Extraordinary levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in vertebrate animals at a New Mexico desert oasis: Multiple pathways for wildlife and human exposure.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment pose persistent and complex threats to human and wildlife health. Around the world, PFAS point sources such as military bases expose thousands of populations of wildlife and game species, with potentially far-reaching implications for population and ecosystem health. But few studies shed light on the extent to which PFAS permeate food webs, particularly ecologically and taxonomically diverse communities of primary and secondary consumers. Here we conducted >2000 assays to measure tissue-concentrations of 17 PFAS in 23 species of mammals and migratory birds at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, USA, where wastewater catchment lakes form biodiverse oases. PFAS concentrations were among the highest reported in animal tissues, and high levels have persisted for at least three decades. Twenty of 23 species sampled at Holloman AFB were heavily contaminated, representing middle trophic levels and wetland to desert microhabitats, implicating pathways for PFAS uptake: ingestion of surface water, sediments, and soil; foraging on aquatic invertebrates and plants; and preying upon birds or mammals. The hazardous long carbon-chain form, perfluorooctanosulfonic acid (PFOS), was most abundant, with liver concentrations averaging >10,000 ng/g wet weight (ww) in birds and mammals, respectively, and reaching as high 97,000 ng/g ww in a 1994 specimen. Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) averaged thousands of ng/g ww in the livers of aquatic birds and littoral-zone house mice, but one order of magnitude lower in the livers of upland desert rodent species. Piscivores and upland desert songbirds were relatively uncontaminated. At control sites, PFAS levels were strikingly lower on average and different in composition. In sum, legacy PFAS at this desert oasis have permeated local aquatic and terrestrial food webs across decades, severely contaminating populations of resident and migrant animals, and exposing people via game meat consumption and outdoor recreation.

Earlier than expected introductions of the Bemisia tabaci B mitotype in Brazil reveal an unprecedented, rapid invasion history.

During 1991, in Brazil, the presence of the exotic Bemisia tabaci B mitotype was reported in São Paulo state. However, the duration from the time of initial introduction to population upsurges is not known. To investigate whether the 1991 B mitotype outbreaks in Brazil originated in São Paulo or from migrating populations from neighboring introduction sites, country-wide field samples of B. tabaci archived from 1989-2005 collections were subjected to analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) and nuclear RNA-binding protein 15 (RP-15) sequences. The results of mtCOI sequence analysis identified all B. tabaci as the NAFME 8 haplotype of the B mitotype. Phylogenetic analyses of RP-15 sequences revealed that the B mitotype was likely a hybrid between a B type parent related to a haplotype Ethiopian endemism (NAFME 1-3), and an unidentified parent from the North Africa-Middle East (NAF-ME) region. Results provide the first evidence that this widely invasive B mitotype has evolved from a previously undocumented hybridization event. Samples from Rio de Janeiro (1989) and Ceará state (1990), respectively, are the earliest known B mitotype records in Brazil. A simulated migration for the 1989 introduction predicted a dispersal rate of 200-500 km/year, indicating that the population was unlikely to have reached Ceará by 1990. Results implicated two independent introductions of the B mitotype in Brazil in 1989 and 1990, that together were predicted to have contributed to the complete invasion of Brazil in only 30 generations.

Herbarium collection of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), Chile.

Background: This database gathers 10,721 specimens, belonging to 2,578 species from the Chilean vascular flora (angiosperms, gymnosperms and pteridophytes) deposited in the Herbarium of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) in Chile. The PUCV botanical collection was started by the renowned botanist Otto Zöllner and represents a major natural historical legacy for central Chile, with decades of information represented through preserved specimens. This collection is currently deposited in the Curauma campus of the PUCV. This digitisation effort is part of the PUCV's endeavour to mobilise its biological collections and make them freely available through GBIF, encouraging national and international researchers to generate new knowledge, based on this invaluable heritage, which is a silent witness of the vast plant diversity that once existed in Chile and that is now vanishing due to anthropogenic drivers. New information: The database provides occurrence records from 10,721 specimens of vascular flora held in the PUCV Herbarium, representing 2,578 species, 914 genera and 177 families. Each record includes data on taxonomy, geographic distribution, elevation and collection information (e.g. date of collection, legitimavit and determinavit of specimens, general observations). The database serves as a repository containing records from past decades on the diversity and distribution of plant species, mainly from the Chilean Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot.

Names of hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) established by Charles McLean Fraser (1872-1946), excluding those from Allan Hancock Expeditions.

An account is given of the names of families, genera, and species of hydroids established by C.M. Fraser of Canada, excluding those from Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions and the Allan Hancock Caribbean Sea Expedition. The names of four families, 11 genera, and 101 species are attributed to him in this work, complementing those of another two genera and 164 species described by Fraser in various Allan Hancock publications. Information is provided on type localities of his new species, on locations and kinds of type material in existence, where known, and on the current taxonomic status of families, genera, and species described by him in works reviewed herein. Two replacement names (Thuiaria geniculata Fraser, 1918a and Salacia fraseri Calder, 1991) exist for Thuiaria distans Fraser, 1914a (not Thuiaria distans Allman, 1877). The widely overlooked senior synonym, T. geniculata, is recognized as the valid name of the species. Diphasia alta nom. nov. is proposed as a new replacement name for the permanently invalid junior primary homonym Diphasia robusta Fraser, 1943a (not D. attenuata robusta Billard, 1924). In addition, Cryptolaria crassa nom. nov. is proposed as a new replacement name for the junior secondary homonym Cryptolaria rigida (Fraser, 1948) [not C. rigida (Fraser, 1940a)]. Lectotypes have been designated for 47 of the species to establish objective standards for application of their names. Corymorpha adventitia Fraser, 1941b, from the Pacific coast of Panama, is assigned to Ralpharia Watson, 1980, as R. adventitia. No type specimens are known to exist for seven of the species considered, including one holotype (of Hebella eximia Fraser, 1944a) missing from its bottle. Particular attention has been paid to dating and chronology of the 51 publications of Fraser covered in this work. Earlier bibliographic errors are corrected, most notably establishing that the book Distribution and relationship in American hydroids was published in early 1947 rather than 1946 as per the title page.