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Members of the balloon vine genus, Cardiospermum, have been extensively moved around the globe as medicinal and horticultural species, two of which are now widespread invasive species; C. grandiflorum and C. halicacabum. A third species, C. corindum, may also have significant invasion potential. However, in some regions the native status of these species is not clear, hampering management. For example, in South Africa it is unknown whether C. halicacabum and C. corindum are native, and this is a major constraint to on-going biological control programmes against invasive C. grandiflorum. We review the geography, biology and ecology of selected members of the genus with an emphasis on the two most widespread invaders, C. halicacabum and C. grandiflorum. Specifically, we use molecular data to reconstruct a phylogeny of the group in order to shed light on the native ranges of C. halicacabum and C. corindum in southern Africa. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that southern African accessions of these species are closely related to South American taxa indicating human-mediated introduction and/or natural long distance dispersal. Then, on a global scale we use species distribution modelling to predict potential suitable climate regions where these species are currently absent. Native range data were used to test the accuracy with which bioclimatic modelling can identify the known invasive ranges of these species. Results show that Cardiospermum species have potential to spread further in already invaded or introduced regions in Australia, Africa and Asia, underlining the importance of resolving taxonomic uncertainties for future management efforts. Bioclimatic modelling predicts Australia to have highly favourable environmental conditions for C. corindum and therefore vigilance against this species should be high. Species distribution modelling showed that native range data over fit predicted suitable ranges, and that factors other than climate influence establishment potential. This review opens the door to better understand the global biogeography of the genus Cardiospermum, with direct implications for management, while also highlighting gaps in current research.
China has shown a rapid economic development in recent decades, and several drivers of this change are known to enhance biological invasions, a major cause of biodiversity loss. Here we review the current state of research on plant invasions in China by analyzing papers referenced in the ISI Web of Knowledge. Since 2001, the number of papers has increased exponentially, indicating that plant invasions in China are an emerging hot topic in invasion science. The analyzed papers cover a broad range of methodological approaches and research topics. While more that 250 invasive plant species with negative impacts have been reported from China, only a few species have been considered in more than a handful of papers (in order of decreasing number of references: Spartina alterniflora, Ageratina adenophora, Mikania micrantha, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Solidago canadensis, Eichhornia crassipes). Yet this selection might rather reflect the location of research teams than the most invasive plant species in China. Considering the previous achievements in China found in our analysis research in plant invasions could be expanded by (1) compiling comprehensive lists of non-native plant species at the provincial and national scales and to include species that are native to one part of China but non-native to others in these lists; (2) strengthening pathways studies (primary introduction to the country, secondary releases within the country) to enhance prevention and management; and (3) assessing impacts of invasive species at different spatial scales (habitats, regions) and in relation to conservation resources.
Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease and for this reason proper diagnosis and appropriate therapy are often unknown or not available for physicians and other health care providers. For this reason we convened a group of specialists that focus upon HAE from around the world to develop not only a consensus on diagnosis and management of HAE, but to also provide evidence based grades, strength of evidence and classification for the consensus. Since both consensus and evidence grading were adhered to the document meets criteria as a guideline. The outcome of the guideline is to improve diagnosis and management of patients with HAE throughout the world and to help initiate uniform care and availability of therapies to all with the diagnosis no matter where the residence of the individual with HAE exists.
Between 1996 and 2006 the vegetation succession in drift sands and in blown-out gravel-rich depressions, located in the nature reserve Hulshorsterzand in the central Netherlands, was studied. Within this Natura 2000 habitat (type 2330: inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands) so-called lichen steppes are included, famous for their biodiversity, both in flora (cryptogams), and in fauna. With multivariate analysis, the relation between the primary succession, the species composition of the vegetation and the soil quality was studied in three different biotopes i.e. 1. drift sand, 2. blownout gravel-rich depressions and 3. drift sand after management. With a total of up to 34 species, lichen diversity in the study area appeared to be high. Biotope 1, i.e. the pioneer vegetation with Corynephorus canescens on blowing sand, is rather scarce in lichens. Between 1996 and 2006 green algae, C. canescens and Polytrichum piliferum appeared, with the result that much of the former open drift sand area was covered by pioneer stages of the Spergulo-Corynephoretum. If sand stopped blowing in, a combination of P. piliferum with the neophyte Campylopus introflexus occurred. The terminal stages of lichen succession on drift sand, a vegetation with mainly Festuca ovina s.l., Deschampsia flexuosa and reindeer lichens (Cladonia subgen. Cladina), proved to be rather stable. Since 1996 the lichen steppes occurring in biotope 2 were increasingly grass-encroached. Where some sand was still blowing in, lichen diversity did not change much, but gradually C. introflexus increased. However, without sand blowingin, a decreasing lichen cover and loss of some Red List lichens occurred. In general, in this grass-rich vegetation Calluna vulgaris will germinate and gradually a dry heath might develop. However, where dynamics had stopped and Pinus sylvestris seedlings established, succession to a young forest started. Vegetation change from open sand to lichen-rich vegetation is clearly related to a decrease in pH, an increase in organic matter, in % total N and in % total P. The lichen composition is clearly related to this gradient. The applied restoration measures on steep sand dunes in the eastern area, both of cutting pine trees and removing topsoil down to the mineral soil layer, proved to be successful. The sand kept drifting and the pioneer community thriving, including the lichen Stereocaulon condensatum characteristic of pioneer conditions, while the neophytic moss hardly increased between 1996 and 2006.
Compared to other grassland types across Slovakia, dry grasslands harbour species-rich and specialised ant communities. High diversity and species richness of ants may be seen as a consequence of (i) the specific structure of dry grassland vegetation, (ii) long-term ecological stability, and (iii) currently low or absent management-induced disturbance. With special regard to dry grasslands, we report on structural characteristics of vegetation and low-disturbance regime, which contribute to ant assemblage structure. Our study was carried out in the Štiavnické Vrchy Mts. (Central Slovakia), a region with a historically well-developed grassland area. We established a set of 25 research plots within southorientated grassland habitats representing five different grassland types: wet managed and wet abandoned grasslands, mesic managed and mesic abandoned grasslands (Arrhenatherion elatioris), and dry abandoned grassland habitats (Asplenio-Festucion glaucae). Each habitat type was represented by five plots. At each plot, a set of ten pitfall traps was used to sample ground-foraging ant assemblages. Around each trap, structural characteristics of vegetation and microhabitat were assessed. Dry grasslands were shown to have a specific microhabitat structure, characterised by the presence of a well-developed moss and lichen layer, exposed bedrock, bare soil, and significantly lower, although species-rich vege - tation. Besides the specific microhabitat structure, the absence of management may have contributed to the distinctiveness of these ant assemblages compared to those associated with other grassland categories. Ant assemblages were more species-rich, and the activity of ants was higher in recently abandoned grassland habitats. The effect of abandonment was quite opposite for plants, whose species-richness was, contrary to ants, higher within managed sites.
Prioritisation of high-impact species is becoming increasingly important for management of introduced species (‘neobiota’) because of their growing number of which, however, only a small fraction has substantial impacts. Impact scores for prioritising species may be affected by the type of effect model used. Recent studies have shown that environmental co-variation and non-linearity may be significant for effect models of biological invasions. Here, we test for differences in impact scores between simple and complex effect models of three invasive plant species (Heracleum mantegazzianum, Lupinus polyphyllus, Rosa rugosa). We investigated the effects of cover percentages of the invasive plants on species richness of invaded communities using both simple linear effect models (‘basic models’) and more complex linear or nonlinear models including environmental co-factors (‘full models’). Then, we calculated impact scores for each invasive species as the average reduction of species richness predicted by basic and full effect models. All three non-native species had negative effects on species richness, but the full effect models also indicated significant influence of habitat types. Heracleum mantegazzianum had uniform linear effects in all habitats, while effects of L. polyphyllus interacted strongly with habitat type, and R. rugosa showed a marked non-linear relationship. Impact scores were overestimated by basic effect models for H. mantegazzianum and R. rugosa due to disregard of habitat effects and non-linearity, respectively. In contrast, impact of L. polyphyllus was underestimated by the basic model that did not account for the strong interaction of invader cover and habitat type. We conclude that simple linear models will often yield inaccurate impact scores of non-native species. Hence, effect models should consider environmental co-variation and, if necessary, non-linearity of the effects of biological invasions on native ecosystems.
This is a summary of Elena Abella Pérez's doctoral thesis "Factores ambientales y de manejo que afectan al desarrollo embrionario de la tortuga marina Caretta caretta. Implicaciones en programas de incubación controlada", Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC) and Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 29 October 2010.
Family members provide most of the patient care and administer most of the treatments to patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Family caregivers have an important impact on clinical outcomes, such as quality of life (QoL). As a consequence of this service, family caregivers suffer high rates of psychological and physical illness as well as social and financial burdens. Hence, it is important to involve family caregivers in multimodal treatment settings and provide interventions that are both suitable and specifically tailored to their needs. In recent years, several clinical guidelines have been presented worldwide for evidence-based treatment of AD and other forms of dementia. Most of these guidelines have considered family advice as integral to the optimal clinical management of AD. This article reviews current and internationally relevant guidelines with emphasis on recommendations concerning family advice.