Endemic Rates Research Articles

DNA barcodes reveal striking arthropod diversity and unveil seasonal patterns of variation in the southern Atlantic Forest.

The Atlantic Forest harbors 7% of global biodiversity and possesses high levels of endemism, but many of its component taxa remain unstudied. Due to the importance of tropical forests and the urgency to protect them, there is a compelling need to address this knowledge gap. To provide more information on its arthropod fauna, a Malaise trap was deployed for 12 months in a semi-degraded area of the southern Upper Paraná ecoregion of the Atlantic Forest. All specimens were DNA barcoded and the Barcode Index Number (BIN) system was employed to assign each specimen to a species proxy. DNA barcodes were obtained from 75,500 arthropods that included representatives of 8,651 BINs. Nearly 81% of these BINs were first records, highlighting the high rates of endemism and lack of study of arthropods from the Atlantic Forest. Diptera was the most abundant order, followed by Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Diptera was also the most species-rich order, followed by Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera, a result consistent with studies in other biogeographic regions. Insects were most abundant in winter and most diverse in autumn and winter. This pattern, however, was caused mainly by the dynamics of dipteran diversity as other orders differed in their seasonal variation. The BIN composition of the insect community varied sharply through the year and also differed between the two consecutive summers included in the sampling period. The study of the 38 commonest BINs showed that seasonal patterns of abundance were not order-specific. Temperature had the strongest impact on seasonal abundance variation. Our results highlight the striking and understudied arthropod diversity of the highly fragmented Atlantic Forest, the predominance of dipterans, and the fact that abundance and richness in this insect community peak in the coolest months. Standardized studies like this generate fast and reliable biodiversity inventories and unveil ecological patterns, thus providing valuable information for conservation programs.

Habitats hold an evolutionary signal of past climatic refugia

Climatic refugia have often been associated with hotspots of richness and endemism, and identified on the basis of molecular or paleobotanical information. Here, we apply a phylogenetic analysis to 18,000 plant communities distributed across the Pyrenees, a south European mountain range, to identify climatic refugia from imprints of relictuality inferred from species’ evolutionary distinctiveness (ED). We produced a genus-level phylogenetic tree to calculate the standardized mean ED value of plant communities (cED). Then, we explored which habitats concentrate the plant communities with the highest cED and the interrelated effect of past (long-term climatic stability) and present (topographic and spatial position) factors. Results show strong differences of cED among habitats: forests ranked first, followed by some open habitats like high altitude wetlands. Climate stability and roughness positively influenced cED. A weak negative association resulted between the two diversity measurements (richness and endemism rate) and also with cED. We propose that forests acted as “mobile refugia” during the glacial-interglacial periods, supported by paleoenvironmental reconstructions revealing continuous presence at regional scale of key broadleaved trees at that time. Azonal habitats like the endemic-poor humid communities at high elevation would have also played an important role as more permanent microrefugia. Our approach identifies a variety of habitats and plant assemblages that have successfully withstood past climate change in different ways, and therefore would hold an important evolutionary potential to cope with current climate change. Given their potential role in preserving biodiversity, they should be integrated in future conservation agendas.

Molecular Evidence Reveals the Sympatric Distribution of Cervus nippon yakushimae and Cervus nippon taiouanus on Jeju Island, South Korea.

Simple SummaryThe sika deer (Cervus nippon) was introduced in South Korea from Japan and Taiwan for commercial farming. They have become invasive to mainland South Korea and Jeju Island due to escape from confinement and illegal release. Native species and ecosystems may be threatened by the presence of non-native species. To deal with ecological risk and evolutionary processes, information on the phylogeny of these non-native sika deer is necessary. Genetic studies using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome B (CytB) gene sequences were conducted to determine the subspecies of Jeju sika deer and their phylogenetic relationship. On Jeju Island, we confirmed the presence of two distinct groups of CytB haplotypes: Cervus nippon yakushimae, native sika to Japan, and Cervus nippon taiouanus, native to Taiwan.Non-native species threaten native ecosystems and species, particularly on islands where rates of endemism and vulnerability to threats are high. Understanding species invasion will aid in providing insights into ecological and evolutionary processes. To identify the non-native sika deer (Cervus nippon) population in Jeju, South Korea, and their phylogenetic affinities, we collected tissue samples from roadkill and the World Natural Heritage Headquarters in Jeju. Mitochondrial DNA cytochrome B (CytB) gene sequences were analyzed to determine two distinct CytB haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood tree revealed two haplotypes of CytB clustered into two different groups representing two subspecies: C. n. yakushimae, native to Japan, and C. n. taiouanus, native to Taiwan. The tentative divergence time between the two subspecies was estimated at 1.81 million years. Our study confirmed that the two subspecies of sika deer are sympatric in the natural ecosystem of Jeju Island. This study provides valuable information to help government and conservation agencies understand alien species and determine control policies for conserving native biodiversity in South Korea.

Phylogenomic analysis of Syngnathidae reveals novel relationships, origins of endemic diversity and variable diversification rates

BackgroundSeahorses, seadragons, pygmy pipehorses, and pipefishes (Syngnathidae, Syngnathiformes) are among the most recognizable groups of fishes because of their derived morphology, unusual life history, and worldwide distribution. Despite previous phylogenetic studies and recent new species descriptions of syngnathids, the evolutionary relationships among several major groups within this family remain unresolved.ResultsHere, we provide a reconstruction of syngnathid phylogeny based on genome-wide sampling of 1314 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and expanded taxon sampling to assess the current taxonomy and as a basis for macroevolutionary insights. We sequenced a total of 244 new specimens across 117 species and combined with published UCE data for a total of 183 species of Syngnathidae, about 62% of the described species diversity, to compile the most data-rich phylogeny to date. We estimated divergence times using 14 syngnathiform fossils, including nine fossils with newly proposed phylogenetic affinities, to better characterize current and historical biogeographical patterns, and to reconstruct diversification through time. We present a phylogenetic hypothesis that is well-supported and provides several notable insights into syngnathid evolution. We found nine non-monophyletic genera, evidence for seven cryptic species, five potentially invalid synonyms, and identified a novel sister group to the seahorses, the Indo-Pacific pipefishes Halicampus macrorhynchus and H. punctatus. In addition, the morphologically distinct southwest Pacific seahorse Hippocampus jugumus was recovered as the sister to all other non-pygmy seahorses. As found in many other groups, a high proportion of syngnathid lineages appear to have originated in the Central Indo-Pacific and subsequently dispersed to adjoining regions. Conversely, we also found an unusually high subsequent return of lineages from southern Australasia to the Central Indo-Pacific. Diversification rates rose abruptly during the Middle Miocene Climate Transition and peaked after the closure of the Tethys Sea.ConclusionsOur results reveal a previously underappreciated diversity of syngnathid lineages. The observed biogeographic patterns suggest a significant role of the southern Australasian region as a source and sink of lineages. Shifts in diversification rates imply possible links to declining global temperatures, the separation of the Atlantic and Pacific faunas, and the environmental changes associated with these events.

Phytosociology and Vegetation of Plants of Beit Jibrin in Palestine

This paper describes a study on the vegetation and floristics of the territory of Beit Jibrin in Palestine, in areas such as Forest the Snabreh (Qasa), Khallet Mahmoud and Khallet AL-Taweel, among others. In view of the lack of studies on the phytosociology and communities of plants in the south-west of Palestine, as this region represents a unique diversity of plants, and the addition of these plants to Mediterranean Basin region plants, we conducted this study to identify and describe the plants of this region. Beit Jibrin is an ancient Canaanite Palestinian city that belongs to inframediterranean and thermomediterranean thermotypes, as well as arid, semi-arid and dry ombrotypes. This area is very important floristically, with a high rate of endemism: of the 290 species documented, 37 of them (12.75%) were endemic to the region. Vegetation was sampled on twelve representative plots (releves) and analyzed using the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological analysis method. Two communities of forest maquis, macchie and steppe vegetation were found. Forest vegetation were represented by the Cupresso sempervirentis–Pinetum halepensis ass. nova. association, in the class of Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. ex. A. and O. Bolòs 1950, the order of Pinetalia halepensis, Biondi et al. (2014), and a new alliance: Cupresso sempervirentis–Pinus halepensis; forests maquis vegetation as the association of Pistacio lentisci—Quercetum calliprini ass. nova., with the suggested new class of Quercetea calliprini or palaestini in addition to Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. ex. A. and O. Bolòs 1950 and the order of Quercetalia calliprini (Zohary 1960), with an alliance of Quercion calliprini (Zohary 1960). These were adapted in arid, semi-arid, dry and sub-humid ombrotypes, as well as infra- and thermotropical to mesomediterranean thermotypes, with many different types of soils, such as limestone, brown ruinsenas, terra rossa and others.

Characteristics and Determinants of Endemic Plant Taxa in the Gabonese Area of Endemism

Endemism is one of the most important concepts in biogeography and is often used to guide biodiversity conservation, yet our understanding of the determinants of endemism in many biodiverse tropical regions is limited. This is true for western Central Africa, a region with one of the highest levels of plant diversity in tropical Africa, where endemism is poorly documented. This study examines the Gabonese Area of Endemism (GAE) and explores the main characteristics and determinants of its vascular plant endemism with regard to taxonomy, growth form, habitat, distribution, and range size. We compiled a comprehensive, verified specimen database of vascular plant taxa restricted to the GAE, comprising 19,876 occurrences of 1145 species and infraspecific taxa, and we characterized the habitat and habit for each taxon. We then calculated the proportion of taxa in the regional flora that are endemic to the GAE. A Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to investigate range size among endemic taxa exhibiting different growth forms, and Fisher exact tests were used to explore the association between their habit and habitat, and to test the distribution of these attributes among higher-level taxa and growth forms compared to patterns in the regional flora as a whole. We found that endemic taxa represent ca. 13% of the GAE flora, and that the rate of endemism varies considerably among taxonomic groups and growth forms. Endemism is highest among shrubs (22%) and lowest in herbs (8%), especially monocotyledons (e.g., 5% among Poales). Most endemic taxa grow preferentially in forest habitats, the dominant vegetation type of the region. Endemic trees, which structure forest ecosystems, have significantly larger ranges than endemic herbs, climbers, and shrubs. About 17% of the flora of Gabon is endemic or subendemic to the country. Our results show that the dispersal capacity of taxa and the biogeographical history of the region appear to be critical factors in explaining differences in the rate of endemism among growth forms and taxonomic groups. Our findings also highlight the benefits of carefully building a comprehensive and verified database for studying rare and range-restricted plants, and they underscore the necessity to strengthen botanical exploration throughout western Central Africa in order to develop improved and better-informed conservation strategies.

Sustainable Ecotourism through Cutting-Edge Technologies

Tourism is a phenomenon that dates back to ancient times. Ancient Greek philosophers recognised, adopted, and promoted the concept of rest-based tourism. Ecotourism is a particular type of tourism that connects with activities that take place in nature, without harming it, along with the herbal and animal wealth. According to estimates, the global ecotourism industry is currently booming due to various reasons, and it is becoming an important factor of sustainable regional development. This article presents the vision, work, and outcomes of project AdVENt, a project focusing natively in sustainable ecotourism through natural science and technological innovation. AdVENt’s study area includes the National Parks of Oiti (or Oeta) and Parnassus in Central Greece, where there is a remarkable native flora with a high endemism rate integrated with areas of cultural value and national and European hiking routes and paths of varying difficulty.

Effects of climate change on the distribution of threatened invertebrates in a Mediterranean hotspot

Abstract The effects of climate change may constitute a major threat factor for endemic and threatened species of invertebrates. A particularly dramatic case can be found in the Iberian Peninsula, because of its high rate of species diversity and endemism. We aim to evaluate the effects of climate change on the distribution of 36 endangered and endemic species of invertebrates within the Iberian Peninsula using species distribution models. We used an ensemble species distribution modelling framework to estimate the species potential distributions under current and future (2050 and 2070) climatic conditions for two different areas: the whole Iberian Peninsula and the current species ranges. We assessed species vulnerability to climate change by calculating three complementary indexes: change in suitable area, persistence in suitable area and turnover in suitable area. Annual mean precipitation was the variable that contributed most to the climatic models. We categorised 25 species as ‘losers’ because they will experience a reduction in their total suitable area under future climatic conditions, six species were categorised as ‘winners’ and six showed contradictory results. Climate change will have several effects on species by changing their suitable distributions and may affect their persistence. Species with narrow distributions associated with mountain ranges will experience the worst future projected conditions, while arid‐adapted species are expected to expand their distributions. Factors assessing the vulnerability of endemic and endangered species can be taken into account to develop strategies that mitigate the negative effects of climate change.

Screening of cytotoxicity and DNA topoisomerase IIa inhibitory activity of Turkish Onosma species

Onosma L., the largest genus of Boraginaceae, is represented by 105 species in Turkey with an endemism rate of 52%. Phytochemical studies indicate that Boraginaceae plants mainly comprise naphthoquinones with a wide range of biological activities including anticancer, antiinflammatory, wound healing, and antioxidant effects. However, few taxa of the genus Onosma have been investigated in detail for their bioactivities. Considering the high rate of endemism and an inadequate number of bioactivity screening studies in literature, we aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects and topoisomerase inhibitory activities of some Onosma species growing in southwestern Turkey. Here, we describe a comprehensive cytotoxic activity screening study on petroleum ether, dichloromethane, and methanol extracts of the roots of 20 identified and one unidentified Onosma taxa. The MTT cell viability assay has been performed to investigate the cytotoxicity of the extracts against seven cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HeLa, Hep G2, A549, Capan-1, HCC-1937, and DU-145) and a noncancerous cell line (MRC-5), while doxorubicin was served as a positive standard. The petroleum ether extracts of O. aksoyii Aytaç&Türkmen, O. isaurica Boiss. and Heldr.,O. taurica Pallas ex Willd. var. taurica and O. alborosea Fisch. & C.A. Mey subsp. alborosea var. alborosea were determined as the most active ones based on their IC50 values. DNA topoisomerase II? inhibition assay was conducted on the petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of these four active species, and almost all tested extracts demonstrated strong inhibition on the enzyme at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. Our cytotoxicity screening results were consistent with the findings of the topoisomerase II? inhibition test. This study advocates the significant role of Onosma species in the field of anticancer drug discovery.

An estimate of the area of occupancy and population size of Brachycephalus tridactylus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) to reassess its conservation status, with a proposal for conservation measures.

BackgroundWe are experiencing a global crisis in conservation, which has led to the prioritization of targets, such as nations, regions, and animal groups, which are necessary while resources are disputed. Brazil is a priority not only because of its megadiversity, high rates of endemism, and frequent descriptions of new species but also because of its high levels of deforestation. Among the species groups prioritized for conservation is the anurans (Amphibia: Anura), the population of which is severely declining. One group of anurans is the genus Brachycephalus, which includes 37 endemic species in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Some of these species have highly restricted distributions (<100 ha). Thirty new species have been described since 2000, and 55.3% of all species are threatened with extinction. Brachycephalus tridactylus was only recently described and remains restricted to its type locality. Because of its reduced geographical distribution (0.41 km2), it has been proposed to be considered as Vulnerable. The objective of this study is to reevaluate the conservation status of Brachycephalus tridactylus and propose conservation measures.MethodsWe searched for new populations during 2016–2020, evaluated in loco impacts and potential impacts on the species’ population, and performed an analysis of the density of this population and estimated its size. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria were used to assess the conservation status of the species.ResultsWe recorded the species in seven new localities (from 715–1,140 m above sea level) in the state of São Paulo up to 33 km from the type locality of the species (in state of Paraná). We estimated the area of occupancy as 148.44 km2, densities as one calling male per 4.05 m2 and 130.00 m2, and a total population size of 4,429,722 adult individuals. Based on our finding, we proposed three lines of management: (1) formation of fire brigades, (2) management of residents’ mules in the conservation unit and surrounding areas, and (3) management of degraded areas. We recommend changing the species’ conservation status from Vulnerable to Endangered because of its fragmented distribution and decline in the area of occupancy and in the quality of its habitat. Our results have expanded the species previous geographic distribution and delimited areas without previous records. Our estimates of population density and size are in accordance with those verified for congeners. The conservation of this species benefits the environments and other species that inhabit them, being, therefore, strategic for receiving conservation actions that will spread throughout the ecosystem.

Solving the cryptic diversity of the genus Manerebia Staudinger in northern Peru: description of new species and considerations on the biogeographical role of the Huancabamba Deflection (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Pronophilina).

The Huancabamba Deflection in the Andes of northern Peru and southern Ecuador is a pivotal area for Neotropical biogeography, where exceptional biodiversity coincides with high rates of endemism. These characteristics are well illustrated within the montane butterfly genus Manerebia Staudinger (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). Here, six new, apparently endemic species, and two new subspecies, are described from this region: M. inducta Pyrcz Willmott n. sp., M. ronda Pyrcz Boyer, n. sp., M. ronda amplia Pyrcz Boyer, n. ssp., M. punku Pyrcz Farfn n. sp., M. huamanii Cerdea Pyrcz n. sp., M. placida Pyrcz Willmott n. sp., M. granatus Willmott, Radford Pyrcz n. sp. and M. prattorum udima Pyrcz Boyer, n. ssp. A total of 22 species of Manerebia is reported from the study region, as much as half the total number of species in this genus distributed throughout the tropical Andes. The alpha-taxonomy of Manerebia is particularly demanding, as colour patterns have apparently converged among different species making identification virtually impossible in some cases without comparison of their genitalia, which prove taxonomically and phylogenetically highly valuable. On the other hand, several species differ markedly in wing colour patterns and occur at different elevations but have identical genitalia. Furthermore, our data show that DNA barcoding is only partly viable as an alpha-taxonomic tool, as some markedly different species of Manerebia, in terms of external morphology and ecological preferences, are genetically not separable using only COI markers. On the other hand, several species barely differing morphologically are identified based on barcode. Barcodes of 26 species, including 18 from the northern Andes, are studied here, showing strong differences within some taxa previously considered conspecific based on morphological characters, suggesting that their taxonomic status needs to be re-evaluated. In particular, M. trimaculata and the widely distributed polytypic M. inderena may be highly variable species or complexes of several species. A total of 16 species are found north of the Chamaya valley in southern Ecuador and extreme northern Peru, compared to 14 species south of it in northern Peru. The faunal (Jaccard) similarity coefficient of the two adjacent regions is low (0.3), reflecting the role of the Huancabamba Deflection as a biogeographical barrier.

Beta Diversity along an Elevational Gradient at the Pico da Neblina (Brazil): Is Spider (Arachnida-Araneae) Community Composition Congruent with the Guayana Region Elevational Zonation?

Beta diversity is usually high along elevational gradients. We studied a spider community at the Pico da Neblina (Brazil), an Amazonian mountain which is one of the southern components of the Guayana region. We sampled six elevations and investigated if beta diversity patterns correspond to the elevational division proposed for the region, between lowlands (up to 500 m), uplands (500 m to 1500 m), and highlands (&gt;1500 m). Patterns of dominance increased with elevation along the gradient, especially at the two highest elevations, indicating that changes in composition may be accompanied by changes in species abundance distribution. Beta diversity recorded was very high, but the pattern observed was not in accordance with the elevationaldivision proposed for the region. While the highlands indeed harbored different fauna, the three lowest elevationshad similar species compositions, indicating that the lowlands spider community extends into the uplands zone. Other measures of compositional change, such as similarity indices and species indicator analysis, also support this pattern. Our results, in addition to a revision of the literature, confirm the high diversity and endemism rates of montane spider communities, and we stress the importance of protecting those environments, especially considering the climate crisis.

The snake fauna of the most threatened region of the Atlantic Forest: natural history, distribution, species richness and a complement to the Atlas of Brazilian Snakes

The Atlantic Forest is one of the richest tropical forests in the world, with a high endemism rate of vertebrates, including several snakes. The snake fauna of the Atlantic Forest is rich and complex, presenting differences in fauna composition along its extension. The existence of at least four endemism centers along this forest is well documented and supported by data of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. The Pernambuco Endemism Center (PEC) is the most septentrional region of the Atlantic Forest, and it contacts areas with transitional forests and arid landscapes (Caatinga) which along with altitudinal variation enable a unique snake fauna for this region. In this study we provide: (i) an updated list of species, detailed information about natural history, as well as a detailed geographic distribution for all species recorded in the PEC; (ii) a comparison between the snake fauna of the PEC with other regions of the Atlantic Forest. The snake fauna of the PEC is composed by 86 species of 8 families. The results showed that most of the species recorded in the PEC are distributed close to the coast, probably due to the proximity of the research centers, but also due to the present distribution of the remnants close to the coast. The forest remnants in the highlands (Brejos de Altitude) harbors a high diversity of species with high similarity with the coastal forests. We found a strong separation between the snake fauna of assemblages located in southwestern and northeastern Brazil, indicating clear characteristics of the snake fauna of the PEC.&#x0D;

Is It Cost Effective to Obtain Fungal and Acid-Fast Bacillus Cultures during Spine Debridement?

Study DesignRetrospective study.PurposeTo identify the rate of positive acid-fast bacillus (AFB) and fungal cultures during spine debridement, determine whether these infections are more common in certain spine segments, identify comorbidities associated with these infections, and determine whether the universal performance of fungal and AFB cultures during spine debridement is cost effective.Overview of LiteratureSpine infections are associated with significant morbidity and costs. Spine fungal and AFB infections are rare, but their incidence has not been well documented. As such, guidance regarding sample procurement for AFB and fungal cultures is lacking.MethodsA retrospective review of medical record data from patients undergoing spine irrigation and debridement (I&D) at the University of Missouri over a 10-year period was performed.ResultsFor patients undergoing spine I&D, there was a 4% incidence of fungal infection and 0.49% rate of AFB infection. Steroid use was associated with a higher likelihood (odds ratio, 5.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.33–23.75) of positive fungal or AFB cultures. Although not significant, patients undergoing multiple I&D procedures had higher rates of positive fungal cultures during each subsequent I&D. Over a 10-year period, if fungal cultures are obtained for each patient, it would cost our healthcare system $12,151.58. This is compared to an average cost of $177,297.64 per missed fungal infection requiring subsequent treatment.ConclusionsSpine fungal infections occur infrequently at a rate of 4%. Physicians should strongly consider obtaining samples for fungal cultures in patients undergoing spine I&D, especially those using steroids and those undergoing multiple I&Ds. Our AFB culture rates mirror the false positive rates seen in previous orthopedic literature. It is unlikely to be cost effective to send for AFB cultures in areas with low endemic rates of AFB.

Long-term impact of contact precautions cessation for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Contact isolation has been traditionally implemented to stop transmission but its impact is increasingly questioned. A single center, retrospective, nonrandomized, observational, quasi-experimental study compared MRSA HAI rates between pre-/postdiscontinuation of MRSA contact isolation in a tertiary university hospital over 68 months. Data on primary outcomes, Central line-associated bloodstream infections and MRSA LabID bacteremia events, were analyzed by interrupted time series design using segmented Poisson regression modeling. As secondary outcomes catheter-associated urinary tract infections , ventilator-associated pneumonia , surgical site infections and hospital-associated pneumonia were compared using Fisher's exact tests. Current savings due to discontinuation were calculated based on gown use. Two hundred and ninty-five patients developed 399 HAIs. Infection rates between pre- and postinterventions were as follows: Central line-associated bloodstream infections: (0.02% vs 0.02%; P-value=.64), MRSA LabID events: (0.01% vs 0.02%; P-value=.32), hospital-associated pneumonia: (0.01% vs 0.01%; P-value=.64), catheter-associated urinary tract infections: (0% vs 0.01%; P-value=.56), ventilator-associated pneumonia: (0.01% vs 0.01%; P-value=.32), surgical site infections (0.55% vs 0.15%; P-value=.03). Savings amount to $139,228 annually. Discontinuing CP did not negatively impact endemic MRSA HAI rates between pre-postdiscontinuation periods and saved costs for isolation materials.

Fresh insights into Mediterranean biodiversity: environmental DNA reveals spatio-temporal patterns of stream invertebrate communities on Sicily

The Mediterranean region with its islands is among the top biodiversity hotspots. It houses numerous freshwater taxa with a high rate of endemism, but is heavily impacted by anthropogenic pressures and global climate change. To conserve biodiversity, reliable data on species and genetic diversity are needed especially for the scarcely known insular freshwater ecosystems. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding provides a straight-forward opportunity to assess aquatic biodiversity. Therefore, we conducted the first eDNA metabarcoding study in one stream catchment on Sicily. Specifically, we aimed to (i) investigate spatial diversity patterns of macroinvertebrate communities, (ii) assess seasonal changes (autumn and winter), and (iii) check if dispersal barriers can be identified. Water samples were taken at 27 different sites in two seasons and eDNA metabarcoding was performed using a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene as a marker. In total, we detected 98 macroinvertebrate species, including 28 taxa potentially new to Sicily. Exact sequence variant and species composition data showed that diversity differed between seasons with less taxa detected in winter. We also detected a dispersal barrier, which had a stronger effect in autumn. Our findings show that eDNA metabarcoding provides valuable information on Sicilian freshwater biodiversity. We therefore encourage its application for understudied regions to better understand the state and dynamics of freshwater biodiversity.

Risk of Secondary Breast Cancer in Female Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors: 40 Years of Follow-Up Assessed by Treatment Modality

Survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are at increased risk of treatment associated secondary malignancies. We quantified the risk of developing a secondary breast cancer (SBC) in female NHL survivors with over 40 years of follow-up, and evaluated differences in risk by treatment modality.Standardized incidence ratios (SIR, observed-to-expected [O/E] ratio), which accounts for patient years at risk, and absolute excess risk of SBC were assessed in 65,123 female patients diagnosed with NHL as a first malignancy between 1975 and 2016 in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Only invasive disease was considered SBC, ductal carcinoma in situ was excluded. Follow up was available through 2016. SIRs were also evaluated for patients stratified by age at and latency from diagnosis.In all, 7,010 (10.8%) patients received radiotherapy alone (RT), 30,393 (46.7%) received chemotherapy alone (CT), and 7,845 (12.0%) received chemotherapy and radiation (CRT). In total, there were 1,480 female SBCs with NHL survivors having a lower incidence of SBC than the endemic rate (O/E 0.91, 95 % CI 0.87-0.96, P < 0.05. Patients treated with RT were at a higher risk of SBC than those who did not receive RT (O/E 1.02, 95% CI 0.93-1.12 vs O/E 0.87, 95% CI 0.82-0.93 respectively; P < 0.05). When stratified by treatment groups (No therapy, RT alone, CT alone, and CRT) there was a significantly higher risk of SBC in the CRT group than any other treatment group (O/E 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.34, P < 0.05). When patients were stratified by age at diagnosis, there was a significantly increased risk of SBC in patients who were diagnosed at age < 25 years irrespective of RT status with O/E ratios of 3.07 and 3.97 in the RT and no RT groups, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between these two treatment groups. This effect decreased with increasing age at diagnosis of NHL. The risk of developing SBC was significantly higher at > 10 years from NHL diagnosis (O/E 1.12) compared to < 10 years (O/E 0.82).This is the largest study to examine SBC risk in patients with NHL. These results demonstrate that survivors of NHL have a lower incidence of invasive breast cancer compared to the general population. Patients treated with RT did have an increased risk over those with no RT; however, this did not exceed endemic breast cancer rate. The use of CRT and time > 10 years from NHL diagnosis were associated with higher risk of developing an SBC. Importantly, women diagnosed with NHL < 25 yrs of age had a higher rate of SBCs regardless of RT use. These results may help inform breast cancer screening protocols for women with a history of NHL.

Risk of Secondary Malignancies in Ovarian Cancer Survivors: 54,305 Patients Analyzed With 40 Years of Follow-up

Survivors of ovarian cancer are at risk of developing a secondary malignancy (SM). We sought to evaluate the risk of developing SM, stratified by treatment modality and site of SM.Standardized incidence ratios (SIR, observed-to-expected [O/E] ratio) and absolute excess risk of SM, were assessed in 54,305 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a first malignancy between 1975 and 2016 in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Follow-up was available through 2016. Importantly, the SIRs take into account age at diagnosis, race, year of diagnosis and patient-years at risk. Non-melanoma skin cancers were not counted as SM. SIRs were also evaluated for patients according to latency from their initial diagnosis.Of 54,305 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer, 1,010 received radiation therapy (RT) alone, 35,842 received chemotherapy (CT) alone, and 1,035 were treated with chemotherapy and radiation (CRT). 16,418 patients received neither CT or RT. Overall, 3,981 patients (7.3%) developed SM, which was more than the endemic rate [O/E 1.13 (95% CI 1.09- 1.16); P < 0.05]. Patients who received any RT (RT+CRT) had an increased risk of SM compared to those who didn't [O/E 1.42 (95% CI 1.24- 1.61) vs O/E 1.11 (95% CI 1.08- 1.15), respectively; P < 0.05] which included an excess risk of 4.82 bladder cancers per 10,000 patient-years at risk. Patients who received any CT (CT+CRT) had a similar risk of developing SM compared to those not treated with CT [O/E 1.11 (95% CI 1.07- 1.16) vs O/E 1.14 (95% CI 1.09- 1.12), respectively; P < 0.05]. Those who received any CT had an excess risk of 4.1 cases of leukemia per 10,000 patient-years at risk compared to those who did not receive CT. When stratified into treatment groups (No CT/RT, RT alone, CT alone, CRT), the CRT group had higher rates of SM than the no CT/RT and CT groups [O/E 1.56 (95% CI 1.25- 1.93)]. There was no statistically significant difference in the SM rate between the RT group and no CT/RT group [O/E 1.35 (95% CI 1.14- 1.57) vs O/E 1.13 (95% CI 1.07- 1.18), respectively]. The CT and CRT groups had an increased risk of leukemia compared to the no CT/RT group (P < 0.05). The CT only group had a lower risk of developing lung cancer than the no CT/RT group (P < 0.05). The excess risk of developing a solid tumor was greatest at latencies of 10-20 years. The excess risk of developing leukemia was greatest at latencies up to 10 years.This is the largest study to examine the risk of SM in patients with ovarian cancer and has the longest follow-up. The risk of SM was increased after having ovarian cancer and varied with treatment modality. Patients treated with any RT had higher rates of SM than those not treated with RT. Importantly, CT did not result in an increased excess risk of solid tumor SM, only in an increased excess risk of leukemia. These results may help inform SM screening protocols for women with ovarian cancer.A.C. Casper: None. M.W. Parsons: None. J. Chipman: None. L.M. Burt: ARRO executive committee. G. Suneja: Research Grant; National Institutes of Health. Honoraria; National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Travel Expenses; National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Radiation Oncology Institute, American Board of Radiology; Radiation Oncology Institute, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, ASTRO.K.A. Maurer: None. D.K. Gaffney: Research Grant; NCI. Consultant; NCI. run meetings; NCI.

Ethnobotanical Uses of Liliaceae s.s. and Colchicaceae Taxa in Turkey

The relationship between plants and humans is as old as human history. The branch of science that studies this relationship between humans and plants is called ethnobotany. People have been used plants in various ways, including food, medicine, clothing, goods, and firewood. Geophyte is a name given to herbaceous plants with special subsoil stems, such as bulbs, rhizomes, and tubers. In the Flora of Turkey, monocotyl geophytes are represented by 688 species, of which 244 are endemic. The rate of endemism is 35.5%. They belong mostly to the families Liliaceae s.l., Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae, Araceae, and Orchidaceae. There are many reports on the ethnomedicinal effects of Liliaceae s.s. and Colchicaceae families. This review reports on the findings of an ethnobotanical survey of Liliaceae and Colchicaceae families used in Turkey. As a result of the study, we listed that four Gagea, four Tulipa, three Fritillaria, and two Lilium taxa from the Liliaceae s.s., and three Colchicum taxa from the Colchicaceae were used ethnobotanically by local people in Turkey. It was also apparent from the results of the study, Liliaceae s.s. and Colchicaceae families are mostly used by local people for ornamental plant. The genus Tulipa has the greatest number of ethnobotanical uses. The most commonly used plant parts are whole plants, bulbs, and flowers.

Biodiversity modelling reveals a significant gap between diversity hotspots and protected areas for Iranian reptiles

The global struggle to conserve as many species as possible with limited resources requires an improvement of our knowledge on the distribution of biodiversity. In Iran, the state of knowledge is poor for most groups of organisms, except few vertebrate groups and vascular plants. Reptiles are one of the best known, most diverse vertebrate groups in Iran, with a high rate of endemism (ca. 29%), but distribution patterns and related environmental drivers remain poorly understood. In the present study, based on a large publicly available dataset, we use general additive modelling (GAM) to identify explanatory variables for species richness of reptiles in Iran. Results indicate heterogeneity parameters (range +entropy) as the variables with the highest explanatory values. Based on the grid cells of the predicted environmental richness, using hotspot analysis, we suggest seven hotspots of reptile diversity (HRDs) across the country. Our results corroborate the previously recognized HRDs and detect three additional ones, located alongside the major mountain ranges around the central deserts plateau, particularly in the Zagros Mountains. Four of the largest HRDs (ca. 90%) situate within the Irano-Anatolian and Caucasus global biodiversity hotspot. In addition, our results reveal a large gap between identified HRDs and the current network of protected areas (PAs) in the country. While three of the detected HRDs in this study are partially touched (ca. 18%) by the PA network, overall, these areas are only covered by less than 10%. Therefore, the effectiveness of the current PAs for the protection of the reptile diversity of Iran is questionable.