PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Effectiveness of removals of the invasive lionfish: how many dives are needed to deplete a reef?
items: Tartrazine induces structural and functional aberrations and genotoxic effects in vivo
items: Retrospective observation of drug susceptibility of Candida strains in the years 1999, 2004, and 2015
items: Inhibition of calcineurin by FK506 stimulates germinal vesicle breakdown of mouse oocytes in hypoxanthine-supplemented medium
items: Eotaria citrica, sp. nov., a new stem otariid from the “Topanga” formation of Southern California
items: Genetic diversity and differentiation in reef-building Millepora species, as revealed by cross-species amplification of fifteen novel microsatellite loci
items: Using visuo-kinetic virtual reality to induce illusory spinal movement: the MoOVi Illusion
items: Making inference from wildlife collision data: inferring predator absence from prey strikes
items: Gait changes in a line of mice artificially selected for longer limbs
items: Seven new species of Night Frogs (Anura, Nyctibatrachidae) from the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of India, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms

Effectiveness of removals of the invasive lionfish: how many dives are needed to deplete a reef?
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Introduced Indo-Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) have spread throughout the greater Caribbean and are associated with a number of negative impacts on reef ecosystems. Human interventions, in the form of culling activities, are becoming common to reduce their numbers and mitigate the negative effects associated with the invasion. However, marine managers must often decide how to best allocate limited resources. Previous work has identified the population size thresholds needed to limit the negative impacts of lionfish. Here we develop a framework that allows managers to predict the removal effort required to achieve specific targets (represented as the percent of lionfish remaining on the reef). We found an important trade-off between time spent removing and achieving an increasingly smaller lionfish density. The model used in our suggested framework requires relatively little data to parameterize, allowing its use with already existing data, permitting managers to tailor their culling strategy to maximize efficiency and rate of success.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Paolo Usseglio
creator: Jason D. Selwyn
creator: Alan M. Downey-Wall
creator: J. Derek Hogan
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3043
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Usseglio et al.
abstract: Introduced Indo-Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) have spread throughout the greater Caribbean and are associated with a number of negative impacts on reef ecosystems. Human interventions, in the form of culling activities, are becoming common to reduce their numbers and mitigate the negative effects associated with the invasion. However, marine managers must often decide how to best allocate limited resources. Previous work has identified the population size thresholds needed to limit the negative impacts of lionfish. Here we develop a framework that allows managers to predict the removal effort required to achieve specific targets (represented as the percent of lionfish remaining on the reef). We found an important trade-off between time spent removing and achieving an increasingly smaller lionfish density. The model used in our suggested framework requires relatively little data to parameterize, allowing its use with already existing data, permitting managers to tailor their culling strategy to maximize efficiency and rate of success.
bibliographic citation: Usseglio et al. (2017) Effectiveness of removals of the invasive lionfish: how many dives are needed to deplete a reef?. PeerJ 5:e3043 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3043
date submitted: 2016-04-26
date accepted: 2017-01-28
issued: 2017-02-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Usseglio
  given name: Paolo
author list: Agent
  family name: Selwyn
  given name: Jason D.
author list: Agent
  family name: Downey-Wall
  given name: Alan M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hogan
  given name: J. Derek
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3043
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-23
copyright: ©2017 Usseglio et al.
attribution name: Usseglio et al.

Tartrazine induces structural and functional aberrations and genotoxic effects in vivo
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Tartrazine is a synthetic organic azo dye widely used in food and pharmaceutical products. The current study aimed to evaluate the possible adverse effect of this coloring food additive on renal and hepatic structures and functions. Also, the genotoxic potential of tartrazine on white blood cells was investigated using comet assay. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were grouped into two groups of 10 each, control- and tartrazine-treated groups. The control group was administered orally with water alone. The experimental group was administered orally with tartrazine (7.5 mg/kg, b.wt.). Our results showed a marked increase in the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, urea, uric acid, creatinine, MDA and NO, and a decreased level of total antioxidants in the serum of rats dosed with tartrazine compared to controls. On the other hand, administration of tartrazine was associated with severe histopathological and cellular alterations of rat liver and kidney tissues and induced DNA damage in leucocytes as detected by comet assay. Taken together, the results showed that tartrazine intake may lead to adverse health effects.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Latifa Khayyat
creator: Amina Essawy
creator: Jehan Sorour
creator: Ahmed Soffar
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Zoology
subject: Histology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3041
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Khayyat et al.
abstract: Tartrazine is a synthetic organic azo dye widely used in food and pharmaceutical products. The current study aimed to evaluate the possible adverse effect of this coloring food additive on renal and hepatic structures and functions. Also, the genotoxic potential of tartrazine on white blood cells was investigated using comet assay. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were grouped into two groups of 10 each, control- and tartrazine-treated groups. The control group was administered orally with water alone. The experimental group was administered orally with tartrazine (7.5 mg/kg, b.wt.). Our results showed a marked increase in the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, urea, uric acid, creatinine, MDA and NO, and a decreased level of total antioxidants in the serum of rats dosed with tartrazine compared to controls. On the other hand, administration of tartrazine was associated with severe histopathological and cellular alterations of rat liver and kidney tissues and induced DNA damage in leucocytes as detected by comet assay. Taken together, the results showed that tartrazine intake may lead to adverse health effects.
bibliographic citation: Khayyat et al. (2017) Tartrazine induces structural and functional aberrations and genotoxic effects in vivo. PeerJ 5:e3041 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3041
date submitted: 2016-12-23
date accepted: 2017-01-28
issued: 2017-02-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Khayyat
  given name: Latifa
author list: Agent
  family name: Essawy
  given name: Amina
author list: Agent
  family name: Sorour
  given name: Jehan
author list: Agent
  family name: Soffar
  given name: Ahmed
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3041
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-23
copyright: ©2017 Khayyat et al.
attribution name: Khayyat et al.

Retrospective observation of drug susceptibility of Candida strains in the years 1999, 2004, and 2015
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Introduction There is much literature devoted to the problem of drug resistance and decreased susceptibility of fungi to commonly used antifungals. Aim To analyze drug susceptibility of Candida albicans and non-Candida albicans strains isolated from the hands of people without any symptoms of disease over a 16-year period. Materials and Methods The study included a total of 1,274 Candida-type strains isolated from the hands of people without any symptoms of disease, including: in 1999, 432 strains; in 2004, 368; and in 2015, 454 strains. Biological monitoring of hand surface contamination was performed using the Count-TactTM applicator with Count-Tact plates (bioMerieux). Drug susceptibility was evaluated using FUNGITEST®. Results In 1999, the most strains showed resistance to fluconazole (53.2%), in 2004 to itraconazole (52.9%), and in 2015 to fluconazole (85.8%). Resistance to more than one drug was 35.8% in 1999, 64.7% in 2004, and 92% in 2015. Mean resistance to azole antifungals significantly increased from 98 ± 39.7 strains in 1999 to 118.3 ± 29.6 in 2015 (p < 0.001). In 1999, the most strains showed resistance to fluconazole (50.6%), in 2004 to itraconazole (52.9%), and in 2015 to fluconazole (44.9%). Resistance to more than one drug was 52.9% in 1999, 64.3% in 2004, and 88.1% in 2015. Mean resistance to azole antifungals significantly increased from a mean of 76 ± 9.7 strains in 1999, to 95.3 ± 24.2 in 2004, and to 97.3 ± 16.6 in 2015 (p < 0.001). Conclusions We showed increased C. albicans and non-Candida albicans strain resistance to commonly used antifungal chemotherapeutics, mainly imidazole. We found a clear rise in susceptibility of C. albicans and non-Candida albicans strains to several studied antifungals.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Cecylia Łukaszuk
creator: Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak
creator: Wojciech Kułak
subject: Microbiology
subject: Mycology
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3038
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Łukaszuk et al.
abstract: Introduction There is much literature devoted to the problem of drug resistance and decreased susceptibility of fungi to commonly used antifungals. Aim To analyze drug susceptibility of Candida albicans and non-Candida albicans strains isolated from the hands of people without any symptoms of disease over a 16-year period. Materials and Methods The study included a total of 1,274 Candida-type strains isolated from the hands of people without any symptoms of disease, including: in 1999, 432 strains; in 2004, 368; and in 2015, 454 strains. Biological monitoring of hand surface contamination was performed using the Count-TactTM applicator with Count-Tact plates (bioMerieux). Drug susceptibility was evaluated using FUNGITEST®. Results In 1999, the most strains showed resistance to fluconazole (53.2%), in 2004 to itraconazole (52.9%), and in 2015 to fluconazole (85.8%). Resistance to more than one drug was 35.8% in 1999, 64.7% in 2004, and 92% in 2015. Mean resistance to azole antifungals significantly increased from 98 ± 39.7 strains in 1999 to 118.3 ± 29.6 in 2015 (p < 0.001). In 1999, the most strains showed resistance to fluconazole (50.6%), in 2004 to itraconazole (52.9%), and in 2015 to fluconazole (44.9%). Resistance to more than one drug was 52.9% in 1999, 64.3% in 2004, and 88.1% in 2015. Mean resistance to azole antifungals significantly increased from a mean of 76 ± 9.7 strains in 1999, to 95.3 ± 24.2 in 2004, and to 97.3 ± 16.6 in 2015 (p < 0.001). Conclusions We showed increased C. albicans and non-Candida albicans strain resistance to commonly used antifungal chemotherapeutics, mainly imidazole. We found a clear rise in susceptibility of C. albicans and non-Candida albicans strains to several studied antifungals.
bibliographic citation: Łukaszuk et al. (2017) Retrospective observation of drug susceptibility of Candida strains in the years 1999, 2004, and 2015. PeerJ 5:e3038 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3038
date submitted: 2016-06-18
date accepted: 2017-01-27
issued: 2017-02-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Łukaszuk
  given name: Cecylia
author list: Agent
  family name: Krajewska-Kułak
  given name: Elżbieta
author list: Agent
  family name: Kułak
  given name: Wojciech
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3038
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-23
copyright: ©2017 Łukaszuk et al.
attribution name: Łukaszuk et al.

Inhibition of calcineurin by FK506 stimulates germinal vesicle breakdown of mouse oocytes in hypoxanthine-supplemented medium
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Calcineurin (CN) is a serine/threonine phosphatase which plays important roles in meiosis maturation in invertebrate oocytes; however, the role of CN in mouse oocytes is relatively unexplored. In this study, we examined the expression, localization and functional roles of CN in mouse oocytes and granulosa cells. The RT-PCR results showed that the β isoform of calcineurin A subunit (Cn A) expressed significantly higher than α and γ isoforms, and the expression of Cn Aβ mRNA obviously decreased in oocytes in which germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) occurred, while only B1 of calcineurin B subunit (Cn B) was detected in oocytes and stably expressed during oocytes maturation. The following fluorescence experiment showed that Cn A was mainly located in the nucleus of germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes and gruanlosa cells, and subsequently dispersed into the entire cytoplasm after GVBD. The decline of Cn A in oocytes suggested that it may play an important role in GVBD. To further clarify the role of calcineurin during meiotic maturation, FK506 (a calcineurin inhibitor) was used in the culture medium contained hypoxanthine (HX) which could keep mouse oocytes staying at GV stage. As expected, FK506 could induce a significant elevation of GVBD rate and increase the MPF level of denuded oocytes (DOs). Furthermore, FK506 could also play an induction role of GVBD of oocytes in COCs and follicles, and the process could be counteracted by MAPK kinase inhibitor (U0126). Above all, the results implied that calcineurin might play a crucial role in development of mouse oocytes and MPF and MAPK pathways are involved in this process.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Li Wang
creator: Yan-Hong Zhen
creator: Xiao-Ming Liu
creator: Jing Cao
creator: Yan-Ling Wang
creator: Li-Jun Huo
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Developmental Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3032
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Wang et al.
abstract: Calcineurin (CN) is a serine/threonine phosphatase which plays important roles in meiosis maturation in invertebrate oocytes; however, the role of CN in mouse oocytes is relatively unexplored. In this study, we examined the expression, localization and functional roles of CN in mouse oocytes and granulosa cells. The RT-PCR results showed that the β isoform of calcineurin A subunit (Cn A) expressed significantly higher than α and γ isoforms, and the expression of Cn Aβ mRNA obviously decreased in oocytes in which germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) occurred, while only B1 of calcineurin B subunit (Cn B) was detected in oocytes and stably expressed during oocytes maturation. The following fluorescence experiment showed that Cn A was mainly located in the nucleus of germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes and gruanlosa cells, and subsequently dispersed into the entire cytoplasm after GVBD. The decline of Cn A in oocytes suggested that it may play an important role in GVBD. To further clarify the role of calcineurin during meiotic maturation, FK506 (a calcineurin inhibitor) was used in the culture medium contained hypoxanthine (HX) which could keep mouse oocytes staying at GV stage. As expected, FK506 could induce a significant elevation of GVBD rate and increase the MPF level of denuded oocytes (DOs). Furthermore, FK506 could also play an induction role of GVBD of oocytes in COCs and follicles, and the process could be counteracted by MAPK kinase inhibitor (U0126). Above all, the results implied that calcineurin might play a crucial role in development of mouse oocytes and MPF and MAPK pathways are involved in this process.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2017) Inhibition of calcineurin by FK506 stimulates germinal vesicle breakdown of mouse oocytes in hypoxanthine-supplemented medium. PeerJ 5:e3032 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3032
date submitted: 2016-10-17
date accepted: 2017-01-26
issued: 2017-02-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Li
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhen
  given name: Yan-Hong
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Xiao-Ming
author list: Agent
  family name: Cao
  given name: Jing
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yan-Ling
author list: Agent
  family name: Huo
  given name: Li-Jun
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3032
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-23
copyright: ©2017 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

Eotaria citrica, sp. nov., a new stem otariid from the “Topanga” formation of Southern California
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: A new taxon of stem otariid, Eotaria citrica sp. nov., is described from the upper Burdigalian to lower Langhian “Topanga” formation of Orange County, California. The new species is described from mandibular and dental remains that show a unique combination of plesiomorphic and derived characters. Specifically, it is characterized by having trenchant and prominent paraconid cusps in p3–m1, lingual cingula of p2–4 with faint crenulations, premolars and molars with vestigial metaconid, bilobed root of m2 and a genial tuberosity located under p3. Furthermore, additional material of the contemporaneous Eotaria crypta is described, providing new information on the morphology of this taxon. Both species of Eotaria represent the earliest stem otariids, reinforcing the hypothesis that the group originated in the north Eastern Pacific Region. At present, the “Topanga” Fm. pinniped fauna includes Eotaria citrica, Eotaria crypta, the desmatophocid Allodesmus sp., the odobenids Neotherium sp., Pelagiarctos sp. and includes the oldest records of crown pinnipeds in California. Overall this pinniped fauna is similar to the nearly contemporaneous Sharktooth Hill bonebed. However, unambiguous records of Eotaria are still missing from Sharktooth Hill. This absence may be due to taphonomic or paleoenvironmental factors. The new “Topanga” record presented here was integrated into an overview of the late Oligocene through early Pleistocene pinniped faunas of Southern California. The results show an overall increase in body size over time until the Pleistocene. Furthermore, desmatophocids were the largest pinnipeds during the middle Miocene, but were extinct by the beginning of the late Miocene. Odobenids diversified and became the dominant pinnipeds in late Miocene through Pleistocene assemblages, usually approaching or exceeding 3 m in body length, while otariids remained as the smallest taxa. This pattern contrasts with modern assemblages, in which the phocid Mirounga angustirostris i…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jorge Velez-Juarbe
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Paleontology
subject: Taxonomy
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3022
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Velez-Juarbe
abstract: A new taxon of stem otariid, Eotaria citrica sp. nov., is described from the upper Burdigalian to lower Langhian “Topanga” formation of Orange County, California. The new species is described from mandibular and dental remains that show a unique combination of plesiomorphic and derived characters. Specifically, it is characterized by having trenchant and prominent paraconid cusps in p3–m1, lingual cingula of p2–4 with faint crenulations, premolars and molars with vestigial metaconid, bilobed root of m2 and a genial tuberosity located under p3. Furthermore, additional material of the contemporaneous Eotaria crypta is described, providing new information on the morphology of this taxon. Both species of Eotaria represent the earliest stem otariids, reinforcing the hypothesis that the group originated in the north Eastern Pacific Region. At present, the “Topanga” Fm. pinniped fauna includes Eotaria citrica, Eotaria crypta, the desmatophocid Allodesmus sp., the odobenids Neotherium sp., Pelagiarctos sp. and includes the oldest records of crown pinnipeds in California. Overall this pinniped fauna is similar to the nearly contemporaneous Sharktooth Hill bonebed. However, unambiguous records of Eotaria are still missing from Sharktooth Hill. This absence may be due to taphonomic or paleoenvironmental factors. The new “Topanga” record presented here was integrated into an overview of the late Oligocene through early Pleistocene pinniped faunas of Southern California. The results show an overall increase in body size over time until the Pleistocene. Furthermore, desmatophocids were the largest pinnipeds during the middle Miocene, but were extinct by the beginning of the late Miocene. Odobenids diversified and became the dominant pinnipeds in late Miocene through Pleistocene assemblages, usually approaching or exceeding 3 m in body length, while otariids remained as the smallest taxa. This pattern contrasts with modern assemblages, in which the phocid Mirounga angustirostris i…
bibliographic citation: Velez-Juarbe (2017) Eotaria citrica, sp. nov., a new stem otariid from the “Topanga” formation of Southern California. PeerJ 5:e3022 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3022
date submitted: 2016-08-19
date accepted: 2017-01-24
issued: 2017-02-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Velez-Juarbe
  given name: Jorge
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3022
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-23
copyright: © 2017 Velez-Juarbe
attribution name: Velez-Juarbe

Genetic diversity and differentiation in reef-building Millepora species, as revealed by cross-species amplification of fifteen novel microsatellite loci
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Quantifying the genetic diversity in natural populations is crucial to address ecological and evolutionary questions. Despite recent advances in whole-genome sequencing, microsatellite markers have remained one of the most powerful tools for a myriad of population genetic approaches. Here, we used the 454 sequencing technique to develop microsatellite loci in the fire coral Millepora platyphylla, an important reef-builder of Indo-Pacific reefs. We tested the cross-species amplification of these loci in five other species of the genus Millepora and analysed its success in correlation with the genetic distances between species using mitochondrial 16S sequences. We succeeded in discovering fifteen microsatellite loci in our target species M. platyphylla, among which twelve were polymorphic with 2–13 alleles and a mean observed heterozygosity of 0.411. Cross-species amplification in the five other Millepora species revealed a high probability of amplification success (71%) and polymorphism (59%) of the loci. Our results show no evidence of decreased heterozygosity with increasing genetic distance. However, only one locus enabled measures of genetic diversity in the Caribbean species M. complanata due to high proportions of null alleles for most of the microsatellites. This result indicates that our novel markers may only be useful for the Indo-Pacific species of Millepora. Measures of genetic diversity revealed significant linkage disequilibrium, moderate levels of observed heterozygosity (0.323–0.496) and heterozygote deficiencies for the Indo-Pacific species. The accessibility to new polymorphic microsatellite markers for hydrozoan Millepora species creates new opportunities for future research on processes driving the complexity of their colonisation success on many Indo-Pacific reefs.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Caroline E. Dubé
creator: Serge Planes
creator: Yuxiang Zhou
creator: Véronique Berteaux-Lecellier
creator: Emilie Boissin
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Genetics
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2936
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Dubé et al.
abstract: Quantifying the genetic diversity in natural populations is crucial to address ecological and evolutionary questions. Despite recent advances in whole-genome sequencing, microsatellite markers have remained one of the most powerful tools for a myriad of population genetic approaches. Here, we used the 454 sequencing technique to develop microsatellite loci in the fire coral Millepora platyphylla, an important reef-builder of Indo-Pacific reefs. We tested the cross-species amplification of these loci in five other species of the genus Millepora and analysed its success in correlation with the genetic distances between species using mitochondrial 16S sequences. We succeeded in discovering fifteen microsatellite loci in our target species M. platyphylla, among which twelve were polymorphic with 2–13 alleles and a mean observed heterozygosity of 0.411. Cross-species amplification in the five other Millepora species revealed a high probability of amplification success (71%) and polymorphism (59%) of the loci. Our results show no evidence of decreased heterozygosity with increasing genetic distance. However, only one locus enabled measures of genetic diversity in the Caribbean species M. complanata due to high proportions of null alleles for most of the microsatellites. This result indicates that our novel markers may only be useful for the Indo-Pacific species of Millepora. Measures of genetic diversity revealed significant linkage disequilibrium, moderate levels of observed heterozygosity (0.323–0.496) and heterozygote deficiencies for the Indo-Pacific species. The accessibility to new polymorphic microsatellite markers for hydrozoan Millepora species creates new opportunities for future research on processes driving the complexity of their colonisation success on many Indo-Pacific reefs.
bibliographic citation: Dubé et al. (2017) Genetic diversity and differentiation in reef-building Millepora species, as revealed by cross-species amplification of fifteen novel microsatellite loci. PeerJ 5:e2936 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2936
date submitted: 2016-08-10
date accepted: 2016-12-22
issued: 2017-02-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Dubé
  given name: Caroline E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Planes
  given name: Serge
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Yuxiang
author list: Agent
  family name: Berteaux-Lecellier
  given name: Véronique
author list: Agent
  family name: Boissin
  given name: Emilie
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2936
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-23
copyright: ©2017 Dubé et al.
attribution name: Dubé et al.

Using visuo-kinetic virtual reality to induce illusory spinal movement: the MoOVi Illusion
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Illusions that alter perception of the body provide novel opportunities to target brain-based contributions to problems such as persistent pain. One example of this, mirror therapy, uses vision to augment perceived movement of a painful limb to treat pain. Since mirrors can’t be used to induce augmented neck or other spinal movement, we aimed to test whether such an illusion could be achieved using virtual reality, in advance of testing its potential therapeutic benefit. We hypothesised that perceived head rotation would depend on visually suggested movement. Method In a within-subjects repeated measures experiment, 24 healthy volunteers performed neck movements to 50o of rotation, while a virtual reality system delivered corresponding visual feedback that was offset by a factor of 50%–200%—the Motor Offset Visual Illusion (MoOVi)—thus simulating more or less movement than that actually occurring. At 50o of real-world head rotation, participants pointed in the direction that they perceived they were facing. The discrepancy between actual and perceived direction was measured and compared between conditions. The impact of including multisensory (auditory and visual) feedback, the presence of a virtual body reference, and the use of 360o immersive virtual reality with and without three-dimensional properties, was also investigated. Results Perception of head movement was dependent on visual-kinaesthetic feedback (p = 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.17). That is, altered visual feedback caused a kinaesthetic drift in the direction of the visually suggested movement. The magnitude of the drift was not moderated by secondary variables such as the addition of illusory auditory feedback, the presence of a virtual body reference, or three-dimensionality of the scene. Discussion Virtual reality can be used to augment perceived movement and body position, such that one can perform a small movement, yet perceive a large one. The MoOVi technique tested here has clear p…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Daniel S. Harvie
creator: Ross T. Smith
creator: Estin V. Hunter
creator: Miles G. Davis
creator: Michele Sterling
creator: G. Lorimer Moseley
subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Management
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Human-Computer Interaction
subject: Neuroscience
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3023
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Harvie et al.
abstract: Background Illusions that alter perception of the body provide novel opportunities to target brain-based contributions to problems such as persistent pain. One example of this, mirror therapy, uses vision to augment perceived movement of a painful limb to treat pain. Since mirrors can’t be used to induce augmented neck or other spinal movement, we aimed to test whether such an illusion could be achieved using virtual reality, in advance of testing its potential therapeutic benefit. We hypothesised that perceived head rotation would depend on visually suggested movement. Method In a within-subjects repeated measures experiment, 24 healthy volunteers performed neck movements to 50o of rotation, while a virtual reality system delivered corresponding visual feedback that was offset by a factor of 50%–200%—the Motor Offset Visual Illusion (MoOVi)—thus simulating more or less movement than that actually occurring. At 50o of real-world head rotation, participants pointed in the direction that they perceived they were facing. The discrepancy between actual and perceived direction was measured and compared between conditions. The impact of including multisensory (auditory and visual) feedback, the presence of a virtual body reference, and the use of 360o immersive virtual reality with and without three-dimensional properties, was also investigated. Results Perception of head movement was dependent on visual-kinaesthetic feedback (p = 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.17). That is, altered visual feedback caused a kinaesthetic drift in the direction of the visually suggested movement. The magnitude of the drift was not moderated by secondary variables such as the addition of illusory auditory feedback, the presence of a virtual body reference, or three-dimensionality of the scene. Discussion Virtual reality can be used to augment perceived movement and body position, such that one can perform a small movement, yet perceive a large one. The MoOVi technique tested here has clear p…
bibliographic citation: Harvie et al. (2017) Using visuo-kinetic virtual reality to induce illusory spinal movement: the MoOVi Illusion. PeerJ 5:e3023 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3023
date submitted: 2016-11-10
date accepted: 2017-01-24
issued: 2017-02-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Harvie
  given name: Daniel S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Smith
  given name: Ross T.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hunter
  given name: Estin V.
author list: Agent
  family name: Davis
  given name: Miles G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Sterling
  given name: Michele
author list: Agent
  family name: Moseley
  given name: G. Lorimer
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3023
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-22
copyright: ©2017 Harvie et al.
attribution name: Harvie et al.

Making inference from wildlife collision data: inferring predator absence from prey strikes
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Wildlife collision data are ubiquitous, though challenging for making ecological inference due to typically irreducible uncertainty relating to the sampling process. We illustrate a new approach that is useful for generating inference from predator data arising from wildlife collisions. By simply conditioning on a second prey species sampled via the same collision process, and by using a biologically realistic numerical response functions, we can produce a coherent numerical response relationship between predator and prey. This relationship can then be used to make inference on the population size of the predator species, including the probability of extinction. The statistical conditioning enables us to account for unmeasured variation in factors influencing the runway strike incidence for individual airports and to enable valid comparisons. A practical application of the approach for testing hypotheses about the distribution and abundance of a predator species is illustrated using the hypothesized red fox incursion into Tasmania, Australia. We estimate that conditional on the numerical response between fox and lagomorph runway strikes on mainland Australia, the predictive probability of observing no runway strikes of foxes in Tasmania after observing 15 lagomorph strikes is 0.001. We conclude there is enough evidence to safely reject the null hypothesis that there is a widespread red fox population in Tasmania at a population density consistent with prey availability. The method is novel and has potential wider application.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Peter Caley
creator: Geoffrey R. Hosack
creator: Simon C. Barry
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Mathematical Biology
subject: Statistics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3014
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Caley et al.
abstract: Wildlife collision data are ubiquitous, though challenging for making ecological inference due to typically irreducible uncertainty relating to the sampling process. We illustrate a new approach that is useful for generating inference from predator data arising from wildlife collisions. By simply conditioning on a second prey species sampled via the same collision process, and by using a biologically realistic numerical response functions, we can produce a coherent numerical response relationship between predator and prey. This relationship can then be used to make inference on the population size of the predator species, including the probability of extinction. The statistical conditioning enables us to account for unmeasured variation in factors influencing the runway strike incidence for individual airports and to enable valid comparisons. A practical application of the approach for testing hypotheses about the distribution and abundance of a predator species is illustrated using the hypothesized red fox incursion into Tasmania, Australia. We estimate that conditional on the numerical response between fox and lagomorph runway strikes on mainland Australia, the predictive probability of observing no runway strikes of foxes in Tasmania after observing 15 lagomorph strikes is 0.001. We conclude there is enough evidence to safely reject the null hypothesis that there is a widespread red fox population in Tasmania at a population density consistent with prey availability. The method is novel and has potential wider application.
bibliographic citation: Caley et al. (2017) Making inference from wildlife collision data: inferring predator absence from prey strikes. PeerJ 5:e3014 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3014
date submitted: 2016-11-01
date accepted: 2017-01-23
issued: 2017-02-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Caley
  given name: Peter
author list: Agent
  family name: Hosack
  given name: Geoffrey R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Barry
  given name: Simon C.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3014
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-22
copyright: ©2017 Caley et al.
attribution name: Caley et al.

Gait changes in a line of mice artificially selected for longer limbs
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: In legged terrestrial locomotion, the duration of stance phase, i.e., when limbs are in contact with the substrate, is positively correlated with limb length, and negatively correlated with the metabolic cost of transport. These relationships are well documented at the interspecific level, across a broad range of body sizes and travel speeds. However, such relationships are harder to evaluate within species (i.e., where natural selection operates), largely for practical reasons, including low population variance in limb length, and the presence of confounding factors such as body mass, or training. Here, we compared spatiotemporal kinematics of gait in Longshanks, a long-legged mouse line created through artificial selection, and in random-bred, mass-matched Control mice raised under identical conditions. We used a gait treadmill to test the hypothesis that Longshanks have longer stance phases and stride lengths, and decreased stride frequencies in both fore- and hind limbs, compared with Controls. Our results indicate that gait differs significantly between the two groups. Specifically, and as hypothesized, stance duration and stride length are 8–10% greater in Longshanks, while stride frequency is 8% lower than in Controls. However, there was no difference in the touch-down timing and sequence of the paws between the two lines. Taken together, these data suggest that, for a given speed, Longshanks mice take significantly fewer, longer steps to cover the same distance or running time compared to Controls, with important implications for other measures of variation among individuals in whole-organism performance, such as the metabolic cost of transport.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Leah M. Sparrow
creator: Emily Pellatt
creator: Sabrina S. Yu
creator: David A. Raichlen
creator: Herman Pontzer
creator: Campbell Rolian
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Zoology
subject: Anatomy and Physiology
subject: Kinesiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3008
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Sparrow et al.
abstract: In legged terrestrial locomotion, the duration of stance phase, i.e., when limbs are in contact with the substrate, is positively correlated with limb length, and negatively correlated with the metabolic cost of transport. These relationships are well documented at the interspecific level, across a broad range of body sizes and travel speeds. However, such relationships are harder to evaluate within species (i.e., where natural selection operates), largely for practical reasons, including low population variance in limb length, and the presence of confounding factors such as body mass, or training. Here, we compared spatiotemporal kinematics of gait in Longshanks, a long-legged mouse line created through artificial selection, and in random-bred, mass-matched Control mice raised under identical conditions. We used a gait treadmill to test the hypothesis that Longshanks have longer stance phases and stride lengths, and decreased stride frequencies in both fore- and hind limbs, compared with Controls. Our results indicate that gait differs significantly between the two groups. Specifically, and as hypothesized, stance duration and stride length are 8–10% greater in Longshanks, while stride frequency is 8% lower than in Controls. However, there was no difference in the touch-down timing and sequence of the paws between the two lines. Taken together, these data suggest that, for a given speed, Longshanks mice take significantly fewer, longer steps to cover the same distance or running time compared to Controls, with important implications for other measures of variation among individuals in whole-organism performance, such as the metabolic cost of transport.
bibliographic citation: Sparrow et al. (2017) Gait changes in a line of mice artificially selected for longer limbs. PeerJ 5:e3008 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3008
date submitted: 2016-07-20
date accepted: 2017-01-20
issued: 2017-02-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sparrow
  given name: Leah M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Pellatt
  given name: Emily
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Sabrina S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Raichlen
  given name: David A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Pontzer
  given name: Herman
author list: Agent
  family name: Rolian
  given name: Campbell
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3008
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-22
copyright: ©2017 Sparrow et al.
attribution name: Sparrow et al.

Seven new species of Night Frogs (Anura, Nyctibatrachidae) from the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of India, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The Night Frog genus Nyctibatrachus (Family Nyctibatrachidae) represents an endemic anuran lineage of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India. Until now, it included 28 recognised species, of which more than half were described recently over the last five years. Our amphibian explorations have further revealed the presence of undescribed species of Nights Frogs in the southern Western Ghats. Based on integrated molecular, morphological and bioacoustic evidence, seven new species are formally described here as Nyctibatrachus athirappillyensis sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus manalari sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus radcliffei sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus robinmoorei sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus sabarimalai sp. nov. and Nyctibatrachus webilla sp. nov., thereby bringing the total number of valid Nyctibatrachus species to 35 and increasing the former diversity estimates by a quarter. Detailed morphological descriptions, comparisons with other members of the genus, natural history notes, and genetic relationships inferred from phylogenetic analyses of a mitochondrial dataset are presented for all the new species. Additionally, characteristics of male advertisement calls are described for four new and three previously known species. Among the new species, six are currently known to be geographically restricted to low and mid elevation regions south of Palghat gap in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and one is probably endemic to high-elevation mountain streams slightly northward of the gap in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, four new species are also among the smallest known Indian frogs. Hence, our discovery of several new species, particularly of easily overlooked miniaturized forms, reiterates that the known amphibian diversity of the Western Ghats of India still remains underestimated.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Sonali Garg
creator: Robin Suyesh
creator: Sandeep Sukesan
creator: SD Biju
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3007
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Garg et al.
abstract: The Night Frog genus Nyctibatrachus (Family Nyctibatrachidae) represents an endemic anuran lineage of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India. Until now, it included 28 recognised species, of which more than half were described recently over the last five years. Our amphibian explorations have further revealed the presence of undescribed species of Nights Frogs in the southern Western Ghats. Based on integrated molecular, morphological and bioacoustic evidence, seven new species are formally described here as Nyctibatrachus athirappillyensis sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus manalari sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus radcliffei sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus robinmoorei sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus sabarimalai sp. nov. and Nyctibatrachus webilla sp. nov., thereby bringing the total number of valid Nyctibatrachus species to 35 and increasing the former diversity estimates by a quarter. Detailed morphological descriptions, comparisons with other members of the genus, natural history notes, and genetic relationships inferred from phylogenetic analyses of a mitochondrial dataset are presented for all the new species. Additionally, characteristics of male advertisement calls are described for four new and three previously known species. Among the new species, six are currently known to be geographically restricted to low and mid elevation regions south of Palghat gap in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and one is probably endemic to high-elevation mountain streams slightly northward of the gap in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, four new species are also among the smallest known Indian frogs. Hence, our discovery of several new species, particularly of easily overlooked miniaturized forms, reiterates that the known amphibian diversity of the Western Ghats of India still remains underestimated.
bibliographic citation: Garg et al. (2017) Seven new species of Night Frogs (Anura, Nyctibatrachidae) from the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of India, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms. PeerJ 5:e3007 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3007
date submitted: 2016-10-06
date accepted: 2017-01-20
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Garg
  given name: Sonali
author list: Agent
  family name: Suyesh
  given name: Robin
author list: Agent
  family name: Sukesan
  given name: Sandeep
author list: Agent
  family name: Biju
  given name: SD
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3007
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: ©2017 Garg et al.
attribution name: Garg et al.

PeerJ
type: Periodical
uri: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359