Differences in pollination syndromes and the frequency of autonomous delayed selfing between co-flowering hibiscus aponeurus (sprague and hutch) and h. Flavifolius (ulbr) from Kenya.

Delayed autonomous selfing offers a mechanism for seed production when pollination levels are low or unpredictable. At Mpala Research Centre (MRC) in Kenya, we examined the relationships between floral attraction, insect visitation, and delayed autonomous selfing through backwards stylar curvature in the co-flowering Hibiscus aponeurus and H. flavifolius. Despite producing similar pollen and nectar rewards, visitation rates and the composition of floral visitor guilds varied significantly between these species. Across four years of observations, floral visitation in H. flavifolius was dominated by bees, and in H. aponeurus by a mixture of bees, butterflies and beetles. Visitation rates to H. flavifolius flowers (range 0.17 - 2.1 visits flr-1hr-1) were two times greater than to H. aponeurus flowers (range 0 - 2.7 visits flr-1hr-1), which resulted in significantly higher pollen deposition and removal rates in H. flavifolius than in H. aponeurus. Field crosses demonstrated little pollen limitation in either species. In open-pollinated flowers, H. aponeurus displayed significantly greater stylar curvature and apparent self-pollination than did H. flavifolius. Floral attributes in H. aponeurus, such as a smaller corolla size and a downwards orientation of the stylar column, also suggest that delayed selfing is a more important mechanism of reproductive assurance in this species than in H. flavifolius. Determining whether these differences in insect visitation and stylar curvature are characteristic for these species or are unique to MRC will require comparison with populations located in other parts of the ranges, genetic tests of selfing rates, and chemical analyses of nectar, pollen, and floral volatiles

Latin Americans show wide-spread Converso ancestry and imprint of local Native ancestry on physical appearance

Historical records and genetic analyses indicate that Latin Americans trace their ancestry mainly to the intermixing (admixture) of Native Americans, Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans. Using novel haplotype-based methods, here we infer sub-continental ancestry in over 6,500 Latin Americans and evaluate the impact of regional ancestry variation on physical appearance. We find that Native American ancestry components in Latin Americans correspond geographically to the present-day genetic structure of Native groups, and that sources of non-Native ancestry, and admixture timings, match documented migratory flows. We also detect South/East Mediterranean ancestry across Latin America, probably stemming mostly from the clandestine colonial migration of Christian converts of non-European origin (Conversos). Furthermore, we find that ancestry related to highland (Central Andean) versus lowland (Mapuche) Natives is associated with variation in facial features, particularly nose morphology, and detect significant differences in allele frequencies between these groups at loci previously associated with nose morphology in this sample.Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celula

Latin Americans show wide-spread Converso ancestry and imprint of local Native ancestry on physical appearance

Historical records and genetic analyses indicate that Latin Americans trace their ancestry mainly to the intermixing (admixture) of Native Americans, Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans. Using novel haplotype-based methods, here we infer sub-continental ancestry in over 6,500 Latin Americans and evaluate the impact of regional ancestry variation on physical appearance. We find that Native American ancestry components in Latin Americans correspond geographically to the present-day genetic structure of Native groups, and that sources of non-Native ancestry, and admixture timings, match documented migratory flows. We also detect South/East Mediterranean ancestry across Latin America, probably stemming mostly from the clandestine colonial migration of Christian converts of non-European origin (Conversos). Furthermore, we find that ancestry related to highland (Central Andean) versus lowland (Mapuche) Natives is associated with variation in facial features, particularly nose morphology, and detect significant differences in allele frequencies between these groups at loci previously associated with nose morphology in this sample.Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celula

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Community plant-pollinator interactions in a Kenyan savannah

Previous work has demonstrated that coflowering plant species (those that flower simultaneously in the same place) can potentially compete for pollination services. Competition for pollination among plant species can negatively impact their reproductive success. To minimise competition, plants can partition the activity of shared pollinators through releasing their floral resources at different times. Resource partitioning has been studied in several individual plant species, and some guilds of plants (e.g. African acacias), but little is known about temporal changes in resources at a community level. This thesis examines the spatiotemporal changes of floral resources at a community level and its implications for pollinator activity patterns. The temporal patterns of nectar and pollen provision of 70 plant species in two different plots were investigated at Mpala, in north central Kenya between 2004 and 2006. The communities studied showed that seasonal and daily microclimatic fluctuations significantly affect flowering patterns, times of flower opening, dehiscence and nectar production; and consequently the overall amount of pollen mass and nectar volume available at different times. I explored the effects of daily temporal changes in floral resource availability on pollinator activity patterns both in a guild of Malvaceae plant species, and at the community level through pollination webs. Detailed observations of daily patterns of resource provision and floral visitation in six Malvaceae plant species showed that plants can effectively avoid competition through attracting different pollinators, and via resource partition. Examination of daily changes in resource availability and the links portrayed in plant-visitor webs revealed that visitors move from one plant species to another, actively tracking changes in floral resource provision. These results suggest that in combination with physiological limitations imposed to the pollinators by temperature, bottom-up influences are a main force shaping daily pollinator activity patterns at a community level. Competition for pollination can only occur if plant species flower simultaneously and share pollinators within the same geographic area. Competition for pollination has been investigated in at least two African communities, but none of these studies have assessed the geographic spatial scale over which competition among coflowering species might happen. With the aim of measuring the geographic distance that pollinators visiting African acacias fly whilst foraging, I used molecular techniques to conduct paternity analysis as a proxy of how far pollen is carried away from particular trees within a population of Senegalia (Acacia) mellifera. The paternity analysis showed that pollinators move on average a maximum of 60 metres from the sampled trees, and that trees producing more flowers (resources) receive more visits, confirming that if sufficient resources are available pollinators can stay within relatively small geographic areas. Pollen movement only provides a partial measurement of the genetic neighbourhood of individual plants, because genes via seed dispersal can travel longer distances than those encompassed by the pollinators foraging areas. To investigate patterns of genetic variability in S. mellifera, I used microsatellites to conduct landscape genetic analyses including 25 adult populations and 9 seedling populations. Fourteen distinctive genetic clusters separated by four main geographic barriers were identified in the analyses. Significantly higher inbreeding was found in the seedling populations than in the adult populations. I discuss the possibility that this situation has been caused by anthropogenic exploitation and fragmentation of the adult stands

Data from: Impacts of worker density in colony-level aggression, expansion, and survival of the acacia-ant Crematogaster mimosae

Experimental studies assessing the impact of demographic changes on aggression and inter-group competitive outcomes in communities of social species are rare. This gap in our knowledge is important, not only because social species are foundational elements of many terrestrial ecosystems, but because interference competition among social groups often involves decision-like processes influenced by demographic and environmental contexts. In East Africa, the symbiotic ant Crematogaster mimosae is a co-dominant competitor that engages in high-mortality, intra- and interspecific battles for sole possession of host trees. We manipulated worker density on C. mimosae Acacia host trees, and the colony's opportunity to expand onto neighboring trees to identify how these factors influenced colony-level aggression, expansion success, and longer-term survivorship. Worker density on focal trees was increased through translocation of domatia-bearing branches, and was decreased using partial tree fumigations. We examined impacts of density manipulations on aggression and immediate expansion success under two different risk scenarios. We tied focal trees to either an experimentally emptied-tree (low-risk treatment), or to a C. nigriceps-occupied tree (high-risk treatment). Expansion success onto emptied neighbor trees was 100% for controls and increased-density colonies, but only 50% for decreased-density colonies, despite the fact that host trees are a limiting resource in this system. Success expanding onto trees occupied by a heterospecific competitor reached 36%, 40%, and 79% in decreased, control, and increased-density trees, respectively. Our results show that changes in worker density due to disturbances or inter-group battles have the potential to disrupt competitive hierarchies. Worker density manipulations also affected longer-term colony persistence. Behavioral and genetic data revealed that 12 months after expansions 100% of the decreased-density colonies, and 25% of control and increased-density colonies, had been supplanted by neighboring opportunistic conspecifics. Intraspecific aggression may have lower costs in C. mimosae because aggressive colonies can incorporate workers or queens from defeated competitors. The unexpectedly high frequency of conflicts between conspecific C. mimosae, in combination with behaviors decreasing the cost of intraspecific competition relative to interspecific conflict, may create opportunities for the survival of subordinate competitors in this ant–plant system

Distribución de los vertebrados amenazados en la Reserva de la Biosfera de Bañados del Este, Uruguay

Utilizamos información publicada e inédita sobre mamíferos, reptiles y anfibios amenazados para identificar áreas de gran riqueza de especies amenazadas dentro de la Reserva de Biósfera Bañados del Este (Uruguay). Esa información fue luego comparada con una propuesta de zonificación de la reserva. Todas las especies analizadas fueron registradas dentro de las zonas propuestas como de conservación. Sin embargo, dada la falta de información actualizada sobre la distribución de estas especies fuera de esas zonas, no fue posible comparar su valor para la protección de especies amenazadas con el de otros sectores de la reserva. En los últimos 22 años menos del 25% de la reserva ha sido relevado. Mientras que el sector sur ha sido relativamente bien estudiado, la mayor riqueza de especies amenazadas se registró en la poco estudiada zona norte, cerca del límite con Brasil. Es por lo tanto altamente prioritario incrementar el conocimiento de la distribución y abundancia de las especies dentro de la reserva, para el desarrollo de estrategias exitosas de manejo de la misma, en particular en el Departamento de Cerro Largo, que constituye el sector más promisorio para la identificación de nuevas áreas con alta riqueza de especies amenazadas.We used published and unpublished data on endangered mammals, reptiles and amphibians to identify areas of high endangered-species richness within Bañados del Este Biosphere Reserve (Uruguay). We then compared that information with an extant proposal of conservation zones for the reserve. All the endangered species analysed were recorded within the proposed protection zones. However, due to the lack of updated information about the distribution of species outside of those areas, it was not possible to compare their value for the protection of endangered species with that of other sectors of the reserve. In the last 22 years less than 25% of the reserve has been surveyed. While the southern part has been relatively well sampled, the greatest richness of endangered species was recorded in the poorly studied northern part, near to the border with Brazil. Hence, a high priority for the development of sound management strategies for the reserve is to expand the knowledge of the current distribution and abundance of the species within it. In particular the area of Cerro Largo, as it constitutes the most promising area for the identification of new sectors rich in endangered species

Appendix B. Comparisons of numbers of flower-visitor links per time interval between observed networks and null model results for visitor species with no significant differences between observed values and null expectations at both study sites in June 2004.

Comparisons of numbers of flower-visitor links per time interval between observed networks and null model results for visitor species with no significant differences between observed values and null expectations at both study sites in June 2004