Habitat use by Siberian warbler species at a stopover site in Far Eastern Russia

Knowledge of the routes and habitat use of Siberian songbird species during migration is very limited. The goal of our study was to describe the autumnal habitat use of seven Siberian warbler species in the genera Phylloscopus, Acrocephalus, Iduna and Locustella in Far Eastern Russia. A total of 2283 individuals were trapped in mist nets placed within different habitat types between 2012 and 2014 as part of the Amur Bird Project at Muraviovka Park in Far Eastern Russia. We studied the effect of habitat type and vegetation height on the occurrence of each species, and compared our results to published information on habitat use on the breeding grounds. Our results demonstrate that most species exhibit species-specific preferences for habitat type, and that these stopover habitats were similar to habitats used on the breeding grounds. © 2018 British Trust for Ornitholog

AMP-activated protein kinase deficiency reduces ozone-induced lung injury and oxidative stress in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acute ozone exposure causes lung oxidative stress and inflammation leading to lung injury. At least one mechanism underlying the lung toxicity of ozone involves excessive production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates such as peroxynitrite. In addition and beyond its major prooxidant properties, peroxynitrite may nitrate tyrosine residues altering phosphorylation of many protein kinases involved in cell signalling. It was recently proposed that peroxynitrite activates 5'-AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), which regulates metabolic pathways and the response to cell stress. AMPK activation as a consequence of ozone exposure has not been previously evaluated. First, we tested whether acute ozone exposure in mice would impair alveolar fluid clearance, increase lung tissue peroxynitrite production and activate AMPK. Second, we tested whether loss of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha1 subunit in mouse would prevent enhanced oxidative stress and lung injury induced by ozone exposure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Control and AMPKα1 deficient mice were exposed to ozone at a concentration of 2.0 ppm for 3 h in glass cages. Evaluation was performed 24 h after ozone exposure. Alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) was evaluated using fluorescein isothiocyanate tagged albumin. Differential cell counts, total protein levels, cytokine concentrations, myeloperoxidase activity and markers of oxidative stress, i.e. malondialdehyde and peroxynitrite, were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung homogenates (LH). Levels of AMPK-Thr¹⁷²phosphorylation and basolateral membrane Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase abundance were determined by Western blot.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In control mice, ozone exposure induced lung inflammation as evidence by increased leukocyte count, protein concentration in BAL and myeloperoxidase activity, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in LH. Increases in peroxynitrite levels (3 vs 4.4 nM, p = 0.02) and malondialdehyde concentrations (110 vs 230 μmole/g wet tissue) were detected in LH obtained from ozone-exposed control mice. Ozone exposure consistently increased phosphorylated AMPK-Thr¹⁷²to total AMPK ratio by 80% in control mice. Ozone exposure causes increases in AFC and basolateral membrane Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase abundance in control mice which did not occur in AMPKα1 deficient mice.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results collectively suggest that AMPK activation participates in ozone-induced increases in AFC, inflammation and oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to understand how the AMPK pathway may provide a novel approach for the prevention of ozone-induced lung injury.</p

Targeting miR-34a/Pdgfra interactions partially corrects alveologenesis in experimental bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication of preterm birth characterized by arrested lung alveolarization, which generates lungs that are incompetent for effective gas exchange. We report here deregulated expression of miR-34a in a hyperoxia-based mouse model of BPD, where miR-34a expression was markedly increased in platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)α-expressing myofibroblasts, a cell type critical for proper lung alveolarization. Global deletion of miR-34a; and inducible, conditional deletion of miR-34a in PDGFRα+ cells afforded partial protection to the developing lung against hyperoxia-induced perturbations to lung architecture. Pdgfra mRNA was identified as the relevant miR-34a target, and using a target site blocker in vivo, the miR-34a/Pdgfra interaction was validated as a causal actor in arrested lung development. An antimiR directed against miR-34a partially restored PDGFRα+ myofibroblast abundance and improved lung alveolarization in newborn mice in an experimental BPD model. We present here the first identification of a pathology-relevant microRNA/mRNA target interaction in aberrant lung alveolarization and highlight the translational potential of targeting the miR-34a/Pdgfra interaction to manage arrested lung development associated with preterm birth

Similar dispersal patterns between two closely related birds with contrasting migration strategies

Studying dispersal is crucial to understand metapopulation and sink-source dynamics and invasion processes. The capability to disperse is especially important for species living in fragmented habitats like wetlands. We investigated the distribution of natal and breeding dispersal distances and philopatry in Spanish populations of two closely related reedbed-nesting birds, the Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon and the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus. These warblers are morphologically very similar, but differ in migration strategy and, in our study area, in population size. Our aims were to find the best model for dispersal distances and to assess the occurrence of intra- or interspecific differences in dispersal patterns. We used ringing data from the Spanish marking scheme and selected recaptures to avoid including migrating individuals. In both species, most individuals were philopatric but dispersing birds were able to cross large distances (up to more than 100 km), suggesting the capability to compensate for habitat fragmentation. We found the heavy-tailed Cauchy distribution to be the best conceptual description for our data, in all cases but natal dispersal of Moustached Warblers. Among Eurasian Reed Warblers, natal philopatry was lower than breeding philopatry. We found no significant interspecific differences. This does not confirm the hypothesis of higher dispersal ability in long distance migrants (like Eurasian Reed Warblers) than in resident/short distance migrant bird species (like Moustached Warblers). The similarity in dispersal patterns among the two warblers may be explained by their close phylogenetic relatedness, similar constraints imposed on both species by a patchy habitat or similar evolutionary pressures.We are grateful to the many ringers who collected the data during years of fieldwork in Spain. Francesco Ceresa is supported by an "Atraent talent'' grant from the University of Valencia.Ceresa, F.; Belda, E.; Monrós González, JS. (2016). Similar dispersal patterns between two closely related birds with contrasting migration strategies. Population Ecology. 58(3):421-427. doi:10.1007/s10144-016-0547-0S421427583Banco de datos de anillamiento del remite ICONA – Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (2015) Datos de anillamiento y recuperaciones en España. Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, SEO/BirdLife, ICO, EBD-CSIC y GOB. Madrid (in Spanish)Begon M, Townsend CR, Harper JL (2006) Ecology: from individual to ecosystems, 4th edn. Blackwell Publishing, OxfordBlomqvist D, Fessl B, Hoi H, Kleindorfer S (2005) High frequency of extra-pair fertilisation in the moustached warbler, a songbird with a variable breeding system. Behaviour 142:1133–1148Bohonak AJ (1999) Dispersal, gene flow, and population structure. Q Rev Biol 74:21–45Burnham KP, Anderson DR (2002) Model selection and multi-model inference: a practical information-theoretic approach. Springer Verlag, New YorkCantos FJ, Tellería JL (1994) Stopover site fidelity of four migrant warblers in the Iberian Peninsula. J Avian Biol 25:131–134Carrascal LM, Palomino D (2008) Las aves comunes reproductoras en España. Población en 2004–2006. SEO/BirdLife, Madrid (in Spanish with English abstract)Carrascal LM, Weykam S, Palomino D, Lobo JM, Díaz L (2005) Atlas Virtual de las Aves Terrestres de España. http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/atlasaves.html . Accessed 16 Feb 2016Castany J (2003) El carricerín real (Acrocephalus melanopogon) en el P. N. del Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca. Doctoral thesis. University of Valencia, Valencia (in Spanish)Castany J, López G (2006) El carricerín real en España. I Censo Nacional (2005). SEO/BirdLife, Madrid (in Spanish with English abstract)Ceresa F, Belda EJ, Kvist L, Rguibi-Idrissi H, Monrós JS (2015) Does fragmentation of wetlands affect gene flow in sympatric Acrocephalus warblers with different migration strategies? J Avian Biol 46:577–588Cooper NW, Murphy MT, Redmond LJ, Dolan AC (2009) Density-dependent age at first reproduction in the eastern kingbird. Oikos 118:413–419Delignette-Muller ML, Dutang C (2015) fitdistrplus: An R Package for fitting distributions. J Stat Softw 64:1–34. http://www.jstatsoft.org/v64/i04/ . Accessed 2 Sep 2015Frankham R, Ballou JD, Briscoe DA (2010) Introduction to conservation genetics, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, CambridgeHengeveld R (1994) Small step invasion research. Trends Ecol Evol 9:339–342Hodges MF Jr, Krementz DG (1996) Neotropical migratory breeding bird communities in riparian forests of different widths along the Altamaha River, Georgia. Wilson Bulletin 108:496–506Ibrahim KM, Nichols RA, Hewitt GM (1996) Spatial patterns of genetic variation generated by different forms of dispersal during range expansion. Heredity 77:282–291Kennerley P, Pearson D (2010) Reed and bush warblers. Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd., LondonKoenig WD, Van Vuren D, Hooge PN (1996) Detectability, philopatry, and the distribution of dispersal distances in vertebrates. Trends Ecol Evol 11:514–517Kralj J, Procházka P, Fainová D, Patzenhauerová H, Tutiš V (2010) Intraspecific variation in the wing shape and genetic differentiation of reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus in Croatia. Acta Ornithologica 45:51–58Lambrechts MM, Blondel J, Caizergues A, Dias PC, Pradol R, Thomas DW (1999) Will estimates of lifetime recruitment of breeding offspring on small-scale study plots help us to quantify processes underlying adaptation? Oikos 86:147–151Machtans CS, Villard MA, Hannon SJ (1996) Use of riparian buffer strips as movement corridors by forest birds. Conserv Biol 10:1366–1379Nathan R, Perry G, Cronin JT, Strand AE, Cain ML (2003) Methods for estimating long-distance dispersal. Oikos 103:261–273Newton I (1992) Experiments on the limitation of bird numbers by territorial behaviour. Biol Rev 67:129–173Norberg UM (1990) Vertebrate flight, mechanics, physiology, morphology, ecology and evolution. Springer Verlag, BerlinParacuellos M, Tellería JL (2004) Factors affecting the distribution of a waterbird community: the role of habitat configuration and bird abundance. Waterbirds 27:446–453Paradis E, Baillie SR, Sutherland WJ, Gregory RD (1998) Patterns of natal and breeding dispersal in birds. J Anim Ecol 67:518–536Paradis E, Baillie SR, Sutherland WJ (2002) Modeling large-scale dispersal distances. Ecol Model 151:279–292Peirò IG (2003) Intraspecific variation in the wing shape of the long-distance migrant Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus: effects of age and distance of migration. Ardeola 50:31–37Plissner JH, Gowaty PA (1996) Patterns of natal dispersal, turnover, and dispersal costs in eastern bluebirds. Anim Behav 51:1307–1322Procházka P, Stokke BG, Jensen H, Fainová D, Bellinvia E, Fossøy F, Vikan JR, Bryja J, Soler M (2011) Low genetic differentiation among reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus populations across Europe. J Avian Biol 42:103–113R Core Team (2014) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R foundation for statistical computing, ViennaRobinson WD (1999) Long-term changes in the avifauna of Barro Colorado Island, Panama, a tropical forest isolate. Conserv Biol 13:85–97SEO/BirdLife (2016a) Acrocephalus melanopogon. Anillamientos por década. http://www.anillamientoseo.org/ . Accessed 19 Feb 2016 (in Spanish)SEO/BirdLife (2016b) Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Anillamientos por década. http://www.anillamientoseo.org/ . Accessed 19 Feb 2016 (in Spanish)Shigesada N, Kawasaki K, Takeda Y (1995) Modeling stratified diffusion in biological invasions. Am Nat 146:229–251Silva JP, Phillips L, Jones W, Eldridge J, O’Hara E (2007) Life and Europe’s wetlands, restoring a vital ecosystem. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, LuxembourgSutherland GD, Harestad AS, Price K, Lertzman KP (2000) Scaling of natal dispersal distances in terrestrial birds and mammals. Conservation ecology 4:16. http://www.consecol.org/vol4/iss1/art16 . Accessed 23 Oct 2015Vadász C, Német Á, Karcza Z, Loránt M, Biró C, Csörgő T (2008) Study on breeding site fidelity of Acrocephalus Warblers in Central Hungary. Acta Zool Acad Sci H 54(Suppl. 1):167–175Van Houtan KS, Pimm SL, Halley JM, Bierregaard RO Jr, Lovejoy TE (2007) Dispersal of Amazonian birds in continuous and fragmented forest. Ecol Lett 10:219–229Van Houtan KS, Bass OL Jr, Lockwood J, Pimm SL (2010) Importance of estimating dispersal for endangered bird management. Conservation Letters 3:260–266Van Vessem J, Hecker N, Tucker GM (1997) Inland wetlands. In: Tucker GM, Evans MI (eds) Habitats for birds in Europe: A conservation strategy for the wider environment. BirdLife Conservation Series 6. BirdLife International, Cambridge, pp 125–158Waser PM, Creel SR, Lucas JR (1994) Death and disappearance: estimating mortality risk associated with philopatry and dispersal. Behav Ecol 5:135–141Willis EO (1974) Populations and local extinctions of birds on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Ecol Monogr 44:153–169Winkler DW, Wrege PH, Allen PE, Kast TL, Senesac P, Wasson MF, Llambías PE, Ferretti V, Sullivan PJ (2004) Breeding dispersal and philopatry in the tree swallow. Condor 106:768–776Winkler DW, Wrege PH, Allen PE, Kast TL, Senesac P, Wasson MF, Sullivan PJ (2005) The natal dispersal of tree swallows in a continuous mainland environment. J Anim Ecol 74:1080–109

The comorbidity profiles and medication issues of patients with multiple system atrophy: a systematic cross-sectional analysis

Background Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a complex and fatal neurodegenerative movement disorder. Understanding the comorbidities and drug therapy is crucial for MSA patients’ safety and management. Objectives To investigate the pattern of comorbidities and aspects of drug therapy in MSA patients. Methods Cross-sectional data of MSA patients according to Gilman et al. (2008) diagnostic criteria and control patients without neurodegenerative diseases (non-ND) were collected from German, multicenter cohorts. The prevalence of comorbidities according to WHO ICD-10 classification and drugs administered according to WHO ATC system were analyzed. Potential drug-drug interactions were identified using AiDKlinik®. Results The analysis included 254 MSA and 363 age- and sex-matched non-ND control patients. MSA patients exhibited a significantly higher burden of comorbidities, in particular diseases of the genitourinary system. Also, more medications were prescribed MSA patients, resulting in a higher prevalence of polypharmacy. Importantly, the risk of potential drug-drug interactions, including severe interactions and contraindicated combinations, was elevated in MSA patients. When comparing MSA-P and MSA-C subtypes, MSA-P patients suffered more frequently from diseases of the genitourinary system and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. Conclusions MSA patients face a substantial burden of comorbidities, notably in the genitourinary system. This, coupled with increased polypharmacy and potential drug interactions, highlights the complexity of managing MSA patients. Clinicians should carefully consider these factors when devising treatment strategies for MSA patients