The biology and palaeontology of the Peramelemorphia: a review of current knowledge and future research directions

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. Warburton ◽  
K. J. Travouillon
Keyword(s):  
Human Impacts ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fossil Records

Bandicoots and bilbies (Marsupialia : Peramelemorphia) represent the dominant omnivorous clade of Australasian marsupials and, as ground-dwelling, small- to medium-sized mammals, have not fared well in the 200 years since European settlement. Unlike large or charismatic marsupial species, the cryptic nature of bandicoots and bilbies tends to keep them out of the public eye, at a time when public interest plays a significant role in conservation efforts. The inconspicuous ‘rat-like’ appearance of many bandicoots and a generalist ecological strategy belie a complex biology of adaptive traits and evolutionary diversity. For a few species these biological traits have enabled them to make use of urban environments. In the main, however, peramelemorphians are facing ongoing pressure from introduced predators and human impacts. Basic biological information for many species, particularly those from New Guinea, is still lacking. In this review, we examine advances in the knowledge of the biology of this group over the past 25 years including anatomical, physiological and ecological studies. We also provide a comprehensive review of the fossil records of bandicoots in order to provide an up-to-date platform for future studies. From this work, it is clear that there is still much to be done regarding the taxonomy and biology of these animals before a more detailed understanding of the evolutionary history of this group can be elucidated.

scholarly journals Aggressive multiple sclerosis (2): Treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1045-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Arrambide ◽  
Ellen Iacobaeus ◽  
Maria Pia Amato ◽  
Tobias Derfuss ◽  
Sandra Vukusic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Therapeutic Window ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Permanent Disability ◽  
European Committee ◽  
Efficacious Treatment ◽  
History Of ◽  
Definition Of

The natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS) is highly heterogeneous. A subgroup of patients has what might be termed aggressive MS. These patients may have frequent, severe relapses with incomplete recovery and are at risk of developing greater and permanent disability at the earlier stages of the disease. Their therapeutic window of opportunity may be narrow, and while it is generally considered that they will benefit from starting early with a highly efficacious treatment, a unified definition of aggressive MS does not exist and data on its treatment are largely lacking. Based on discussions at an international focused workshop sponsored by the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), we review our current knowledge about treatment of individuals with aggressive MS. We analyse the available evidence, identify gaps in knowledge and suggest future research needed to fill those gaps. A companion paper details the difficulties in developing a consensus about what defines aggressive MS.

scholarly journals Insights into the evolution of social systems and species from baboon studies

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Fischer ◽  
James P Higham ◽  
Susan C Alberts ◽  
Louise Barrett ◽  
Jacinta C Beehner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Ecological Flexibility ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sub Saharan

Baboons, members of the genus Papio, comprise six closely related species distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southwest Arabia. The species exhibit more ecological flexibility and a wider range of social systems than many other primates. This article summarizes our current knowledge of the natural history of baboons and highlights directions for future research. We suggest that baboons can serve as a valuable model for complex evolutionary processes, such as speciation and hybridization. The evolution of baboons has been heavily shaped by climatic changes and population expansion and fragmentation in the African savanna environment, similar to the processes that acted during human evolution. With accumulating long-term data, and new data from previously understudied species, baboons are ideally suited for investigating the links between sociality, health, longevity and reproductive success. To achieve these aims, we propose a closer integration of studies at the proximate level, including functional genomics, with behavioral and ecological studies.

Growing From Childhood into Adolescence

2013 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Zheng Yan ◽  
Robert Z. Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Cognitive Psychology ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Programs ◽  
History Of ◽  
Further Development

In this theoretical review paper, the authors discuss five important issues about the science of cyber behavior as a field of scientific research. First, they argue that the science of cyber behavior as a field of research is entering its adolescence after growing from its childhood, but before spearheading into its adulthood. The paper reviews the current understanding of human behavior in general and state that behavior sciences have generated extensive knowledge about human behavior theoretically, empirically, and methodologically across multiple disciplines. Next, the authors focus on cyber communication as an example to illustrate current knowledge about various types of cyber behaviors. They showcase exemplary research programs on cyber behavior in four disciplines of behavioral sciences, social psychology, cognitive psychology, communication studies, and sociology. Finally, the paper outlines future research programs in five major directions for further development of the field. Taking the opportunity to commemorate the inaugural issue of the International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning, the authors attempt to draw the first sketch of the science of cyber behavior from the perspective of history of science.

scholarly journals Choice experiments in health: the good, the bad, the ugly and toward a brighter future

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
JORDAN J. LOUVIERE ◽  
EMILY LANCSAR
Keyword(s):  
Health Economics ◽  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Choice Experiments ◽  
Discrete Choice Experiments ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Moving Target ◽  
History Of ◽  
Brighter Future

Abstract:Compared to many applied areas of economics, health economics has a strong tradition in eliciting and using stated preferences (SP) in policy analysis. Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are one SP method increasingly used in this area. Literature on DCEs in health and more generally has grown rapidly since the mid-1990s. Applications of DCEs in health have come a long way, but to date few have been ‘best practice’, in part because ‘best practice’ has been somewhat of a moving target. The purpose of this paper is to briefly survey the history of DCEs and the state of current knowledge, identify and discuss knowledge gaps, and suggest potentially fruitful areas for future research to fill such gaps with the aim of moving the application of DCEs in health economics closer to best practice.

scholarly journals Animal Cognition in an Urbanised World

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria E. Lee ◽  
Alex Thornton
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Animal Cognition ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Individual Personality ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Evolutionary Consequences ◽  
Do So

Explaining how animals respond to an increasingly urbanised world is a major challenge for evolutionary biologists. Urban environments often present animals with novel problems that differ from those encountered in their evolutionary past. To navigate these rapidly changing habitats successfully, animals may need to adjust their behaviour flexibly over relatively short timescales. These behavioural changes, in turn, may be facilitated by an ability to acquire, store, and process information from the environment. The question of how cognitive abilities allow animals to avoid threats and exploit resources (or constrain their ability to do so) is attracting increasing research interest, with a growing number of studies investigating cognitive and behavioural differences between urban-dwelling animals and their non-urban counterparts. In this review we consider why such differences might arise, focusing on the informational challenges faced by animals living in urban environments, and how different cognitive abilities can assist in overcoming these challenges. We focus largely on birds, as avian taxa have been the subject of most research to date, but discuss work in other species where relevant. We also address the potential consequences of cognitive variation at the individual and species level. For instance, do urban environments select for, or influence the development of, particular cognitive abilities? Are individuals or species with particular cognitive phenotypes more likely to become established in urban habitats? How do other factors, such as social behaviour and individual personality, interact with cognition to influence behaviour in urban environments? The aim of this review is to synthesise current knowledge and identify key avenues for future research, in order to improve our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of urbanisation.

Growing From Childhood Into Adolescence

2019 ◽  
pp. 152-165
Author(s):  
Zheng Yan ◽  
Robert Z. Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Cognitive Psychology ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Programs ◽  
History Of ◽  
Further Development

In this theoretical review paper, the authors discuss five important issues about the science of cyber behavior as a field of scientific research. First, they argue that the science of cyber behavior as a field of research is entering its adolescence after growing from its childhood, but before spearheading into its adulthood. The paper reviews the current understanding of human behavior in general and state that behavior sciences have generated extensive knowledge about human behavior theoretically, empirically, and methodologically across multiple disciplines. Next, the authors focus on cyber communication as an example to illustrate current knowledge about various types of cyber behaviors. They showcase exemplary research programs on cyber behavior in four disciplines of behavioral sciences, social psychology, cognitive psychology, communication studies, and sociology. Finally, the paper outlines future research programs in five major directions for further development of the field. Taking the opportunity to commemorate the inaugural issue of the International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning, the authors attempt to draw the first sketch of the science of cyber behavior from the perspective of history of science.

scholarly journals Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties of Some Species of the Genus Galium L. Galium Verum and Mollugo

2018 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jovana Bradic ◽  
Anica Petkovic ◽  
Marina Tomovic
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Iridoid Glycosides ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pharmacological Properties ◽  
Pharmacological Effects ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
The Past ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use

Abstract Galium verum L. and Galium mollugo L. are perennial herbaceous plants, belonging to the Rubiaceae family. Several classes of bioactive compounds, such as iridoid glycosides, phenolic compounds, anthraquinones and triterpenes, as well as small amounts of tannins, saponins, essential oils have been isolated from Galium species so far. Plants belonging to this genus have a long history of use in a traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases and conditions. Th e main application of G. verum is as diuretic, choleretic and as the treatment for gout and epilepsy. On the other hand, G. mollugo has been used to treat hysteria, epilepsy, as vulnerary. Over the past decades, numerous papers have been published referring to the chemical constituents presented in G. verum and G. mollugo extracts. Additionally, chemical composition and pharmacological effects of G. verum have been investigated, however data related to the effects of G. mollugo is limited. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge on the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of G. verum and G. mollugo. Finally, we proposed directions for future research in this field, which can improve our understanding of the potential health benefits of Galium species.

scholarly journals Research challenges and conservation implications for urban cat management in New Zealand

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Heidy Kikillus ◽  
Geoff K. Chambers ◽  
Mark J. Farnworth ◽  
Kelly M. Hare
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Introduced Predators

Over the past 20 years, conservation efforts in New Zealand have moved from being concentrated in rural and isolated island locations, where exotic mammalian predators are often controlled, to begin to bring native fauna back to major cities. However, human–wildlife conflicts arise when conservation occurs in close proximity to cities. These are particularly intense when companion animals are involved either as potential predators or prey of high-value conservation animals. Within New Zealand, this conflict is particularly fraught around domestic cats (Felis catus) in the urban environment. Cats in New Zealand are recognised as major introduced predators of native fauna, but they also prey on small introduced predatory mammals. This dynamic causes much conflict between people with different attitudes towards animals; however, as yet, few studies have explored the role(s), either negative or positive, of urban cats in New Zealand. Here, we review current knowledge on domestic cats in urban New Zealand, identify gaps in knowledge and make suggestions for future research, which includes further social science research, citizen science-based research programs, market research, investigation into cat-management legislation, and more in-depth studies of cat diseases and zoonoses. These data are vital for informing the public and improving the management of urban cat populations, including mitigating conservation impacts. Urban ecologists will need to be versatile in the way they design and conduct experiments, exploiting multiple disciplines to both ensure scientific robustness, but also community and government support for uptake of results into management and legislation.

scholarly journals The untapped potential of medaka and its wild relatives

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon Hilgers ◽  
Julia Schwarzer
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Wild Relatives ◽  
Species Boundaries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Important Goal ◽  
Evolutionary Context ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
History Of

The medaka is a fish that has served as a model organism for over a century, yet there is still much to learn about its life in the wild. Here we summarize the current knowledge, highlight recent progress and outline remaining gaps in our understanding of the natural history of medaka. It has also become clear over time that rather than being a single species, medaka comprises an entire species complex, so disentangling the species boundaries is an important goal for future research. Moreover, medaka and other ricefishes exhibit striking functional diversity, little of which has been investigated to date. As such, there are opportunities to use the resources developed for medaka to study other ricefishes, and to learn more about medaka itself in an evolutionary context.

scholarly journals A Review on the Study of Cyanotoxins in Paleolimnological Research: Current Knowledge and Future Needs

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliana Henao ◽  
Piotr Rzymski ◽  
Matthew Waters
Keyword(s):  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sedimentary Pigments ◽  
Direct Extraction ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Cyanobacterial Toxin ◽  
History Of

Cyanobacterial metabolites are increasingly studied, in regards to their biosynthesis, ecological role, toxicity, and potential biomedical applications. However, the history of cyanotoxins prior to the last few decades is virtually unknown. Only a few paleolimnological studies have been undertaken to date, and these have focused exclusively on microcystins and cylindrospermopsins, both successfully identified in lake sediments up to 200 and 4700 years old, respectively. In this paper, we review direct extraction, quantification, and application of cyanotoxins in sediment cores, and put forward future research prospects in this field. Cyanobacterial toxin research is also compared to other paleo-cyanobacteria tools, such as sedimentary pigments, akinetes, and ancient DNA isolation, to identify the role of each tool in reproducing the history of cyanobacteria. Such investigations may also be beneficial for further elucidation of the biological role of cyanotoxins, particularly if coupled with analyses of other abiotic and biotic sedimentary features. In addition, we identify current limitations as well as future directions for applications in the field of paleolimnological studies on cyanotoxins.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document