Trophic versus geographic structure in stable isotope signatures of pelagic seabirds breeding in the northeast Atlantic

Feeding ecology and geographic location are 2 major factors influencing animal stable isotope signatures, but their relative contributions are poorly understood, which limits the usefulness of stable isotope analysis in the study of animal ecology. To improve our knowledge of the main sources of isotopic variability at sea, we determined δ15N and δ13C signatures in the first primary feather of adult birds from 11 Procellariiform species (n = 609) across 16 northeast Atlantic localities, from Cape Verde (20°N) to Iceland (60°N). Post-breeding areas (where the studied feather is thought to be grown) were determined using light-level geolocation for 6 of the 11 species. Isotopic variability was geographically unstructured within the mid-northeast Atlantic (Macaronesian archipelagos), but trophically structured according to species and regardless of the breeding location, presumably as a result of trophic segregation among species. Indeed, the interspecific isotopic overlap resulting from combining δ15N and δ13C signatures of seabirds was low, which suggests that most species exploited exclusive trophic resources consistently across their geographic range. Species breeding in north temperate regions (Iceland, Scotland and Northern Ireland) showed enriched δ15N compared to the same or similar species breeding in tropical and subtropical regions, suggesting some differences in baseline levels between these regions. The present study illustrates a noticeable trophic segregation of northeast Atlantic Procellariiformes. Our results show that the isotopic approach has limited applicability for the study of animal movements in the northeast Atlantic at a regional scale, but is potentially useful for the study of long-distance migrations between large marine systems

Geographic assignment of seabirds to their origin: combining morphology, genetics and biogeochemical analyses

Longline fisheries, oil spills, and offshore wind farms are some of the major threats increasing seabird mortality at sea, but the impact of these threats on specific populations has been difficult to determine so far. We tested the use of molecular markers, morphometric measures, and stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) and trace element concentrations in the first primary feather (grown at the end of the breeding period) to assign the geographic origin of Calonectris shearwaters. Overall, we sampled birds from three taxa: 13 Mediterranean Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea diomedea) breeding sites, 10 Atlantic Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea borealis) breeding sites, and one Cape Verde Shearwater (C. edwardsii) breeding site. Assignment rates were investigated at three spatial scales: breeding colony, breeding archipelago, and taxa levels. Genetic analyses based on the mitochondrial control region (198 birds from 21 breeding colonies) correctly assigned 100% of birds to the three main taxa but failed in detecting geographic structuring at lower scales. Discriminant analyses based on trace elements composition achieved the best rate of correct assignment to colony (77.5%). Body measurements or stable isotopes mainly succeeded in assigning individuals among taxa (87.9% and 89.9%, respectively) but failed at the colony level (27.1% and 38.0%, respectively). Combining all three approaches (morphometrics, isotopes, and trace elements on 186 birds from 15 breeding colonies) substantially improved correct classifications (86.0%, 90.7%, and 100% among colonies, archipelagos, and taxa, respectively). Validations using two independent data sets and jackknife cross-validation confirmed the robustness of the combined approach in the colony assignment (62.5%, 58.8%, and 69.8% for each validation test, respectively). A preliminary application of the discriminant model based on stable isotope δ15N and δ13C values and trace elements (219 birds from 17 breeding sites) showed that 41 Cory's Shearwaters caught by western Mediterranean long-liners came mainly from breeding colonies in Menorca (48.8%), Ibiza (14.6%), and Crete (31.7%). Our findings show that combining analyses of trace elements and stable isotopes on feathers can achieve high rates of correct geographic assignment of birds in the marine environment, opening new prospects for the study of seabird mortality at sea.

Geographic patterns of genetic variation in a broadly distributed marine vertebrate: new insights into loggerhead turtle stock structure from expanded mitochondrial DNA sequences

Previous genetic studies have demonstrated that natal homing shapes the stock structure of marine turtle nesting populations. However, widespread sharing of common haplotypes based on short segments of the mitochondrial control region often limits resolution of the demographic connectivity of populations. Recent studies employing longer control region sequences to resolve haplotype sharing have focused on regional assessments of genetic structure and phylogeography. Here we synthesize available control region sequences for loggerhead turtles from the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic, and western Indian Ocean basins. These data represent six of the nine globally significant regional management units (RMUs) for the species and include novel sequence data from Brazil, Cape Verde, South Africa and Oman. Genetic tests of differentiation among 42 rookeries represented by short sequences (380 bp haplotypes from 3,486 samples) and 40 rookeries represented by long sequences (~800 bp haplotypes from 3,434 samples) supported the distinction of the six RMUs analyzed as well as recognition of at least 18 demographically independent management units (MUs) with respect to female natal homing. A total of 59 haplotypes were resolved. These haplotypes belonged to two highly divergent global lineages, with haplogroup I represented primarily by CC-A1, CC-A4, and CC-A11 variants and haplogroup II represented by CC-A2 and derived variants. Geographic distribution patterns of haplogroup II haplotypes and the nested position of CC-A11.6 from Oman among the Atlantic haplotypes invoke recent colonization of the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic for both global lineages. The haplotypes we confirmed for western Indian Ocean RMUs allow reinterpretation of previous mixed stock analysis and further suggest that contemporary migratory connectivity between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans occurs on a broader scale than previously hypothesized. This study represents a valuable model for conducting comprehensive international cooperative data management and research in marine ecology.

Influence of sea surface winds on shearwater migration detours

To test the potential effects of winds on the migratory detours of shearwaters, transequatorial migrations of 3 shearwaters, the Manx Puffinus puffinus, the Cory"s Calonectris diomedea, and the Cape Verde C. edwardsii shearwaters were tracked using geolocators. Concurrent data on the direction and strength of winds were obtained from the NASA SeaWinds scatterometer to calculate daily impedance models reflecting the resistance of sea surface winds to the shearwater movements. From these models we estimated relative wind-mediated costs for the observed synthesis pathway obtained from tracked birds, for the shortest distance pathway and for other simulated alternative pathways for every day of the migration period. We also estimated daily trajectories of the minimum cost pathway and compared distance and relative costs of all pathways. Shearwaters followed 26 to 52% longer pathways than the shortest distance path. In general, estimated wind-mediated costs of both observed synthesis and simulated alternative pathways were strongly dependent on the date of departure. Costs of observed synthesis pathways were about 15% greater than the synthesis pathway with the minimum cost, but, in the Cory"s and the Cape Verde shearwaters, these pathways were on average 15 to 20% shorter in distance, suggesting the extra costs of the observed pathways are compensated by saving about 2 travelling days. In Manx shearwaters, however, the distance of the observed synthesis pathway was 25% longer than that of the lowest cost synthesis pathway, probably because birds avoided shorter but potentially more turbulent pathways. Our results suggest that winds are a major determinant of the migratory routes of seabirds.

Jornada de presentación y debate en torno al Libro Verde de la Accesibilidad en España : informe final

La Jornada ha pretendido avanzar hacia la definición de un Libro Blanco que recoja la perspectiva y opiniones de los distintos agentes implicados en la accesibilidad a los distintos entornos y servicios relacionados con la edificación, el urbanismo, los transportes y la comunicación e información. Para ello se ha partido de la presentación y debate de los contenidos del Libro Verde y de las propuestas del equipo redactor. Este documento resume los aspectos más destacables de la Jornada dando prioridad a los debates y aportaciones producidas en los talleres sectoriales. En él no se incluyen los resúmenes o el contenido de las presentaciones realizadas en las sesiones plenarias.

La Accesibilidad en España. Diagnóstico y bases para un plan integral de supresión de barreras. Libro verde

Este Libro Verde pretende difundir, compartir y discutir públicamente la situación de la accesibilidad en España, así como los instrumentos y políticas puestos en marcha en los últimos años para su promoción y las necesarias reformas o iniciativas para avanzar en el proceso de supresión de todo tipo de barreras –arquitectónicas, urbanísticas, en el transporte, la comunicación e información, etc.– en nuestro país.

Análisis univariante y multivariante de factores predictivos de fracaso de fotovaporización con láser verde

Objectiu: Realitzar un estudi descriptiu de la implantació de la fotovaporització amb làser verd a un hospital comarcal i determinar quines son les condicions preoperatòries i intraoperatòries ideals per tal d’obtenir un resultat satisfactori. Material i mètodes: Revisió retrospectiva de 179 fotovaporitzacions prostàtiques realitzades entre gener 2007 y juny 2010 a l’Hospital de la Ribera (Alzira), analitzant l’experiència del cirurgià, edat dels pacients, volum prostàtic, PSA, IPSS, Qmax i antecedents preoperatoris, classificació ASA, paràmetres intraoperatoris com el temps quirúrgic, requeriments transfusionals, tipus de làser verd utilitzat i reconversió a RTU-p i postoperatoris on s’ha estudiat les complicacions postoperatories i de seguiment com el PSA, IPSS y Qmax i les reintervencions. Realitzem un estudi univariant i multivariant per a identificar quins paràmetres preoperatoris i intraoperatoris van a condicionar un fracàs terapèutic Resultats: En l’estudi descriptiu s’observa similars resultats en tots els paràmetres respecte a la literatura disponible En l’estudi multivariant, identifiquem la curta experiència del cirurgià i el volum prostàtic menor de 40 CC com els factors de risc independents de fracàs de la fotovaporització amb làser verd. Conclusions: la fotovaporització amb làser verd es un procediment efectiu i fàcilment reproduïble en el tractament desobstructiu del tracte urinari inferior d'origen prostàtic. Calen estudis multicèntrics, prospectius i aleatoritzats per confirmar els resultats d’aquest estudi, donat que en l’actualitat disposem de pocs articles que aporten un nivell de evidència i un nivell de recomanació elevats.

Sustaining OER at the University of Cape Town : free, but not cheap

Open educational resource (OER) initiatives have made the shift from being a fringe activity to one that is increasingly considered as a key component in both teaching and learning in higher education and in the fulfilment of universities' mission and goals. Although the reduction in the cost of materials is often cited as a potential benefit of OER, this potential benefit has not yet been realised in practice necessitating thoughtful consideration of various strategies for new OER initiatives such as the OpenContent directory at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa.This paper reviews the range of sustainability strategies mentioned in the literature, plots the results of a small-scale OER sustainability survey against these strategies and explains how these findings and other papers on OER initiatives were used to inform an in-house workshop at UCT to deliberate the future strategy for the sustainability of OER at UCT.