According to the global latitudinal diversity gradient, a decrease in animal and plant species richness exists from the tropics towards higher latitudes. The aim of this study was to describe the latitudinal distribution patterns of Chilean continental flora and delineate biogeographic regions along a 4270-km north-south gradient. We reviewed plant lists for each of the 39 parallels of continental Chile to build a database of the geographical distribution of vascular plant species comprising 184 families, 957 genera and 3787 species, which corresponded to 100%, 94.9% and 74.2% of the richness previously defined for Chile, respectively. Using this latitudinal presence-absence species matrix, we identified areas with high plant richness and endemism and performed a Cluster analysis using Jaccard index to delineate biogeographic regions. This study found that richness at family, genus and species levels follow a unimodal 4270-km latitudinal distribution curve, with a concentration of richness in central Chile (31-42°S). The 37th parallel south (central Chile) presented the highest richness for all taxonomic levels and in specific zones the endemism (22-37°S) was especially high.This unimodal pattern contrasts the global latitudinal diversity gradient shown by other studies in the Northern hemisphere. Seven floristic regions were identified in this latitudinal gradient: tropical (18-22°S), north Mediterranean (23-28°S), central Mediterranean (29-32°S), south Mediterranean (33-37°S), north temperate (38-42°S), south temperate (43-52°S) and Austral (53-56°S). This regionalization coincides with previous bioclimatic classifications and illustrates the high heterogeneity of the biodiversity in Chile and the need for a reconsideration of governmental conservation strategies to protect this diversity throughout Chile.

Efecto de un incendio forestal causado por un turista sobre bosques de Nothofagus pumilio en la reserva de la biosfera Torres del Paine, Chile (Patagonia Austral) SUMMARY This study describes the impact of a wildfire caused by a tourist at Torres del Paine Biosphere Reserve in 2005, which destroyed approximately 2,000 ha of forests. Changes on biodiversity attributes of Nothofagus pumilio stands including structure, floristic composition and regeneration, are shown. We compared three plot groups having similar site and structure: Cordón Masle burned plots (CMBP); Cordón Masle unburned plots (CMUP), adjacent to the first ones; and Cerro Paine unburned plots (CPUP), outside the fire perimeter. Data was analyzed using univariate (Mann-Whitney) and multivariate (MRPP and ISA) non-parametric analysis. In CMBP, the fire reduced in average 91.7 % of the tree density and 70.9 % of the basal area. In the unburned plots the average of seedling was 23,625 and 22,750 ha-1 in CPUP and CMUP respectively, whereas in burned ones it was only 1,125 ha-1 in CMBP. Canopy layer collapsed and species richness and cover on ground increased significantly in burned plots. The average of exotics increased from 1.5 and 0.6 in CPUP and CMUP respectively to 11.9 in CMBP. Tree mortality, lower regeneration, biological invasion and broken canopy-ground balance in burned stands, are altering the successional pathways of forests, making difficult the forest regeneration and restoration efforts. Based on this information, we propose managers to encourage efforts in fire prevention and to incorporate a database on biodiversity indicators for management plans, in order to know more about the ecological integrity of ecosystems and the impacts provoked by recreation. RESUMEN Se describe el impacto de un incendio causado por un turista en la reserva de la biosfera Torres del Paine en el 2005 que destruyó aproximadamente 2.000 ha de bosques. Se muestran los cambios ocurridos en atributos de bosques de Nothofagus pumilio incluyendo estructura, regeneración y composición florística. Se comparan tres grupos de parcelas con sitio y estructura semejantes: parcelas incendiadas (CMBP) y parcelas adyacentes no incendiadas (CMUP) del Cordón Masle, y parcelas no incendiadas de Cerro Paine (CPUP), fuera del perímetro del incendio. Se utilizó análisis no paramétricos univariados (Mann-Whitney) y multivariados (MRPP e ISA). En los sitios incendiados, el fuego redujo en promedio el 91,7 % de la densidad arbórea y el 70,9 % del área basal. El promedio de plántulas fue de 23.625 y 22.750 ha-1 en CPUP y CMUP, respectivamente, mientras que en CMBP se redujo a 1.125 ha-1. El dosel colapsó y la cobertura y riqueza de especies de sotobosque incrementó significativamente en las parcelas incendiadas. El promedio de exóticas incrementó de 1,5 y 0,7 especies en CPUP y CMUP, respectivamente, hasta 11,9 especies en CMBP. La mortalidad de árboles, escasa regeneración, invasión biológica y el colapso del dosel, están alterando las vías sucesionales de los bosques reduciendo su ca...

We tested how sediment trapping by hydroelectric dams affects tropical estuaries by comparing two dammed and two undammed rivers on Mexico’s Pacific coast. We found that dams demonstrably affected the stability and productivity of the estuaries. The two rivers dammed for hydroelectricity had a rapid coastal recession (between 7.9 and 21.5 ha year−1) in what should otherwise be an accretional coastline. The economic consequences of this dam-induced coastal erosion include loss of habitat for fisheries, loss of coastal protection, release of carbon sequestered in coastal sediments, loss of biodiversity, and the decline of estuarine livelihoods. We estimate that the cost of the environmental damages a dam can cause in the lower part of basin almost doubles the purported benefits of emission reductions from hydroelectric generation.

BackgroundPristane-treated mice chronically produce high levels of anti-ribonucleoprotein/Smith (anti-Sm/RNP) and other lupus autoantibodies. The present study addressed how these autoantibody levels are maintained over time.MethodsLupus was induced in BALB/c mice using pristane. Naïve B cells, switched memory B cells, switched plasmablasts, and plasma cells were flow-sorted and total IgG and anti-U1A (RNP) autoantibodies were determined with ELISA.ResultsB cells with a switched “memory-like” (CD19+CD138−IgM−IgD−) (sMB) phenotype were increased in pristane-treated mice and expressed higher levels of Toll like receptor 7 (Tlr7) than cells with this phenotype from untreated mice. Flow-sorted sMB cells from pristane-treated mice did not secrete IgG spontaneously, but were hyper-responsive to both synthetic (R848) and natural (apoptotic cells) TLR7 ligands, resulting in increased IgG production in vitro. The flow-sorted sMB cells also could be driven by R848 to produce IgG anti-U1A autoantibodies. Production of IgG was strongly inhibited by both JSH-23 and SB203580, suggesting that the canonical NFκB and p38 MAPK pathways, respectively, contribute to the TLR7 ligand hyper-responsiveness of sMB from pristane-treated mice.ConclusionsThe switched memory B cell subset from pristane-treated mice is expanded and shows an increased propensity to undergo terminal (plasma cell) differentiation in response to synthetic and natural TLR7 ligands. The data suggest that the decreased clearance of apoptotic cells characteristic of pristane-treated mice might help maintain high serum levels of anti-RNP/Sm autoantibodies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0886-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This study describes the floristic composition and morpho-ecological transition of woodlands along a climatic gradient in the southern cold temperate zone of Chilean Patagonia. A total of 256 phytosociological relevés were performed across a 150 km NE-SW transect to record vascular plant species. Classification (cluster analysis) and ordination (principal component analysis) techniques were used to segregate and examine the communities. Biodiversity indicators including richness and abundances of species natives and exotics, importance values, Raunkiaer plant life-forms, diversity indices and indicator species were calculated to describe community attributes. Beta diversity was analysed using the Jaccard index. Additionally, the current anthropogenic disturbances affecting this vegetation are discussed. In total, 11 woodland communities belonging to 3 morpho-ecological groups were segregated: a) meso-hygromorphic woodlands belonging to the Baker basin, mostly composed of deciduous forests containing relatively moderate values of richness and diversity but high richness of exotics, b) hygromorphic woodlands belonging to the southern segment of the Baker basin and along the Pascua basin, composed of evergreen forest containing the relatively highest values of richness and diversity and very low richness of exotics and c) high-Andean dwarf woodlands distributed at high elevations in both basins, composed of deciduous krummholz containing the lowest richness and diversity and no exotics. The replacement of deciduous by evergreen communities at low elevations occurs around the latitude 48°S. Anthropogenic disturbances like logging by rural landowners, overgrazing by livestock and road construction are promoting biological invasions in the Baker basin forests, while the forests in the Pascua basin remain pristine since no human population occurs there. KEYWORDS:Biogeographical transition, southern cold temperate zone, anthropogenic disturbances, pristine forests, Aysén. RESUMENEste estudio describe la composición florística y la transición morfo-ecológica de las comunidades leñosas ocurriendo a través de un gradiente climático en la zona templada fría de la Patagonia chilena. Se establecieron un total de 256 relevamientos fitosociológicos a través de un transecto NE-SO de 150 km para registrar las especies de plantas vasculares. Técnicas de clasificación (análisis de conglomerados) y ordenación (análisis de componentes principales) fueron usadas para segregar y examinar comunidades. Se computaron indicadores de biodiversidad incluyendo riqueza y abundancia de especies nativas y exóticas, valores de importancia, formas de vida de Raunkiaer, índices de diversidad y especies indicadoras para describir atributos comunitarios. La diversidad Beta fue analizada usando el coeficiente de Jaccard. Se discuten también las perturbaciones antropogénicas que actualmente afectan a la vegetación. En total se segregaron 11 comunidades pertenecientes a tres grupos ecológicos: a) comunidades leñosas meso-higromórficas pertenecie...