Impacts of summer drought on plant-herbivore interactions : the Glanville fritillary metapopulation as a case study

The life-history and performance of insect herbivores can be significantly affected by environmental stress, and the responses may vary across the life cycle of the insect. This variability in the responses depends on the specific demands of different life stages, but also on their potential to adjust behaviourally by seeking better environmental conditions. Drought is one of the most dominant environmental stressors that can affect natural populations. The increased prevalence and severity of droughts during the last decades have generated radical changes in ecosystems with further consequences for biotic interactions. Therefore, it is necessary to study the effects imposed by drought on trophic interactions. Insect herbivores are intimately dependent on their host plants, which means that the effects of drought on host plant may impact life-history traits and behaviour of the insect herbivore. Drought may, for example, alter the nutritional quality of the host plant with subsequent impacts on the herbivores acquiring resources from these plants. This PhD thesis investigates the responses of the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) to variation in host plant quality, by exposing one of its prominent host plants (Plantago lanceolata) to drought. In my research, I combined lab experiments with detailed field measurements and existing long-term monitoring data. The lab experiments demonstrated that drought-exposed host plants are nutritionally richer than well-watered host plants, and that the larval responses to host plant quality changes imposed by drought are developmental stage-dependent. Furthermore, I show that post-diapause larvae and adult females each preferred host plants that enhanced their growth rate or survival of their offspring, respectively. Using long-term monitoring data and detailed information of the habitat conditions from the field, I found that maternal oviposition preference was directed towards drought-exposed microhabitats with high host plant abundance. This preference was correlated with higher overwinter survival of the offspring on normal years. However, as females did not show an ability to adjust their oviposition preferences in a year of severe drought, this led to very few surviving offspring. These data suggest that the metapopulation may be at risk under increasing drought conditions in the future. The results from this dissertation highlight that both the host plant and the insect herbivore are somewhat adapted to live under variable environmental conditions. The host plants show ability to respond to drought conditions and also the insect herbivore. The insect herbivore is, to some extent, also able to adjust its behaviour in response to variation in host plant quality induced by drought. Additionally, my results show that microhabitat conditions are important in determining insect herbivores’ performance. However, if conditions become even drier in the future this may impose risks. In conclusion, to fully understand the potential impacts of anthropogenic climate change, we need to understand their impacts on the interactions of species, such as host plants and insect herbivores.Ympäristöstressi voi vaikuttaa merkittävästi kasvinsyöjähyönteisten elinkiertoekologiaan ja suorituskykyyn ja nämä vaikutukset voivat vaihdella hyönteisen elinkaaren ajan. Vaihtelu reaktioissa riippuu eri elämänvaiheiden erityisvaatimuksista, mutta myös niiden mahdollisuudesta mukauttaa käyttäytymistä etsimällä parempia ympäristöolosuhteita. Kuivuus on yksi hallitsevimmista ympäristöstressereistä, jotka voivat vaikuttaa luonnossa eläviin populaatioihin. Lisääntynyt kuivuus ja sen vakavuus viime vuosikymmeninä ovat aiheuttaneet radikaaleja muutoksia ekosysteemeissä, joilla on lisävaikutuksia bioottisiin vuorovaikutuksiin. Siksi on tarpeen tutkia kuivuuden vaikutuksia troofisiin vuorovaikutuksiin. Kasvinsyöjähyönteiset ovat läheisesti riippuvaisia isäntäkasveistaan ja tästä johtuen kuivuuden vaikutukset isäntäkasveihin voivat vaikuttaa hyönteisten elinkiertoekologisiin piirteisiin ja käyttäytymiseen. Kuivuus voi esimerkiksi muuttaa isäntäkasvin ravitsemuksellista laatua ja myöhemmin vaikuttaa niihin kasvissyöjiin, jotka saavat resursseja näistä kasveista. Tämä väitöskirja tutkii täpläverkkoperhosen (Melitaea cinxia) reaktioita isäntäkasvien laadun vaihtelulle altistamalla yksi sen pää-asiallisista isäntäkasveista (Plantago lanceolata) kuivuudelle. Tutkimuksessani yhdistin laboratoriokokeet yksityiskohtaisiin kenttämittauksiin ja olemassa olevaan pitkän aikavälin seurantatietoon. Laboratoriokokeet osoittivat, että kuivuudelle altistuneet isäntäkasvit ovat ravitsemuksellisesti rikkaampia kuin hyvin kastellut isäntäkasvit ja että kuivuuden aiheuttamat muutokset isäntäkasvien laadussa vaikuttavat toukkiin eri tavoin eri kehitysvaiheissa. Lisäksi osoitan, että talvihorroksen jälkeiset toukat ja aikuiset naarasperhoset valitsivat isäntäkasveja, jotka paransivat niiden kasvunopeutta tai vastaavasti jälkeläisten eloonjäämistä. Käyttäen pitkäaikaista seurantatietoa ja yksityiskohtaista tietoa elinympäristöolosuhteista, huomasin, että perhosnaaraat suosivat muninnassa kuivuudelle altistuneita mikrohabitaatteja, joilla on runsaasti isäntäkasveja. Tämä mieltymys korreloi korkeampaa jälkeläisten selviytymistodennäköisyyttä normaaleina vuosina. Naaraat eivät kuitenkaan osoittaneet kykyä muuttaa munimismieltymyksiään vakavan kuivuuden vuonna, mikä johti hyvin pieneen määrään eloon jääneitä jälkeläisiä. Nämä tiedot viittaavat siihen, että metapopulaatio voi vaarantua tulevaisuudessa kuivuuden lisääntyessä. Tämän väitöstutkimuksen tulokset korostavat, että sekä isäntäkasvi että kasvinsyöjähyönteinen ovat jossain määrin sopeutuneet elämään vaihtelevissa ympäristöolosuhteissa. Isäntäkasvit ja hyönteiset molemmat osoittavat kykyä reagoida kuivuusolosuhteisiin. Hyönteiset pystyvät myös jossain määrin säätämään käyttäytymistään vasteena kuivuuden aiheuttamille isäntäkasvien laadun vaihteluille. Lisäksi tulokseni osoittavat, että mikrohabitaattiolosuhteet ovat tärkeitä kasvinsyöjähyönteisten suorituskyvyn määrittämisessä. Olosuhteiden muuttuminen tulevaisuudessa vielä kuivemmiksi saattaa aiheuttaa riskejä. Yhteenvetona voidaan todeta, että ihmisen aiheuttaman ilmastomuutoksen mahdollisten vaikutusten ymmärtämiseksi meidän on ymmärrettävä vaikutukset lajien, kuten isäntäkasvien ja kasvinsyöjähyönteisten väliseen vuorovaikutukseen

Advertisement and combat calls of the glass frog Centrolene lynchi (Anura: Centrolenidae), with notes on combat and reproductive behaviors

Se describen los cantos de anuncio y de combate de la rana de cristal Centrolene lynchi, una especie endémica de los bosques nublados del Ecuador. El canto de anuncio típico consiste en una nota tonal seguida por 1-3 notas pulsadas, cada una de las cuales tiene 1-3 pulsos. Entre la variación observada en el canto de anuncio está la adición de una nota corta que precede a la tonal, así como también la ausencia de esta última. Estas modificaciones son similares a las observadas en otros anuros y pueden estar relacionadas a la presencia de hembras, otros machos, depredadores y/o cambios en el ruido ambiental. Adicionalmente, se describe el canto de combate emitido durante las peleas entre machos. El combate entre machos es similar al observado en otras especies de la subfamilia Centroleninae y ha sido hipotetizado como una sinapomorfía de la misma. Finalmente, se presenta información sobre los hábitos reproductivos de los machos, cuidado parental y desarrollo de las puestas de huevos.We describe the advertisement and combat calls, combat behavior, and reproductive behavior of the glass frog Centrolene lynchi, an endemic species of the cloud forests of Ecuador. The typical advertisement call consists of a tonal note and 1-3 peaked notes, each with 1-3 pulses. Variations on this advertisement call include the addition of a short note before the tonal note, as well as the absence of the tonal note. These modifications may be similar to the described call modifications of other anurans in response to the presence of conspecific females and males, potential predators and/or changes in the sound environment. Additionally, we describe the combat call emitted during previously undescribed venter-to-venter combat between males. The discovery of this combat behavior is consistent with the hypothesis that venter-to-venter combat behavior is a shared derived trait of the subfamily Centroleninae. Finally, we describe male reproductive habits and development of the species, including egg attendance by males and implied male parental care.Descrevemos aqui os cantos de anúncio e de combate de Centrolene lynchi, uma espécie endêmica dos bosques nublados do Equador. O canto de anúncio típico consiste en uma nota tonal seguida por 1-3 notas pulsadas, cada uma das quais com 1-3 pulsos. Entre a variação observada no canto de anúncio está a adição de uma nota curta que precede a nota tonal e a ausência desta última. Essas modificações são similares às observadas em outros anuros e podem estar relacionadas com a presença de fêmeas, outros machos, predadores e/ou mudanças no ruído do ambiente. Adicionalmente, descrevemos o canto de combate emitido durante as lutas entre machos. O combate entre machos é similar ao observado em outras espécies da sub-família Centroleninae e já foi hipotetizado como uma sinapomorfía do grupo. Finalmente, apresentamos informações sobre os hábitos reprodutivos dos machos, cuidado parental e desenvolvimento dos ovos

Forward-central two-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5 2GeV/c. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B. V.Peer reviewe

Event-shape engineering for inclusive spectra and elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV

Peer reviewe

Elliptic flow of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

The elliptic flow, v(2), of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity (2.5 <y <4) is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)= 2.76TeVwith the ALICE detector at the LHC. The scalar product, two- and four-particle Q cumulants and Lee-Yang zeros methods are used. The dependence of the v(2) of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays on the collision centrality, in the range 0-40%, and on transverse momentum, p(T), is studied in the interval 3 <p(T)<10 GeV/c. A positive v(2) is observed with the scalar product and two-particle Q cumulants in semi-central collisions (10-20% and 20-40% centrality classes) for the p(T) interval from 3 to about 5GeV/c with a significance larger than 3 sigma, based on the combination of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The v(2) magnitude tends to decrease towards more central collisions and with increasing pT. It becomes compatible with zero in the interval 6 <p(T)<10 GeV/c. The results are compared to models describing the interaction of heavy quarks and open heavy-flavour hadrons with the high-density medium formed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

燒津鰹漁業に於ける船仲組織(上) - 本邦漁業に特異なる勞働組織の一例 -

We report on the measurement of freeze-out radii for pairs of identical-charge pions measured in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 TeV as a function of collision centrality and the average transverse momentum of the pair kT. Three-dimensional sizes of the system (femtoscopic radii), as well as direction-averaged onedimensional radii are extracted. The radii decrease with kT, following a power-law behavior. This is qualitatively consistent with expectations from a collectively expanding system, produced in hydrodynamic calculations. The radii also scale linearly with _dNch/dη_1/3. This behavior is compared to world data on femtoscopic radii in heavy-ion collisions. While the dependence is qualitatively similar to results at smaller √sNN, a decrease in the ratio Rout/Rside is seen, which is in qualitative agreement with a specific prediction from hydrodynamic models: a change from inside-out to outside-in freeze-out configuration. The results provide further evidence for the production of a collective, strongly coupled system in heavy-ion collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P &lt; 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)

Incidence of severe critical events in paediatric anaesthesia (APRICOT): a prospective multicentre observational study in 261 hospitals in Europe

Background Little is known about the incidence of severe critical events in children undergoing general anaesthesia in Europe. We aimed to identify the incidence, nature, and outcome of severe critical events in children undergoing anaesthesia, and the associated potential risk factors. Methods The APRICOT study was a prospective observational multicentre cohort study of children from birth to 15 years of age undergoing elective or urgent anaesthesia for diagnostic or surgical procedures. Children were eligible for inclusion during a 2-week period determined prospectively by each centre. There were 261 participating centres across 33 European countries. The primary endpoint was the occurence of perioperative severe critical events requiring immediate intervention. A severe critical event was defined as the occurrence of respiratory, cardiac, allergic, or neurological complications requiring immediate intervention and that led (or could have led) to major disability or death. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01878760. Findings Between April 1, 2014, and Jan 31, 2015, 31â127 anaesthetic procedures in 30â874 children with a mean age of 6·35 years (SD 4·50) were included. The incidence of perioperative severe critical events was 5·2% (95% CI 5·0â5·5) with an incidence of respiratory critical events of 3·1% (2·9â3·3). Cardiovascular instability occurred in 1·9% (1·7â2·1), with an immediate poor outcome in 5·4% (3·7â7·5) of these cases. The all-cause 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 10 in 10â000. This was independent of type of anaesthesia. Age (relative risk 0·88, 95% CI 0·86â0·90; p<0·0001), medical history, and physical condition (1·60, 1·40â1·82; p<0·0001) were the major risk factors for a serious critical event. Multivariate analysis revealed evidence for the beneficial effect of years of experience of the most senior anaesthesia team member (0·99, 0·981â0·997; p<0·0048 for respiratory critical events, and 0·98, 0·97â0·99; p=0·0039 for cardiovascular critical events), rather than the type of health institution or providers. Interpretation This study highlights a relatively high rate of severe critical events during the anaesthesia management of children for surgical or diagnostic procedures in Europe, and a large variability in the practice of paediatric anaesthesia. These findings are substantial enough to warrant attention from national, regional, and specialist societies to target education of anaesthesiologists and their teams and implement strategies for quality improvement in paediatric anaesthesia. Funding European Society of Anaesthesiology

Incidence of severe critical events in paediatric anaesthesia (APRICOT): a prospective multicentre observational study in 261 hospitals in Europe

Background Little is known about the incidence of severe critical events in children undergoing general anaesthesia in Europe. We aimed to identify the incidence, nature, and outcome of severe critical events in children undergoing anaesthesia, and the associated potential risk factors. Methods The APRICOT study was a prospective observational multicentre cohort study of children from birth to 15 years of age undergoing elective or urgent anaesthesia for diagnostic or surgical procedures. Children were eligible for inclusion during a 2-week period determined prospectively by each centre. There were 261 participating centres across 33 European countries. The primary endpoint was the occurence of perioperative severe critical events requiring immediate intervention. A severe critical event was defined as the occurrence of respiratory, cardiac, allergic, or neurological complications requiring immediate intervention and that led (or could have led) to major disability or death. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01878760. Findings Between April 1, 2014, and Jan 31, 2015, 31 127 anaesthetic procedures in 30 874 children with a mean age of 6.35 years (SD 4.50) were included. The incidence of perioperative severe critical events was 5.2% (95% CI 5.0-5.5) with an incidence of respiratory critical events of 3.1% (2.9-3.3). Cardiovascular instability occurred in 1.9% (1.7-2.1), with an immediate poor outcome in 5.4% (3.7-7.5) of these cases. The all-cause 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 10 in 10 000. This was independent of type of anaesthesia. Age (relative risk 0.88, 95% CI 0.86-0.90; p<0.0001), medical history, and physical condition (1.60, 1.40-1.82; p<0.0001) were the major risk factors for a serious critical event. Multivariate analysis revealed evidence for the beneficial effect of years of experience of the most senior anaesthesia team member (0.99, 0.981-0.997; p<0.0048 for respiratory critical events, and 0.98, 0.97-0.99; p=0.0039 for cardiovascular critical events), rather than the type of health institution or providers. Interpretation This study highlights a relatively high rate of severe critical events during the anaesthesia management of children for surgical or diagnostic procedures in Europe, and a large variability in the practice of paediatric anaesthesia. These findings are substantial enough to warrant attention from national, regional, and specialist societies to target education of anaesthesiologists and their teams and implement strategies for quality improvement in paediatric anaesthesia