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This comprehensive handbook covers all the rodents occurring in Southern, Central, East and West Africa, south of the Sahara.Genus and species accounts include diagnostic descriptions, systematics and taxonomy, biogeographical environment, fossil species, photographs of skull and mandible, illustrations of molar dentition, photographs of live.

The fish faunas of continental South and Central America constitute one of the greatest concentrations of aquatic diversity on Earth, consisting of about 10 percent of all living vertebrate species. Historical Biogeography of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes explores the evolutionary origins of this unique ecosystem. The chapters address central themes in the study of tropical biodiversity: why is the Amazon basin home to so many distinct evolutionary lineages? What roles do ecological specialization, speciation, and extinction play in the formation of regional assemblages? How do dispersal barriers contribute to isolation and diversification? Focusing on whole faunas rather than individual taxonomic groups, this volume shows that the area's high regional diversity is not the result of recent diversification in lowland tropical rainforests. Rather, it is the product of species accumulating over tens of millions of years and across a continental arena.

The North American distributional potential of the recently invaded tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis , was estimated using occurrence data from its geographic range in other parts of the world and relevant climatic data sets. Several hundred candidate models were built using a correlative maximum entropy approach, and best-fitting models were selected based on statistical significance, predictive ability, and complexity. The median of the best-fitting models indicates a broad potential distribution for this species, but restricted to three sectors—the southeastern United States, the Pacific Northwest, and central and southern Mexico.

Summary Thermal tolerance may limit and therefore predict ectotherm geographic distributions. However, which of the many metrics of thermal tolerance best predict distribution is often unclear, even for drosophilids, which constitute a popular and well‐described animal model. Five metrics of cold tolerance were measured for 14 Drosophila species to determine which metrics most strongly correlate with geographic distribution. The species represent tropical to temperate regions but all were reared under similar (common garden) conditions (20 °C). The traits measured were: chill coma temperature (CTmin), lethal temperature (LTe50), lethal time at low temperature (LTi50), chill coma recovery time (CCRT) and supercooling point (SCP). Measures of CTmin, LTe50 and LTi50 proved to be the best predictors to describe the variation in realized latitudinal distributions (R2 = 0·699, R2 = 0·741 and 0·550, respectively) and estimated environmental cold exposure (R2 = 0·633, R2 = 0·641 and 0·511, respectively). Measures of CCRT also correlated significantly with estimated minimum temperature (R2 = 0·373), while the SCP did not. These results remained consistent after phylogenetically independent analysis or when applying nonlinear regression. Moreover, our findings were supported by a similar analysis based on existing data compiled from the Drosophila cold tolerance literature. Trait correlations were strong between LTe50, LTi50 and CTmin, respectively (0·83 > R2 > 0·55). However, surprisingly, there was only a weak correlation between the entrance into coma (CTmin) and the recovery from chill coma (CCRT) (R2 = 0·256). Considering the findings of the present study, data from previous studies and the logistical constraints of each measure of cold tolerance, we conclude that CTmin and LTe50 are superior measures when estimating the ecologically relevant cold tolerance of drosophilids. Of these two traits, CTmin requires less equipment, time and animals and thereby presents a relatively fast, simple and dynamic measure of cold tolerance. Lay Summary

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) is a human tumor virus and is etiologically linked to various malignancies. Certain EBV‐associated diseases, such as Burkitt lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinomas, are endemic and exhibit biased geographic distribution worldwide. Recent advances in deep sequencing technology enabled high‐throughput sequencing of the EBV genome from clinical samples. Rapid cloning and sequencing of cancer‐derived EBV genomes, followed by reconstitution of infectious virus, have also become possible. These developments have revealed that various EBV strains are differentially distributed throughout the world, and that the behavior of cancer‐derived EBV strains is different from that of the prototype EBV strain of non‐cancerous origin. In this review, we summarize recent progress and future perspectives regarding the association between EBV strain variation and cancer. Recent advances in deep sequencing technology enabled high‐throughput sequencing of the EBV genome from clinical samples. We summarize recent progress and future perspectives regarding the association between EBV strain variation and cancer.

Pest profiles in today’s global food production system are continually affected by climate change and extreme weather. Under varying climatic conditions, plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) cause substantial economic damage to a wide variety of agricultural and horticultural commodities. In parallel, their herbivory also accredit to diverse ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, allocation and turnover of plant biomass, shaping of vegetation community, and alteration of rhizospheric microorganism consortium by modifying the root exudation pattern. Thus PPNs, together with the vast majority of free-living nematodes, act as ecological drivers. Because of direct exposure to the open environment, PPN biology and physiology are largely governed by environmental factors including temperature, precipitation, humidity, atmospheric and soil carbon dioxide level, and weather extremes. The negative effects of climate change such as global warming, elevated CO 2 , altered precipitation and the weather extremes including heat waves, droughts, floods, wildfires and storms greatly influence the biogeographic range, distribution, abundance, survival, fitness, reproduction, and parasitic potential of the PPNs. Changes in these biological and ecological parameters associated to the PPNs exert huge impact on agriculture. Yet, depending on how adaptable the species are according to their geo-spatial distribution, the consequences of climate change include both positive and negative effects on the PPN communities. While assorting the effects of climate change as a whole, it can be estimated that the changing environmental factors, on one hand, will aggravate the PPN damage by aiding to abundance, distribution, reproduction, generation, plant growth and reduced plant defense, but the phenomena like sex reversal, entering cryptobiosis, and reduced survival should act in counter direction. This seemingly creates a contraposition effect, where assessing any confluent trend is difficult. However, as the climate change effects will differ according to space and time it is apprehensible that the PPNs will react and adapt according to their location and species specificity. Nevertheless, the bio-ecological shifts in the PPNs will necessitate tweaking their management practices from the agri-horticultural perspective. In this regard, we must aim for a ‘climate-smart’ package that will take care of the food production, pest prevention and environment protection. Integrated nematode management involving precise monitoring and modeling-based studies of population dynamics in relation to climatic fluctuations with escalated reliance on biocontrol, host resistance, and other safer approaches like crop rotation, crop scheduling, cover cropping, biofumigation, use of farmyard manure (FYM) would surely prove to be viable options. Although the novel nematicidal molecules are target-specific and relatively less harmful to the environment, their application should not be promoted following the global aim to reduce pesticide usage in future agriculture. Thus, having a reliable risk assessment with scenario planning, the adaptive management strategies must be designed to cope with the impending situation and satisfy the farmers’ need.

Persistent meandering of the jet stream can cause atmospheric blocking of prevailing eastward winds and result in weather extremes such as heat waves in the midlatitudes. Nakamura and Huang interpret the poorly understood origins of these systems as the meteorological equivalents of traffic congestion on a highway and show how they can be described by analogous mathematical theory. Climate change may affect the frequency of blocking as well as its geographic distribution, reflecting a simultaneous shift in the structure of the stationary atmospheric waves and the regional capacity of the jet stream. Science , this issue p. 42 Waves in the jet stream reveal the close similarity between atmospheric blocking and traffic congestion on a highway. Atmospheric blocking due to anomalous, persistent meandering of the jet stream often causes weather extremes in the mid-latitudes. Despite the ubiquity of blocking, the onset mechanism is not well understood. Here we demonstrate a close analogy between blocking and traffic congestion on a highway by using meteorological data and show that blocking and traffic congestion can be described by a common mathematical theory. The theory predicts that the jet stream has a capacity for the flux of wave activity (a measure of meandering), just as the highway has traffic capacity, and when the capacity is exceeded, blocking manifests as congestion. Stationary waves modulate the jet stream’s capacity for transient waves and localize block formation. Climate change likely affects blocking frequency by modifying the jet stream’s proximity to capacity.

The use of conservation translocations to mitigate human effects on biodiversity is increasing, but how these efforts are allocated remains unclear. Based on a comprehensive literature review and online author survey, we sought to determine the goals of translocation efforts, whether they focus on species and regions with high threat and likelihood of perceived success, and how success might be improved. We systematically searched the ISI Web of Knowledge and Academic Search Complete databases to determine the species and regions of conservation translocations and found 1863 articles on conservation translocations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean published from 1974 to 2013. We questioned 330 relevant authors to determine the motivation for translocations, how translocations were evaluated, and obstacles encountered. Conservation translocations in North America were geographically widespread (in 21 countries), increased in frequency over time for all animal classes (from 1 in 1974 to 84 in 2013), and included 279 different species. Reintroductions and reinforcements were more common in the United States than in Canada and Mexico, Central America, or the Caribbean, and their prevalence was correlated with the number of species at risk at national and state or provincial levels. Translocated species had a higher threat status at state and provincial levels than globally (International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List categorization), suggesting that translocations may have been motivated by regional priorities rather than global risk. Our survey of authors was consistent with these results; most translocations were requested, supported, or funded by government agencies and downlisting species at national or state or provincial levels was the main goal Nonetheless, downlisting was the least reported measure of success, whereas survival and reproduction of translocated individuals were the most reported. Reported barriers to success included biological factors such as animal mortality and nonbiological factors, such as financial constraints, which were less often considered in the selection of release sites. Our review thus highlights discrepancies between project goals and evaluation criteria and between risk factors considered and obstacles encountered, indicating room to further optimize translocation projects. El uso de las translocaciones para conservación y mitigar los efectos humanos sobre la biodiversidad está incrementando, pero aún no es claro cómo se asignan estos esfuerzos. Con base en una revisión integral de literatura y una encuesta de autor en línea buscamos determinar los objetivos de los esfuerzos de translocación, ya sea que se enfoquen en especies y regiones con una amenaza mayor y una probabilidad de éxito percibido y cómo el éxito puede mejorarse. Buscamos sistemáticamente las bases de datos completas de la Red de Conocimiento y Búsqueda Académica ISIpara determinar las especies y regiones de las translocaciones para conservación y encontramos 1,863 artículos sobre translocaciones para conservación en los Estados Unidos, Canadá, México, América Central y el Caribe, publicados entre 1974 y 2013 · Consultamos a 330 autores relevantes para determinar los motivos de las translocaciones, cómo fueron evaluadas y los obstáculos a los que se enfrentaron. Las translocaciones para conservación en América del Norte estaban dispersas geográficamente (en 21 países), incrementaron su frecuencia con el tiempo para todas las clases animales (de una en 1974 a 84 en 2013) e incluyeron a 279 especies diferentes. Las reintroducciones y los refuerzos fueron más comunes en los Estados Unidos que en Canadá, México, América Central o el Caribe, y su prevalencia estuvo correlacionada con el número de especies en riesgo a nivel nacional, estatal o provincial. Las especies reubicadas tenían un mayor estado de amenaza a nivel estatal y provincial que a nivel global (categorías de la Lista Roja de la Unión Internación para la Conservación de la Naturaleza), lo que sugiere que las reubicaciones podrían haber estado motivadas por prioridades regionales en lugar del riesgo global. Nuestra encuesta a los autores fue consistente con estos resultados ya que la mayoría de las reubicaciones fueron solicitadas, apoyadas o financiadas por agencias del gobierno y bajar la categoría de la especie a nivel nacional, estatal o provincial era el objetivo principal. Sin embargo, bajar la categoría fue la medida de éxito menos reportada. Los obstáculos para el éxito reportados incluyeron factores biológicos, como la mortalidad animal, y factores no biológicos, como las restricciones financieras, que fueron menos considerados en la selección de los sitios de liberación. Nuestra revisión resalta así las discrepancias entre los objetivos del proyecto y los criterios de evaluación y entre los factores de riesgo considerados y los obstáculos enfrentados, lo que indica que existe espacio para optimizar aún más los proyectos de reubicación.

The toxicity and environmental persistence of anthropogenic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of global concern. To address legacy PFAS concerns in the United States, industry developed numerous replacement PFAS that commonly are treated as confidential information. To investigate the distribution of PFAS in New Jersey, soils collected from across the state were subjected to nontargeted mass-spectral analyses. Ten chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylates were tentatively identified, with at least three congeners in all samples. Nine congeners are ≥(CF₂)₇. Distinct chemical formulas and structures, as well as geographic distribution, suggest airborne transport from an industrial source. Lighter congeners dispersed more widely than heavier congeners, with the most widely dispersed detected in an in-stock New Hampshire sample. Additional data were used to develop a legacy-PFAS fingerprint for historical PFAS sources in New Jersey.

Aim Grasses comprise three main photosynthetic pathway variants (C3‐BOP, C3‐PACMAD and C4‐PACMAD hereafter referred to as C4). We sought to confirm climate niche differences among these photosynthetic pathway variants and assessed whether predicted non‐native grass range shift patterns with climate change differ among photosynthetic pathway variants. Location Hawaiian Islands. Methods We used a species distribution modelling (SDM) approach that uses global occurrence records to inform local SDM based on local (Hawaiian Islands) occurrences. We compared climate niches and projected climate‐driven range shifts, assuming moderate climate change (RCP 4.5, end of century), among 22 non‐native grasses representing C3‐BOP, C3‐PACMAD and C4 photosynthetic pathway variants. Results C4 grasses exhibited the warmest temperature niches on average, but did not differ substantially in rainfall niche versus C3‐BOP grasses. C3‐PACMAD species averaged high suitability across a broad range of temperatures and rainfall conditions, except extreme aridity. In response to projected climate change, C4 grasses had projected range increases. C3‐BOP grasses typically responded with net range decreases, while C3‐PACMAD grasses had variable range responses. However, patterns were contingent on elevation: for instance, the projected expansion of C4 grasses was generally limited to elevations below 2000 m, with the largest increases in areas up to 750 m. Areas of greatest reduction for C3‐BOP and C3‐PACMAD were projected at 750–1900 m and 100–1100 m elevation, respectively. Above 2000 m, range increases were projected for both C3 grass variants. Main Conclusions Our projections suggest that non‐native C4 grasses pose the greatest risk for increasing spread and impacts under RCP 4.5, while certain C3‐PACMAD grasses may endanger valuable high‐elevation habitats. Photosynthetic pathway may be a useful component of weed risk assessment to evaluate how species may respond to climate change as similar range response patterns may be expected for other non‐native grasses in other tropical and subtropical regions.