Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft
Refine
Year of publication
Document Type
- Article (182)
- Preprint (5)
- Doctoral Thesis (1)
- Review (1)
Has Fulltext
- yes (189)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (189)
Keywords
- Invasive species (6)
- climate change (6)
- Biogeography (5)
- phylogeny (5)
- Biodiversity (4)
- West Africa (4)
- taxonomy (4)
- Asian bush mosquito (3)
- Ecological modelling (3)
- Phylogeny (3)
- Westafrika (3)
- conservation (3)
- evolution (3)
- host specificity (3)
- Afrique de l'Ouest (2)
- Basidiomycetes (2)
- Birds (2)
- Climate change (2)
- Community ecology (2)
- Comparative genomics (2)
- Ecology (2)
- Ecosystem ecology (2)
- Evolution (2)
- Evolutionary ecology (2)
- Forest ecology (2)
- Marine biology (2)
- Namibia (2)
- Phylogenetics (2)
- Positive selection (2)
- Savanne (2)
- Species distribution modelling (2)
- Ursidae (2)
- Ursus arctos (2)
- biogeography (2)
- comparative genomics (2)
- genomics (2)
- molecular phylogenetics (2)
- mtDNA (2)
- new taxa (2)
- savane (2)
- smut fungi (2)
- speciation (2)
- systematics (2)
- *BEAST (1)
- 10 new taxa (1)
- Abundanz (1)
- Adaptation (1)
- Adaptive sequence evolution (1)
- Adhesion (1)
- Afrique de l’Ouest (1)
- Agaricales (1)
- Agaricomycotina (1)
- Alburnoides bipunctatus (1)
- American crocodile (1)
- Andes (1)
- Angolan giraffe (1)
- Anguillicoloides crassus (1)
- Animal sociality (1)
- Anisakid nematodes (1)
- Antarctica (1)
- Ants (1)
- Apomixis (1)
- Arctic adaptation (1)
- Arctic fox (1)
- Asian tiger mosquito (1)
- Astaxanthin Synthase (1)
- Australia (1)
- Australian marsupials (1)
- BMR (1)
- Benin (1)
- Beobachtungsdaten (1)
- Beskid Niski Mts (1)
- Biogeochemistry (1)
- Bird physiology (1)
- Bodenbedingungen (1)
- Botswana (1)
- Brassicales (1)
- Burkina Faso (1)
- Bénin (1)
- Bürgerwissenschaft (1)
- C. grani (1)
- C. radiatus (1)
- C. wailesii (1)
- CABLE (1)
- CMIP5 climate scenarios (1)
- CO2 fertilization (1)
- Canis lupus (1)
- Carbohydrate active enzymes (1)
- Carbon cycle (1)
- Carnivores (1)
- Central America (1)
- Centric diatom (1)
- Cetraria aculeata (1)
- Chaenodraco wilsoni (1)
- Champsocephalus gunnari (1)
- Channichthyidae (1)
- Chironomidae (1)
- Chironomus piger (1)
- Chironomus riparius (1)
- Chromosome number (1)
- Climate sciences (1)
- Coevolution (1)
- Common ragweed (1)
- Comparative Genomics (1)
- Complexe WAP (1)
- Computer tomography (1)
- Conservation (1)
- Conservation biology (1)
- Contracaecum (1)
- Core effectors (1)
- Coscinodiscus concinnus (1)
- Crocodylus acutus (1)
- Cryptic species (1)
- Cultivation (1)
- DNA-based taxonomy (1)
- Datenarchivierung (1)
- Demographic change (1)
- Developmental biology (1)
- DiSSCo (1)
- Dickeya (1)
- Diferential delay equation (1)
- Digital Specimen (1)
- Digitalfotos (1)
- Distributed System of Scientific Collections (1)
- Distribution (1)
- Divergence time estimate (1)
- Downy mildew (1)
- Driver (1)
- Drought (1)
- Ecological networks (1)
- Economic botany (1)
- Ecosystem health (1)
- Ectoparasites (1)
- Effector Genes (1)
- EnKS 3D (1)
- Endogenous heat load (1)
- Energy (1)
- Entyloma microsporum complex (1)
- Entyloma ranunculi-repentis complex (1)
- Environmental impact (1)
- Environmental sciences (1)
- Ethno-ophiology (1)
- Ethnobotany (1)
- Europe (1)
- Evolutionary Biology (1)
- Evolutionary biology (1)
- Fats (1)
- Fatty acid metabolism (1)
- Filter-feeding (1)
- Flow cytometry (1)
- Flowering phenology (1)
- Flowers (1)
- Foraging (1)
- Forestry (1)
- Freshwater ecology (1)
- Fruit body (1)
- Fungal evolution (1)
- GPS collar (1)
- GRACE (1)
- Galleria mellonella (1)
- Gene expression (1)
- Generalist (1)
- Genetic variation (1)
- Genetics (1)
- Genome Assembly (1)
- Geochemistry (1)
- Giraffa (1)
- Global (1)
- Glomosporiaceae (1)
- Greening (1)
- Ground-level ozone (1)
- Groundwater (1)
- Growth rate (1)
- HSF (1)
- HUVEC (1)
- Heat-island (1)
- Honey bees (1)
- Host Jump (1)
- Human population dynamics (1)
- Hyperparasitism (1)
- ICN (1)
- Identification (1)
- Insects (1)
- Intermediate host (1)
- Interspecific competition (1)
- Invertebrates (1)
- Iridaceae (1)
- Iridoideae (1)
- Key stone species (1)
- LUCA (1)
- Laboratory (1)
- Larval key (1)
- Life cycle strategy (1)
- Lobelioideae (1)
- Macaronesia (1)
- Macrophysiology (1)
- Macropus (1)
- Macrotermes (1)
- Malawi Rift (1)
- Malpighiales (1)
- Mammals (1)
- McDonald-Kreitman test (1)
- Medicinal plants (1)
- Mediterranean climate (1)
- Messinian salinity crisis (1)
- Metabolic critical temperatures (1)
- Meteorology (1)
- Microalgae (1)
- Microbial ecology (1)
- Microbiome (1)
- Microsatellites (1)
- Microthlaspi erraticum (1)
- Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (1)
- MinION (1)
- Mollusca (1)
- Moraea Mill. (1)
- Mushroom (1)
- Myotis bechsteinii (1)
- Myotis myotis (1)
- NTFPs (1)
- Neobiota (1)
- Neogobius melanostomus (1)
- Neopagetopsis ionah (1)
- Neotropics (1)
- New species (1)
- Niche differentiation (1)
- Nicht-Holz-Waldprodukte (1)
- North China Plain (1)
- Notoryctes (1)
- Nyctalus leisleri (1)
- Oaks (1)
- Obligate biotroph (1)
- Olpidiopsis (1)
- Ontologies (1)
- Oomycetes (1)
- Oomycota (1)
- PCR-GLOBWB (1)
- PFNL (1)
- Pagetopsis macropterus (1)
- Palaeoceanography (1)
- Palaeoclimate (1)
- Parasite infection (1)
- Parasitic infection (1)
- Parmeliaceae (1)
- Passeriformes (1)
- Pathosystem (1)
- Phylogeography (1)
- Phytohormones (1)
- Plant pathogen (1)
- Pleistocene glaciations (1)
- Ploidy (1)
- Pontisma (1)
- Population continuity (1)
- Population dynamics (1)
- Positive Selection (1)
- Postglacial colonization (1)
- Promoters (1)
- Pseudochaenichthys georgianus (1)
- Pseudoterranova (1)
- RDA, Digital Object Architecture (1)
- Rain (1)
- Ranunculaceae (1)
- Red fox (1)
- Relative importance index (1)
- Relic area (1)
- Research Data Alliance (1)
- Resource competition (1)
- Retrotransposon (1)
- Rhodococcus rhodnii (1)
- Roosting place (1)
- RxLR effectors (1)
- SINE (1)
- STACEY (1)
- Sap flow (1)
- Saprolegnia (1)
- Seasons (1)
- Shotgun sequencing (1)
- Smut Fungi (1)
- Snake identification (1)
- Snake species diversity (1)
- Snake worship (1)
- Snakebite (1)
- Social systems (1)
- Solenidae (1)
- South African giraffe (1)
- Specialized Information Service (1)
- Species diversity (1)
- Species tree (1)
- Spinturnix myoti (1)
- Stage-structured model (1)
- StagePop (1)
- Systematic review (1)
- Termitenbiologie (1)
- Termitenhügel (1)
- Text mining (1)
- Traditional medicine (1)
- Transcriptome (1)
- Transposable elements (1)
- Triatominae (1)
- Trichoptera (1)
- Trypanosoma cruzi (1)
- UV radiation (1)
- Urban (1)
- Usefulness (1)
- Ustilaginaceae (1)
- Ustilaginomycotina (1)
- Vegetationsbedeckung (1)
- Vegetationshöhe (1)
- Vegetationsmuster (1)
- Vulpes (1)
- Vulpes lagopus (1)
- Vulpes vulpes (1)
- W3 (1)
- WAP complex (1)
- WAP-Komplex (1)
- WGHM (1)
- Wald als Lebensgrundlage (1)
- Water Framework Directive (1)
- Water chemistry (1)
- Water relations (1)
- Water resources (1)
- Whales (1)
- White-rot (1)
- Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (1)
- aDGVM (1)
- abondance (1)
- abundance (1)
- acclimation (1)
- acetylcholine receptors (1)
- activity sensors (1)
- admixture inference (1)
- alien species (1)
- animal migration (1)
- animal personality (1)
- archivage des données (1)
- asexual reproduction (1)
- assembly (1)
- automated radiotelemetry system (1)
- basal oomycetes (1)
- bats (1)
- bears (1)
- behaviour (1)
- behavioural ecology (1)
- behavioural syndrome (1)
- benthic invertebrates (1)
- biodiversity (1)
- biodiversity hotspot (1)
- biodiversity hotspots (1)
- biome shifts and transitions (1)
- biosynthetic gene clusters (1)
- birds (1)
- brassicaceae (1)
- brown bear (1)
- carbon stocks (1)
- caste (1)
- chloroplast capture (1)
- citizen science (1)
- climate (1)
- climate-change ecology (1)
- clumped isotopes (1)
- cluster analysis (1)
- co-knowledge production (1)
- coalescence (1)
- coluteocarpeae (1)
- community assembly (1)
- community ecology (1)
- comparative analysis (1)
- conditions du sol (1)
- conservation biology (1)
- convergent evolution (1)
- couverture végétale (1)
- cuticular hydrocarbons (1)
- data archiving (1)
- data assimilation (1)
- data pruning (1)
- database (1)
- dataset (1)
- desaturase (1)
- developmental stages (1)
- developmental temperature (1)
- diatom parasites (1)
- digital photos (1)
- distance (1)
- diversification (1)
- diversity metrics (1)
- données d’observation (1)
- données écologiques (1)
- double hierarchical model (1)
- drought (1)
- dépendance des forêts (1)
- ecological data (1)
- ecology (1)
- ecosystem engineers (1)
- ectotherm (1)
- elongase (1)
- emissions scenarios (1)
- endothelial cells (1)
- ensemble simulations (1)
- environmental DNA (1)
- epiphytism (1)
- evolutionary biology (1)
- evolutionary history (1)
- feeding (1)
- flow cytometry (1)
- forest dependency (1)
- formicine (1)
- freshwater ecology (1)
- gene expression (1)
- gene family (1)
- gene flow (1)
- generalised additive models (1)
- genome evolution (1)
- geographic distributions (1)
- geomorphology (1)
- giraffe (1)
- gland extracts (1)
- global (1)
- global fire modelling (1)
- groundwater recharge (1)
- groundwater storage (1)
- hauteur de végétation (1)
- heat stress (1)
- high throughput (1)
- holocarpic oomycetes (1)
- hominin adaptation (1)
- host cell response (1)
- human impact (1)
- hybrid enrichment (1)
- hybridization (1)
- impact humain (1)
- in situ diversification (1)
- incomplete lineage sorting (1)
- ingénieurs de l'écosystème (1)
- interdisciplinarity (1)
- internal transcribed spacer (1)
- internal transcribed spacer rDNA (1)
- introgressive hybridization (1)
- island biogeography (1)
- islands of divergence (1)
- isohydricity (1)
- kangaroo (1)
- land cover changes (1)
- land degradation (1)
- large carnivores (1)
- latitudinal gradient in species richness (1)
- leaf litter-dwelling species (1)
- leaf water potential (1)
- lichen (1)
- lichen diversity (1)
- lichen secondary metabolites (1)
- lichenized fungi (1)
- life cycle (1)
- life-cycle (1)
- life-form (1)
- livelihood (1)
- long-distance dispersa (1)
- ländliche Einkommen (1)
- ländliche Entwicklung (1)
- machine learning (1)
- macroecological model (1)
- macroecology (1)
- magnesium transporters (1)
- marsupial phylogeny (1)
- menschlicher Einfluss (1)
- metabolic pathway (1)
- metabolic pathways (1)
- microgastropods (1)
- microsatellites (1)
- microthlaspi (1)
- molecular species discrimination (1)
- monitoring (1)
- morphology (1)
- motif search (1)
- movement (1)
- mtDNA control region (1)
- multi-locus analyses (1)
- multigene analyses (1)
- multigene phylogeny (1)
- multivariate mixed model (1)
- museum collections (1)
- myxomycete (1)
- network analysis (1)
- new combinations (1)
- new primers (1)
- new records (1)
- new species (1)
- next-generation sequencing (1)
- nextgeneration sequencing (1)
- noccaea (1)
- nomenclature (1)
- non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (1)
- non-timber forest products (1)
- nonbreeding (1)
- noninvasive species (1)
- oakmoss (1)
- observation data (1)
- off-target reads (1)
- ortholog search (1)
- orthology (1)
- paleodiet (1)
- paleoecology (1)
- personality (1)
- photos numériques (1)
- phylogenetic conflict (1)
- phylogenetic diversity (1)
- phylogenetic network (1)
- phylogenetic profile (1)
- phylogenomics (1)
- phylogeography (1)
- physico-chemical degradation (1)
- phytodiversity (1)
- plant-hydraulics (1)
- plastome (1)
- pleomorphic fungi (1)
- pollination syndromes (1)
- polyketide synthases (1)
- polyploidy (1)
- polytomy (1)
- population genetics (1)
- population growth (1)
- populations rurales pauvres (1)
- positive selection (1)
- potassium channels (1)
- prioritization (1)
- produits forestiers non ligneux (1)
- protected areas (1)
- protected names (1)
- quality control (1)
- random forest (1)
- range size (1)
- rapid radiation (1)
- rare species (1)
- razor clams (1)
- recolonization (1)
- red algae (1)
- reintroduction (1)
- rejected names (1)
- repeatability (1)
- reproductive isolation (1)
- reserve substance (1)
- reservoirs (1)
- residual intra‐individual variability (1)
- ressources de base (1)
- retrotransposition (1)
- retrotransposons (1)
- revenu rural (1)
- richness model (1)
- rural income (1)
- rural poor (1)
- saprotrophic fungi (1)
- savanna (1)
- savanna ecosystem (1)
- science citoyenne (1)
- sea-level fluctuations (1)
- seasonal migration (1)
- sequence evolution (1)
- shell variability (1)
- six new taxa (1)
- slave-making ants (1)
- small animals (1)
- smut fung (1)
- sodium channels (1)
- soil conditions (1)
- southern Africa (1)
- species complex (1)
- species distribution model (1)
- species distribution models (1)
- species richness (1)
- species tree (1)
- sustainable development (1)
- systematic diversity (1)
- tRackIT (1)
- taxon sampling (1)
- temperature (1)
- temperature adaptation (1)
- terebridae venom (1)
- termite biology (1)
- termite mounds (1)
- termitières (1)
- terpene synthases (1)
- terrestrial carbon cycle (1)
- terrestrial vertebrates (1)
- thlaspi (1)
- transcription factor (1)
- transcriptomics (1)
- transdisciplinarity (1)
- transposable elements (1)
- tree moss (1)
- tropics (1)
- twilight zone (1)
- type species (1)
- uncertainties (1)
- unit nomenclature (1)
- variance partitioning (1)
- vegetation cover (1)
- vegetation height (1)
- vegetation modelling (1)
- vegetation pattern (1)
- voucherless taxa (1)
- water parameter (1)
- water storage (1)
- water stress (1)
- water use (1)
- water use efficiency (1)
- wetland (1)
- wildfires (1)
- Ökosystemingenieure (1)
- ökologische Daten (1)
Institute
- Biodiversität und Klima Forschungszentrum (BiK-F) (189) (remove)
BIOfid is a specialized information service currently being developed to mobilize biodiversity data dormant in printed historical and modern literature and to offer a platform for open access journals on the science of biodiversity. Our team of librarians, computer scientists and biologists produce high-quality text digitizations, develop new text-mining tools and generate detailed ontologies enabling semantic text analysis and semantic search by means of user-specific queries. In a pilot project we focus on German publications on the distribution and ecology of vascular plants, birds, moths and butterflies extending back to the Linnaeus period about 250 years ago. The three organism groups have been selected according to current demands of the relevant research community in Germany. The text corpus defined for this purpose comprises over 400 volumes with more than 100,000 pages to be digitized and will be complemented by journals from other digitization projects, copyright-free and project-related literature. With TextImager (Natural Language Processing & Text Visualization) and TextAnnotator (Discourse Semantic Annotation) we have already extended and launched tools that focus on the text-analytical section of our project. Furthermore, taxonomic and anatomical ontologies elaborated by us for the taxa prioritized by the project’s target group - German institutions and scientists active in biodiversity research - are constantly improved and expanded to maximize scientific data output. Our poster describes the general workflow of our project ranging from literature acquisition via software development, to data availability on the BIOfid web portal (http://biofid.de/), and the implementation into existing platforms which serve to promote global accessibility of biodiversity data.
Die meisten von Menschen in neue Habitate eingeschleppten Arten sind harmlos. Doch einige richten beträchtliche ökologische und ökonomische Schäden an. Rückgängig machen kann man den Prozess nicht, aber vorbeugen sollte man. Computermodelle ermitteln die gefährdeten Knotenpunkte im Handelsnetz und sagen die nächsten Invasoren im marinen Bereich inzwischen zuverlässig voraus.
Before the advent of molecular phylogenetics, species concepts in the downy mildews, an economically important group of obligate biotrophic oomycete pathogens, have mostly been based upon host range and morphology. While molecular phylogenetic studies have confirmed a narrow host range for many downy mildew species, others, like Pseudoperonospora cubensis affect even different genera. Although often morphological differences were found for new, phylogenetically distinct species, uncertainty prevails regarding their host ranges, especially regarding related plants that have been reported as downy mildew hosts, but were not included in the phylogenetic studies. In these cases, the basis for deciding if the divergence in some morphological characters can be deemed sufficient for designation as separate species is uncertain, as observed morphological divergence could be due to different host matrices colonised. The broad host range of P. cubensis (ca. 60 host species) renders this pathogen an ideal model organism for the investigation of morphological variations in relation to the host matrix and to evaluate which characteristics are best indicators for conspecificity or distinctiveness. On the basis of twelve morphological characterisitcs and a set of twelve cucurbits from five different Cucurbitaceae tribes, including the two species, Cyclanthera pedata and Thladiantha dubia, hitherto not reported as hosts of P. cubensis, a significant influence of the host matrix on pathogen morphology was found. Given the high intraspecific variation of some characteristics, also their plasticity has to be taken into account. The implications for morphological species determination and the confidence limits of morphological characteristics are discussed. For species delimitations in Pseudoperonospora it is shown that the ratio of the height of the first ramification to the sporangiophore length, ratio of the longer to the shorter ultimate branchlet, and especially the length and width of sporangia, as well as, with some reservations, their ratio, are the most suitable characteristics for species delimitation.
The Global South is facing severe challenges in ensuring livelihood security due to climate change impacts, environmental degradation and population growth as well as changing lifestyles. These complex problems cannot be solely solved by single scientific disciplines – they require transdisciplinary research (TDR). Stakeholders from civil society, the corporate sector, government and science need to pool their knowledge to find solutions for sustainable transformations. In Namibia, we have been involved in TDR projects on water supply, and sanitation services as well as livestock management in rangeland systems. In this paper, we review two TDR projects that differ in multiple ways and hence allow us to carve out structural differences and critically discuss research outcomes, lessons learned and the challenge of North–South collaborations. Our review builds upon published and unpublished project documents as well as expert interviews with Namibian and German researchers who were involved in the projects. Our results show that TDR can be put into practice in different ways, depending on the research focus and the period available. The TDR phases of problem framing, inter- and transdisciplinary integration were implemented with different tools and foci points. We discuss the role of project length and funding conditions for project success and outcome generation. In addition, we critically consider the role of Namibian and German researchers in these international collaborations. The conclusions we draw touch upon the points of preparatory research funding, the equal acknowledgement of Global South contributions to joint research projects and the explicit handling of TDR components in project work. Significance: • The current social-ecological challenges are complex and require TDR as a mode of knowledge coproduction, particularly in a development context. • Inter- and transdisciplinary integration are critical processes for a project to be successful and require the allocation of adequate time and monetary resources. • Longer-term projects with a funded preparatory research phase constitute a structural model for TDR as project outcomes can evolve over time. • Global South researchers carry a hidden burden in international collaborations that has to be adequately acknowledged upfront in project planning and final products.
Division of labor and task specialization explain the success of human and insect societies. Social insect colonies are characterized by division of labor, with workers specializing in brood care early and foraging later in life. Theory posits that this task switching requires shifts in responsiveness to task-related cues, yet experimental evidence is weak. Here, we show that a Vitellogenin (Vg) ortholog identified in an RNAseq study on the ant T. longispinosus is involved in this process: using phylogenetic analyses of Vg and Vg-like genes, we firstly show that this candidate gene does not cluster with the intensively studied honey bee Vg but falls into a separate Vg-like A cluster. Secondly, an experimental knockdown of Vg-like A in the fat body caused a reduction in brood care and an increase in nestmate care in young ant workers. Nestmate care is normally exhibited by older workers. We demonstrate experimentally that this task switch is at least partly based on Vg-like A–associated shifts in responsiveness from brood to worker cues. We thus reveal a novel mechanism leading to early behavioral maturation via changes in social cue responsiveness mediated by Vg-like A and associated pathways, which proximately play a role in regulating division of labor.
Venomous secretions from marine snails of the Terebridae family target acetylcholine receptors
(2013)
Venoms from cone snails (Conidae) have been extensively studied during the last decades, but those from other members of the suborder Toxoglossa, such as of Terebridae and Turridae superfamilies attracted less interest so far. Here, we report the effects of venom and gland extracts from three species of the superfamily Terebridae. By 2-electrode voltage-clamp technique the gland extracts were tested on Xenopus oocytes expressing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of rat neuronal (α3β2, α3β4, α4β2, α4β4, α7) and muscle subtypes (α1β1γδ), and expressing potassium (Kv1.2 and Kv1.3) and sodium channels (Nav1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6). The extracts were shown to exhibit remarkably high inhibitory activities on almost all nAChRs tested, in particular on the α7 subtype suggesting the presence of peptides of the A-superfamily from the venom of Conus species. In contrast, no effects on the potassium and sodium channels tested were observed. The venoms of terebrid snails may offer an additional source of novel biologically active peptides.
Leaf-stripe smuts on grasses are a highly polyphyletic group within Ustilaginomycotina, occurring in three genera, Tilletia, Urocystis, and Ustilago. Currently more than 12 Ustilago species inciting stripe smuts are recognised. The majority belong to the Ustilago striiformis-complex, with about 30 different taxa described from 165 different plant species. This study aims to assess whether host distinct-lineages can be observed amongst the Ustilago leaf-stripe smuts using nine different loci on a representative set. Phylogenetic reconstructions supported the monophyly of the Ustilago striiformis-complex that causes leaf-stripe and the polyphyly of other leaf-stripe smuts within Ustilago. Furthermore, smut specimens from the same host genus generally clustered together in well-supported clades that often had available species names for these lineages. In addition to already-named lineages, three new lineages were observed, and described as new species on the basis of host specificity and molecular differences: namely Ustilago jagei sp. nov. on Agrostis stolonifera, U. kummeri sp. nov. on Bromus inermis, and U. neocopinata sp. nov. on Dactylis glomerata.
Abstract:
Snakebite is an important medical emergency in rural Nepal. Correct identification of the biting species is crucial for clinicians to choose appropriate treatment and anticipate complications. This is particularly important for neurotoxic envenoming which, depending on the snake species involved, may not respond to available antivenoms. Adequate species identification tools are lacking. This study used a combination of morphological and molecular approaches (PCR-aided DNA sequencing from swabs of bite sites) to determine the contribution of venomous and non-venomous species to the snakebite burden in southern Nepal. Out of 749 patients admitted with a history of snakebite to one of three study centres, the biting species could be identified in 194 (25.9%). Out of these, 87 had been bitten by a venomous snake, most commonly the Indian spectacled cobra (Naja naja; n = 42) and the common krait (Bungarus caeruleus; n = 22). When both morphological identification and PCR/sequencing results were available, a 100% agreement was noted. The probability of a positive PCR result was significantly lower among patients who had used inadequate “first aid” measures (e.g. tourniquets or local application of remedies). This study is the first to report the use of forensic genetics methods for snake species identification in a prospective clinical study. If high diagnostic accuracy is confirmed in larger cohorts, this method will be a very useful reference diagnostic tool for epidemiological investigations and clinical studies.
Author Summary:
Snakebite is an important medical problem in sub-tropical and tropical regions, including Nepal where tens of thousands of people are bitten every year. Snakebite can result in life-threatening envenoming, and correct identification of the biting species is crucial for care providers to choose appropriate treatment and anticipate complications. This paper explores a number of methods, including molecular techniques, to assist care providers in identifying the species responsible for bites in rural Nepal. Out of 749 patients with a history of snakebite, the biting species could be identified in 194 (25.9%). Out of these, 87 had been bitten by a venomous snake, most commonly cobras (n = 42) and kraits (n = 22). This study is the first to report the use of molecular techniques for snake species identification. The diagnostic accuracy of this method appears high but needs to be confirmed in larger studies.
Tree water relations of mature oaks in southwest Germany under extreme drought stress in summer 2018
(2021)
Mature oak stands of different tree height at four sandy valley river sites (Quercus robur) and one south-exposed schist slope (Qu. petraea) in the middle Rhine and lower Main valley were studied from early summer 2017 (normal wet year) until the end of 2018 (extremely hot and dry year). Tree water relations (ΨPD, RWC, sap flow rates) were monitored together with soil water relations, LAI and leaf chl content. In two sandy sites with presumed continuous capillary water access from the groundwater aquifer, sap flow rates of the large trees (30 m) and estimated canopy conductance decreased to about 50% of the maximum value in the course of summer 2018, but recovered in autumn. At two other sites, with smaller trees (14–24 m) and presumed interrupted capillary water access during mid-summer 2018, sap flow rates and canopy conductance broke down completely and trees shed a large proportion of leaves in summer. In one of these sites, ΨPD decreased (reversibly) to -4 MPa, one of the lowest values reported in the literature for central Europe, and tree damage resulted not only in extreme leaf shedding, but also in susceptibility to uprooting (in 2 out of 5 measured trees) by thunderstorm gusts in autumn 2018. At the schist slope site, where oaks reached the lowest height and stand density of all sites, sap flow rates remained similar to the values found at the presumed capillary-water supplied sandy sites, indicating access to rock fissure water even at the peak of the drought period. Our findings corroborate the prediction from vegetation modelling that several Qu. robur stands in the Rhine-Main valleys will be prone to severe forest dieback in the forthcoming decades.
Tree migration-rates : narrowing the gap between inferred post-glacial rates and projected rates
(2013)
Faster-than-expected post-glacial migration rates of trees have puzzled ecologists for a long time. In Europe, post-glacial migration is assumed to have started from the three southern European peninsulas (southern refugia), where large areas remained free of permafrost and ice at the peak of the last glaciation. However, increasing palaeobotanical evidence for the presence of isolated tree populations in more northerly microrefugia has started to change this perception. Here we use the Northern Eurasian Plant Macrofossil Database and palaeoecological literature to show that post-glacial migration rates for trees may have been substantially lower (60–260 m yr–1) than those estimated by assuming migration from southern refugia only (115–550 m yr–1), and that early-successional trees migrated faster than mid- and late-successional trees. Post-glacial migration rates are in good agreement with those recently projected for the future with a population dynamical forest succession and dispersal model, mainly for early-successional trees and under optimal conditions. Although migration estimates presented here may be conservative because of our assumption of uniform dispersal, tree migration-rates clearly need reconsideration. We suggest that small outlier populations may be a key factor in understanding past migration rates and in predicting potential future range-shifts. The importance of outlier populations in the past may have an analogy in the future, as many tree species have been planted beyond their natural ranges, with a more beneficial microclimate than their regional surroundings. Therefore, climate-change-induced range-shifts in the future might well be influenced by such microrefugia.