Assessing the risks to Mediterranean islands ecosystems from non-native plant introductions.

Peer Reviewe

Invasion biology : critique of a pseudoscience, David I. Theodoropoulos, Avvar Books, Blythe (California) (2003)

Suehs Carey M. Invasion biology : critique of a pseudoscience, David I. Theodoropoulos, Avvar Books, Blythe (California) (2003). In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 29 n°2, 2003. p. 264

Invasion biology : critique of a pseudoscience, David I. Theodoropoulos, Avvar Books, Blythe (California) (2003)

Suehs Carey M. Invasion biology : critique of a pseudoscience, David I. Theodoropoulos, Avvar Books, Blythe (California) (2003). In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 29 n°2, 2003. p. 264

Facteurs écologiques et évolutifs influençant les processus d'invasion chez Carpobrotus (Aizoaceae) en région méditerranéenne

Malgré la présence de Carpobrotus edulis et C. affine acinaciformis sur les côtes méditerranéennes françaises depuis 200 ans, peu d'études ont abordé la dynamique d'invasion de ces plantes grasses d'origine sud-africaine. La prise en compte à la fois du rôle des caractères génétiques et reproducteurs, de la forte fréquence d'hybridation, des pollinisateurs indigènes et de la dissémination des graines par des mammifères introduits en liaison avec les phénomènes liés à l'insularité, suggère que l'invasion des Carpobrotus spp. constitue un phénomène complexe et évolutif qui a pour conséquence des changements profonds au sein des écosystèmes insulaires envahis. Ceci résulte, notamment, en une diminution du pourcentage d'abondance de divers groupes d'espèces végétales, en une transformation du sol dans le cas de C. affine acinaciformis, en une restructuration des réseaux des pollinisateurs et en une facilitation des mammifères introduits. La plus forte fréquence d'occurrence de C. edulis dans le sud-est de la France par rapport à C. affine acinaciformis est potentiellement expliquée par des différences génétiques et reproductrices entre ces deux taxons. Plusieurs indications d'hybridations fréquentes pourraient expliquer une partie de la nature envahissante de ces deux xénophytes, leurs changements par rapport à leur aire d'origine, et leur fort potentiel évolutif avec possibilité de polyploïdisation. L'ensemble de ces résultats suggère que l'étude de la biologie évolutive des espèces envahissantes est nécessaire pour mieux comprendre les processus d'invasion et l'évolution contemporaine.AIX-MARSEILLE3-BU Sc.St Jérô (130552102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Consistency in the habitat degree of invasion for three invasive plant species across Mediterranean islands

Habitats are known to vary in their vulnerability to invasion by alien plants and different species often colonise distinct habitats. To assess the consistency in the degree of invasion of particular habitats, this study examined the frequency of occurrence and local abundance of three invasive plant taxa: Ailanthus altissima, Carpobrotus spp., and Oxalis pes-caprae across different habitat types on four representative Mediterranean islands. We conducted systematic field surveys recording the presence-absence and cover of these taxa on the islands of Mallorca, Corsica, Sardinia and Crete. Drawing on the results of 5,285 sample points, the frequency of occurrence of the three invaders tends to be higher than expected in urban, ruderal and roadside habitats. In contrast, scrub habitats rarely contain any of the three invaders, indicating that they may be more resistant to invasion. The degree of invasion, determined by the local abundance of an invasive plant in any one habitat, varies according to the identity of the invader and the island. However, based on average abundance, Oxalis pes-caprae exhibits the highest degree of invasion, and Carpobrotus spp. the least. There is no indication that any one of the four islands is more prone to either higher frequencies or abundances of the three invaders. These patterns suggest that anthropogenic changes in Mediterranean islands will increase the vulnerability of certain habitats to invasion and increase the distribution of these three invasive taxa at any of the four islands

Impact of psychological factors on the health-related quality of life of patients treated for pulmonary arterial hypertension

International audiencePulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and life-threatening disease well-marked by under diagnosis, delayed diagnosis and atypical treatments. Few data are available on the quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial characteristics of patients with PAH. Our aim is to describe the impact of psychological factors on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of treated PAH patients in a cross-sectional study

Feasibility of Type 3 Polygraphy for Evaluating Leak Determinants in CPAP-Treated OSA Patients A Step Toward Personalized Leak Management

International audienceBackground: Unintentional leaks (ULs) are frequent adverse effects in CPAP-treated patients. We previously published a novel methodology for analyzing the determinants of UL using polysomnography. We now propose a simplified recording system using a type 3 polygraphic device (Somnolter; Nomics S.A.).Research question: (1) To describe individual UL determinants provided by the Somnolter software in automatic-CPAP-treated OSA patients; (2) To subsequently describe the clinical consensus of four physicians on how to manage each individual UL situation.Study design and methods: Somnoler recordings performed under nasal automatic-CPAP were automatically analyzed with APIOS software. For each polygraphic recording, APIOS provided the OR and the CIs for potential determinants of UL: mouth opening, CPAP pressure, body position, and mandibular oscillation. Based on these results, each of four physicians was asked to choose one of four strategies: (1) increase or decrease therapeutic pressure; (2) change nasal mask for oro-nasal mask/chinstrap; (3) favor a nonsupine or supine position; (4) no action for individual leak management. Subsequently, a meeting was held to determine a consensus choice for each individual case.Results: Seventy-eight consecutive patients underwent home-polygraphy with Somnolter. Fifty recordings were analyzed (16 females; 65 [57-75] years of age; BMI = 31.1 [27.4-35.3]). Individual diagnosis of UL was routinely feasible. The determinants of UL were heterogeneous in the population, and diagnosis of UL was not feasible in 10 patients. Based on the results from this analysis, we established consensus leak management strategies at the individual level. The average Cohen κ coefficient for the four raters was 0.58. Pressure modification was proposed in 36% of patients, no action in 24%, installation of a facial mask/chinstrap in 22%, and positional treatment in 18%.Interpretation: The use of type 3 polygraphy for characterizing leak determinants in patients treated with nasal automatic-CPAP is feasible in routine practice. Leak determinants are patient specific. Interrater concordance for determining individual leak management strategies demonstrated a "fair" level of agreement.Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT03381508; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov)