bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate change as a main driver of ecological research
Authors: Pettorelli Nathalie
Published: October 2012

1. Climate change is a major threat to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well‐being. Mitigating its effects on living organisms and societies will be at the heart of most environmental management strategies, which will need to be informed by integrative scientific approaches. This Issue’s Special Profile provides examples of such approaches.

2. Responses of species to change in climatic conditions will range from thriving (i.e. species capable of living under the new set of conditions) to adapting (i.e. species capable of surviving a change in global conditions by changing their ecology and/or distribution) and going extinct. Yet there is a need to identify which species will fall into which categories, as well as a need to understand how to facilitate species’ ability to adapt to change.

3. Landscape management will be key to ensuring that functional, resilient ecosystems are maintained. Preserving the complexity and function of ecosystems can help mitigate the impact of extreme climatic conditions on the delivery of vital services such as climate regulation, primary production and water retention.

4. To mitigate further biodiversity loss, healthy habitats will also need to be better connected. In many situations, developing ecological networks will require costly habitat restoration at large spatial scales: to maximise opportunities for these networks to be created and be successful, landscape‐scale assessments of the provision and value of multiple ecosystem services under alternative management regimes will need to inform decisions as to where and how to implement their creation.

5. Synthesis and applications. Climate change is only starting to shape the ecological research agenda, as the complexity of the impact of this phenomenon on biodiversity and ecosystem services slowly unveils. Because changes in climatic conditions are expected to hit everyone everywhere, effective solutions for climate change mitigation will require science to truly engage with society and support decision‐making processes at local, national and international scales.
Integrating climate change into calcareous grassland management
Authors: Maalouf Jean‐Paul , Le Bagousse‐Pinguet Yoann , Marchand Lilian , Bâchelier Emilie , Touzard Blaise , Michalet Richard
Published: October 2012

1. Climate change is rarely taken into consideration in conservation management strategies aimed at protecting biodiversity from other threats. We examined the implications of this perspective in European calcareous grasslands, which are among the richest herbaceous systems of the continent and are therefore of high nature conservation interest. These systems are currently undergoing species loss because of the abandonment of agro‐pastoral practices. Classic ecological theory assumes that conservation management activities (such as regular mowing) and drought events should increase diversity through decreased plant competition in abandoned mesic communities. In turn, this could reduce diversity in xeric communities although positive plant interactions (facilitation) might buffer these negative effects and maintain diversity.

2. We studied the effects of regular mowing and experimentally induced drought on diversity and biotic interactions between two transplanted species in mesic and xeric calcareous grasslands. The study sites in south‐western France have not been subjected to any management for the last 30 years.

3. Drought did not affect mesic systems although mowing increased plant diversity through decreased competition. By contrast, mowing had no significant effect in xeric systems although drought decreased diversity. Interestingly, transplants were subject to neither competition nor facilitation in the xeric systems.

4.
Synthesis and applications. Regular mowing and drought events impact plant diversity of mesic and xeric calcareous grassland communities in different ways. We recommend regular mowing of mesic grasslands, even in the context of climate change. By contrast, we recommend less‐frequent mowing of xeric grasslands together with specific interventions such as assisted migration for species with poor drought tolerance. Similar studies in other ecosystems on larger spatial and temporal scales should examine the dual effects of management and climate change to identify appropriate management programmes.
Identifying unidirectional and dynamic habitat filters to faunal recolonisation in restored mine‐pits
Authors: Craig Michael D. , Hardy Giles E. St J. , Fontaine Joseph B. , Garkakalis Mark J. , Grigg Andrew H. , Grant Carl D. , Fleming Patricia A. , Hobbs Richard J.
Published: October 2012

1. There is increasing evidence that passive faunal recolonisation of restored areas can take decades or even centuries, reducing benefits to biodiversity from restoration. Thus, there is a need to develop restoration and management strategies that facilitate and accelerate faunal recolonisation. This requires identification of habitat features that act as filters to slow or prevent recolonisation and whether those filters are temporally unidirectional or dynamic.

2. We investigated successional patterns of reptiles and mammals in restored mine‐pits in south‐western Australia to identify potential filters to faunal recolonisation. We sampled reptiles and small mammals using 30 trapping grids across each of four restoration ages (4, 8, 12 and 17‐years old) and unmined forest and assessed vegetation structure to identify animal–habitat relationships.

3. Mammal communities in restored areas converged on unmined forest communities as restoration matured, and all species recolonised rapidly, indicating there were no filters to mammal recolonisation. In contrast, reptile communities did not converge in the same way, indicating there were filters that slowed or prevented reptile recolonisation. We identified three reptile species that were slow, or failed, to recolonise restored areas and a fourth species that rapidly recolonised but disappeared as restoration matured. We identified low coarse woody debris (CWD) volumes and high overstorey stem densities as likely filters; the former is a unidirectional filter that will decrease gradually over long time frames, possibly centuries, while the latter is a dynamic filter that fluctuates in its intensity over short time frames of years.

4. Synthesis and applications. Our study adds to growing evidence that filters to faunal recolonisation may be widespread in restored areas, with important implications for restoration practices. Firstly, examining individual species may more effectively identify filters than examining community successional patterns. Secondly, filters can persist over long time frames, possibly centuries, so management, such as the provision and accelerated development of CWD, may need to occur over similar time frames. Lastly, filters can be dynamic and repeated management interventions, such as thinning, may be required to overcome these filters. The growing evidence for filters suggests that facilitating faunal recolonisation is more complex than simply returning vegetation to restoration sites.
Plant diversity and generation of ecosystem services at the landscape scale: expert knowledge assessment
Authors: Quijas Sandra , Jackson Louise E. , Maass Manuel , Schmid Bernhard , Raffaelli David , Balvanera Patricia
Published: October 2012

1. In spite of the increasing amount of experimental evidence on the importance of plant species richness for ecosystem functioning at local scales, its role on the generation of ecosystem services at scales relevant for management is still largely unknown. To foster research on this topic, we assessed expert knowledge on the role of plant diversity in the generation of services at the landscape scale.

2. We developed a survey that included three levels of organization and seven components of plant diversity; four provisioning, six regulating and four cultural services; as well as three resources and three conditions among key abiotic factors that are likely to provide a contribution to service generation equalling that of plant diversity. Eighty experts in areas of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services answered the survey.

3. The experts identified species diversity within a community and diversity of communities within the landscape as the most important levels of organization for service generation, both with positive effects. Composition and number of species were considered to be the most relevant components of plant diversity, the latter with a positive effect on services. Water availability was identified as the most important abiotic resource.

4. Our results suggest different approaches to management for sustaining the generation of services at the landscape scale. Provisioning services were perceived as largely influenced by abiotic resources and less so (although positively) by plant diversity. Regulating services were expected to strongly depend on both plant diversity and abiotic factors. A particularly strong positive effect of plant diversity was expected for the generation of cultural services. Some variation in answers could be attributed to expert background.

5. Synthesis and applications. The expert survey generated detailed information and new hypotheses on the relationship between plant diversity and services at the landscape scale. Future research is needed to test these hypotheses, yet the areas of agreement identified in this study can be used immediately, with caution, as synthetic expert knowledge at spatial scales that are relevant for management, to guide technological and policy interventions ensuring the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem service delivery.
Using trait‐based filtering as a predictive framework for conservation: a case study of bats on farms in southeastern Australia
Authors: Hanspach Jan , Fischer Joern , Ikin Karen , Stott Jenny , Law Bradley S.
Published: October 2012

1. With world‐wide changes in human land use, an important challenge for conservation biologists is to develop frameworks to predict how species will respond to landscape change. Environmental filtering, where different environments favour different species’ traits, has the potential to be a useful predictive framework. Therefore, it is important to advance our understanding of how species with different traits respond to environmental variables.

2. We investigated the distribution of microbats in a 1 000 000 ha agricultural region in southeastern Australia, with specific emphasis on the effects of tree density on bat species characterized by different sizes, wing shapes and echolocation frequencies. The study area is substantially cleared, and trees are continuing to decline because grazing inhibits tree regeneration. We monitored bat activity acoustically at 80 sites spanning a wide range of tree densities. We used regression modelling to quantify the response of bats to tree density and other ecological covariates, and RLQ analysis to assess how different traits correlated with various environmental gradients.

3. Total bat activity and species richness peaked at intermediate tree densities. Species composition was explained by tree density and the traits of individual species. Sites with low tree cover were dominated by large, fast‐flying species, whereas sites with dense tree cover were dominated by smaller, highly manoeuvrable species. These findings are consistent with recent findings from other locations around the world.

4. Synthesis and applications. Trait‐based predictive frameworks enable landscape managers to assess how different management strategies and landscape modifications are likely to affect different species. Here, we propose a framework to derive general predictions of how bats respond to landscape modification, based on tree density and species traits. We apply this framework to a current conservation issue of tree decline in our study area and derive management priorities including: (i) maintaining a range of tree densities throughout the region; (ii) ensuring the persistence of locations with intermediate tree densities; and (iii) using environmentally sensitive grazing practices, for example, by incorporating long rest periods.
Effects of the proportion and spatial arrangement of un‐cropped land on breeding bird abundance in arable rotations
Authors: Henderson Ian G. , Holland John M. , Storkey Jonathan , Lutman Peter , Orson Jim , Simper John
Published: October 2012

1. The response of bird abundance to the proportional availability of un‐cropped land (i.e. land that could be cultivated, such as fallows, grass–flower or wild bird areas) is under‐studied but of considerable significance for managing declining populations on farmland in western Europe.

2. In this study, bird abundance was examined at a scale consistent with many national monitoring schemes. Birds were counted on 28 farm sites of c. 100 ha, representing cereal‐based and organic rotations. Sites were surveyed in summer, from 2007 to 2010, to assess the effect of the percentage cover and spatial arrangement of un‐cropped land on bird abundance, with data analysed at the whole‐farm (not patch) scale.

3. Un‐cropped land area had significant effects on the abundance of key species (those with a high dependency on farmland) when controlling for effects of semi‐natural habitats and management. On farms with <3% of their total area as un‐cropped land, the densities of birds were significantly lower than on farms with >10% area of un‐cropped land.

4. Positive, significant effects of the percentage area of un‐cropped land were detected for lapwing, skylark, linnet and yellowhammer and for all highly farmland‐dependent species combined. The relationship between un‐cropped land and bird abundance was stronger on conventional compared with organic farms, suggesting a greater importance of un‐cropped land on conventional farms.

5. Un‐cropped land patch arrangement was significant for skylark and linnet abundance but generally weak amongst species compared with the availability of un‐cropped land. Skylarks were positively associated with a larger relative edge effect amongst patches, whereas linnets were more associated with larger blocks of contiguous habitat.

6. Synthesis and applications. This study provides important evidence for a proportionate effect of habitat provision on farmland bird abundance. The relative area of un‐cropped land had the strongest effect on bird abundance. Sites with <3% (and, to a lesser extent, <5%) un‐cropped land were highly under‐populated. A two‐fold increase in the area of un‐cropped land was associated with an average 16–53% increase in the relative abundance of key species, which has implications for the contribution of un‐cropped areas towards population stabilization amongst farmland birds in Europe.
Multi‐temporal distribution modelling with satellite tracking data: predicting responses of a long‐distance migrant to changing environmental conditions
Authors: Gschweng Marion , Kalko Elisabeth K. V. , Berthold Peter , Fiedler Wolfgang , Fahr Jakob
Published: October 2012

1. Despite the wealth of data available from satellite tracking (ST) studies, such data have rarely been used to model species distributions. Using a novel method, we show how to exploit satellite data to analyse whether and how a migratory species responds to fluctuating environmental conditions in its wintering area. This is particularly crucial for establishing comprehensive conservation measures for rare species in areas that are threatened by increasing land use and climate change.

2. We use ST data of Eleonora’s falcon Falco eleonorae, a long‐distance migratory raptor that winters in Madagascar, and assess the performance of static species distribution models (SDM) as well as multi‐temporal models. ST data were derived from seven falcons tracked during three consecutive wintering periods and for a total of 2410 bearings, of which 512 locations were used in SDMs. We employed environmental predictors (climate, topography and land cover) with a spatial resolution of 30 arc seconds (c. 1 km2) to match rigorously filtered ST data with an accuracy of ≤1 km.

3. We first created a model with low temporal but high spatial resolution (half‐year). To predict suitable habitat for each month of the wintering season, we took advantage of the high temporal resolution inherent in ST data and employed temporally corresponding remote sensing data [Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 10‐day composites] together with other variables to create monthly models.

4. We show that ST data are suited to build robust and transferable SDMs despite a low number of tracked individuals. Multi‐temporal SMDs further revealed seasonal responses of the study species to changing environmental conditions in its wintering area.

5. Synthesis and applications. We present a transferable approach to predict the potential distribution of organisms as well as their dynamic response to changing environmental conditions. Future conservation management plans could include the prediction of a species’ reaction to changing land‐use practices or climate change based on the methodology proposed here. This would provide an early warning system for the decline of populations wintering in remote areas that underlie strong climatic fluctuations.
Improved detection of an alien invasive species through environmental DNA barcoding: the example of the American bullfrogLithobates catesbeianus
Authors: Dejean Tony , Valentini Alice , Miquel Christian , Taberlet Pierre , Bellemain Eva , Miaud Claude
Published: October 2012

1. Alien invasive species (AIS) are one of the major causes of biodiversity loss and global homogenization. Once an AIS becomes established, costs of control can be extremely high and complete eradication is not always achieved. The ability to detect a species at a low density greatly improves the success of eradication and decreases both the costs of control and the impact on ecosystems.

2. In this study, we compare the sensitivity of traditional field methods, based on auditory and visual encounter surveys, with an environmental DNA (eDNA) survey for the detection of the American bullfrogRana catesbeiana = Lithobates catesbeianus, which is invasive in south‐western France.

3. We demonstrate that the eDNA method is valuable for species detection and surpasses traditional amphibian survey methods in terms of sensitivity and sampling effort. The bullfrog was detected in 38 sites using the molecular method, compared with seven sites using the diurnal and nocturnal surveys, suggesting that traditional field surveys have strongly underestimated the distribution of the American bullfrog.

4. Synthesis and applications. The environmental DNA approach permits the early detection of alien invasive species (AIS), at very low densities and at any life stage, which is particularly important for the detection of rare and/or secretive aquatic species. This method can also be used to confirm the sensitivity of control operations and to better identify the distributions of vulnerable species, making this a very relevant tool for species inventory and management.
Effects of flood timing and livestock grazing on exotic annual plants in riverine floodplains
Authors: Lunt Ian D. , Jansen Amy , Binns Doug L.
Published: October 2012

Riverine floodplains around the world are highly prone to invasions by exotic species. While many processes have contributed to floodplain invasions, two theories have received particular attention: (i) replacement of native perennials by exotic annuals following historical livestock grazing and (ii) ‘terrestrialization’ because of fewer floods following river regulation.

We assessed how exclusion of grazers and flooding in different seasons affected established populations of exotic annuals in an 8‐year experiment. We hypothesized that effects of season of flooding would vary depending on timing in relation to annual plant life cycles and that outcomes may be affected by interactions between grazing and flooding.

Flooding in any season reduced exotic annuals to <2% cover and converted a dryland flora dominated by exotic annuals to a wetland flora dominated by native perennials. However, flood effects may be short lived, as areas flooded in 1 year supported abundant exotics the next. Grazer exclusion and interactions between grazing and flooding did not affect cover of exotic annuals, although grazing depleted native perennials in recently flooded areas.

Synthesis and applications. Consistent with the terrestrialization hypothesis, short‐duration floods provide a practical method for controlling exotic annual plants where river regulation has reduced the frequency of natural floods. As exotic impacts are greatest in dry periods, when exotics are most abundant, ecosystem benefits will be greatest when flooding leads to a protracted decline in exotic annuals during the dry (non‐inundated) years following flood recession. Otherwise, reductions in exotic annuals may be transient and have little positive impact on floodplain ecosystems and processes.
Seed limitation during early forest succession in a rural landscape onChiloé Island,Chile: implications for temperate forest restoration
Authors: Bustamante‐Sánchez Marcela A. , Armesto Juan J.
Published: October 2012

Re‐establishment of native forest species in rural landscapes may be conditioned by the proximity of seed sources, the post‐disturbance composition of successional patches and the seed dispersal patterns of frugivores. Knowledge of seed dispersal rates into early seral communities, and how these are influenced by the structural and compositional characteristics of these communities is still quite poor.

We used an observational approach to quantify the seed rain and seed limitation (SL) (proportion of sites to which seeds were not dispersed) of woody species during two growing seasons in three early successional shrublands with contrasting species composition and attractiveness to frugivores onChiloéIsland,Chile. We compared species immigration based on dispersal types (bird‐ vs. wind dispersed) and life‐form (shrubs vs. trees). Concomitantly, we used an experimental approach to test whether artificial perches would relieveSLand enhance seed dispersal and seedling establishment of fleshy‐fruited species.

Most seeds collected were of pioneer shrubs already present in the early successional sites. Few (5%) were from trees appearing only in the surrounding second‐growth forest. Density of seeds from fleshy‐fruited trees and shrubs was seven times higher in the seral community most attractive to frugivores, whereas density of seeds from wind‐dispersed trees was similar among communities. Artificial perches significantly increased the density and species richness of seeds from fleshy‐fruited trees in all communities, but the magnitude of the facilitation effect depended on the ecological context of each seral community. Seed rain enhancement was higher in the community less attractive to frugivores. Seedling recruitment, however, remained low even under perches, indicating that additional constraints act during seed germination and/or seedling survival and growth.

Synthesis and applications. Forest succession in this rural landscape may be delayed or arrested by extremely low seed rain, despite the proximity (<100 m) of seed sources in older forest patches. Although artificial perches significantly enhance inputs of bird‐dispersed tree seeds into shrublands, especially where fleshy‐fruited pioneer species are absent from the seral community, they do not overcome other site‐related barriers to establishment, as the lack of shaded places and limited soil drainage. Thus, in some ecological contexts, multiple approaches, such as direct seeding or planting, and the use of nurse plants, may be required to enhance seed rain and seedling establishment of fleshy‐fruited species.
Nursery‐propagated plants from seed: a novel tool to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of seagrass restoration
Authors: Balestri Elena , Lardicci Claudio
Published: October 2012

Seagrasses and the valuable ecosystem services they provide are threatened world‐wide by impacts of human activity. Numerous revegetation efforts have attempted to restore seagrasses. Most restoration programmes use plants collected from the field because of limited seed availability, low seedling survival and difficulty in culturing plants. However, this practice risks damage to donor populations and has the potential to reduce genetic diversity, which may counteract the desired effects of restoration.

A novel aquaculture system for producing plants (mother plants and cuttings) from a limited number of seeds was tested using Cymodocea nodosa as model species. The ability of transplanted cuttings to survive and grow in the natural habitat was also evaluated.

Seed germination was high (48%) compared with field conditions, and most seedlings produced mother plants with up to 7·8 m of rhizome and 300 shoots within 4 years in culture. All cuttings from mother plants regenerated new plants. Up to 100 transplants were produced from two seeds, and most (85%) of them survived and initiated the colonization of substrate, 1 year after planting.

Synthesis and applications. This study provides a robust protocol that can reduce plant and/or seed collection pressure on donor populations and produce a high number of transplants which show lower mortality rates during the early transplantation phases. This method can also help to preserve genetic diversity in restored populations, which should be one of the major goals of ecological restoration. This novel tool can be applied to other seagrass species with low or unpredictable reproductive success, therefore the development of nurseries should be incorporated in future restoration programmes. This is currently the only sustainable methodology to produce material for transplanting programmes for protected species.
Soft‐sediment deformation structures in a Pleistocene glaciolacustrine delta and their implications for the recognition of subenvironments in delta deposits
Authors: PISARSKA‐JAMROŻY MAŁGORZATA , WECKWERTH PIOTR
Published: October 2012

The development of soft‐sediment deformation structures in clastic sediments is now reasonably well‐understood but their development in various deltaic subenvironments is not. A sedimentological analysis of a Pleistocene (ca 13·1 to 15 10Be ka) Gilbert‐type glaciolacustine delta with gravity‐induced slides and slumps in the Mosty‐Danowo tunnel valley (north‐western Poland) provides more insight, because the various soft‐sediment deformation structures in these deposits were considered in the context of their specific deltaic subenvironment. The sediments show three main groups of soft‐sediment deformation structures in layers between undeformed sediments. The first group consists of deformed cross‐bedding (inclined, overturned, recumbent, complex and sheath folds), large‐scale folds (recumbent and sheath folds) and pillows forming plastic deformations. The second group comprises pillar structures (isolated and stress), clastic dykes with sand volcanoes and clastic megadykes as examples of water‐escape structures. The third group consists of faults (normal and reverse) and extensional fissures (small fissures and neptunian dykes). Some of the deformations developed shortly after deposition of the deformed sediment, other structures developed later. This development must be ascribed to hydroplastic movement in a quasi‐solid state, and due to fluidization and liquefaction of the rapidly deposited, water‐saturated deltaic sediments. The various types of deformations were triggered by: (i) a high sedimentation rate; (ii) erosion (by wave action or meltwater currents); and (iii) ice‐sheet loading and seasonal changes in the ablation rate. Analysis of these triggers, in combination with the deformational mechanisms, have resulted – on the basis of the spatial distribution of the various types of soft‐sediment deformation structures in the delta under study – in a model for the development of soft‐sediment deformation structures in the topsets, foresets and bottomsets of deltas. This analysis not only increases the understanding of the deformation processes in both modern and ancient deltaic settings but also helps to distinguish between the various subenvironments in ancient deltaic deposits.
Time‐transgressive tunnel‐valley infill revealed by a three‐dimensional sedimentary model, Hamburg, north‐west Germany
Authors: JANSZEN ADRIAAN , MOREAU JULIEN , MOSCARIELLO ANDREA , EHLERS JÜRGEN , KRÖGER JENS
Published: October 2012

Deep, elongated incisions, often referred to as tunnel valleys, are among the most characteristic landforms of formerly glaciated terrains. It is commonly thought that tunnel valleys were formed by meltwater flowing underneath large ice sheets. The sedimentary infill of these features is often highly intricate and therefore difficult to predict. This study intends to improve the comprehension of the sedimentology and to establish a conceptual model of tunnel‐valley infill, which can be used as a predictive tool. To this end, the densely sampled, Pleistocene tunnel valleys in Hamburg (north‐west Germany) were investigated using a dataset of 1057 deep wells containing lithological and geophysical data. The stratigraphic correlations and the resulting three‐dimensional lithological model were used to assess the spatial lithological distributions and sedimentary architecture. The sedimentary succession filling the Hamburg area tunnel valleys can be subdivided into three distinct units, which are distinguished by their inferred depositional proximity to the ice margin. The overall trend of the succession shows a progressive decrease in transport energy and glacial influence through time. The rate of glacial recession appears to have been an important control on the sedimentary architecture of the tunnel‐valley fill. During periods of stagnation, thick ice‐proximal deposits accumulated at the ice margin, while during rapid recession, only a thin veneer of such coarse‐grained sediments was deposited. Ice‐distal and non‐glaciogenic deposits (i.e. lacustrine, marine and terrestrial) fill the remaining part of the incision. The infill architecture suggests formation and subsequent infill of the tunnel valleys at the outer margin of the Elsterian ice sheet during its punctuated northwards recession. The proposed model shows how the history of ice‐sheet recession determines the position of coarse‐grained depocentres, while the post‐glacial history controls the deposition of fines through a progressive infill of remnant depressions.
Molecules, morphology and minute hooded beetles: a phylogenetic study with implications for the evolution and classification of Corylophidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)
Authors: ROBERTSON JAMES A. , ŚLIPIŃSKI ADAM , HIATT KEVIN , MILLER KELLY B. , WHITING MICHAEL F. , MCHUGH JOSEPH V.
Published: October 2012

Eight genes (nuclear: 18S, 28S, H3, CAD; mitochondrial: 12S, 16S, COI, COII) and morphology were used to infer the evolutionary history of Corylophidae, some of the smallest free‐living insects. The study included 36 corylophid exemplars, representing approximately 60% of the known generic diversity of the family and 16 cucujoid outgroup taxa. Multiple partitioning strategies, molecular datasets, combined datasets and different taxon sampling regimes using maximum likelihood and mixed‐model Bayesian inference were utilized to analyse these data. Most results were highly concordant across analyses. There was strong agreement across (i) partitioning strategies, (ii) maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of the molecular data, and (iii) Bayesian inference of the molecular data alone and Bayesian inference of the combined morphological and molecular data when all terminal taxa were included. When a strict taxon sampling protocol was employed so that only single generic exemplars were included, deep relationships were affected in the resulting phylogenetic hypotheses. Under such narrow sampling strategies, deep phylogenetic relationships were also sensitive to the choice of generic exemplars. Although it is often challenging to obtain single representatives for many taxa in higher‐level phylogenetic analyses, these results indicate the importance of using denser taxon sampling approaches even at the specific level for genera included in such studies. Molecular data alone support Anamorphinae (Endomychidae) strongly as the sister group of Corylophidae. In combined data analyses, Coccinellidae is recovered as the sister group to Corylophidae. In all analyses, Corylophidae and the subfamily Corylophinae are recovered as monophyletic. The monophyly of Periptyctinae was untested, as only a single species was included. All included corylophine tribes were recovered as monophyletic with the exception of Aenigmaticini; Aenigmaticum Matthews forms the sister group to Orthoperus Stephens and StanusŚlipiński et al. is recovered as the sister group of Sericoderus Stephens. Stanus tasmanicusŚlipiński et al. is transferred to a new genus, Pseudostanus Robertson, Ślipiński & McHugh gen.n.incertae sedis. We propose a new tribe, Stanini Robertson, Ślipiński & McHugh trib.n. for Stanus bowesteadiŚlipiński et al. and a new concept of Aenigmaticini sensu.n. to include only the nominate genus. Anatomical transitions associated with corylophid miniaturization are highlighted. Key phenotypic modifications and elevated rates of substitution in nuclear rRNA genes are evident in a subgroup of Corylophinae that includes the most diminutive species. Other taxonomic and evolutionary implications are discussed in light of the results.
Wetting Effects in Hair Simulation
Authors: Rungjiratananon W. , Kanamori Y. , Nishita T.
Published: October 2012

There is considerable recent progress in hair simulations, driven by the high demands in computer animated movies. However, capturing the complex interactions between hair and water is still relatively in its infancy. Such interactions are best modeled as those between water and an anisotropic permeable medium as water can flow into and out of the hair volume biased in hair fiber direction. Modeling the interaction is further challenged when the hair is allowed to move. In this paper, we introduce a simulation model that reproduces interactions between water and hair as a dynamic anisotropic permeable material. We utilize an Eulerian approach for capturing the microscopic porosity of hair and handle the wetting effects using a Cartesian bounding grid. A Lagrangian approach is used to simulate every single hair strand including interactions with each other, yielding fine‐detailed dynamic hair simulation. Our model and simulation generate many interesting effects of interactions between fine‐detailed dynamic hair and water, i.e., water absorption and diffusion, cohesion of wet hair strands, water flow within the hair volume, water dripping from the wet hair strands and morphological shape transformations of wet hair.
SD Models: Super‐Deformed Character Models
Authors: Shen Liang‐Tsen , Luo Sheng‐Jie , Huang Chun‐Kai , Chen Bing‐Yu
Published: October 2012

Super‐deformed, SD, is a specific artistic style for Japanese manga and anime which exaggerates characters in the goal of appearing cute and funny. The SD style characters are widely used, and can be seen in many anime, CG movies, or games. However, to create an SD model often requires professional skills and considerable time and effort. In this paper, we present a novel technique to generate an SD style counterpart of a normal 3D character model. Our approach uses an optimization guided by a number of constraints that can capture the properties of the SD style. Users can also customize the results by specifying a small set of parameters related to the body proportions and the emphasis of the signature characteristics. With our technique, even a novel user can generate visually pleasing SD models in seconds.
GPU Shape Grammars
Authors: Marvie Jean‐Eudes , Buron Cyprien , Gautron Pascal , Hirtzlin Patrice , Sourimant Gaël
Published: October 2012

GPU Shape Grammars provide a solution for interactive procedural generation, tuning and visualization of massive environment elements for both video games and production rendering. Our technique generates detailed models without explicit geometry storage. To this end we reformulate the grammar expansion for generation of detailed models at the tesselation control and geometry shader stages. Using the geometry generation capabilities of modern graphics hardware, our technique generated massive, highly detailed models. GPU Shape Grammars integrate within a scalable framework by introducing automatic generation of levels of detail at reduced cost. We apply our solution for interactive generation and rendering of scenes containing thousands of buildings and trees.
Texture Compression using Wavelet Decomposition
Authors: Mavridis Pavlos , Papaioannou Georgios
Published: October 2012

In this paper we introduce a new fixed‐rate texture compression scheme based on the energy compaction properties of a modified Haar transform. The coefficients of this transform are quantized and stored using standard block compression methods, such as DXTC and BC7, ensuring simple implementation and very fast decoding speeds. Furthermore, coefficients with the highest contribution to the final image are quantized with higher accuracy, improving the overall compression quality. The proposed modifications to the standard Haar transform, along with a number of additional optimizations, improve the coefficient quantization and reduce the compression error. The resulting method offers more flexibility than the currently available texture compression formats, providing a variety of additional low bitrate encoding modes for the compression of grayscale and color textures.
Multi‐scale Assemblage for Procedural Texturing
Authors: Gilet G. , Dischler J‐M. , Ghazanfarpour D.
Published: October 2012

A procedural pattern generation process, called multi‐scale “assemblage” is introduced. An assemblage is defined as a multi‐scale composition of “multi‐variate” statistical figures, that can be kernel functions for defining noise‐like texture basis functions, or that can be patterns for defining structured procedural textures. This paper presents two main contributions: 1) a new procedural random point distribution function, that, unlike point jittering, allow us to take into account some spatial dependencies among figures and 2) a “multi‐variate” approach that, instead of defining finite sets of constant figures, allows us to generate nearly infinite variations of figures on‐the‐fly. For both, we use a “statistical shape model”, which is a representation of shape variations. Thanks to a direct GPU implementation, assemblage textures can be used to generate new classes of procedural textures for real‐time rendering by preserving all characteristics of usual procedural textures, namely: infinity, definition independency (provided the figures are also definition independent) and extreme compactness.
RimabotulinumtoxinB vs. onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of forehead lines: an evaluator‐blind, randomized, pilot study
Authors: Lee D.H. , Kang S.M. , Feneran A. , Youn C.S. , Kim J.K. , Cho S. , Won C.H. , Chang S.E. , Lee M.W. , Choi J.H. , Moon K.C.
Published: October 2012

Background  Optimum dose ratios of rimabotulinumtoxinB (BTX‐B) and onabotulinumtoxinA (BTX‐A) have not been determined for forehead wrinkles.

Objective  To compare the efficacy and safety of BTX‐B and BTX‐A for the treatment of forehead lines.

Methods  Twenty‐two women (mean age, 40 years) with symmetrical moderate to severe forehead lines were randomized to receive single intramuscular injections of BTX‐A and BTX‐B on either side of the forehead, at a potency ratio of 1 : 70 or 1 : 100. Subjects were followed‐up for 16 weeks. Four physicians evaluated patients’ photographs according to the 4‐point Facial Wrinkling Grade (FWG). Clinical Improvement Scale (CIS) was calculated by subtracting FWG score at each visit from that at baseline. Patient satisfaction scores and adverse events were also recorded.

Results  Both BTX‐A and BTX‐B were effective for the treatment of forehead lines. At both potency ratios, BTX‐A had a longer duration of action than BTX‐B, while BTX‐B led to faster improvement than BTX‐A. There was no significant difference in CIS between 700 U and 1000 U BTX‐B treatments. Adverse effects were mild and transient.

Conclusion  Both BTX‐A and BTX‐B were effective and well tolerated for the treatment of forehead wrinkles at potency ratios of 1 : 70 and 1 : 100.
Depression and the risk of psoriasis in US women
Authors: Dominguez P.L. , Han J. , Li T. , Ascherio A. , Qureshi A.A.
Published: October 2012

Background  Depression is a common mental health condition that has been associated with psoriasis. In the absence of prospective data, it remains unclear whether depression precedes psoriasis as a risk factor.

Objectives  To examine the association between depression and the risk of new‐onset psoriasis.

Methods  A prospective cohort of 86 880 US female nurses, The Nurses’ Health Study II, was followed up from 1993 to 2005. Participants reported anti‐depressant use and completed the Mental Health Index (MHI), a subscale of the Short‐Form 36 in 1993. The MHI assessed for depression and scores was categorized into four strata: 0–52, 53–75, 76–85 and 86–100, with lower scores associated with increasing depressive symptoms. We excluded participants with a history of psoriasis prior to 1993. A self‐report of incident physician‐diagnosed psoriasis constituted the main outcome measure. For a sensitivity analysis, we had a subset of confirmed psoriasis cases.

Results  Depression was associated with an increased risk of incident psoriasis. Compared to women in the non‐depressed group (MHI 86–100), women who reported either having high depressive symptomatology (MHI scores <52) or who were on anti‐depressants had a multivariate relative risk (RR) of 1.59 for developing subsequent psoriasis (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–2.08). These associations became stronger among confirmed psoriasis cases.

Conclusions  We found that depression was independently associated with an increased risk of psoriasis in this population of US women.
Microenvironment‐dependent homeostasis and differentiation of epidermal basal undifferentiated keratinocytes and their clinical applications in skin repair
Authors: Nie J. , Fu X. , Han W.
Published: October 2012

Skin homeostasis is maintained by controlling the balance between proliferation and differentiation of epidermal stem cells. The microenvironment, including extrinsic stresses, growth factors, soluble molecules, cell‐ECM and cell‐cell communications, plays an important role in cell fate determination in vivo and in vitro. In response to external signals, keratinocytes cooperate with other cell types to modulate and facilitate the wound microenvironment during wound healing; however, the aberrant signals or conjunctions in the environment will lead to pathologic abnormalities. In addition, despite some drawbacks, the epidermal stem‐cellbased bioengineered skin substitutes have greatly improved the quality of cutaneous repair. Thus, exploring the characteristics and regulation mechanisms of microenvironment‐dependent homeostasis and differentiation of epidermal basal undifferentiated keratinocytes is necessary to understand skin development and wound repair and to design novel therapeutic strategies for skin wound healing.
Synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of non‐aggregated novel axially 4‐{2‐[3‐(diethylamino)phenoxy]ethoxy} and crown ether substituted silicon phthalocyanines
Authors: Bıyıklıoğlu Zekeriya
Published: October 2012

This paper describes the synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of a range of new axially disubstituted silicon phthalocyanines, with 4‐{2‐[3‐(diethylamino)phenoxy]ethoxy}, 4‐(1,4,7,10‐tetraoxacyclododecan‐2‐ylmethoxy) and 4‐(1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxacyclooctadecan‐2‐ylmethoxy) groups as axial ligands. These axially disubstituted silicon phthalocyanine complexes were synthesised for the first time here. The newly synthesised silicon phthalocyanines were characterised by ultraviolet–visible, infrared, proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The aggregation behaviour of these compounds was investigated in different concentrations of chloroform and the effects of various organic solvents on the absorption spectra were studied.
Direct coloration of textiles with photochromic dyes. Part 3: dyeing of wool with photochromic acid dyes
Authors: Billah Shah M Reduwan , Christie Robert M , Shamey Renzo
Published: October 2012

Wool dyed with two isomeric water‐soluble spirooxazine‐based photochromic acid dyes, which were specifically designed and synthesised for direct application to protein and polyamide substrates, showed reversible change from a pale yellowish colour to blue when exposed to sunlight or UV light. With the first dye, significantly higher photochromic colour change was obtained when the wool was bleached, a feature attributed to a more open fibre structure which may facilitate penetration of the non‐planar dye anion and also the photocoloration reaction which requires a change in molecular geometry. Experimentation demonstrated that the optimum conditions for application of this dye to wool was from an aqueous dyebath at neutral pH and a temperature of 60 °C. An investigation using HPLC demonstrated that the dye was susceptible to decomposition in aqueous solution at higher temperatures and at lower pH values. The second dye was also applied to wool fabric to give a fabric with similar photochromic properties. The technical performance of the dyed fabrics, in terms of washfastness and photostability, was assessed.
Determining Postmortem Interval Using Glycoproteinous Adhesion Deposits by Balanus improvisus on Human Skeletal and Dental Remains
Authors: Bytheway Joan A. , Pustilnik Stephen M.
Published: October 2012

An anthropological analysis was conducted on skeletal and dental remains brought to the Galveston County Medical Examiner's office. The skeletal remains were dry, fragmented, and absent of typical fluvial characteristics. During microscopic examination, semitransparent, circular objects were discovered on the dentition, the mandible, tibial plateau, and distal femur. The objects were glycoproteinous adhesions deposited by the acorn barnacle, Balanus improvisus. B. improvisus is an intertidal barnacle found in estuaries in Galveston Bay. Basal diameter of the adhesions on the dentition were significantly smaller than those found on the postcranial bones (p = 0.010), indicating two consecutive cohorts adhered to the bone and dentition. As settlement typically occurs once a year, this would indicate that the remains were in the fluvial environment for at least 375–410 days. It is important in geographic areas that have prevalent fluvial environments that human remains, particularly dentition, are microscopically examined for marine life evidence.