Description: Human-induced habitat destruction, overexploitation, introduction of alien species and climate change are causing species to go extinct at unprecedented rates, from local to global scales. There are growing concerns that these kinds of disturbances alter important functions of ecosystems. Our current understanding is that key parameters of a community (e.g. its functional diversity, species composition, and presence/absence of vulnerable species) reflect an ecological network's ability to resist or rebound from change in response to pressures and disturbances, such as species loss. If the food web structure is relatively simple, we can analyse the roles of different species interactions in determining how environmental impacts translate into species loss. However, when ecosystems harbour species-rich communities, as is the case in most natural systems, then the complex network of ecological interactions makes it a far more challenging task to perceive how species' functional roles influence the consequences of species loss. One approach to deal with such complexity is to focus on the functional traits of species in order to identify their respective roles: for instance, large species seem to be more susceptible to extinction than smaller species. Here, we introduce and analyse the marine food web from the high Antarctic Weddell Sea Shelf to illustrate the role of species traits in relation to network robustness of this complex food web. Our approach was threefold: firstly, we applied a new classification system to all species, grouping them by traits other than body size; secondly, we tested the relationship between body size and food web parameters within and across these groups and finally, we calculated food web robustness. We addressed questions regarding (i) patterns of species functional/trophic roles, (ii) relationships between species functional roles and body size and (iii) the role of species body size in terms of network robustness. Our results show that when analyzing relationships between trophic structure, body size and network structure, the diversity of predatory species types needs to be considered in future studies.

Description: Human-induced habitat destruction, overexploitation, introduction of alien species and climate change are causing species to go extinct at unprecedented rates, from local to global scales. There are growing concerns that these kinds of disturbances alter important functions of ecosystems. Our current understanding is that key parameters of a community (e.g. its functional diversity, species composition, and presence/absence of vulnerable species) reflect an ecological network’s ability to resist or rebound from change in response to pressures and disturbances, such as species loss. If the food web structure is relatively simple, we can analyse the roles of different species interactions in determining how environmental impacts translate into species loss. However, when ecosystems harbour species-rich communities, as is the case in most natural systems, then the complex network of ecological interactions makes it a far more challenging task to perceive how species’ functional roles influence the consequences of species loss. One approach to deal with such complexity is to focus on the functional traits of species in order to identify their respective roles: for instance, large species seem to be more susceptible to extinction than smaller species. Here, we introduce and analyse the marine food web from the high Antarctic Weddell Sea Shelf to illustrate the role of species traits in relation to network robustness of this complex food web. Our approach was threefold: firstly, we applied a new classification system to all species, grouping them by traits other than body size; secondly, we tested the relationship between body size and food web parameters within and across these groups and finally, we calculated food web robustness. We addressed questions regarding (i) patterns of species functional/trophic roles, (ii) relationships between species functional roles and body size and (iii) the role of species body size in terms of network robustness. Our results show that when analyzing relationships between trophic structure, body size and network structure, the diversity of predatory species types needs to be considered in future studies.

Description: Article Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 80–90% of all kidney cancers, but to date, only five genome-wide significant RCC risk loci have been identified. Here, Gudmundsson et al. identify a new RCC susceptibility locus and provide insight into the genetic basis of the disease. Nature Communications doi: 10.1038/ncomms3776 Authors: Julius Gudmundsson, Patrick Sulem, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Gisli Masson, Vigdis Petursdottir, Sverrir Hardarson, Sigurjon A. Gudjonsson, Hrefna Johannsdottir, Hafdis Th. Helgadottir, Simon N. Stacey, Olafur Th. Magnusson, Hannes Helgason, Angeles Panadero, Loes F. van der Zanden, Katja K. H. Aben, Sita H. Vermeulen, Egbert Oosterwijk, Augustine Kong, Jose I. Mayordomo, Asgerdur Sverrisdottir, Eirikur Jonsson, Tomas Gudbjartsson, Gudmundur V. Einarsson, Lambertus A. Kiemeney, Unnur Thorsteinsdottir, Thorunn Rafnar, Kari Stefansson

Description: Aims Heart failure (HF) quality registries report quality of care but it is unknown whether they improve outcomes. The aims were to assess predictors of enrolment in a HF registry, test the hypothesis that enrolment in a HF registry is associated with reduced mortality, and assess potential explanatory factors for this reduction in mortality, if present. Methods and results We conducted a nationwide prospective cohort study of patients with new-onset HF registered in the Swedish National Patient Registry (NPR, a mandatory registry of ICD-code diagnoses) with or without concurrent registration in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry (SwedeHF, a voluntary quality reporting registry) 2006–2013. The association between demographics, co-morbidities and medications, and enrolment in the SwedeHF, was assessed using multivariable logistic regression. The association between enrolment in the SwedeHF and all-cause mortality was assessed using multivariable Cox regression, with adjustment for demographics, co-morbidities and medications. A total of 231 437 patients were included, of which 21 888 (9.5%) were in the SwedeHF [age (mean ± standard deviation) 74 ± 13 years; 41% women; 68% inpatients] and 209 549 (90.5%) were not (age 78 ± 12 years, 50% women; 79% inpatients). Selected variables independently associated with enrolment in the SwedeHF were male sex, younger age, higher education, absent co-morbidities and co-morbidity-related medications, and use of HF and cardiovascular medications. Over a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 874 (247–1667) days, there were 13.0 vs. 20.8 deaths per 100 patient-years ( P  〈 0.001). The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for death for the SwedeHF yes vs. no was 0.65 (0.63–0.66) crude, and increased to 0.80 (0.78–0.81) after adding demographics, to 0.82 (0.80–0.84) after adding co-morbidities and co-morbidity-related medications, to 0.95 (0.93–0.97) after adding cardiovascular medications, and to 1.04 (1.02–1.07) after adding HF-specific medications. Conclusion Heart failure patients of male sex, younger age, and higher education were more likely to be enrolled in a HF quality registry. Enrolment was associated with reduced all-cause mortality that was explained by demographic differences and better utilization of cardiovascular and HF medications.