Effects of habitat deterioration on the population genetics and conservation of the jaguar

Over the past century, human activities and their side effects have significantly threatened both ecosystems and resident species. Nevertheless, the genetic patterns of large felids that depend heavily on large and well-conserved continuous habitat remain poorly studied. Using the largest-ever contemporary genetic survey of wild jaguars (Panthera onca), we evaluated their genetic diversity and population structure in natural (Brazilian Amazon) and highly modified habitats (e.g. Cerrado, Caatinga) including those close to the northern (Yucatan, Mexico) and southern (Pantanal) edge of the species’ distribution range. Data from our set of microsatellites revealed a pronounced genetic structure, with four genetically differentiated geographic areas. Geographic distance was not the only factor influencing genetic differentiation through the jaguar range. Instead, we found evidence of the effects of habitat deterioration on genetic patterns: while the levels of genetic diversity in the Amazon forest, the largest continuum habitat for the species, are high and consistent with panmixia across large distances, genetic diversity near the edge of the species distribution has been reduced through population contractions. Mexican jaguar populations were highly differentiated from those in Brazil and genetically depauperated. An isolated population from the Caatinga showed the genetic effects of a recent demographic decline (within the last 20–30 years), which may reflect recent habitat degradation in the region. Our results demonstrate that the jaguar is highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation especially in human-dominated landscapes, and that in Brazil, the existing but limited genetic connectivity in the central protected areas should be maintained. These conclusions have important implications for the management of wide-ranging species with high dispersal and low population density. The restoration of ecological connectivity between populations over relatively large scales should be one of the main priorities for species conservation.Peer reviewe

Magnetic and pair correlations of the Hubbard model with next-nearest-neighbor hopping

A combination of analytical approaches and quantum Monte Carlo simulations is used to study both magnetic and pairing correlations for a version of the Hubbard model that includes second-neighbor hopping $t^{\prime }=-0.35t$ as a model for high-temperature superconductors. Magnetic properties are analyzed using the Two-Particle Self-Consistent approach. The maximum in magnetic susceptibility as a function of doping appears both at finite $$ and at $t^{\prime }=0$ but for two totally different physical reasons. When $t^{\prime }=0$, it is induced by antiferromagnetic correlations while at $t^{\prime }=-0.35t$ it is a band structure effect amplified by interactions. Finally, pairing fluctuations are compared with $$-matrix results to disentangle the effects of van Hove singularity and of nesting on superconducting correlations. The addition of antiferromagnetic fluctuations increases slightly the $d$-wave superconducting correlations despite the presence of a van Hove singularity which tends to decrease them in the repulsive model. Some aspects of the phase diagram and some subtleties of finite-size scaling in Monte Carlo simulations, such as inverted finite-size dependence, are also discussed.Comment: Revtex, 8 pages + 15 uuencoded postcript figure

An Integrated TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource to Drive High-Quality Survival Outcome Analytics

For a decade, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program collected clinicopathologic annotation data along with multi-platform molecular profiles of more than 11,000 human tumors across 33 different cancer types. TCGA clinical data contain key features representing the democratized nature of the data collection process. To ensure proper use of this large clinical dataset associated with genomic features, we developed a standardized dataset named the TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource (TCGA-CDR), which includes four major clinical outcome endpoints. In addition to detailing major challenges and statistical limitations encountered during the effort of integrating the acquired clinical data, we present a summary that includes endpoint usage recommendations for each cancer type. These TCGA-CDR findings appear to be consistent with cancer genomics studies independent of the TCGA effort and provide opportunities for investigating cancer biology using clinical correlates at an unprecedented scale. Analysis of clinicopathologic annotations for over 11,000 cancer patients in the TCGA program leads to the generation of TCGA Clinical Data Resource, which provides recommendations of clinical outcome endpoint usage for 33 cancer types

Calagem e desenvolvimento radicular, nutrição e produção de laranja 'Valência' sobre porta-enxertos e sistemas de preparo do solo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da calagem e de porta-enxertos sobre a quantidade de raízes, a nutrição e a produção de laranjeira 'Valência', em diferentes sistemas de preparo do solo. O experimento foi instalado em blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subsubdivididas e três repetições. As parcelas consistiram de dois sistemas de preparo do solo: convencional e com preparo mínimo. As subparcelas consistiram de níveis de calagem: com ou sem. As subsubparcelas consitiram de três porta-enxertos: limoeiro 'Cravo' (Citrus limonia), tangerineira 'Cleópatra' (Citrus reshni) e Poncirus trifoliata. O tratamento com calagem recebeu 3 Mg ha-1 de calcário dolomítico, antes da implantação, e 1,65 Mg ha-1 quatro anos após o plantio. A produção foi avaliada durante 12 anos; o teor de Ca e Mg nas folhas foram avaliados 13 anos após a implantação do experimento; e as raízes e as características químicas do solo, 14 anos após a implantação. O preparo de solo, e sua interação com os demais fatores, não influenciou as variáveis avaliadas. O limoeiro 'Cravo' adaptou-se melhor à acidez, ao Al e a menores teores de Ca e Mg no solo, e não respondeu ao tratamento com calagem. Poncirus trifoliata apresentou a pior adaptação à acidez do solo, com aumentos de 126% na quantidade de raízes e de 26,4% na produção de frutos em razão da calagem