Species and Areas Under Protection: Challenges and Opportunities for the Canadian Northern Corridor

The Canadian Northern Corridor (CNC) is a proposed multimodal transportation right-of- way, with accompanying infrastructure, that would run largely through northern Canada, with the goal of connecting all three coasts. Given the magnitude of the project, there are many implications for the lands and waterways, as well as for humans and other species in those areas, that the CNC will either intersect directly or affect indirectly through cascading effects. This study used literature searches focused on the intersection of biodiversity, conservation research, government policies and engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems.Given the diversity of topics and the amount of research available in some areas (e.g., entire reviews have been written solely focused on the ecological effects of roads), this study highlights, rather than comprehensively treats, potential biodiversity challenges associated with the CNC. Biodiversity is a term that refers to the diversity (variability or complexity) of life, typically at one or more of the following levels: genes, species and ecosystem. Major development projects may: 1) reduce genetic diversity within species, 2) increase odds of species loss in the region, and 3) degrade the quality and extent of a variety of ecosystems

Generalization alters the probability of plant community invasion

The effects of native plant species diversity on community susceptibility to invasion are currently unclear. While species rich communities are often thought to be more robust to invasion as a consequence of high redundancy in mutualistic interactions, a positive association between native and exotic species richness is often observed. In animal-pollinated plants, higher plant species richness may dilute pollinator visitation to individuals, especially in the face of a limited pollinator pool. On the other hand, the presence of showy exotic plants at low densities has been shown to facilitate the pollination of natives by attracting generalist pollinators to the community. Here we model the invasion of a resident plant community with the goal of examining whether allocation to floral display in an invasive plant affects the outcome of competition for pollination with a native species on a disturbed landscape, and whether the diversity of pollinator-sharing species in a community influences its resistance to invasion. We find evidence for an optimal resource trade-off between floral and seed allocation in exotic plants, as invaders with low floral allocation do not attract enough visits for full seed set, while high investment in floral attraction results in the limitation of seed set. Increased pollinator sharing in the resident community increases the probability of invasion, presumably because the invader is usurping pollinator visits from natives that share a common pollinator pool

Seasonal Photoperiods Alter Developmental Time and Mass of an Invasive Mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae), Across Its North-South Range in the United States

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), is perhaps the most successful invasive mosquito species in contemporary history. In the United States, Ae. albopictus has spread from its introduction point in southern Texas to as far north as New Jersey (i.e., a span of approximate to 14 degrees latitude). This species experiences seasonal constraints in activity because of cold temperatures in winter in the northern United States, but is active year-round in the south. We performed a laboratory experiment to examine how life-history traits of Ae. albopictus from four populations (New Jersey [39.4 degrees N], Virginia [38.6 degrees N], North Carolina [35.8 degrees N], Florida [27.6 degrees N]) responded to photoperiod conditions that mimic approaching winter in the north (short static daylength, short diminishing daylength) or relatively benign summer conditions in the south (long daylength), at low and high larval densities. Individuals from northern locations were predicted to exhibit reduced development times and to emerge smaller as adults under short daylength, but be larger and take longer to develop under long daylength. Life-history traits of southern populations were predicted to show less plasticity in response to daylength because of low probability of seasonal mortality in those areas. Males and females responded strongly to photoperiod regardless of geographic location, being generally larger but taking longer to develop under the long daylength compared with short day lengths; adults of both sexes were smaller when reared at low larval densities. Adults also differed in mass and development time among locations, although this effect was independent of density and photoperiod in females but interacted with density in males. Differences between male and female mass and development times was greater in the long photoperiod suggesting differences between the sexes in their reaction to different photoperiods. This work suggests that Ae. albopictus exhibits sex-specific phenotypic plasticity in life-history traits matching variation in important environmental variables

Y Fuse? Sex Chromosome Fusions in Fishes and Reptiles

Chromosomal fusion plays a recurring role in the evolution of adaptations and reproductive isolation among species, yet little is known of the evolutionary drivers of chromosomal fusions. Because sex chromosomes (X and Y in male heterogametic systems, Z and W in female heterogametic systems) differ in their selective, mutational, and demographic environments, those differences provide a unique opportunity to dissect the evolutionary forces that drive chromosomal fusions. We estimate the rate at which fusions between sex chromosomes and autosomes become established across the phylogenies of both fishes and squamate reptiles. Both the incidence among extant species and the establishment rate of Y-autosome fusions is much higher than for X-autosome, Z-autosome, or W-autosome fusions. Using population genetic models, we show that this pattern cannot be reconciled with many standard explanations for the spread of fusions. In particular, direct selection acting on fusions or sexually antagonistic selection cannot, on their own, account for the predominance of Y-autosome fusions. The most plausible explanation for the observed data seems to be (a) that fusions are slightly deleterious, and (b) that the mutation rate is male-biased or the reproductive sex ratio is female-biased. We identify other combinations of evolutionary forces that might in principle account for the data although they appear less likely. Our results shed light on the processes that drive structural changes throughout the genome

Research with marginalised communities: reflections onengaging Roma Women in Northern England

This paper critically explores research with marginalised communities.We provide an insight into our work with the Roma community, reflectingon innovation, opportunities and barriers, alongside the need for morework in this area. A particular focus here surrounds novel methodologiesfor exploring the health and wellbeing of such groups and ways of coproducing research. The paper also raises awareness around arts-basedsocial prescribing with marginalised communities and the need toupscale work in this regard. Through doing so, we hope to influencepractice, raise awareness around work with the Roma community andenable more creativity within the broader field

History and contemporary displacement in Suva's informal settlements

Urban areas are products of history. They have been created by processes, power structures and interests that have emerged over time. Access to and control over urban land are important issues in which conflicts reveal the interests of different stakeholders. In such contexts, urban land security for poorer sections of society is particularly crucial. Fiji’s land tenure systems have developed over the course of 3,000 years of human settlement. Land grabbing in the 1860s resulted in the restructuring of Indigenous land tenure. Today around 90 percent of the land in Fiji belongs to Indigenous Fijians. Yet Fiji’s capital Suva has only 10% of its land area classified as native land. This chapter provides a historical sketch of land ownership in Suva. It asks why and how land grabbing eliminated native land from this part of Fiji and considers how the historic evolution of the system has impacted Suva in more recent decades. The chapter focuses on those people who live in informal settlements, where housing expenses are low

A krónikus kritikus végtagischaemia invazív kezelésének hosszú távú eredményei

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Surgical tibial bypass for critical limb ischemia is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and graft failure, whereas percutaneous angioplasty and stenting has promising results. The objective of this study was the investigation of the long term results of below-knee percutaneous angioplasty for restoring straight inline arterial flow in patients with critical limb ischemia. METHOD: The clinical and angiographic data of 281 consecutive patients with critical limb ischemia treated by PTA between 2008 and 2011 was evaluated in a prospective register. The aim of the revascularization was to achieve a straight inline flow to the wound with balloon angioplasty. Stent implantation was done in the case of recoil and flow limiting dissection. Primary end points were clinical success (relief of resting pain, healing of ulceration, limb survival) and major adverse events (death, myocardial infarction, major unplanned amputation, need for surgical revascularization, or major bleeding). Secondary end points were the angiographic result of the intervention, procedural data and consumption of angioplasty equipment. The impact of diabetic leg syndrome and the result of the angioplasty on the limb salvage was also investigated. We have analysed the impact of major amputation on long term mortality. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 72.5 +/- 10.6 years and the follow-up period was 40.8 +/- 9.7 months. Technical success was reached in 255 (90.7%) of the patient's: 255 limbs straight inline flow with good angiographic result was restored to at least one tibial vessel. Balloon angioplasty, stent implantation and rotational atherectomy was performed in 278 (98.9%), 74 (26.3%) and 2 patients (0.7%). From clinical end points the rest pain was ceased in 56.6%, the ulcer and the gangrena was healed in 73.5% and 46.5%. The long term limb survival was 73.5%; 65.8% in diabetic and 89.6% in non-diabetic leg syndrome (p = 0.001). The major adverse events at long-term follow-up occured in 122 (43.8%) patients. Death occured in 57 (20.3%) of the patients during the long-term follow-up: 38 (13.5%) vs. 19 (6.8%) in diabetic vs. non-diabetic leg subgroup, respectively (p = 0.932). Long-term limb saving occured in 72.3% vs. 84.6% of the patients dependening the procedure was successful or unsuccessful (p = 0.225). CONCLUSION: Below-knee stent angioplasty for critical limb ischemia results in good clinical outcome, but the major adverse event rate is high. Diabetes mellitus is associated with a high rate of mortality and amputation. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(11), 418-425