The Cuban treefrog, Osteopilus septentrionalis, is an invasive species in Florida that may be negatively impacting adult and larval native treefrog species through competition via direct predation. The purpose of this study was to determine the abundance and distribution of O. septentrionalis in urban, semi-urban and natural habitats. The distribution and abundance of native treefrogs within the study area, Hyla cinerea, Hyla femoralis and Hyla squirella, were also estimated and compared to that of O. septentrionalis. Treefrogs were captured using PVC pipes with two internal diameters, 1.9 cm and 4.45 cm, hung on three tree types, Pinus, Quercus and Sabal. Distance to water, time of year and monthly rainfall were also considered as a potential influence of treefrog captures. O. septentrionalis was found in sites with both urban and natural habitats in frequencies far greater than those of native treefrogs. Results indicate that O. septentrionalis are captured more frequently in sites with urban habitat; however recapture rates and estimates of population size indicate that the population sizes of O. septentrionalis may actually be larger at sites with natural habitat. O. septentrionalis are found significantly more frequently in Quercus. H. femoralis and H. squirella were found significantly more frequently in PVC pipes with an internal diameter of 4.45 cm. A weak, although significant, positive correlation was found between distance to water and treefrog abundances for O. septentrionalis and H. squirella. Native treefrogs were found less frequently in PVC pipes that also contained O. septentrionalis; this result is perhaps the most interesting because it may indicate that native treefrogs will avoid habitat or refuges where O. septentrionalis are present. If O. septentrionalis is a real threat to species of treefrogs in Florida, these results should be of concern. Findings suggest that PVC pipes may give biased estimates of treefrog densities. Available refuge, temperature and precipitation all appear to have an effect on how attractive PVC pipes are to treefrogs.

Invasive species introductions are associated with negative economic and environmental impacts, including reductions in native species populations. Successful invasive species populations often grow rapidly and a new food web equilibrium is established. Invasive, predatory northern pike (Esox lucius; hereafter pike) were detected in 2010 in Utah Lake, UT, a highly-degraded ecosystem home to the endemic, endangered June sucker (Chasmistes liorus). Here we test whether pike predation could hinder the restoration efforts of June sucker using the number of June sucker consumed by pike at various population densities as our metric. More specifically, we considered pike density at which the population could consume all June sucker stocked a critical threshold. Currently the number of naturally recruited June sucker is drastically lower than the number stocked. Thus, the metric we used to determine whether the pike population could hinder the June sucker restoration efforts is the number of pike that could consume the number of June sucker stocked. We combined pike growth and foraging observations with an energy-budget, bioenergetics consumption model to quantify lake-wide pike predation on June sucker. We also used an age-structured density dependent population model to estimate the pike population growth trajectory under various mitigation scenarios. Of 125 pike, we found an average pike consumes 0.8-1.0% June sucker and 40% sport fish. According to our bioenergetics model simulations, a population of adult pike at a very high density (60 pike per hectare) has the potential to consume nearly 6 million age-0 June sucker per year, which is likely more June sucker consumed than exist in the environment. In addition, our model suggests that an adult pike density greater than 1.5 pike per hectare has the potential to consume all June sucker stocked annually. Our age-structured population model suggests the pike population will reach equilibrium around 2026 at between 8 and 12 adult pike per hectare with the potential to consume between 0.8 and 1.2 million age-0 June sucker per year, respectively. The growing pike population could hamper restoration efforts and threaten endangered June sucker, a population with a mere 2,000 adults, in jeopardy of extinction. Our findings not only inform pike management efforts, but also highlight the importance of allocating resources toward habitat restoration to provide refuge for juvenile June sucker from predation, preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species, and the need for aquatic invasive species education.

Non-native species are increasing globally, and with this increase, it is likely that there will be new, unique relationships found among non-natives as well as additional impacts on native species. Rats and mongooses have been introduced to islands throughout the world where they impact native species, including birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The coqui frog was introduced to Hawaii in the 1980’s, where there were already abundant rat and mongoose populations. Previous research suggests that the high densities of coqui frogs may provide enough of a new food source for mongooses and rats that their populations would grow larger than they would without coqui frogs, and that this would exacerbate the negative effects that these predators have on native birds. We investigated whether there are relationships between coqui presence, and the local abundance of introduced rats and mongoose on the island of Hawaii. We also investigated at these 12 sites whether there were indirect effects of coquis on bird nest predation rates using camera traps on artificial nests. Finally, we interpret our results in light of an analysis of the stomach contents of mongooses and rats, and data collected from remote cameras monitoring scavengers of dead coqui frogs. We compared abundances of mammals in coqui invaded plots and uninvaded plots. In areas where coquis were present, we found a greater number of mongooses, and less Pacific rats. Both predators consume coquis, but mongooses were more important consumers of live and dead coquis. Shifts in mongoose and rat diets were observed in coqui invaded and uninvaded plots. It may be that coqui frogs are competing with rats because we found more fruit in rat stomachs collected in coqui invaded compared to uninvaded plots. We did not observe any difference in nest predation rates with and without coquis. Our results show that the coqui may serve as novel prey and/or competitors to non-native mammals.

A site within San Timoteo Canyon was revisited, 13-14 years after treatment, to look at long-term effects of Arundo donax removal. The data obtained were used to determine whether A. donax had re-invaded, other non-native species had established the area, or if native species were able to grow in place of the removed A. donax. The previous removals included a combination of grinding large patches of A. donax and then foliar spraying, foliar spraying of uncut plants, and direct spraying of hand cut stems, depending upon the location and size of the plant. The effects of the A. donax removals within San Timoteo Canyon were analyzed in relation to new percent cover of the plant species, other more recent removals, and areas that did no experience removal procedures. The project included the use of data provided by the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) as well as the collection of data from randomized plots to generate plant species percent cover. Plant percent cover data analyzed for this paper had been collected from eight 15 by 15 foot randomly selected plots within an overall project site of 42.3 acres. Additional sites were used to investigate what can happen if A. donax is not removed from an area into which it has been introduced., the short-term effects of A. donax removal methods, and the role the ever-changing characteristics of riparian areas can play in their own restoration. These additional sites included aerial photographs supplied by IERCD of an ecologically similar area, a plot with a more recent A. donax removal date, as well as photographs and data of a site subject to natural recovery. Based on these comparisons it is concluded that the treatment methods used led to a lessened presence of A. donax, and that other invasive species did not grow in its place. Further, as the removal procedures within the project area occurred approximately 13 to 14 years prior, it can be concluded that there is no regrowth of A. donax and that many native species have been able to re-inhabit those areas previously infested by A. donax. The treatment methods used were successful without the need to continually disrupt the habitat and allowed for the habitat to recover naturally once the invasive species had been removed.

As human development occurs in forested areas, forests become fragmented into small islands in a matrix of urban land uses. This study examined the effect of surrounding urban land uses on the native and exotic plant species found on the edges of forest fragments in the Portland, OR metropolitan region.

Swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii, Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is a small invasive fly that is currently threatening Brassica vegetable and oilseed production in the Northeastern U.S. and Canada. Larvae feed on plant meristems, resulting in deformed leaves, stems, and heads. Extremely low damage thresholds for heading Brassica vegetables, multiple overlapping generations, and lack of effective organic insecticide options present serious challenges for managing this pest. Pheromone mating disruption (PMD), which involves confusing male insects with unnaturally large doses of sex pheromones, is particularly promising for swede midge management because it prevents mating and subsequent oviposition. One major challenge to PMD for swede midge management is that the chiral female pheromone blend, a 1:2:0.02 blend of (2S, 9S)-diacetoxyundecane, (2S, 10S)-diacetoxyundecane and (S)-2-acetoxyundecane, is expensive to synthesize due to the structural complexity of the compounds. Here, we explored three ways to reduce the cost of swede midge PMD: the use of lower-cost racemic pheromones containing all possible stereoisomers, single-component blends, and the possibility of using timed pheromone dispensers by testing for diel patterns of midge reproductive behavior. Although we found that males were not attracted to blends containing the racemic stereoisomers of the main pheromone component, (2S, 10S)-diacetoxyundecane, racemic blends functioned equally as well as chiral blends in confusing males and altering female behavior in PMD systems. We observed 95% and 87% reductions in males caught in monitoring traps in three-component chiral and racemic PMD plots of broccoli, respectively. In addition to confusing males, we also found that females altered their reproductive behavior in response to both chiral and racemic pheromones. Females released pheromones more frequently when exposed to three-component chiral and racemic blends, and were less likely to mate afterward. Single-pheromone treatments containing either chiral or racemic 2,10-diacetoxyundecane neither confused males nor influenced female behavior. We identified a total of eight hours during the day and night when midges do not exhibit mate-seeking behavior, during which programmable PMD dispensers could be turned off to save pheromone inputs. We found that up to 81% of females released pheromones to attract males for mating in the early morning shortly after dawn. Most females emerged in the morning as well, releasing pheromones soon after eclosing. Because midges are receptive to mates shortly after emergence, they may mate at their emergence site. Overall, we found relatively high levels of crop damage in our pheromone-treated plots, likely due to the migration of mated females into our plots. If midges mate at emergence sites, rotation of Brassica vegetable crops may result in overwintered midges emerging in fields where host plants are not currently grown. Further research is needed to determine where midges mate in order to determine where to install PMD dispensers.

Marine phytomyxids (Cercozoa: Phytomyxea) represent a group of obligate biotrophic eukaryotes known for infecting several algae and oomycetes and counted among three taxa generally reported to behave as seagrass-pathogens. Due to their low-key nature, they are observed only sporadically and very limited information about their diversity, life cycles or distribution is available. In order to extend the knowledge of this enigmatic group of marine protists, an extensive research on a phytomyxid found in the invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea was carried out. In situ observations, light and scanning electron microscopy and molecular methods were used to approach the species' ecology, geographical range and phylogenetic placement within the class Phytomyxea. The organism was confirmed to be present in the Red, the Mediterreanean and the Caribbean Sea, suggesting a potential case of a host-parasite comigration on a global scale. Phylogenetically it represents the first and so far the only described member of the "TAGIRI-5 environmental clade" - possibly a whole new order within the Phytomyxea, outside the already established Plasmodiophorida and Phagomyxida. The infection rates and times of occurrence are specified for all the finding-sites, indicating an interesting seasonal pattern in the...

Minimally invasive aesthetic medicine (MIAM) is a relatively new field, which lacks a clearly defined scope of practice. The purpose of this project was to clarify the scope of practice for nurse practitioners in MIAM in California. Without a clearly defined scope of practice, nurse practitioners are unable to practice to the full extent of their license which causes them to be underutilized and face liability issues. This project sought to answer the question: What is the scope of practice of the nurse practitioner in MIAM in the state of California? The model of professional nursing practice regulation was the model used to guide this project. Sources of evidence included case law that has emerged since 1983; reviewing documents from 3 state boards of nursing; and a survey of nurse practitioners who practice in the field of MIAM. The evidence was analyzed noting themes while determining what the legal backbone is for nurse practitioner's scope of practice in California. This project found that nurse practitioners in this field keep up to date in their knowledge, educate their patients, utilize methods to maintain competency, feel support in their environment, assess and refer to others when appropriate, and teach both staff and patients evidence-based practices. It also found that standardized procedures are the legal backbone to understanding the scope of practice in California. A scope of practice was developed based on the findings of this project which was then reviewed by an expert. It is recommended that nurse practitioners utilize their resources to obtain and maintain knowledge as well as learn what the standardized procedures are in their facility. The implications for clarifying the scope of practice will serve this population to fully utilize their capabilities and practice safely, as well as help to develop this relatively new field.

acase@tulane.edu

La maladie de Crohn (MC) est caractérisée par une inflammation intestinale chronique affectant potentiellement n'importe quel segment du tube digestif. L’étiologie de la maladie reste encore inconnue, cependant, la théorie la plus largement acceptée repose sur une réponse inflammatoire anormale dirigée contre le microbiote intestinal chez un hôte génétiquement prédisposé. Plusieurs études ont démontré que la muqueuse iléale de patients atteints de MC est anormalement colonisée par des souches de Escherichia coli adhérentes et invasives (AIEC). Toutefois, à ce jour, au Brésil, aucune étude ne démontre la présence de telles souches d’E. coli chez les patients atteints de MC. Le but de cette étude était d'isoler et de caractériser les souches de E. coli chez les patients atteints de MC au Brésil. Les biopsies ont été réalisées sur 35 sujets, 24 atteints de MC et 11 contrôles. La colonisation par des entérobactéries associées à la muqueuse iléale de patients atteints de MC a été montré élevée par rapport au groupe contrôle. Parmi les 270 souches isolées, 241 ont été identifiées comme étant des E. coli : 183 à partir de patients atteints de MC et 58 des contrôles. La recherche de différents groupes phylogénétiques de E. coli a été réalisée par PCR. Il n'y a pas de différence significative entre la répartition des groupes phylogénétiques des souches de E. coli isolées dans le groupe témoin et les patients MC. Les capacités d'adhésion et d’invasion des souches aux cellules épithéliales intestinales humaines I-407 ont été analysées, aussi bien que sa capacité à survivre et se multiplier en macrophages humains THP-1. L'analyse moléculaire par PCR a également été réalisée pour la détection des facteurs de virulence et la présence de polymorphismes génétiques associées à des souches AIEC. Dans cette étude, seuls quelques- uns des isolats de E. coli présentaient des propriétés invasives et la capacité de survivre dans les macrophages. En outre, l’analyse de la séquence fimH des souches de E. coli isolées dans cette étude n'a pas révélé la sélection de polymorphismes dans l’adhésine FimH, comme décrit pour la collection de souches AIEC isolées chez des patients européens. Ces résultats ont donc permis de montrer que les souches isolées chez les patients atteints de MC brésiliens n’ont probablement pas encore co-évolué avec leur hôte pour développer un phénotype adhérent-invasif fort, mais il sera essentiel de suivre à l'avenir l'évolution des ces souches dans la population brésilienne pour comprendre la sélection et l'évolution du phénotype AIEC. / Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation potentially affecting any segment of the digestive tract. The etiology of the disease is still unknown, however, the most widely accepted theory relies on an abnormal inflammatory response directed against the gut microbiota in a genetically predisposed host. Several studies have shown that the ileal mucosa of patients with CD is abnormally colonized by adherent and invasive Escherichia coli strains (AIEC). However, to date, in Brazil, no study has demonstrated the presence of such E. coli strains. coli in patients with CD. The purpose of this study was to isolate and characterize E. coli strains in patients with CD in Brazil. Biopsies were performed on 35 subjects, 24 with MC and 11 controls. Colonization with enterobacteria associated with the ileal mucosa of MC patients was shown to be elevated relative to the control group. Of the 270 strains isolated, 241 were identified as E. coli: 183 from CD patients and 58 controls. The search for different phylogenetic groups of E. coli was performed by PCR. There is no significant difference between the distribution of phylogenetic groups of E. coli strains isolated in the control and MC patients. The adhesion and invasion abilities of strains to human intestinal epithelial cells I-407 were analyzed, as well as its ability to survive and multiply into human macrophages THP-1. PCR molecular analysis was also performed for the detection of virulence factors and the presence of genetic polymorphisms associated with AIEC strains. In this study, only a few of the E. coli isolates had invasive properties and the ability to survive in macrophages. In addition, analysis of the fimH sequence of E. coli strains isolated in this study did not reveal the selection of polymorphisms in the FimH adhesin, as described for the collection of AIEC strains isolated from European patients. These results have thus shown that strains isolated from patients with Brazilian CD probably have not yet co-evolved with their host to develop a strong adherent-invasive phenotype, but it will be essential to monitor the future evolution of these strains in the Brazilian population to understand the selection and evolution of the AIEC phenotype.