63 research outputs found
Nuevas citas de Eleutherodactylus Duméril y Bibron, 1841 (Anura, Leptodactylidae) para Bolivia
Five species of the genus Eleutherodactylus (Anura, Leptodactylidae) are reported from Bolivia for the first time: E. altamazonicus from Departments Pando and La Paz; E. carvalhoi from Cochabamba; and E. ockendeni, E. skydmainos and E. zimmermanae from Pando. New departmental records are provided for other species: E. cruralis for Department Pando, E. danae for Beni and La Paz, E. platydactylus for Beni, E. toftae for Pando and La Paz and E. ventrimarmoratus for La Paz. Currently, 25 species of Eleutherodactylus are known in Bolivia. The taxonomic status of some species remains uncertain, new species are being described and others are still to be discovered. Therefore, the actual number of Bolivian Eleutherodactylus species is still unknown.En este trabajo se publican los primeros registros de cinco especies del gĂ©nero Eleutherodactylus (Anura, Leptodactylidae) para Bolivia: E. altamazonicus en los Departamentos de Pando y La Paz; E. carvalhoi en Cochabamba; y E. ockendeni, E. skydmainos y E. zimmermanae en Pando. AdemĂĄs, se aportan las primeras citas de E. cruralis para el Departamento de Pando, de E. danae para Beni y La Paz, de E. platydactylus para Beni, de E. toftae para Pando y La Paz y de E. ventrimarmoratus para La Paz. La diversidad conocida de Eleutherodactylus en Bolivia es de 25 especies, aunque los problemas taxonĂłmicos sin resolver, las especies en descripciĂłn y el alto nĂșmero de especies aĂșn no citadas que se considera probable encontrar, hacen que aĂșn desconozcamos la verdadera diversidad de este gĂ©nero en Bolivia
Gastroduodenal injury after radioembolization of hepatic tumors
Radioembolization is a new tool for the treatment of hepatic tumors
that consists in the injection of biocompatible microspheres carrying
radioisotopes into the hepatic artery or its branches. METHODS: We have performed
radioembolization in 78 patients with hepatic tumors using resin-based
microspheres loaded with yttrium-90. All patients were previously evaluated to
minimize the risk of hazardous irradiation to nontarget organs and to obtain the
data needed for dose calculation. RESULTS: We report a complication found in
three cases (3.8%) that consists of abdominal pain resulting from gastroduodenal
lesions and that had a chronic, insidious course. Microscopically, microspheres
were detected in the specimens obtained from all affected gastric areas. Since
these gastroduodenal lesions do not appear when nonradiating microspheres are
injected in animals, lesions are likely to be due to radiation and not to an
ischemic effect of vascular occlusion by spheres. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that a
pretreatment evaluation that includes a more thorough scrutiny of the hepatic
vascularization in search of small collaterals connecting to the gastroduodenal
tract can help prevent this awkward complicatio
Phylogenetic relationships and systematics of the Amazonian poison frog genus Ameerega using ultraconserved genomic elements
The Amazonian poison frog genus Ameerega is one of the largest yet most understudied of the brightly colored genera in the anuran family Dendrobatidae, with 30 described species ranging throughout tropical South America. Phylogenetic analyses of Ameerega are highly discordant, lacking consistency due to variation in data types and methods, and often with limited coverage of species diversity in the genus. Here, we present a comprehensive phylogenomic reconstruction of Ameerega, utilizing state-of-the-art sequence capture techniques and phylogenetic methods. We sequenced thousands of ultraconserved elements from over 100 tissue samples, representing almost every described Ameerega species, as well as undescribed cryptic diversity. We generated topologies using maximum likelihood and coalescent methods and compared the use of maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods for estimating divergence times. Our phylogenetic inference diverged strongly from those of previous studies, and we recommend steps to bring Ameerega taxonomy in line with the new phylogeny. We place several species in a phylogeny for the first time, as well as provide evidence for six potential candidate species. We estimate that Ameerega experienced a rapid radiation approximately 7â11 million years ago and that the ancestor of all Ameerega was likely an aposematic, montane species. This study underscores the utility of phylogenomic data in improving our understanding of the phylogeny of understudied clades and making novel inferences about their evolution
Response to comment on 'Amphibian fungal panzootic causes catastrophic and ongoing loss of biodiversity'
Lambert et al. question our retrospective and holistic epidemiological assessment of the role of chytridiomycosis in amphibian declines. Their alternative assessment is narrow and provides an incomplete evaluation of evidence. Adopting this approach limits understanding of infectious disease impacts and hampers conservation efforts. We reaffirm that our study provides unambiguous evidence that chytridiomycosis has affected at least 501 amphibian species
Doñana. Acta vertebrata. vol 12(2)
Nuevos datos sobre la reproducciĂłn de Lacerta monticola (Lacertidae, Reptilia) en España centralCrecimiento de los pollos de gorriĂłn molinero (Passer montanus, L.)DescripciĂłn de la comunidad de limĂcolas invernante en el Delta del Ebro.Etograma de la perdiz roja (Alectoris rufa) en libertadLa alimentaciĂłn del GorriĂłn Moruno (Passer hispaniolensis) en ĂĄreas de cultivo de regadĂo extremeñaAlgunos datos sobre el comportamiento de alimentaciĂłn y la dieta del petirrojo (Erithacus rubecula en un bosque cantĂĄbrico de montaña.Estructura temporal del comportamiento de gacela dorcas (Gazella dorcas)MurciĂ©lagos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) de las Islas CanariasNota sobre la presencia del tritĂłn alpino (triturus alpestris) en el centro de la PenĂnsula IbĂ©ricaLocalidades nuevas o poco conocidas de anfibios y reptiles de la España continental.Variaciones merĂsticas y de diseño en dos poblaciones de lajartija italiana (P. sicula) en iberiaProducciĂłn de sonidos en Blanus cinereusUna nueva localidad para Lacerta viridis en Soria: el macizo del MoncayoPrimeras citas de la culebrilla ciega (Blanus cinereus Vandelli, 1797) en GaliciaPosible competencia entre Parus ater y P. cristatus por el lugar de nidificaciĂłnNote on the distribution of the Geoffroy's bat Myotis emarginatus (Geoffroy, 1806) in the Iberian PeninsulaCaptura de un quirĂłptero por un tritĂłn gris (Glis glis)Peer reviewe
Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana
Clave preliminar de las escamas de los peces de agua dulce de España, a nivel de familiaExito reproductor del Buitre leonado (Gyps fulvus) en NavarraAlimentaciĂłn del GavilĂĄn (Accipiter nisus) en la Isla de TenerifeEl Verdecillo (Serinus serinus): Tendencias en la estaciĂłn de nidificaciĂłn, en el tamaño del huevo y en la supervivencia.las batidas como mĂ©todo de censo en especiesde caza mayor: aplicaciĂłn al caso del JabalĂ (Sus scrofa L.) en la provincia de Burgos (Norte de España)La adquisiciĂłn de madurez sexual en el camaleĂłn comĂșn (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)Nuevas citas de Hemidactylus turcicus en la provincia de CĂĄceresLa focha comĂșn (Fulica atra) en la isla de Gran Canaria: nueva especie nidificante en el archipiĂ©lago CanarioTraslado de huevos en incubaciĂłn por la urraca (Pica pica)PredaciĂłn de Falco peregrinus sobre Oryctolagus cuniculusCuatro nuevas especies de aves para Bolivia.Sobre la utilizaciĂłn de nidos de golondrina comĂșn abandonados.Parasitismo mĂșltiple del crĂalo (Clamator glandarius)PredaciĂłn del topo de rio (Galemys pyrenaicus, Geoffroy 1811) por parte de la lechuza comĂșn (Tyto alba, Scopoli 1769)PredaciĂłn del zorro (Vulpes vulpes) sobre un pollo de buitre leonado (Gyps fulvus).Vulpes vulpes L. criando en una colonia de marmota (Marmota marmota L.) en el pirineo de LĂ©ridaObservaciones sobre la incidencia de Rattus (Fischer, 1803) en los cultivos ibĂ©ricos de caña de azĂșcaSituaciĂłn actual de la jutiita de la tierra Capromys sanfelipensis (Rodentia, Mammalia)Notas sobre la intraducciĂłn y expansiĂłn de la ardilla comĂșn en Sierra Nevada, sureste de EspañaPeer reviewe
Evolution in the Genus Rhinella: A Total Evidence Phylogenetic Analysis of Neotropical True Toads (Anura: Bufonidae)
True toads of the genus Rhinella are among the most common and diverse group of Neotropical anurans. These toads are widely distributed throughout South America, inhabiting a great diversity of environments and ecoregions. Currently, however, the genus is defined solely on the basis of molecular characters, and it lacks a proper diagnosis. Although some phenetic species groups have traditionally been recognized within Rhinella, the monophyly of some of them have been rejected in previous phylogenetic analyses, and many species remain unassigned to these poorly defined groups. Additionally, the identity and taxonomy of several species are problematic and hinder the specific recognition and description of undescribed taxa. In this work, we first perform phylogenetic analyses of separate mitochondrial and nuclear datasets to test the possible occurrence of hybridiza-tion and/or genetic introgression in the genus. The comparative analysis of both datasets revealed unidirectional mitochondrial introgressions of an unknown parental species into R . horribilis (âghost introgressionâ) and of R . dorbignyi into R . bernardoi; therefore, the mitochondrial and nuclear data-sets of these species were considered separately in subsequent analyses. We performed total-evidence phylogenetic analyses that included revised molecular (four mitochondrial and five nuclear genes) and phenotypic (90 characters) datasets for 83 nominal species of Rhinella, plus several undescribed and problematic species and multiple outgroups. Results demonstrate that Rhinella was nonmono-phyletic due to the position of R . ceratophrys, which was recovered as the sister taxon of Rhaebo nasicus with strong support. Among our outgroups, the strongly supported Anaxyrus + Incilius is the sister clade of all other species of Rhinella. Once R . ceratophrys is excluded, the genus Rhinellais monophyletic, well supported, and composed of two major clades. One of these is moderately supported and includes species of the former R . spinulosa Group (including R . gallardoi); the mono-phyletic R . granulosa, R . crucifer, and R . marina Groups; and a clade composed of the mitochondrial sequences of R . horribilis. The other major clade is strongly supported and composed of all the spe-cies from the non-monophyletic R . veraguensis and R . margaritifera Groups, the former R . acrolophaGroup, and R . sternosignata. Consistent with these results, we define eight species groups of Rhinella that are mostly diagnosed by phenotypic synapomorphies in addition to a combination of morpho-logical character states. Rhinella sternosignata is the only species that remains unassigned to any group. We also synonymize nine species, treat three former subspecies as full species, and suggest that 15 lineages represent putative undescribed species. Lastly, we discuss the apparently frequent occurrence of hybridization, deep mitochondrial divergence, and âghost introgressionâ; the incomplete phenotypic evidence (including putative character systems that could be used for future phy-logenetic analyses); and the validity of the known fossil record of Rhinella as a source of calibration points for divergence dating analyses.Peer reviewe
High Levels of Diversity Uncovered in a Widespread Nominal Taxon: Continental Phylogeography of the Neotropical Tree Frog
Species distributed across vast continental areas and across major biomes provide unique model systems for studies of biotic diversification, yet also constitute daunting financial, logistic and political challenges for data collection across such regions. The tree frog Dendropsophus minutus (Anura: Hylidae) is a nominal species, continentally distributed in South America, that may represent a complex of multiple species, each with a more limited distribution. To understand the spatial pattern of molecular diversity throughout the range of this species complex, we obtained DNA sequence data from two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the 16S rhibosomal gene (16S) for 407 samples of D. minutus and closely related species distributed across eleven countries, effectively comprising the entire range of the group. We performed phylogenetic and spatially explicit phylogeographic analyses to assess the genetic structure of lineages and infer ancestral areas. We found 43 statistically supported, deep mitochondrial lineages, several of which may represent currently unrecognized distinct species. One major clade, containing 25 divergent lineages, includes samples from the type locality of D. minutus. We defined that clade as the D. minutus complex. The remaining lineages together with the D. minutus complex constitute the D. minutus species group. Historical analyses support an Amazonian origin for the D. minutus species group with a subsequent dispersal to eastern Brazil where the D. minutus complex originated. According to our dataset, a total of eight mtDNA lineages have ranges >100,000 km2. One of them occupies an area of almost one million km2 encompassing multiple biomes. Our results, at a spatial scale and resolution unprecedented for a Neotropical vertebrate, confirm that widespread amphibian species occur in lowland South America, yet at the same time a large proportion of cryptic diversity still remains to be discovered
Exploring the link between MORF4L1 and risk of breast cancer.
INTRODUCTION: Proteins encoded by Fanconi anemia (FA) and/or breast cancer (BrCa) susceptibility genes cooperate in a common DNA damage repair signaling pathway. To gain deeper insight into this pathway and its influence on cancer risk, we searched for novel components through protein physical interaction screens. METHODS: Protein physical interactions were screened using the yeast two-hybrid system. Co-affinity purifications and endogenous co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed to corroborate interactions. Biochemical and functional assays in human, mouse and Caenorhabditis elegans models were carried out to characterize pathway components. Thirteen FANCD2-monoubiquitinylation-positive FA cell lines excluded for genetic defects in the downstream pathway components and 300 familial BrCa patients negative for BRCA1/2 mutations were analyzed for genetic mutations. Common genetic variants were genotyped in 9,573 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers for associations with BrCa risk. RESULTS: A previously identified co-purifying protein with PALB2 was identified, MRG15 (MORF4L1 gene). Results in human, mouse and C. elegans models delineate molecular and functional relationships with BRCA2, PALB2, RAD51 and RPA1 that suggest a role for MRG15 in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Mrg15-deficient murine embryonic fibroblasts showed moderate sensitivity to Îł-irradiation relative to controls and reduced formation of Rad51 nuclear foci. Examination of mutants of MRG15 and BRCA2 C. elegans orthologs revealed phenocopy by accumulation of RPA-1 (human RPA1) nuclear foci and aberrant chromosomal compactions in meiotic cells. However, no alterations or mutations were identified for MRG15/MORF4L1 in unclassified FA patients and BrCa familial cases. Finally, no significant associations between common MORF4L1 variants and BrCa risk for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers were identified: rs7164529, Ptrend = 0.45 and 0.05, P2df = 0.51 and 0.14, respectively; and rs10519219, Ptrend = 0.92 and 0.72, P2df = 0.76 and 0.07, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: While the present study expands on the role of MRG15 in the control of genomic stability, weak associations cannot be ruled out for potential low-penetrance variants at MORF4L1 and BrCa risk among BRCA2 mutation carriers.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are
Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences
The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & NemĂ©sio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; NemĂ©sio 2009aâb; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported
by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on
18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based
researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016
- âŠ