Intensive monitoring suggests population oscillations and migration in wild boar Sus scrofa in the Pyrenees

El seguimiento intensivo sugiere la existencia de oscilaciones demográficas y movimientos migratorios en las poblaciones de jabalí (Sus scrofa) en los Pirineos Muy pocos estudios recientes han analizado la variabilidad local de las poblaciones de jabalí (Sus scrofa) en Europa occidental, lo que limita nuestra comprensión de los procesos ecológicos que en la actualidad afectan a esta especie. Usando la información recopilada mediante el seguimiento de 442 batidas durante ocho temporadas de caza en los Pirineos (Urdués, norte de España), se analizaron cuestiones relacionadas con la variabilidad local de la abundancia de jabalí. Los resultados revelaron oscilaciones temporales de la abundancia y una disminución discontinua del 23% en el número de jabalíes avistados por batida entre 2004 y 2011. El número de perros y de cazadores por batida también afectó a los índices de abundancia de jabalí. Las variaciones interanuales de animales abatidos pueden provocar que se sobreestimen las variaciones de la abundancia de jabalí e incluso pueden desviarse de la dinámica de poblaciones inferida del número de jabalíes avistados por batida. En los Pirineos, el patrón multimodal de la abundancia de jabalí durante las temporadas de caza sugiere la existencia de movimientos migratorios. Los resultados obtenidos destacan las limitaciones de las estadísticas de abundancia realizadas sobre el número de jabalíes abatidos y ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de llevar a cabo nuevos estudios que permitan gestionar las poblaciones de jabalí de forma sostenible y fundamentada

Applying IUCN Red List criteria to birds at different geographical scales: similarities and differences

Aplicación de los criterios de la Lista Roja de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza en diferentes escalas geográficas a las aves. La Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) se encarga de evaluar a escala mundial el riesgo de extinción y el estado de conservación de las especies. Para garantizar su objetividad, repetibilidad y trazabilidad, en las evaluaciones se sigue un proceso estandarizado que hace uso de información fiable y verificable. Asimismo, las evaluaciones se sintetizan de acuerdo con determinadas directrices, que se han ajustado recientemente para su aplicación a escalas inferiores. No obstante, la misma especie puede clasificarse en varios estados de conservación, distintos o superpuestos. Para comparar cuantitativamente las evaluaciones de escala mundial a escala subnacional, analizamos 15 listas de evaluación relativas a 66 especies de aves cinegéticas en Francia; según se había declarado, dichas evaluaciones se realizaron en consonancia con las directrices de la UICN. En general, nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto que (1) las evaluaciones a gran escala espacial tienden a dar como resultado estados de peligro inferiores que las de pequeña escala; (2) las evaluaciones a gran escala permitieron comprobar de forma oficial la información en que se basan, mientras que las evaluaciones a menor escala no; (3) las evaluaciones a gran escala son más propensas a basarse en pruebas estandarizadas de una reducción significativa del tamaño de la población y a estar menos expuestas a efectos de ‘escala’ o de ‘borde de distribución’; (4) las evaluaciones a gran escala también se basan más frecuentemente en publicaciones científicas en sentido estricto; y (5) las fuentes se sintetizan con mayor exactitud en comparación con las listas rojas a escalas espaciales pequeñas. Por lo tanto, nuestros resultados sugieren que las listas rojas a pequeña escala no coinciden plenamente con las directrices de la UICN y que difieren de forma significativa con respecto a sus procesos de evaluación en comparación con los estándares mundiales. El uso de información subjetiva y poco fiable en las listas rojas en pequeña escala (sobre todo en las listas nacionales y subnacionales) puede poner en peligro el objetivo original de las listas rojas de la UICN de proporcionar información completa y científicamente rigurosa y, por lo tanto, podría comprometer la credibilidad y el prestigio de las listas rojas de la UICN a los ojos de los investigadores, del público en general y de otras partes interesadas.Extinction risk and conservation status of species are assessed at the global scale by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). To ensure objectivity, repeatability and traceability, assessments follow a standardized process that uses reliable and verifiable information. Assessments are synthesized according to guidelines, which have recently been adjusted for application at sub–global scales. Nevertheless, species may have several, different or overlapping conservation status. To quantitatively compare assessments from global to sub–national scales, in this study we analyzed 15 assessment lists for 66 game bird species in France. Assessments were declared to be made following IUCN guidelines. Overall, our results reveal that (1) assessments at large spatial scales tend to give lower threat status than small–scale assessments; (2) large–scale assessments made it possible to formally verify information whereas smaller–scale assessments usually did not; (3) large–scale assessments are more likely to be based on standardized evidence of reduction in population size and are less exposed to ‘scale–effects’ and ‘edge–effects’; (4) large–scale assessments are also more often based on scientific literature sensu stricto; and (5) sources are more accurately synthesized than red lists at small spatial scales. Our results suggest that small–scale red lists do not fully match IUCN guidelines and differ significantly in their assessment processes when compared to global standards. The use of subjective and unreliable data in small–scale red lists (above all in national and sub–national lists) may jeopardise the original aim of IUCN Red Lists to provide comprehensive and scientifically rigorous information, and could thus compromise the credibility and prestige of IUCN red lists in the eyes of researchers, the general public, and other stakeholders.Aplicación de los criterios de la Lista Roja de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza en diferentes escalas geográficas a las aves. La Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) se encarga de evaluar a escala mundial el riesgo de extinción y el estado de conservación de las especies. Para garantizar su objetividad, repetibilidad y trazabilidad, en las evaluaciones se sigue un proceso estandarizado que hace uso de información fiable y verificable. Asimismo, las evaluaciones se sintetizan de acuerdo con determinadas directrices, que se han ajustado recientemente para su aplicación a escalas inferiores. No obstante, la misma especie puede clasificarse en varios estados de conservación, distintos o superpuestos. Para comparar cuantitativamente las evaluaciones de escala mundial a escala subnacional, analizamos 15 listas de evaluación relativas a 66 especies de aves cinegéticas en Francia; según se había declarado, dichas evaluaciones se realizaron en consonancia con las directrices de la UICN. En general, nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto que (1) las evaluaciones a gran escala espacial tienden a dar como resultado estados de peligro inferiores que las de pequeña escala; (2) las evaluaciones a gran escala permitieron comprobar de forma oficial la información en que se basan, mientras que las evaluaciones a menor escala no; (3) las evaluaciones a gran escala son más propensas a basarse en pruebas estandarizadas de una reducción significativa del tamaño de la población y a estar menos expuestas a efectos de ‘escala’ o de ‘borde de distribución’; (4) las evaluaciones a gran escala también se basan más frecuentemente en publicaciones científicas en sentido estricto; y (5) las fuentes se sintetizan con mayor exactitud en comparación con las listas rojas a escalas espaciales pequeñas. Por lo tanto, nuestros resultados sugieren que las listas rojas a pequeña escala no coinciden plenamente con las directrices de la UICN y que difieren de forma significativa con respecto a sus procesos de evaluación en comparación con los estándares mundiales. El uso de información subjetiva y poco fiable en las listas rojas en pequeña escala (sobre todo en las listas nacionales y subnacionales) puede poner en peligro el objetivo original de las listas rojas de la UICN de proporcionar información completa y científicamente rigurosa y, por lo tanto, podría comprometer la credibilidad y el prestigio de las listas rojas de la UICN a los ojos de los investigadores, del público en general y de otras partes interesadas

Glial alterations in human prion diseases

Background: Neuroinflammation has recently been proposed to be a major component of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to determine how the interaction between microglia and astroglia, which are the primary immune cell populations in the brain, and pathological prion protein (PrPsc) could influence the development and propagation of this neurodegenerative disease. Because a relevant role for glial response in prion disease has been clearly demonstrated in our previous studies using the natural animal model, a similar approach has been taken here using the natural human model. Methods: A morphological approach has been developed to analyze cerebellar samples from patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in comparison with healthy control cases. Histopathological lesions were assessed, and PrPsc, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and reactive microglia were immunolabelled by specific antibodies. Furthermore, co-location studies using confocal microscopy were performed to determine the possible relationships between both types of glial cells in all samples. Results: The results presented in this study support the involvement of both types of glial cells in CJD. Evidence of increased astrocyte and microglia reactivity can be observed in all CJD cases, and a close relationship between the types of glia is demonstrated by co-location studies. Conclusion: Proteinopathies such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington diseases, where aberrant proteins spread throughout the brain during disease progression, may share a molecular basis and mechanisms of propagation. Therefore, studies elucidating the interaction between gliosis and prion propagation may be relevant to these other neurodegenerative diseases and may provide new targets for therapeutic intervention

Es descobreix un patró d'ossificació comú en els ungulats

Tots els vertebrats tenim un esquelet ossi. Però la formació dels ossos varia entre individus i entre espècies. Investigadors de la UAB han trobat un patró d'ossificació en els Ungulats, nom genèric de qualsevol mamífer les extremitats del qual acaben en peülles, diferent en funció de si els ossos estan sotmesos a tensions o a pressions. Aquesta nova aproximació pot ser aplicada a l'estudi de fòssils de mamífers extints i ser útil tant per establir relacions filogenètiques de parentiu com per conèixer aspectes funcionals de l'evolució dels vertebrats.Todos los vertebrados tenemos un esqueleto óseo. Pero la formación de los huesos varía entre individuos y entre especies. Investigadores de la UAB han encontrado un patrón de osificación en los Ungulados, nombre genérico de cualquier mamífero cuyas extremidades terminan en pezuñas, diferente en función de si los huesos están sometidos a tensiones o presiones. Esta nueva aproximación puede ser aplicada al estudio de fósiles de mamíferos extintos y ser útil tanto para establecer relaciones filogenéticas de parentesco como para conocer aspectos funcionales de la evolución de los vertebrados

Mismeasure of secondary sexual traits: An example with horn growth in the Iberian ibex

Monitoring programmes and studies focused on secondary sexual characters (SSCs) depend on the accuracy of measurements. However, methods of measurements of SSC, such as horns of ungulates, vary throughout the literature. Thus, the accuracy of horn growth measurements as proxies of true horn growth and the comparability of results inferred from different horn growth measurements may be questionable. We used the horns of Iberian ibex Capra pyrenaica to compare horn growth measurements and to analyse reliability with true horn growth. Our results reveal that measurements used in previous studies differed substantially from true horn growth and volume estimated as a barrel appeared as the best proxy of annular segments of horns in the Iberian ibex. Horn growth measurements are not necessarily mutually comparable, just as classical measurements are not necessarily representative of true horn growth. We discuss the wider implications of these results and suggest that biological processes linked to horns of ungulates should be reappraised using improved and accurate measurements because horn growth pattern is a key factor in sustainable management and conservation plans of ungulate species around the world. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Zoology © 2012 The Zoological Society of London.Peer Reviewe

Expanding the FurC (PerR) regulon in Anabaena (Nostoc) sp. PCC 7120: Genome-wide identification of novel direct targets uncovers FurC participation in central carbon metabolism regulation

FurC (PerR, Peroxide Response Regulator) from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (also known as Nostoc sp. PCC 7120) is a master regulator engaged in the modulation of relevant processes including the response to oxidative stress, photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. Previous differential gene expression analysis of a furC-overexpressing strain (EB2770FurC) allowed the inference of a putative FurC DNA-binding consensus sequence. In the present work, more data concerning the regulon of the FurC protein were obtained through the searching of the putative FurC-box in the whole Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 genome. The total amount of novel FurC-DNA binding sites found in the promoter regions of genes with known function was validated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) identifying 22 new FurC targets. Some of these identified targets display relevant roles in nitrogen fixation (hetR and hgdC) and carbon assimilation processes (cmpR, glgP1 and opcA), suggesting that FurC could be an additional player for the harmonization of carbon and nitrogen metabolisms. Moreover, differential gene expression of a selection of newly identified FurC targets was measured by Real Time RT-PCR in the furC-overexpressing strain (EB2770FurC) comparing to Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 revealing that in most of these cases FurC could act as a transcriptional activator

Polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene influence embryo viability and the incidence of aneuploidy

MTHFR is an important enzyme in the metabolism of folic acid and is crucial for reproductive function. Variation in the sequence of MTHFR has been implicated in subfertility, but definitive data are lacking. In the present study, a detailed analysis of two common MTHFR polymorphisms (c.677C>T and c.1298A>C) was performed. Additionally, for the first time, the frequencies of different MTHFR alleles were assessed in preimplantation embryos. Several striking discoveries were made. Firstly, results demonstrated that maternal MTHFR c.1298A>C genotype strongly influences the likelihood of a pregnancy occurring, with the 1298C allele being significantly overrepresented amongst women who have undergone several unsuccessful assisted reproductive treatments. Secondly, parental MTHFR genotypes were shown to affect the production of aneuploid embryos, indicating that MTHFR is one of the few known human genes with the capacity to modulate rates of chromosome abnormality. Thirdly, an unusual deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was noted for the c.677C>T polymorphism in subfertile patients, especially those who had experienced recurrent failure of embryo implantation or miscarriage, potentially explained by a rare case of heterozygote disadvantage. Finally, a dramatic impact of the MTHFR 677T allele on the capacity of chromosomally normal embryos to implant is described. Not only do these findings raise a series of interesting biological questions, but they also argue that testing of MTHFR could be of great clinical value, identifying patients at high risk of implantation failure and revealing the most viable embryos during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles

Social support and subjective well-being in adolescence

El objetivo de esta investigación es estudiar el apoyo social (apoyo familiar, apoyo de las amistades y apoyo del profesorado) en función del sexo y de la edad, así como analizar la relación entre el apoyo social y el bienestar subjetivo (satisfacción con la vida, afecto positivo y afecto negativo). La muestra está compuesta por 1.543 adolescentes divididos en dos grupos en función de la edad: 11-14 años (n = 879, M = 13.99, DT = 0.86), y 15-18 años (n = 664, M = 15.76, DT = 1.07). Las diferencias de medias indican que las chicas perciben mayor apoyo de las amistades que los chicos y que son los adolescentes de 11-14 años quienes perciben más apoyo familiar y apoyo del profesorado. Los análisis de regresión lineal indican que las distintas fuentes de apoyo tienen una varianza explicativa importante en varias de las escalas del bienestar subjetivo y que varían según el sexo y la edad de los participantes. Estos datos proporcionan información para la identificación de los elementos básicos de la intervención psicosocial.The aim of this study is to analyze gender and age differences in social support (family, peers and teacher’s support), as well as the relations between social support and subjective well-being (life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect). A sample of 1543 students is divided according to age: 11-14 years (n = 879, M = 13.99, SD = 0.864), and 15-18 (n = 664, M = 15.76, SD = 1.07). The average differences indicated that girls perceived more peer support than do boys and that 11-14 year old adolescents perceived higher family support and teacher support than 15-18 year old adolescents. Multivariate regression analysis shows that different social sources have a relevant variance in most of the personal scales, which varies depending on the sex and age of participants. The results of the present study provide information in order to identify basic elements for psychosocial intervention

Contributions on lindane degradation by Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806

Cyanobacteria are able to tolerate, and even metabolize, moderate doses of organochlorine pesticides, such as lindane (¿-hexachlorocyclohexane), one of the most persistent and widely used in recent decades. Previous work showed that Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 degrades lindane and that, in the presence of the pesticide, microcystin synthesis is enhanced. In this work, using in silico approaches, we have identified in M. aeruginosa putative homologues of the lin genes, involved in lindane degradation in Sphingobium japonicum UT26S. Real-time RT-PCR assays showed that the putative linC gene was induced in the presence of 7 mg/L of lindane. Additionally, prxA, encoding a peroxiredoxin, and involved in oxidative stress response, was also induced when lindane was present. Taking into account these results, M. aeruginosa PCC 7806 may degrade lindane through a metabolic pathway involving a putative 2, 5-dichloro-2, 5-cyclohexadiene-1, 4-diol dehydrogenase encoded by a linC homologue. However, the low similarity of the other potential lin homologues suggest the existence of an alternative pathway different to that of heterotrophic microorganisms such as S. japonicum

HPLC‐QTOF method for quantifying 11‐ketoetiocholanolone, a cortisol metabolite, in ruminants' feces: Optimization and validation

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd[EN]Studies of animal ecology can benefit from a quantified understanding of eco-physiological processes and, in particular, of the physiological responses in free-ranging animals to potential stressors. The determination of fecal cortisol metabolites as a noninvasive method for monitoring stress has proved to be a powerful tool. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/ MS) has emerged as the most accurate method for avoiding problems related to the nonspecificity of immunoassays. In this study, we optimize and validate a reliable method using HPLC-MS/ MS for quantifying 11-ketoetiocholanolone (11-k), a representative fecal cortisol metabolite in ruminants. An appropriate extraction and purification procedure was developed taking into account the complex nature of feces. The final extract obtained was then analyzed with HPLC-MS/ MS using a quadrupole-time- of- fly (QTOF) tandem mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization interface operating in positive mode, which allowed an unequivocal determination of the metabolite due to its accurate mass capabilities. After rigorous optimization of both sample extraction and the HPLC-QTOF parameters, making use of feces from free-ranging Iberian ibex, ideal conditions were established. Matrix-matched standards were used to calibrate the method. The limit of detection and quantification was 13-and 40-ng/ g, respectively. The validation of the method was performed with recoveries in the range of 85–110%, a figure much higher than the 60% obtained with the previous extraction methods used in our laboratory, and with relative standard deviations (RSDs) no higher than 15% for the complete analytical procedure, including extraction and analysis. The time required for the fecal 11-k analysis was greatly reduced in comparison with the previous work carried out in our laboratory. This is the first time that QTOF mass detection coupled with HPLC has been validated for 11-k quantification in feces from free-ranging ruminants such as Iberian ibex. Given the high selectivity and sensitivity attained, our method could become a useful tool for noninvasive stress quantification in ruminants.SIThis study was partly funded by the Fédération Nationale des Chasseurs (France), project FNC-PSN-PR4-2013. The technical and human support provided by the CICT of Jaén University (UJA, MINECO, Junta de Andalucía, FEDER) is gratefully acknowledged. The research activities of the authors were partially supported by the PAIDI, Junta de Andalucía (RNM-118 group and RNM-175 groups), as well as by the grant P07-RNM-03087 and the European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER). This study complied with all Andalusian, Spanish and European legal requirements and guidelines regarding experimentation and animal welfare. It was approved by the Committee on Ethics of Animal Experimentation of the University of Jaén and authorized by the General Direction of Agriculture and Livestock of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment of the Junta de Andalucía