26th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2017): Part 3 - Meeting Abstracts - Antwerp, Belgium. 15–20 July 2017

This work was produced as part of the activities of FAPESP Research,\ud Disseminations and Innovation Center for Neuromathematics (grant\ud 2013/07699-0, S. Paulo Research Foundation). NLK is supported by a\ud FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship (grant 2016/03855-5). ACR is partially\ud supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

DNA metabarcoding of prey reveals spatial, temporal and diet partitioning of an island ecosystem by four invasive wasps

International audienc

The use of legumes - Nature-compatible cultivation practices

The tool wants to encourage farmers to grow and use legumes and to be aware of the positive environmental effects they can produce by doing so. The book describes examples from organic and conventional farms and thus aims at both kinds of farmers

Leguminosen nutzen - Naturverträgliche Anbaumethoden aus der Praxis

Das Praxishandbuch gibt einblicke in den vielfältigen und nachhaltigen Leguminosenanbau. Aus der Praxis werden unterschiedlichste Anbaukonzepte auf verschiedenen Standorten und mit verschiedensten Leguminosen veranschaulicht. Dabei wird deutlich, dass es für (fast) jeden Betrieb eine passende Leguminose gibt, die in das Anbau- und Verwertungskonzept integriert werden kann. Das Handbuch soll vor allem Lust darauf machen, den Leguminosenanbau in seinen unterschiedlichen Varianten auszuprobieren und in den Betrieb zu integrieren

Fruit weight of coffee beans from an pollinator/vertebrate-exclosure experiment conducted in three different land use types at Mount Kilimanjaro

Wild animals substantially support crop production by providing ecosystem services, such as pollination and natural pest control. However, the strengths of synergies between ecosystem services and their dependencies on land-use management are largely unknown. Here, we took an experimental approach to test the impact of land-use intensification on both individual and combined pollination and pest control services in coffee production systems at Mount Kilimanjaro. We established a full-factorial pollinator and vertebrate exclosure experiment along a land-use gradient from traditional homegardens (agroforestry systems), shaded coffee plantations to sun coffee plantations (total sample size = 180 coffee bushes). The exclusion of vertebrates led to a reduction in fruit set of ca 9%. Pollinators did not affect fruit set, but significantly increased fruit weight of coffee by an average of 7.4%. We found no significant decline of these ecosystem services along the land-use gradient. Pest control and pollination service were thus complementary, contributing to coffee production by affecting the quantity and quality of a major tropical cash crop across different coffee production systems at Mount Kilimanjaro

Biologische Vielfalt spielend erleben

Die Broschüre wurde im Rahmen des Projekts „Kinder-Garten im Kindergarten – Gemeinsam Vielfalt entdecken!“ erstellt, das schon die Kleinsten für Natur und Artenschutz begeistern will. „Naturerfahrung mit allen Sinnen“ ist das Thema des Leitfadens. Die Broschüre zeigt aus den verschiedensten Blickwinkeln, dass die Natur alles bietet, was für ganzheitliches Lernen wichtig ist. Wissenschaftler erklären, warum Naturerfahrungen für die Hirn- und Persönlichkeitsentwicklung des Kindes unverzichtbar sind. Eltern, Erzieherinnen und Erzieher sowie eine Naturgartenplanerin berichten, wie sich die Kinder verändern, wenn sie mehr Natur erleben dürfen. Zahlreiche praktische Beispiele, wie etwa das Herstellen von Samenpralinen und diverse Spielvorschläge mit Naturmaterialien, regen zum Nachahmen an. Es wird deutlich, dass oft ganz einfache Mittel genügen, um wirkungsvoll mehr Bewusstsein für biologische Vielfalt zu schaffen und sie im Kindergartenalltag zu leben. Das Projekt „Kinder-Garten im Kindergarten – Gemeinsam Vielfalt entdecken!“ wird gefördert durch das Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN) mit Mitteln des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit (BMUB). Weitere Informationen zum Projekt finden Sie unter www.kinder-garten.de

The origins of global invasions of the German wasp (Vespula germanica) and its infection with four honey bee viruses

A successful control or eradication programme using biological control or genetically-mediated methods requires knowledge of the origin and the extent of wasp genetic diversity. Mitochondrial DNA variation in the native and invaded range of the social wasp Vespula germanica was used to examine intraspecific genetic variation and invasive source populations.We also examined wasps for the presence of four viruses found in honey bees: Acute bee paralysis virus, Deformed wing virus, Israeli acute paralysis virus and Kashmir bee virus. German wasps showed reduced genetic diversity in the invaded range compared to that of their native range. Populations in the introduced range are likely to have arrived from different source populations. All four viral honey bee pathogens were found in V. germanica, although they varied in their distribution and strain. Multiple introductions of German wasps have occurred for most invaded regions, though some populations are genetically homogenous. The differing locations of origin will guide researchers searching for biocontrol agents andthe reduced genetic diversity may make these wasps a potentially viable target for control via gene drives.Fil: Brenton Rule, Evan C.. Centre For Biodiversity And Restoration Ecology; Nueva ZelandaFil: Dobelmann, Jana. Centre For Biodiversity And Restoration Ecology; Nueva ZelandaFil: Baty, James W.. Malaghan Institute Of Medical Research; Nueva ZelandaFil: Brown, Robert L.. Crown Research Institutes. Landcare Research; Nueva ZelandaFil: Dvorak, Libor. Mestske Museum Marianske Lazne; República ChecaFil: Grangier, Julien. Universite Lyon 2; FranciaFil: Masciocchi, Maité. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Laboratorio de Ecología de Insectos; ArgentinaFil: McGrannachan, Chris. Monash University; AustraliaFil: Shortall, Chris R.. Rothamsted Insect Survey; Reino UnidoFil: Schmack, Julia. Centre For Biodiversity And Restoration Ecology; Nueva ZelandaFil: van Zyl, Carolien. Centre For Biodiversity And Restoration Ecology; Nueva ZelandaFil: Veldtman, Ruan. Centre For Biodiversity And Restoration Ecology; Nueva ZelandaFil: Lester, Philip J.. Centre For Biodiversity And Restoration Ecology; Nueva Zeland

Experimental field exclosure of birds and bats in agricultural systems ? Methodological insights, potential improvements, and cost-benefit trade-offs

Experimental exclosure of birds and bats constitutes a powerful tool to study the impacts of wildlife on pests and crop yields in agricultural systems. Though widely utilized, exclosure experiments are not standardized across studies. Indeed, key differences surrounding the design, materials, and protocols for implementing field-based exclosure experiments of flying vertebrates increase heterogeneity across studies, and limit our understanding of biodiversity-friendly land use management. We reviewed the available literature on studies in which bird and bat exclosures were applied to study pest control in agricultural settings, and isolated 30 studies from both tropical and temperate land use systems, involving 12 crop types across 14 countries. Focusing on exclosure effects on crop yield, we analyzed effect detectability for a subset of suitable data. We then analyzed the potential of exclosure methods and possible extensions to improve our understanding of complex food webs and ecosystem services affecting the productivity of agricultural systems. While preferences exist in materials (e.g., nylon nets and bamboo frames), experimental exclosure studies of birds and bats differed greatly in their respective design, related costs, and effort ? limiting the generalization and transferability of results at larger spatial scales. Most studies were based on experiments conducted in the United States and the Neotropics, mainly in coffee and cacao farms. A lack of preliminary or long-term data with repeated measurements makes it impossible to apply power analysis in most studies. Common constraints include, among other things, the choice of material and experimental duration, as well as the consideration of local versus landscape factors. We discuss such limitations, related common pitfalls, and options for optimization to inform improved planning, design, and execution of exclosure studies. By doing so, we aim to promote more comparable and transferable approaches in future field research on biodiversity-mediated ecosystem services

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with adult congenital heart disease listed for heart and heart-lung transplantation in the Eurotransplant region

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic success in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) leads to a growing number of adults with CHD (adult CHD [ACHD]) who develop end-stage heart failure. We aimed to determine patient characteristics and outcomes of ACHD listed for heart transplantation. METHODS: Using data from all the patients with ACHD in 20 transplant centers in the Eurotransplant region from 1999 to 2015, we analyzed patient characteristics, waiting list, and post-transplantation outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 204 patients with ACHD were listed during the study period. The median age was 38 years, and 62.3% of the patients were listed in high urgency (HU), and 37.7% of the patients were in transplantable (T)-listing status. A total of 23.5% of the patients died or were delisted owing to clinical worsening, and 75% of the patients underwent transplantation. Median waiting time for patients with HU-listing status was 4.18 months and with T-listing status 9.07 months. There was no difference in crude mortality or delisting between patients who were HU status listed and T status listed (p = 0.65). In multivariable regression analysis, markers for respiratory failure (mechanical ventilation, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.11-1.81, p = 0.006) and arrhythmias (anti-arrhythmic medication, HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.01-2.01, p = 0.044) were associated with a higher risk of death or delisting. In the overall cohort, post-transplantation mortality was 26.8% after 1 year and 33.4% after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Listed patients are at high risk of death without differences in the urgency of listing. Respiratory failure requiring invasive ventilation and possibly arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic medication indicate worse outcomes on waiting list