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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.

We know that the sea level will rise as climate warms. Nevertheless, accurate projections of how much sea-level rise will occur are difficult to make based solely on modern observations. Determining how ice sheets and sea level have varied in past warm periods can help us better understand how sensitive ice sheets are to higher temperatures. Dutton et al. review recent interdisciplinary progress in understanding this issue, based on data from four different warm intervals over the past 3 million years. Their synthesis provides a clear picture of the progress we have made and the hurdles that still exist. Science , this issue 10.1126/science.aaa4019 Reconstructing past magnitudes, rates, and sources of sea-level rise can help project what our warmer future may hold. Interdisciplinary studies of geologic archives have ushered in a new era of deciphering magnitudes, rates, and sources of sea-level rise from polar ice-sheet loss during past warm periods. Accounting for glacial isostatic processes helps to reconcile spatial variability in peak sea level during marine isotope stages 5e and 11, when the global mean reached 6 to 9 meters and 6 to 13 meters higher than present, respectively. Dynamic topography introduces large uncertainties on longer time scales, precluding robust sea-level estimates for intervals such as the Pliocene. Present climate is warming to a level associated with significant polar ice-sheet loss in the past. Here, we outline advances and challenges involved in constraining ice-sheet sensitivity to climate change with use of paleo–sea level records.

• Human introductions of species beyond their natural ranges and their subsequent establishment are defining features of global environmental change. However, naturalized plants are not uniformly distributed across phylogenetic lineages, with some families contributing disproportionately more to the global alien species pool than others. Additionally, lineages differ in diversification rates, and high diversification rates have been associated with characteristics that increase species naturalization success. Here, we investigate the role of diversification rates in explaining the naturalization success of angiosperm plant families. • We use five global data sets that include native and alien plant species distribution, horticultural use of plants, and a time-calibrated angiosperm phylogeny. Using phylogenetic generalized linear mixed models, we analysed the effect of diversification rate, different geographical range measures, and horticultural use on the naturalization success of plant families. • We show that a family’s naturalization success is positively associated with its evolutionary history, native range size, and economic use. Investigating interactive effects of these predictors shows that native range size and geographic distribution additionally affect naturalization success. High diversification rates and large ranges increase naturalization success, especially of temperate families. • We suggest this may result from lower ecological specialization in temperate families with large ranges, compared with tropical families with smaller ranges.

Standard deviational ellipse (SDE) has long served as a versatile GIS tool for delineating the geographic distribution of concerned features. This paper firstly summarizes two existing models of calculating SDE, and then proposes a novel approach to constructing the same SDE based on spectral decomposition of the sample covariance, by which the SDE concept is naturally generalized into higher dimensional Euclidean space, named standard deviational hyper-ellipsoid (SDHE). Then, rigorous recursion formulas are derived for calculating the confidence levels of scaled SDHE with arbitrary magnification ratios in any dimensional space. Besides, an inexact-newton method based iterative algorithm is also proposed for solving the corresponding magnification ratio of a scaled SDHE when the confidence probability and space dimensionality are pre-specified. These results provide an efficient manner to supersede the traditional table lookup of tabulated chi-square distribution. Finally, synthetic data is employed to generate the 1-3 multiple SDEs and SDHEs. And exploratory analysis by means of SDEs and SDHEs are also conducted for measuring the spread concentrations of Hong Kong's H1N1 in 2009.