Could an event of extreme drought (2019-2020) affect the feeding ecology of Bubo magellanicus (Gmelin 1788) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) in a Mediterranean region of Chile?

Global warming generates changes in environmental conditions, affecting the spatial-temporal dynamics of precipitation and temperature. Droughts, events of low rainfall, are becoming more frequent and severe. In central Chile, from 2010 to date, an unprecedented drought event has developed, affecting the ecosystem and creating pressure on the dynamics of food webs. The present study analysed the trophic ecology of Bubo magellanicus, a top predator in the Mediterranean region of Chile, between 2019 and 2020 a period with a rainfall deficit of 72.6%. Our results established a diet mainly described by invertebrates (97.75%), in particular by the Gramnostola rosea spider (87.86%), and a low contribution of small vertebrates (2.24%). The trophic niche breadth (B = 0.37) and the standardised Levin's index (BSTA = 0.01) are the lowest recorded in the species B. magellanicus. A comparative analysis of trophic ecology with other studies developed in the same region established significant differences in the composition of the diet (frequency of occurrence of prey unit). This work provides evidence that droughts and other extreme environmental scenarios restructure the food webs of an ecosystem, with direct consequences on the trophic niche of the species, specifically top predators.

Modeling present and future distribution of plankton populations in a coastal upwelling zone: the copepod Calanus chilensis as a study case.

Predicting species distribution in the ocean has become a crucial task to assess marine ecosystem responses to ongoing climate change. In the Humboldt Current System (HCS), the endemic copepod Calanus chilensis is one of the key species bioindicator of productivity and water masses. Here we modeled the geographic distribution of Calanus chilensis for two bathymetric ranges, 0-200 and 200-400 m. For the 0-200 m layer, we used the Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART) method, whereas, for the 200-400 m layer, we used the Ensembles of Small Models (ESMs) method and then projected the models into two future scenarios to assess changes in geographic distribution patterns. The models were evaluated using the multi-metric approach. We identified that chlorophyll-a (0.34), Mixed Layer Depth (0.302) and salinity (0.36) explained the distribution of C. chilensis. The geographic prediction of the BART model revealed a continuous distribution from Ecuador to the southernmost area of South America for the 0-200 m depth range, whereas the ESM model indicated a discontinuous distribution with greater suitability for the coast of Chile for the 200-400 m depth range. A reduction of the distribution range of C. chilensis is projected in the future. Our study suggests that the distribution of C. chilensis is conditioned by productivity and mesoscale processes, with both processes closely related to upwelling intensity. These models serve as a tool for proposing indicators of changes in the ocean. We further propose that the species C. chilensis is a high productivity and low salinity indicator at the HCS. We recommend further examining multiple spatial and temporal scales for stronger inference.

Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham's Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami).

Migratory birds are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, illegal killings, ineffective conservation policies, knowledge gaps and climate change. These threats are particularly troubling in the Procellariiformes (Aves), one of the most endangered bird groups. For "storm-petrels", their cryptic breeding behavior, asynchrony between populations, and light pollution pose additional threats that contribute to increased mortality.Markham's Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami), a poorly known migratory species, is a pelagic bird that breeds in dispersed colonies in the Sechura and Atacama Deserts, with asynchronous reproduction between colonies, and is highly affected by artificial lights. Considering its complex conservation scenario and singular breeding, we expected to find narrow habitat distribution conditions, strong geographic genetic structure, and spatially differentiation related to human population activities (e.g., light pollution) and the climate global change. To evaluate these predictions, we analyzed the phylogeography, current and future potential distribution based on mitochondrial gene ND1 and geographic records.The phylogeographic analyses revealed three well-supported clades (i.e., Paracas, Arica, and Salar Grande), and the geographical distribution modeled using an intrinsic conditional model (iCAR) suggests a positive relationship with the mean temperature of the wettest quarter and of the driest quarter, solar radiation, and anthropogenic disturbance. The future predictions under moderate and severe scenarios of global change indicated a drastic distribution area reduction, especially in the southern zone around Tarapacá and Antofagasta in Chile. These suggest a potential loss of unique genetic diversity and the need for conservation actions particularly focused at the edges of the H. markhami distribution.

Patterns of richness of freshwater mollusks from Chile: predictions of its distribution based on null models.

The freshwater mussels from Chile are characterized by a high percentage of endemism and a fragmented latitudinal diversity, which has been attributed to the features and geomorphological history sculpted by the hydrographic basins. In this work, a set of hypothesis under a macroecological approach is addressed, with the aim to explore environmental, topographic and hydrological factors that define the latitudinal distribution of this mussel group. In order to achieve this goal, Rapoport's rule, geometrics limits and co-ocurrence were evaluated. In addition, we analyze the source and sink hypotheses through the nested analysis. We observed a noticeable mid-domain effect (MDE), where a major richness than expected was randomly observed between 40 and 41°S. The results revealed that the distribution pattern was not concordant with Rapoport's rule (r = 0.123; p = 0.128). Regarding to historical dynamic of the distribution, the results show a significant nestedness pattern, suggesting a source-sink dynamic, that is, poorer communities are a subset of richer communities in species. According to the co-occurrence analysis, an aggregate pattern existed, suggesting potential regulatory mechanisms. The specific richness pattern is explained by the variable seasonality of the temperature with a variance percentage explained of 35%. The full model indicated that variables which characterize the heterogeneity of habitat (i.e. range, Shannon), water availability (i.e., precipitation, density of water bodies) and topography (i.e., altitude area available) jointly explain 40% of the variability of the observed richness. This study shows that the geographical distribution of mollusc richness is mainly explained by mainly climatic and topographical environmental components, as well as by the source-sink dynamics.

Spread of the non-native anemone Anemonia alicemartinae Häussermann & Försterra, 2001 along the Humboldt-current large marine ecosystem: an ecological niche model approach.

The geographical expansion of invasive species depends mainly on its dispersal potential, and the abiotic and biotic factors affecting it. Knowing the invasive dynamic of non-native species, as well as its behavior at different natural or anthropogenic scenarios, is fundamental for planning conservation management policies and control plans. The invasive sea anemone Anemonia alicemartinae in habits from the north (18°S) to the south-central (36°S) coast of Chile and its distribution range has expanded by approximately 1,928 km in the last 50 years. Previous works have proposed that human-mediated southward transport associated with regional-scale maritime activities could explain its rapid spread. To evaluate this hypothesis, we used ecological niche models (ENM) to evaluate the potential colonization of the southernmost area of South America. Additionally, we conducted a post hoc analysis to evaluate the relationship between the prediction of the ENM and human activity measured as the number of landings of ships in ports. The models were built based on presence records of A. alicemartinae, and oceanographic variables. Results showed that sea surface salinity and annual sea surface temperature (variance) are the best predictor variables to explain the distribution of A. alicemartinae. There was a positive and significant relationship between the geographical distribution of the sea anemone predicted by the ENM and the number of landings, as a proxy of anthropogenic activity. The most susceptible areas to invasion were those that showed the highest variability in both oceanographic predictors. These areas included the Biobío region, Chiloé´s inland sea, Aysén, and Chacabuco regions, which together comprise two biogeographical provinces. These results sustain the proposed hypothesis and, overall, the results suggest that along with the characteristics of the life history of A. alicemartinae, oceanographic conditions and maritime transport as vector contribute to the southern range expansion of this invasive cryptogenic species in the Humboldt-current large marine ecosystem.

Historical dynamics and current environmental effects explain the spatial distribution of species richness patterns of New World monkeys.

BACKGROUND: Why biodiversity is not uniformly distributed on the Earth is a major research question of biogeography. One of the most striking patterns of disparity in species distribution are the biodiversity hotspots, which generally do not fit with the distribution of relevant components of the Neotropical biota. In this study, we assess the proximal causes of the species-richness pattern of one of the most conspicuous groups of Neotropical mammals, the New World monkeys the Platyrrhini. We test two complementary hypotheses: (1) there is a historical source-sink dynamic (addressed using macroevolutionary and macroecological approaches); (2) the large number of species in the Amazon basin is due to the constraints imposed by environmental variables occurring outside this area. METHODS: We first characterize spatial patterns of species richness and biodiversity hotspots using a new, objective protocol based on probabilities. Then we evaluate the source-sink hypothesis using BioGeoBEARS analysis and nestedness analysis of species richness patterns. Complementarily, to measure how often different species pairs appear in the same sites, we used null models to estimate the checkerboard score index (C-score). Finally, we evaluate the relationship between several climatic variables and species richness through ordinary least squares (OLS) and spatial autoregressive (SAR) models, and the potential environmental constraints on the pattern. RESULTS: We found one significant cluster of high values for species richness in the Amazon basin. Most dispersal events occurred from the Amazonian subregion to other Neotropical areas. Temperature (T), discrepancy (BR), and NODF indexes show a significant nesting in the matrix ordered by species richness and available energy. The C-score observed was significantly smaller than the null expectation for all sites in the Neotropics where there are records of platyrrhine species. Ten climatic variables comprised the best-fitting model that explains species richness. OLS and SAR models show that this set of variables explains 69.9% and 64.2% of species richness, respectively. Potential of evapotranspiration is the most important variable within this model, showing a linear positive relationship with species richness, and clear lower and upper limits to the species richness distribution. DISCUSSION: We suggest that New World monkeys historically migrated from their biodiversity hotspot (energetically optimal areas for most platyrrine species) to adjacent, energetically suboptimal areas, and that the different dispersal abilities of these species, the lack of competitive interactions at a macroecological scale, and environmental constraints (i.e., energy availability, seasonality) are key elements which explain the non-uniform pattern of species richness for this clade.

Assessing the interest to participate in a dengue vaccine efficacy trial among residents of Puerto Rico.

Dengue, endemic in Puerto Rico, is a major public health problem. Vaccines are thought the best means to prevent dengue because vector control alone has been largely ineffective. We implemented qualitative studies in 2006 and 2010 to determine the acceptability of conducting placebo-controlled dengue vaccine efficacy trials in Puerto Rican children. Key informant interviews and focus groups with parents and children were conducted in municipalities with high dengue incidence. We used structured open-ended questions to determine motivators and attitudes regarding vaccine trial participation. Knowledge about dengue risk and prevention, and knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding vaccines and vaccine trials were assessed. Using grounded theory, we conducted content analysis and established categories and sub-categories of participant responses. All participants were knowledgeable about dengue prevention and perceived children as most affected age groups. Participants were aware of vaccines benefits and they thought a vaccine could prevent dengue. However, most would not allow their children to participate in a placebo-controlled vaccine trial. Barriers included lack of trust in new vaccines and vaccine trial procedures; fear of developing dengue or side effects from the vaccine and lack of information about candidate dengue vaccines. Participants thought information, including results of previous trials might overcome barriers to participation. Motivators for participation were altruism, protection from dengue, free medical attention, and compensation for transportation and participation. Parents would consider children participation if accurate vaccine trial information is provided.

Economic cost of dengue public prevention activities in Puerto Rico.

Dengue fever has become a major global public health problem in Puerto Rico. Approximately 5000 suspected cases were reported annually between 2002 and 2007. Vector control is currently the only approach to control the disease and includes prevention education, fumigation, inspections and clean-up campaigns. The annual cost to the public sector of dengue prevention, which includes surveillance and vector control activities, was estimated as part of a study of the economic burden of dengue in Puerto Rico. A telephonic survey was implemented to identify municipalities with vector control programmes and public agencies with dengue surveillance systems. Onsite interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire. The economic cost of dengue was summarized by line item, function and year from 2002 through 2007. The Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDH) and 12 municipalities out of 78 conducted vector control activities in different magnitudes during the study years. The cumulative cost of dengue vector control in the public sector was US$ 46.22 million for the years 2002–2007. PRDH spent an average of US$ 1.29 million ($0.33 per capita) per year, while the municipalities spent an average of US$ 6.41 million (US$ 1.64 per capita) per year. Clean-up campaigns had the highest share of average expenditure, followed by fumigation, surveillance and inspection. Puerto Rico’s per capita expenditure on dengue prevention activities is similar to that of other countries in the region. On average, Puerto Rico’s per capita spending on dengue illness is US$ 5.48 compared with US$ 1.97 spent on vector control.

The pediatric cancer hospitalization experience: reality co-constructed.

Although pediatric cancer treatment has been reviewed by several authors, the lived experiences of children undergoing this process have seldom been discussed in the literature. The data for this article were obtained from a larger qualitative study that provided a collective view of the pediatric cancer experience at San Jorge Children's Hospital in Puerto Rico. In this article, findings that are directly related to the hospitalization process of these young patients are described, including the hospital as a safe haven, dealing with pain, taking control, and thriving in adversity. These findings provide a rationale for the development of a biopsychosocial model of health that emphasizes reciprocal interactions among the biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions that influence health.

Dislipidemias en infección por virus de inmunodeficiencia humana en diferentes estados de la enfermedad: estudio prospectivo en 41 pacientes / Hyperdipilemia in infection by human inmunodeficiency virus in differents stades of the desease: study in 41 patients

Las anormalidades de los lípidos han sido descritas especialmente con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida, especialmente en los episodios de infecciones oportunistas. El presente trabajo tiene como finalidad estudiar los niveles de triglicéridos, colesterol total y HDL colesterol, en diferentes estadios de la enfermedad y con la presencia de infecciones oportunistas. Se evaluaron 50 individuos sanos normolipemicos (Grupo control: G1), y un total de 41 pacientes que fueron subdivididos en tres grupos según el contaje de CD4 en: Grupo 2 (G2) formado por 12 pacientes HIV positivos sin evidencia de infección con una media de CD4 de 401.08 +/- 111,4, Grupo 3 (G3) con 17 pacientes con SIDA C3 con infección oportunísta con media de CD4 de 69.4 +/-52.52 y Grupo 4 (G4) con pacientes con SIDA C3 sin tratamiento retroviral convalencientes por 2 meses de infección oportunísta con una media de CD4 de 69.18 +/- 69.77. Así mismo se evaluaron los niveles de triglicéridos, colesterol total y HDLc (método enzimático Ciba Corning), y su correlación con el contaje de CD4+ e índice de masa corporal. La media del índice de masa corporal fue: G1: 23,69+/- 1.17 por ciento, G2: 24.12 +/- 1.80 por ciento, G3 21.11 +/- 1.96 por ciento y G4 20.42 +/- 3.92 siendo en G1 y G2 significativamente diferente de G3 y G4 (ANOVA, T de Bonferroni) (p<0.0001). El valor de triglicéridos fue: G1 103 +/- 28.3 mg/dl, G2: 170+/- 49, G3: 177+/-30 y G4: 180 +/-55 siendo diferente G1 Vs G2, G3 y G4 con una p<0.0001. El valor de colesterol fue: G1: 188+/- 15mg/dl, G2:210.8 +/- 57.62, G3: 129 +/- 41 y G4:123 +/- 62 siendo diferente solo G1, G2, G3 Vs G4 con p<0.05. El valor de HDL fue: G1 52 +/- 10 mg/dl, G2: 30+/- 2, G:3 29+/- 1.9 y G:4 25 +/- siendo diferente G1 vs G2, G3: G4 con p<0.0001. La hipertrigliceridemia y el ascenso del HDL en estos pacientes está presente desde los primeros estadios de la enfermedad, pudiendo ser esto por un descenso de la aclaración de triglicéridos y por un aumento de la lipogénesis hepática, ambas producidas por las citoquinas que median la respuesta inmune. Se ha descrito hipocolesterolemia, pero en nuestro grupo de pacientes sólo se encontró en el G4, no teniendo relación con el grado de hipertrigliceridemia