gleason score ≥ 7 (4+3), PSA &gt; 20 ng/mL were randomised 1:1 to P-SABR or PPN-SABR. P-SABR patients received 36.25Gy/5 fractions/29 days, PPN-SABR patients also received 25Gy/5 fractions to pelvic nodes with the final cohort receiving a boost to the dominant intraprostatic lesion of 45-50 Gy. γH2AX foci numbers, citrulline levels and circulating lymphocyte counts were quantified. Acute toxicity information (CTCAE v4.03) was collected weekly at each treatment and at six weeks and three months. Physician-reported late RTOG toxicity was recorded from 90 days to 36 months post-completion of SABR. Patient-reported quality of life (EPIC and IPSS) scores were recorded with each toxicity timepoint.RESULTS: The target recruitment was achieved and treatment successfully delivered in all patients.0% and 6.7% (P-SABR) and 6.7% and 20.0% (PPN-SABR) experienced acute grade ≥ 2 gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity respectively. At 3 years, 6.7% and 6.7% (P-SABR) and 13.3% and 33.3% (PPN-SABR) had experienced late grade ≥ 2 GI and GU toxicity respectively. One patient (PPN-SABR) had late grade 3 GU toxicity (cystitis and haematuria), no other grade ≥ 3 toxicity was observed. 33.3% and 60% (P-SABR) and 64.3% and 92.9% (PPN-SABR) experienced a minimally clinically important change (MCIC) in late EPIC bowel and urinary summary scores respectively. γH2AX foci numbers at 1 hour post-first fraction were significantly higher in PPN-SABR arm compared to P-SABR arm (p=0.04). Patients with late grade ≥ 1 GI toxicity had significantly larger falls in circulating lymphocytes (12 weeks post-radiotherapy, p=0.01), and a trend towards higher γH2AX foci numbers (p=0.09), than patients with no late toxicity. Patients with late grade ≥ 1 bowel toxicity and late diarrhoea experienced greater falls in citrulline levels (p=0.05).CONCLUSIONS: A randomised trial comparing P-SABR to PPN-SABR is feasible with acceptable toxicity. Correlations of γH2AX foci, lymphocyte counts and citrulline levels with irradiated volume and toxicity suggest potential as predictive biomarkers. This study has informed a multicentre UK randomised phase III clinical trial.</p

High specialization and limited structural change in plant‐herbivore networks along a successional chronosequence in tropical montane forest

Secondary succession is well‐understood, to the point of being predictable for plant communities, but the successional changes in plant‐herbivore interactions remains poorly explored. This is particularly true for tropical forests despite the increasing importance of early successional stages in tropical landscapes. Deriving expectations from successional theory, we examine properties of plant‐herbivore interaction networks while accounting for host phylogenetic structure along a succession chronosequence in montane rainforest in Papua New Guinea. We present one of the most comprehensive successional investigations of interaction networks, equating to > 40 person years of field sampling, and one of the few focused on montane tropical forests. We use a series of nine 0.2 ha forest plots across young secondary, mature secondary and primary montane forest, sampled almost completely for woody plants and larval leaf chewers (Lepidoptera) using forest felling. These networks comprised of 12 357 plant‐herbivore interactions and were analysed using quantitative network metrics, a phylogenetically controlled host‐use index and a qualitative network beta diversity measure. Network structural changes were low and specialisation metrics surprisingly similar throughout succession, despite high network beta diversity. Herbivore abundance was greatest in the earliest stages, and hosts here had more species‐rich herbivore assemblages, presumably reflecting higher palatability due to lower defensive investment. All herbivore communities were highly specialised, using a phylogenetically narrow set of hosts, while host phylogenetic diversity itself decreased throughout the chronosequence. Relatively high phylogenetic diversity, and thus high diversity of plant defenses, in early succession forest may result in herbivores feeding on fewer hosts than expected. Successional theory, derived primarily from temperate systems, is limited in predicting tropical host‐herbivore interactions. All succession stages harbour diverse and unique interaction networks, which together with largely similar network structures and consistent host use patterns, suggests general rules of assembly may apply to these systems