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The current known distribution of Omura’s whale includes the tropical and warm temperate waters of the western Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. Evidence of their presence in the Atlantic Ocean is based on beach cast specimens found on the coasts of Mauritania (North Atlantic) and Northeastern Brazil (South Atlantic). The present study characterizes the occurrence of this species in the São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago (SPSPA), on the mid-Atlantic ridge between South America and Africa, based on autonomous recording systems. Acoustic signals were similar, but not identical, to B. omurai vocalizations recorded off the coast of Madagascar. Although these signals were recorded for only 11 months, there are peaks in vocal activity between May and June in the vicinities of SPSPA, suggesting either a shift in distribution within the Atlantic equatorial waters or seasonality in the species’ vocal behavior in this region. The first acoustic records of Omura’s whales in the Equatorial Atlantic suggest that these animals may also use deep-water habitats, in addition to the shallow-water habitat use observed in other regions., A atual distribuição conhecida da baleia-de-Omura (Balaenoptera omurai) inclui as águas tropicais e temperadas quentes dos oceanos Pacífico ocidental, Índico e Atlântico. A evidência de sua presença no oceano Atlântico baseia-se em espécimes encalhados encontrados em praias da Mauritânia (Atlântico Norte) e do Nordeste do Brasil (Atlântico Sul). O presente estudo caracteriza a ocorrência dessa espécie no Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo (ASPSP), localizado sobre a Dorsal Mesoatlântica entre a América do Sul e a África, com base em sistemas de monitoramento acústico passivo. Os sinais acústicos detectados foram similares, mas não idênticos, às vocalizações de B. omurai gravadas na costa de Madagascar. Embora esses sinais tenham sido registrados por apenas 11 meses, há picos na atividade vocal entre maio e junho nas proximidades do ASPSP, sugerindo uma mudança na distribuição da espécie nas águas equatoriais do Atlântico ou uma sazonalidade no comportamento vocal nessa região. Os primeiros registros acústicos das baleias-de-Omura no Atlântico Equatorial sugerem que esses animais também podem utilizar habitats de águas profundas, além de habitats de águas rasas como observado em outras regiões.

Rapid shifts in biotic communities due to environmental variability challenge the detection of anthropogenic impacts by current biomonitoring programs. Metacommunity ecology has the potential to inform such programs, because it combines dispersal processes with niche-based approaches and recognizes variability in community composition. Using intermittent rivers—prevalent and highly dynamic ecosystems that sometimes dry—we develop a conceptual model to illustrate how dispersal limitation and flow intermittence influence the performance of biological indices. We produce a methodological framework integrating physical- and organismal-based dispersal measurements into predictive modeling, to inform development of dynamic ecological quality assessments. Such metacommunity-based approaches could be extended to other ecosystems and are required to underpin our capacity to monitor and protect ecosystems threatened under future environmental changes.

Introduction A discussion about sexuality should become a routine part of the personalized care pathway for patients with cancer. Aim To assess rates of patient discussion about sexuality with health care providers after cancer. Methods We used data from the representative French nationwide 2012 VICAN survey, which included 4,349 adults 18 to 82 years old who were still alive 2 years after diagnosis at 12 cancer sites. Main Outcome Measures Self-reported rates of discussion about sexuality with health care providers were assessed, and associated factors were tested after systematic adjustment for a sexual health indicator (created from six items of the Relationship and Sexuality Scale). Results Of 4,181 respondents to the question on a discussion about sexuality, 54.7% reported that nobody had proposed a discussion to them, 21.9% did not want any discussion, and 23.4% had had a discussion. Women had less discussion about sexuality with health care providers (11.1% vs 36.7% of men, P < .001) and were more likely to request a discussion at their own initiative (62.9% vs 48.0% of men, P < .001). Discussion about sexuality was more frequent with patients with prostate (56.3%) and cervical (39.6%) cancer, but increasing age was associated with a greater reluctance to discuss this issue (odds ratio = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04–1.2). The likelihood of discussion increased with severe sexual problems, radiotherapy, general sequelae, having an information-seeker profile, previous professional psychological help, and initial treatment in private centers. Patients initially wishing for psychological help were more likely to desire a discussion about sexuality. Conclusion Sexuality receives little attention in French patients with cancer. Inequalities in the discussion about sexuality were observed in relation to the type of care center where the patient was initially managed. Information on supportive interventions, including more systematic referral for professional psychological help, should be developed to facilitate discussion and should be offered to all patients, irrespective of severity of sexual problems, age, sex, cancer site, and care center.

†Background and Aims Functional traits are indicators of plant interactions with their environment and the resource-use strategies of species can be defined through some key functional traits. The importance of genetic variability and phenotypic plasticity in trait variations in response to a common environmental change was investigated in two subalpine species. †Methods Two species with contrasted resource-use strategies, Dactylis glomerata and Festuca paniculata, were grown along a productivity gradient in a greenhouse experiment. Functional traits of different genotypes were measured to estimate the relative roles of phenotypic plasticity and genetic variability, and to compare their levels of phenotypic plasticity. †Key Results Trait variability in the field for the two species is more likely to be the result of phenotypic plasticity rather than of genetic differentiation between populations. The exploitative species D. glomerata expressed an overall higher level of phenotypic plasticity compared with the conservative species F. paniculata. In addition to different amplitudes of phenotypic plasticity, the two species differed in their pattern of response for three functional traits relevant to resource use (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content and leaf nitrogen content). †Conclusions Functional trait variability was mainly the result of phenotypic plasticity, with the exploitative species showing greater variability. In addition to average trait values, two species with different resource-use strategies differed in their plastic responses to productivity.

Background and Aims: The plastic alterations of clonal architecture are likely to have functional consequences, as they affect the spatial distribution of ramets over patchy environments. However, little is known about the effect of mechanical stresses on the clonal growth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clonal plasticity induced by mechanical stress consisting of continuous water current encountered by aquatic plants. More particularly, the aim was to test the capacity of the plants to escape this stress through clonal plastic responses. Methods: The transplantation of ramets of the same clone in two contrasting flow velocity conditions was carried out for two species (Potamogeton coloratus and Mentha aquatica) which have contrasting clonal growth forms. Relative allocation to clonal growth, to creeping stems in the clonal biomass, number and total length of creeping stems, spacer length and main creeping stem direction were measured. Key Results: For P. coloratus, plants exposed to water current displayed increased total length of creeping stems, increased relative allocation to creeping stems within the clonal dry mass and increased spacer length. For M. aquatica, plants exposed to current displayed increased number and total length of creeping stems. Exposure to current induced for both species a significant increase of the proportion of creeping stems in the downstream direction to the detriment of creeping stems perpendi Conclusions: This study demonstrates that mechanical stress from current flow induced plastic variation in clonal traits for both species. The responses of P. coloratus could lead to an escape strategy, with low benefits with respect to sheltering and anchorage. The responses of M. aquatica that may result in a denser canopy and enhancement of anchorage efficiency could lead to a resistance strategy.

International audience; Mothers can influence the phenotype of their offspring by adjusting the quality of their eggs in relation to sex and reproductive value of the progeny. Maternal androgens in the eggs of vertebrates may mediate such adaptive early maternal effects. However, the evolution of early maternal effects mediated by egg androgens may be constrained by the inability of mothers to differentially allocate androgens to eggs with a male or a female if androgens have different effects on sons and daughters. In this study, we increased the concentration of androgens in the eggs of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) within the physiological range of variation and analyzed the effect on nestling growth and begging behavior. Egg androgens increased body size and mass of sons but reduced these characters in daughters when compared to two control groups in a repeated-measures analysis of variance of data collected at different ages. However, the differential effect of androgen on the two sexes was no longer significant when the analysis was restricted to the age of 12 days, when final body size is attained. In a second experiment, we tested whether mothers differentially allocated androgens to eggs with sons rather than daughters while manipulating a paternal secondary sexual character. Androgen concentration did not vary in relation to paternal ornamentation or embryo sex. Hence, antagonistic effects of egg androgens on sons and daughters may exist in the very early posthatching life and may constrain the evolution of adaptive maternal effects because mothers do not differentially allocate androgens in relation to embryo sex. Key words: begging display, early maternal effects, growth, Hirundo rustica, laying order, recruitment, viability.

Prolactin levels rapidly drop after breeding failure in several terrestrial bird species, but in penguins prolactin secretion can be maintained well after failure. We measured prolactin secretion in relation to reproductive failure in a tropical seabird, the Red-footed Booby (Sula sula). Incubation failure was recorded in 7 nests (2 accidental losses, 5 desertions). Prolactin titers significantly decreased after incubation failure. In birds that accidentally lost their egg, prolactin titers declined but measurements 12 to 24 hr after failure were still above basal levels. Birds naturally deserting their egg exhibited prolactin titers typical of basal levels 6–24 hr after abandonment. Two birds showed lower prolactin concentration as early as 4–8 days before nest desertion, suggesting that a decline in prolactin levels may precede egg desertion. This study shows that in this tropical seabird, incubation failure results in a rapid cessation of prolactin secretion, as it does for terrestrial birds. Relación entre los Niveles de Prolactina y el Fracaso Reproductivo en un Ave Marina Tropical, Sula sula Resumen. Los niveles de prolactina de varias especies de aves terrestres disminuyen rápidamente después del fracaso reproductivo. Sin embargo, en los pingüinos la secreción de prolactina tiende a mantenerse inalterada después del fracaso reproductivo. Medimos los niveles de prolactina en relación al fracaso reproductivo en un ave marina tropical, Sula sula. Se observaron 7 eventos de fracaso reproductivo (2 pérdidas accidentales de huevos y 5 deserciones de nidos). En general, los niveles de prolactina disminuyeron significativamente después del fracaso reproductivo. En las aves que perdieron accidentalmente sus huevos, los niveles de prolactina disminuyeron, pero las medidas registradas 12 a 24 horas después del fracaso fueron superiores a los niveles basales. Los niveles de prolactina de individuos que espontáneamente abandonaron sus nidos, medidos 6 a 24 horas después del abandono, fueron similares a los niveles basales. Dos individuos presentaron concentraciones de prolactina bajas 4 a 8 días antes del abandono de sus nidos, sugiriendo que una disminución del nivel de prolactina podría preceder el abandono de los nidos. Este estudio demuestra que el fracaso de incubación de esta especie de ave marina tropical conlleva a una rápida cesación de la secreción de prolactina, tal como ha sido observado en las aves terrestres.

The shape of sternal calcium carbonate deposits (CCD) preceding moult was used as a diagnostic character to distinguish between reproductive and non-reproductive females in six species of terrestrial isopods belonging to different families. Samples in the wild at the beginning of the reproductive season revealed females with CCD of incomplete shape, with a diamond-shaped opening at the level of central furrow. All the females showing this pattern made a parturial moult a few days later, while all females showing complete CCD made a normal moult. A laboratory experiment confirmed that these characteristics were diagnostic for females performing a secondary vitellogenesis. These females were receptive to mating at that time, provided the stage of the intermoult cycle was not too early. Screening the CCD shape is therefore a non-destructive method that can be used for routine diagnosis of females' reproductive status in terrestrial isopods.

We studied plumage patterns of known-sex nestling and juvenile Short-eared Owls (Asio flammeus) to develop a sexing technique for nestlings in the field. Markings on the secondaries varied according to sex, and differences were apparent from about 10–15 days of age. We also provide aging formulas based on mass for nestlings up to 15 days of age and on wing length for nestlings older than that age. Finally, we evaluate growth parameters according to sex. The asymptotes of body mass, wing length, and tarsus length growth curves were higher in females than males. The inflexion point was attained earlier by males than by females.

Summary: We previously developed OrthoInspector, a package incorporating an original algorithm for the detection of orthology and inparalogy relations between different species. We have added new functionalities to the package. While its original algorithm was not modified, performing similar orthology predictions, we facilitated the prediction of very large databases (thousands of proteomes), refurbished its graphical interface, added new visualization tools for comparative genomics/protein family analysis and facilitated its deployment in a network environment. Finally, we have released three online databases of precomputed orthology relationships. Availability: Package and databases are freely available at http://lbgi.fr/orthoinspector with all major browsers supported. Contact: odile.lecompte@unistra.fr Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

International audience; The human settlement of the Pacific Islands represents one of the most recent major migration events of mankind. Polynesians originated in Asia according to linguistic evidence or in Melanesia according to archaeological evidence. To shed light on the genetic origins of Polynesians, we investigated over 400 Polynesians from 8 island groups, in comparison with over 900 individuals from potential parental populations of Melanesia, Southeast and East Asia, and Australia, by means of Y chromosome (NRY) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers. Overall, we classified 94.1% of Polynesian Y chromosomes and 99.8% of Polynesian mtDNAs as of either Melanesian (NRY-DNA: 65.8%, mtDNA: 6%) or Asian (NRY-DNA: 28.3%, mtDNA: 93.8%) origin, suggesting a dual genetic origin of Polynesians in agreement with the "Slow Boat" hypothesis. Our data suggest a pronounced admixture bias in Polynesians toward more Melanesian men than women, perhaps as a result of matrilocal residence in the ancestral Polynesian society. Although dating methods are consistent with somewhat similar entries of NRY/mtDNA haplogroups into Polynesia, haplotype sharing suggests an earlier appearance of Melanesian haplogroups than those from Asia. Surprisingly, we identified gradients in the frequency distribution of some NRY/mtDNA haplogroups across Polynesia and a gradual west-to-east decrease of overall NRY/mtDNA diversity, not only providing evidence for a west-to-east direction of Polynesian settlements but also suggesting that Pacific voyaging was regular rather than haphazard. We also demonstrate that Fiji played a pivotal role in the history of Polynesia: humans probably first migrated to Fiji, and subsequent settlement of Polynesia probably came from Fiji.