Functional diversity of marine megafauna in the Anthropocene.

Marine megafauna, the largest animals in the oceans, serve key roles in ecosystem functioning. Yet, one-third of these animals are at risk of extinction. To better understand the potential consequences of megafaunal loss, here we quantify their current functional diversity, predict future changes under different extinction scenarios, and introduce a new metric [functionally unique, specialized and endangered (FUSE)] that identifies threatened species of particular importance for functional diversity. Simulated extinction scenarios forecast marked declines in functional richness if current trajectories are maintained during the next century (11% globally; up to 24% regionally), with more marked reductions (48% globally; up to 70% at the poles) beyond random expectations if all threatened species eventually go extinct. Among the megafaunal groups, sharks will incur a disproportionate loss of functional richness. We identify top FUSE species and suggest a renewed focus on these species to preserve the ecosystem functions provided by marine megafauna.

Global marine protected areas do not secure the evolutionary history of tropical corals and fishes.

Although coral reefs support the largest concentrations of marine biodiversity worldwide, the extent to which the global system of marine-protected areas (MPAs) represents individual species and the breadth of evolutionary history across the Tree of Life has never been quantified. Here we show that only 5.7% of scleractinian coral species and 21.7% of labrid fish species reach the minimum protection target of 10% of their geographic ranges within MPAs. We also estimate that the current global MPA system secures only 1.7% of the Tree of Life for corals, and 17.6% for fishes. Regionally, the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific show the greatest deficit of protection for corals while for fishes this deficit is located primarily in the Western Indian Ocean and in the Central Pacific. Our results call for a global coordinated expansion of current conservation efforts to fully secure the Tree of Life on coral reefs.

[Haemophilus infections in pediatrics. Characterization of strains by biotype, serotype and the production of beta-lastamase]. / Les infections a Haemophilus en pédiatrie. Caractérisation des souches par le biotype, le sérotype et la production de beta-lactamase.

During 1980 and 1981, an epidemiological survey (biotyping, serotyping, beta-lactamase production) of Haemophilus strains isolated in our hospital was performed. One hundred sixty-one Haemophilus were isolated among 146 patients: 17 H. parainfluenzae and 144 H. influenzae. Most of the infections occurred in patients, under 3 years old (77%), during cold weather (63%), and in males (55%). Biotypes I, II and III were the most common isolates (88%). Capsulated strains were frequent (53%). A beta-lactamase occurred in 9, 5% of cases. Distribution of serotypes and biotypes will be discussed in relation to clinical findings (meningitis: 21, septicemia from other origins: 9, arthritis: 2, and other non-systemic infections).

[Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and temperate areas childhood diarrheas (author's transl)]. / Escherichia coli entérotoxinogène et diarrhées infantiles des régions tempérées. Recherche d'un rôle éventuel.

We test for CFA and LT toxin 159 E. coli strains issued from endemic diarrheas in hospitalized children. Three strains belong to the CFA1 group but only one is LT toxin producing. This last one is isolated in feces of a child coming from topical areas.