Hyperdominance in Amazonian Forest Carbon Cycling

While Amazonian forests are extraordinarily diverse, the abundance of trees is skewed strongly towards relatively few ‘hyperdominant’ species. In addition to their diversity, Amazonian trees are a key component of the global carbon cycle, assimilating and storing more carbon than any other ecosystem on Earth. Here we ask, using a unique data set of 530 forest plots, if the functions of storing and producing woody carbon are concentrated in a small number of tree species, whether the most abundant species also dominate carbon cycling, and whether dominant species are characterized by specific functional traits. We find that dominance of forest function is even more concentrated in a few species than is dominance of tree abundance, with only ≈1% of Amazon tree species responsible for 50% of carbon storage and productivity. Although those species that contribute most to biomass and productivity are often abundant, species maximum size is also influential, while the identity and ranking of dominant species varies by function and by region

PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment. Methods All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals. Results A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death. Conclusion Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions. </jats:sec

Byrsonima crassifolia

Angiosperm

Heteropterys macrostachya

Angiosperm

CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOUTH AMERICAN CAESALPINIACEAE. VI. CAMPSIANDRA FELIPEANA (CAESALPINIEAE) A DWARF SWAMP-FOREST ENDEMIC OF THE LOWER ORINOCO WATERSHED

RESUMEN Se describe e ilustra&nbsp;Campsiandra felipeana, una nueva especie de la cuenca baja del R&iacute;o Cinaruco en el Estado Apure de Venezuela. Se encuentra principalmente en las cuencas de agua semi-negra del drenaje fluvial Cinaruco-Capanaparo de la llanura e&oacute;lica, y muestra afinidades con las especies amaz&oacute;nicas del g&eacute;nero. Esta especie est&aacute; m&aacute;s relacionada con las especies&nbsp;C. emonensis, C. nutans&nbsp;y&nbsp;C. aymardii&nbsp;de los h&aacute;bitats de agua negra o semi-negra de la regi&oacute;n de la Guayana venezolana. Se discuten las relaciones entre estas especies y sus h&aacute;bitats. ABSTRACT Campsiandra felipeana, a new species from the lower Cinaruco River drainage in the state of Apure, Venezuela is described and illustrated. It is primarily confined to the semiblack-water Cinaruco-Capanaparo watersheds of the aeolian&nbsp;llanura, and shows affinities to black-water Amazonian species of the genus. It is most closely related to&nbsp;C. emonensis, C. nutans&nbsp;and&nbsp;C. aymardii&nbsp;of the Venezuelan Guayana region of black-water or semiblack-water habitats. Relationships to these species and their habitats are discussed

Tetrapterys styloptera

Angiosperm

A NEW SPECIES OF ANTHURIUM SECT. CALOMYSTRIUM (ARACEAE) FROM THE VENEZUELAN ANDES

ABSTRACT &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Anew species of Anthurium (Araceae), A. ramoncaracasii Stergios &amp; Dorr, from the Venezuelan Andes is described and illustrated. A number of characters indicate that it is best placed in A. sect. Calomystrium Schott emend. Engl. for which a key to the Venezuelan species is provided.&nbsp;RESUMEN &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Se describe y se ilustra una nueva especie de Anthurium (Araceae), A. ramoncaracasii de los Andes de Venezuela. Un conjunto de caracteres indican que su mejor ubicaci&oacute;n es en la A. sect. Calomystrium Schott emend. Engl. para lo cual se presenta una clave de las especies venezolanas.&nbsp

TWO NEW SPECIES OF BOMAREA (ALSTROEMERIACEAE) FROM THE VENEZUELAN ANDES

ABSTRACT &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Two new species of Bomarea (Alstroemeriaceae), B. amilcariana Stergios &amp; Dorr and B. truxillensis Stergios &amp; Dorr, from the Venezuelan Andes are described and illustrated. The relationships of these new species to other Andean species of Bomarea and to the widespread B. edulis (Tussac) Herb. are discussed.RESUMEN &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Se describen y se ilustran dos nuevas especies, Bomarea amilcariana Stergios &amp; Dorr y B. truxillensis Stergios &amp; Dorr (Alstroemeriaceae) de los Andes de Venezuela. Se discuten las relaciones de las nuevas especies con otras especies de los Andes, tambi&eacute;n con respecto a una especie de las tierras bajas, B. edulis (Tussac) Herb