Herbivore effects increase with latitude across the extent of a foundational seagrass.

Climate change is altering the functioning of foundational ecosystems. While the direct effects of warming are expected to influence individual species, the indirect effects of warming on species interactions remain poorly understood. In marine systems, as tropical herbivores undergo poleward range expansion, they may change food web structure and alter the functioning of key habitats. While this process ('tropicalization') has been documented within declining kelp forests, we have a limited understanding of how this process might unfold across other systems. Here we use a network of sites spanning 23° of latitude to explore the effects of increased herbivory (simulated via leaf clipping) on the structure of a foundational marine plant (turtlegrass). By working across its geographic range, we also show how gradients in light, temperature and nutrients modified plant responses. We found that turtlegrass near its northern boundary was increasingly affected (reduced productivity) by herbivory and that this response was driven by latitudinal gradients in light (low insolation at high latitudes). By contrast, low-latitude meadows tolerated herbivory due to high insolation which enhanced plant carbohydrates. We show that as herbivores undergo range expansion, turtlegrass meadows at their northern limit display reduced resilience and may be under threat of ecological collapse.

Fatal Autochthonous Hepatitis E Induced Acute on Chronic Liver Failure Presenting with Multiorgan Failure in a Non-endemic Country: Brief Review of Intensive Care Unit Management.

Hepatitis E is usually a self-limiting disease that is considered rare in western countries. Outside of endemic regions, hepatitis E is seldom considered a cause of liver failure. We describe the first reported case of hepatitis E induced acute liver failure in the Caribbean island of Trinidad and the wider Caribbean; all traditionally considered non-endemic regions. The patient was a previously well young female who, upon investigation, was found to have radiographic signs suggesting underlying chronic liver disease. Subsequent testing yielded a positive hepatitis E immunoglobulin (Ig) M leading to the diagnose of hepatitis E induced acute on chronic liver failure. The patient's condition quickly deteriorated following the expected pattern of multiorgan failure associated with the disease. She died after a six-day intensive care unit (ICU) stay.